This renovation of a hundred-year-old Manhattan townhouse sought to honor the neighborhood’s rich architectural past while updating and redefining its spaces for twenty-first century living. In contrast to the small rooms typically found in rowhouses, here, the living, dining, and kitchen spaces are combined into a single large space spanning from the front to the back of the house. The kitchen is centrally located and designed as a single 18-foot run of lower cabinets that becomes an extension of the furnished spaces, and the beating heart of the house, whether for daily life or entertaining. This new continuous zone is further united by four large vintage chandeliers that add visual flow and dramatic scale. In contrast, a small library at the back of the house brackets the large rooms with an intimate space that looks onto the yard below. The bedrooms are on the more private upper floors, and are sun-filled and cozy, layered with textiles and collected art. Throughout, the remaining historic details have been restored, but simplified through a cohesive painted palette that allows them to contribute to the architecture of the rooms without overwhelming them. The past is present in the high ceilings, historic moldings, windows, and original parquet floors, and becomes a backdrop for today’s modern lifestyle. The interiors of the townhouse avoid easy classification. American primitives are juxtaposed with European carved wood, twentieth century metals and modern glass, while pillows and textiles create inviting places for lounging on chairs and couches. An eclectic art collection enlivens the walls. The result is a home that is both intuitive and stylishly homegrown, arising naturally from flea markets, estate sales, auctions, and antique stores, from New York and abroad, reflecting the tastes, whims, and obsessions of its inhabitants, and effortless in its balance of color, texture, and mood. The overall effect doesn't take design too seriously, eschewing pedigrees and provenance for charm, humor, and comfort.