Interior design by Mark Polo, ASID, Polo M.A. Inc.

Though the homeowners may not have realized it at the time, in tapping interior designer Mark Polo, of Polo M.A. Inc., for their Ridgewood home, they found a creative partner whose appreciation for a clean and uncluttered 1960s aesthetic meshed seamlessly with their own. "I collect from every period, but I am very suited to the '60s and '70s," says the designer. "This project afforded us an opportunity to express the youth-driven style and pared-down silhouette that was so central to the era."

Interestingly, the couple lived in the home for 15 years before taking it down to the slab to rebuild an entirely new house.

"They were seeking a home that was spare and simplified, with a mid-century-through-'70s flavor," says Polo, who spent a year-and-a-half on the project. To achieve the period look they envisioned, Polo sourced fabrics, furnishings and finishes representative of the era, including a kidney-shaped sofa, shag carpet and chandeliers of crystal, polished nickel and shagreen (faux shark skin). Interspersed throughout is the homeowners' extensive collection of glass art, as well as newly acquired artwork and sculpture from The Urban Dweller Ltd., Polo's furniture, art and accessories gallery.

To further develop the period detail, Polo adopted classic furniture groupings to achieve "a '60s interpretation of entertaining around a fireplace" and relied on "textures you want to touch," he notes. In the living room, for example, unshaved cow hide ottomans share space with antique silk velvet-covered sofas; in the dining room, smooth-as-marble Venetian plaster walls complement dining chairs upholstered in hand-painted silk.

Far from being anchored in a bygone era, however, the home's carefully chosen furnishings elevate the period's characteristic straight lines and simplistic forms with doses of bold ornamentation and pattern. "The overall look suggests a '60s sensibility that is fresh, stylish and contemporary," Polo says. "It's a perfect setting for the homeowners to indulge their love of cooking, art and entertaining."