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The site has many historical details, such as dark wood panelling in many rooms, which can overwhelm some, and create the perception of living in a museum. 

“The most common feedback I’ve heard from people viewing historic homes is that they find the woodwork to be too dark for their lifestyle,” explains Saft. “The biggest challenge when designing the home was respecting and accentuating the original details while also modernising and lightening the space.”

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To play off the old home’s grandeur, and create a harmonious interior that feels collected, the interior designer referenced and reviewed older books on traditional design and decor. 

“I have historical design books that I’ve sourced at flea markets and auctions,” he says. “I spent the week leading up to the installation going through such a wide cross section of images, as the house spans so many time periods.” 

Besides Billy Baldwin, Mario Buatta, Nate Berkus and Colin King’s styling work, which Saft notices “create a sense of movement and life in a space,” Saft believes that “learning and educating yourself on past design styles and aesthetics help to inform you on how to approach traditional design.”

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To lighten up the heaviness of the consistent dark wood panelling throughout the house, Saft juxtaposed the weight of the wood against soft upholstered items in creams, beige and white. 

Most furnishings in the middle parlour are ivory and shades of taupe to contrast the woodwork, while in the front parlour with an ornate moulding on the ceiling, Saft mimicked the architecture’s form with curved ivory couches.

“They offer the perfect symmetry, and there is a natural connectivity to the pattern from top to bottom,” he elaborates.

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For a well balanced home that honours the past and also caters to current needs, balancing traditionalism and modernism with an artful mix is essential. 

On the one hand, Saft brought in lighter case goods and upholstered pieces to make the woodwork appear lighter, brightening up the living space. But, there are also antique pieces rooted in traditionalism reworked with smaller modern accessories in traditional case goods to balance it all out.

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“I scoured my inventory for a cross section of more traditional pieces to play with the modern materials brought in,” he says. “There are rich woods, shagreen, creamy linens, bright white boucles, brass pieces that double as sculptural accents.”

Besides that, modern artworks throughout the house are paired with warm, traditional frames to marry the two design styles.

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Furthermore, with afforded views of Prospect Park directly across the street, Saft took the opportunity to instil varying shades of green into the space for an ongoing aesthetical conversation between the indoors and outdoors.

“There is a subtle green onyx stone in the marble mantle in the front parlour with windows facing Prospect Park,” he explains. “I also choose Giancarlo Valle’s Loop rugs for its rich forest green colour to tie all those elements nicely together.”

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The verdant palette further extends into the kitchen with tiled walls in traditional patterns, and the dining room, where the soft floral wallpaper harmonises with the wood-framed windows and antique chandelier, as well as the contemporary dining table and chairs.

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