The division of this beautiful neck-gable 1670 canal house into three parts meant that it was full of asymmetry and very incoherent, feeling out of balance. Using the same materials such as walnut and steel in the joinery throughout the house created a coherency, making the house one whole again. The atrium was brought back into the old style and the beautiful stairs were relieved of their six layers of paint, restoring them to their magnificent age-old oaky glory. The elements of earth, fire, water and air were brought into the house, respectively in the earthy basement, fiery kitchen, teal and green bright canal-side study and the blue style view-room and bedroom