On lovely, leafy Third Street, this limestone offers the perfect combination of original 1910 graceful details and 21st century improvements. Under the current owners stewardship, both exquisite design principles and the highest construction standards have guided every change and improvement. The house, designed by famous Brooklyn architect Axel Hedman, has a center-stair layout, allowing for full width rooms on all floors, as well as living, dining, and kitchen on one floor. The parquet inlay is intact on the double parlor floor as well as the formal dining room. Original mantles and a pier mirror complete the picture. The kitchen, located in the extension, is gorgeously renovated. The walls are Carrara marble, the worktops are soapstone, the floor has radiant heat, and there are embedded sound system speakers. The serious work of the kitchen is carried out on the La Cornue range (5 burner, double oven), the SubZero fridge and the Miele dishwasher. A double door leads to a spacious and private ipe deck, which has table, chairs, plantings, a custom awning, and a gas line dedicated to the grill. Upstairs there are 2 floors of bedrooms and each floor has a custom-designed bath. One has a shower and is lined with Blue Celeste marble tiles. The other bath is a work of art with walls clad in book-matched, consecutive cut marble slabs. There is a new large skylight over the grand soaking tub and a separate shower enclosed with curved glass. Both the floor and the towel rack are heated. The English basement has been renovated with the same degree of care as the rest of the house. In the extension there is a beautiful bathroom with steam shower and a laundry room with soapstone counters. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of 542 3rd Street is the owners dedication to upgrading and replacing all the mechanical systems and other physical features. A few examples from a long list are : new boiler, replacement windows, 3 zone central air conditioning, completely replaced electrical service, and more. In sum, this limestone comes as close to perfection as possible. Top location, meticulous renovation, and design excellence.