historic furnishings consulting
Historic Furnishings Consulting (HFC) is a team of experienced professionals with complementary expert areas who collaborate to create historically accurate design projects. Our team, whose specialized skill sets range from antique sourcing, construction consulting, and interior decorating to final installation and detail-oriented styling, includes interior decorator, Samara Goodman, Principal of Samara Interiors, LLC, art and antique appraiser and historic furnishings expert, Sarah Reeder, Principal of Artifactual History, LLC, and antique furnishings dealer and scholar, Max Kaplan, Principal of Perfect Old Things, LLC.​
team bios
Samara Goodman, Principal of Samara Interiors, LLC and Associate of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
​Samara received her BS from Skidmore College and MA from George Washington University before completing her certification in Interior Decorating. Prior to founding Samara Interiors, LLC, she worked for the US Department of Education on behalf of individuals with disabilities. This role provided her with extensive knowledge in universal design and barrier-free living environments, which is an added benefit she brings to her residential and commercial design projects.
Samara Goodman is the lead consultant in interior design. Samara’s deep expertise with historical textiles and interior design selections across a wide range of eras informs her skill sourcing historically appropriate décor. She is gifted at finding ideal options to fulfill specific historical periods through her extensive network of design trade vendors. A particular area of strength is her sourcing of to-the-trade-only textiles, artwork, and hard to find furnishings.
Her design oversight and close collaboration with expert historical team members creates a visually cohesive and consistent design aesthetic across all the spaces. Additionally, as an experienced interior decorator, she communicates efficiently throughout the construction process with vendor and contractor partners. In consultation with other team members, Samara oversees and participates in the installation and styling of the project décor through to completion.
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Sarah Reeder, AAA, ISA CAPP, CEO of Artifactual History, LLC
Sarah Reeder is the lead consultant advising on historical accuracy and making sure that all items within each project are appropriate for the year of interpretation and also in keeping with the specific tastes and style preferences of the historical figures or fictional characters who inhabited the spaces. Sarah is the CEO, Founder, and Principal Appraiser in the firm Artifactual History, LLC. An experienced writer, editor, and published author, she additionally is responsible for the writing of historic furnishings plans and serves as the lead point of contact for written communications in each project.
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Sarah received her master's and undergraduate degrees from the College of William & Mary, where she also completed the Program in Museum Studies, Material Culture, and Early American History from the National Institute of American History and Democracy.
Prior to founding Artifactual History, LLC, Sarah’s professional experience included positions at the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, as well as positions as a Subject Specialist at auction houses.
As an appraiser of art and antiques, Sarah has a deep knowledge of furniture, art, and design styles across multiple centuries. She has advised on historic furnishings consultation projects ranging from the 18th century to 20th century eras of interpretation. Sarah is a Certified Member of the Appraisers Association of America and a Certified Member of the International Society of Appraisers Private Client Services designation. She is Co-Founder and Co-Editor of Worthwhile Magazine, Co-Host of The Art Elevator Podcast, and author of the book Ray Eames in 1930s New York.
Max A. Kaplan, Professor at New York University and Owner of the antique furnishings sourcing company Perfect Old Things, LLC
Max A. Kaplan is an antique dealer, fashion arts scholar, artist, and university professor. He holds a BA with a concentration in Material Culture Studies from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study and an MA in Visual Culture: Costume Studies from New York University's Steinhardt School of Education. He also earned an MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts, where he received the Boit Award and a fellowship with the Hochschule für Bildende Künste to study in the workshops of Anselm Reyle and Thomas Demand. Recent teaching positions and coursework development include Tufts University and the Rhode Island School of Design. As an antique dealer, Max has over ten years of experience sourcing furniture and design objects for set design companies and iconic department stores like Bergdorf Goodman.
Max now teaches a self-created course in Fine Art at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He also works on select interior design commissions within the development of his own online antique store Perfect Old Things.