How to Reimagine a Classic Home with Modern Design

“You don’t need furniture to define you; you want it to accentuate the person you already are.” John Edelman, CEO Design Within Reach Your home is a reflection of you and your life’s journey. But it’s a common misconception that if your home has traditional architectural details, your interior furnishings should be in the same style. Elliman Insider teamed up with Design Within Reach to bring you tips on how you can use décor to deliver a modern spin on a classic home without losing any of the charm. With 260 Elderfields Road in Manhasset, New York as the backdrop—a 5-bedroom home with vintage architectural details—the Design Within Reach team created a selection of mood boards to showcase how modern furniture and some finer adjustments in fabric and color can bring renewed energy to a traditional home. In the master suite, the Design Within Reach team’s color palette plays on contrast and aims to increase space through light and modern furniture. Consider texture, color and pattern. A room can feel more traditional or more modern depending on these selections. Modern design is defined by a minimalist aesthetic where the use of clean, simple lines and neutral colors is timeless. Choose the color palette that will accent light and space. In the kitchen, Design Within Reach reimagined the space with a modern, transparent light fixture offering a delicate glow without compromising the view. Identify focal points in the home and work with them as a base.  Pick a single piece of furniture or color and work around it as a focal point. Visual knowledge is key to successful space planning and furniture placement. Modern furniture, which places value on form, function and material, will work in almost any environment. In the ante-room to the master suite, Design Within Reach played with textures and materials, including metallic, to introduce a more modern feel to the home. Design is a layering process. Integrating styles adds interest and visual depth. A classic piece can become a stand-alone sculptural element, or provide design continuity even within an otherwise modern designed homed. Click to see more images of 260 Elderfields Road or contact Traci Clinton or  Parsa Samii for more information on the property.