That a good townhouse can be adaptable for generations is nowhere more evident than in an old townhouse renovated to have a contemporary interior. Several such townhouses have been posted on this blog, but the importance of adaptability cannot be overemphasized. From the New York Observer: "It's always interesting to go inside a townhouse because you never know what might be lurking on the other side. Is it an immaculately restored pre-war wonder or a modernized white box hiding inside a prewar shell? A townhouse on West 85th Street definitely falls into the latter category. With a neighbor covered in ivy and a grand Queen Anne facade, it looks like it would be all crown molding and original details all the time on the inside. But instead we get exposed brick, an unusual double-height living room and a kitchen straight out of Star Trek." Full article with slideshow here.