“We’d been renting for 10 years and were specifically looking for a place that still had history and soul,” says Smiley, who along with her husband is just the third owner of the residence. “When we walked into this house, we knew right away it was special. Contractors later told us, ‘If you don’t have stuff like this already in your house, you’re not going to get anything like it.’ It’s too cost-prohibitive these days.”
1930s French Art Deco chairs from Chairish surround the homeowners’ existing midcentury dining table, all atop a vintage area rug sourced from Etsy. “We told Leah from the beginning that we’re big Art Deco fans,” says Smiley. A 1980s chrome Gino Sarfatti chandelier from 1stDibs draws the eye. The Flamenco artwork is a nod to Smiley’s love for music and dance.
By “stuff like this,” the contractors surely meant original details like arched windows and doorways, a barrel-vaulted living room ceiling, inlaid wood flooring, Italian-style columns, and sculptural trim work.
The octagonal Tabarka tile in the breakfast nook carries into the kitchen, where Ring made updates like installing a Rejuvenation antique brass pendant, painting the cabinets Benjamin Moore Grape Juice, replacing the countertops with IRG Black Mist granite, and sourcing brass fixtures. “The floors in this house aren’t completely flat, which makes the tile look like it’s been there forever,” says Smiley.