Mayra David

When we first moved into our apartment, we fell into a newbie decorating trap. We were basically setting up our new space to mirror our old apartment. The living room was comprised of the sofa /TV area, a desk stuck in the corner for a work space, and one wall taken up by a large bookcase full of books. And the dining room was just that: A room with a table and chairs for dining. Eventually we re-worked the plan to make better use of the space. As recounted recently here, we decided to build a home office, which could also double as a tiny guest room. That left us with enough space for a comfortable living room for relaxing and entertaining. The dining room, then, had to embody some storage solutions, including the wall of books I had been dreaming of.

Just one extra room, a dumbwaiter replacement and better windows...these six New Yorkers share how they would like to improve their living spaces and their lives! Efficiently engineered windows My windows are the bane of my existence. First of all, they are so dirty and yet one can’t clean them on one’s own. The super has told me he has to come and take down each window and re-install it after I clean. Secondly, they leak cold air. Thirdly, they hardly keep out any noise. I live on the top floor, but sirens from the outside sound like they are two feet from my head. These windows are a disgrace to modern engineering - Inge, Upper West Side

NYC apartment dwellers are more familiar with clever space design than our suburban counterparts. Some may sneer at the concept of a kitchen originally meant for tight ships, or one where kitchen and dining room are one room, but New Yorkers really embrace any way to make the most of our spaces. So we asked: Would you rather have a galley kitchen, or an open kitchen? Open I'd love to have an open kitchen with a big island with seating separating it from the dining area. It's a cliche, but it's true that everybody gathers in the kitchen anyway during parties, so that way the person cooking doesn't have to be separated from the party. Instead the party is in the kitchen and becomes more relaxed. -Jodie, Harlem

After months and months of planning, wishing, and preparing, my home office has finally been built! Our formal living room has now been divided into a smaller living area, roughly 10' X 12', and an office/guest room (4'7" x 12'). It doesn't sound like much, but it's actually large enough for a desk, and a full sized bed for guests. We have big plans for this tiny room. Here's how we did it.

Most doorman buildings come with live-in supers or resident managers, but if you had to pick just one--a doorman or a live-in super--which would it be? We asked these six New Yorkers: •Live-in super In apartment-related emergencies (like leaks coming from the ceiling in the middle of the night). I couldn’t ask a doorman to come up and deal with a backed up toilet. -Maria, Upper West Side •Live-in super A live-in super has a tough job, but if he does it well, it’s a huge asset to a building. There are emergencies he can deal with right away, but also there are the “minor” issues he will notice right away, too. For example, in the summer, the trash room starts to smell very quickly. Our super changes the bags more frequently then. He takes care of the building like it’s his own home—because it is! -Christian, Upper West Side