When Moe Galal bought this 1959 townhouse, it was filled with decorative vases, Swedish clocks, antique furniture and memorabilia from the previous owners’ travels — treasures that were spread across four levels. One notable collectible, a grand piano, had to be disassembled to be moved.“It was a nightmare, honestly,” said Galal, with a laugh. “Stringing the whole equipment of the piano to put it back together, it’s not something anyone can do.
Instead of installing new windows, for example, Galal had to preserve the original windows by removing, repairing, cleaning and reinstalling them. The front door was returned to its former glory with seven layers of paint. The living room’s marble fireplace, which suffered from age and neglect, also was restored.
Galal described the finished home as having a transitional French modern style. He said it “captures some of the historic details and, at the same time, is timeless, not something modern that is going to be old and dated in 10 years.” Up a curved staircase, the primary suite on the second floor has an en suite bathroom with a reeded, white-oak, two-sink vanity and a walk-in closet. There are two more bedrooms on this floor, and each has an en suite bathroom.