You’d think a full-scale renovation would have cleared the way for endless possibilities. But for AD PRO Directory designer Sasha Bikoff, who was hired to take a recently remodeled Brooklyn home to the next level, a turnkey property yielded the perfect set of limitations—and a six-week time constraint. With specific parameters in place, Bikoff, alongside the homeowners, set out to create a colorful abode with plenty of nods to historic design.
With no time for further renovations to change what architect Baxt Ingui and contractor SMR Craftworks had constructed—Sasha was tasked with marrying the couple’s requests with her own style signatures to create a space that healthily challenged the existing modern finishes. Following her freshening, Victorian maximalist design and odes to Marrakech can be found in every crevice of the 7,000 square foot Brooklyn Heights brownstone.
With eccentric jewel tones serving as the foundation, layers of patterns and textures in delicate antique pieces can be found in every room. “I’m a grandmillennial maximalist,” quips the Bikoff. “The way I do maximalism isn’t the same as when we think of the Victorian era…. It’s not a hodgepodge of old and crusty items. It’s fresh, [and] it’s about having [exactly] the kind of balance I think we accomplished here.”
Considering that both of the homeowners are historians, playfully integrating nods to the past was a prerequisite. And after connecting with Bikoff over their affinity for travel, the homeowners were keen on leaning into different cultures in meaningful ways. “I found a fellow traveler in Sasha,” says the client, “I deeply appreciated the ways she brought her experiences into her design in a way that didn’t feel like a collage.” Cue the French bergère chairs offsetting an ’80s Deco-esque reupholstered sofa in “the blue room,” for instance.
But paying homage to the past was not the only thing defining the decor process. “Beautiful pieces that [weren’t] comfortable wouldn’t have worked for our growing family,” the homeowner admits. Comfort, along with non-toxic materials, was high on the list. “We needed a designer who could create spaces that spoke to my design interests, [and who we] also felt comfortable would not make [my husband] feel like he was living in a museum.”
Their newborn’s nursery was also another point of importance. “I wanted [something] that created a childlike sense of wonder,” shares the homeowner of her son’s outer space–themed room. “Sasha was able to find just the right items that [not only] evoked the desire to explore but also engendered a sense of calm that comes from looking at the night sky,” the homeowner muses.
The process, for all intents and purposes, turned out to be an organic one—literally. “I love spaces that draw on biophilic design,” says the homeowner of her appreciation for nature. Bikoff took inspiration from the building’s passive style energy system as well the backyard. The primary bedroom, notably, includes wallpaper outfitted with scenic park views—the ideal backdrop for the couple’s custom live edge bed frame.
It was the dichotomy between diverse design styles and a need for ease and comfort that informed what turned out to be a home equipped with monochromatic moments galore. “Sasha’s vast and deep knowledge of art and design empowers her with the ability to thread together different visions that may not always be easily categorized or articulated,” raves the homeowner. “She also happens to be incredibly fun and practical,” she adds. “From my experience, [that] is such a rare gift.”
