KING OF CLASSICS(3)

"One of the things I wanted to achieve here was to set an example of using antiques in a nontraditional setting. I have a stainless-steel kitchen that's very crisp and clean, but it includes a 19th-century Gothic Revival mirror to add character and enhance the sense of space. Antiques don't have to be displayed in a pure environment. The juxtaposition is what's fun."

As another example, he points to the dining room's 18th-century French tole lantern. "You can see it from this sleek, modern kitchen, and it's a total surprise. I removed the existing electrical fixture and replaced it with the 18th-century lantern that uses only candles." That collision of worlds has a magical effect that square footage can't begin to measure.