When New York architects Messana O'Rorke approached the renovation of this mid-19th-century town house, their "design intent was to respect and restore the surviving existing detailing, but introduce simple, modern solutions as required." The architects located the kitchen in what had been a large Victorian dining room on the parlor floor of the house, using open stainless steel shelves for storage and maple cabinetry offset by stainless steel countertops and appliances. A new door and stair leads to the garden, linking the kitchen to the back yard, and a vintage cast iron fireplace was refinished and installed in the chimney area, creating a focal point for the room.

Above: The Philippe Starck–designed Romeo Moon S2 Pendant Light for Flos features a pressed-glass shade; $788 at Ylighting.

Above: The Distillery Dining Table made with recycled pine flooring is available in 6-, 7-, or 8-foot lengths; $1,495 for the 7-foot-long size at Sundance.

Above: Emeco Navy Side Chair; $415 at Design Within Reach.

Above: The Universal Fireclay Farmhouse Kitchen Sink (WWSK51) measures 29 3/4 by 17 7/8 by 10 inches and features an offset drain; $1,277 at Waterworks.

Above: Blanco Polished Chrome Two-Handle Widespread Kitchen Faucet; $345 at eFaucets.

Above: The cabinet pulls are Sugatsune's SN-70/S-Satin Pull; $6.38 each at Alema Hardware.

Above: Viking Professional Custom Series, 30-inch, four-burner, dual-fuel range; $4,999 at AJ Madison.

Above: The John Boos Stainless Shelf with Pot Rack and Hooks is available in three lengths: the 24-inch size is $329, the 36-inch size is $376, and the 48-inch size is $423 at Kitchen Source.

Above: Stainless Steel Bracket Shelves by Frigo are 8 inches deep and come in a variety of lengths; prices range from $313 to $530, depending on size, at Kitchen Source.

Above: Displayed on open shelves, the Kartio Tumbler (designed by Kaj Franck) in light turquoise adds a dose of color; $27.47 for a pair at Amazon.