Up until our clients purchased this 1870s brownstone, it had been occupied by the same family who built it. The clients wanted all of the new work and decorating to be sympathetic to the patina of age it had acquired over the years. The library became a kitchen, but we endeavored to make the built-in cabinetry compatible with its formal surroundings. We recessed the refrigerator into a closet and panel it to match the existing door. The other closet in the room had a hidden built-in sink that can serve as a bar or vegetable sink with pantry storage above.  The wallpaper and color palette are sympathetic with the original period of the house. The original light fixtures, that were introduced when the house was converted from gas to electric, were kept. The existing bathrooms were redone with new marble tiles, but the claw tub was re-enameled and painted and some of the existing fixtures were re-used. New built-in cabinetry was designed to fit quietly in with the rest of the house.