A wonderful watering hole called The Vault at Pfaff’s in NOHO has undergone a beautiful transformation at the hands of product, furniture, and interior designer Mark Zeff.  The Vault is rich in history and was a hang out to poets, actors, politicians, and writers such as Walt Whitman in the mid 1800’s before the civil war.  Whitman wrote a poem about it.

Mark gutted the place to expose the original ceiling, metal columns, and a recently rediscovered field stone wall.  He added leather wall panels, brass tacks, tufted banquettes, and a 150 year old oak bar.  The amazing artist Katherine Blackburne did the slightly irreverent nude canvas’.  The art adds a certain little edge, an off key note, that all great spaces need. 

It is clear that Mark took his inspiration from the bars and bordellos of the turn of the century.  His use of color and texture is spot on.  There is nothing quite like the ambiance one gets from smokey colors and decrepit finishes.  Mohair, leather, tacks, tufting, dark woods, natural brick and stone are elements that tell a story of history past and history in the making.

This long, narrow room is a tough space to pull off yet Mark did it brilliantly. 

A beautiful shot by talented interiors photographer Eric Laignel.

The Vault at Pfaff’s is located at 643 Broadway, New York. Their wine list is extensive and they are open W/Th/Su 6-12 and Fr/Sa 6-2.  212-253-5421 Vault at Pfaff’s