As well as an instinctive ability to create homes imbued with a sense of place – and to reflect the tastes of their owners - Nina is also adept at evoking the spirit of a building’s past.

The owner of this 19th-century New York brownstone had lived in the building as a student, when it was still divided into apartments. Later, he was able to acquire the whole building and restore it, creating a magnificent home that combines the spirit of the 19th century with discreet 21st century luxury. The transformation of the house included the design and installation of a new staircase that elegantly twists its way up successive floors. The centrepiece of the house is the magnificent drawing room that spans the breadth of the building.