Designer Thomas O’Brien’s kitchen is a natural antidote to aesthetic spareness. Library House is an 1830s-style shingled country house adjacent to O’Brien’s main residence in Long Island. In the kitchen, Connemara marble plays a starring role. Photographs by Francesco Lagnese.

O’Brien describes the kitchen as the emotional centre of the house; it was designed to be both formal and casual with Connemara marble sourced on a honeymoon trip to Ireland.

O’Brien loves assembling various collections from what he calls the “treasure room”. The kitchen is fitted around precious pieces which have been previously been in storage, just waiting for a moment to emerge.

A long hallway links the kitchen with the housekeeping area, with ample space to showcase the collections of serving dishes, copperware, cooking utensils and O’Brien’s collection of baskets.

Antique collections of silver, crystal and American and Irish cut and pressed stemware shimmer in the rich green and chestnut cabinet. The petite 19th-century French writing desk serves as a small bar and adds an elegance to the room.