Room for Improvement: Dreams of outdoor space, dishwashers and less drunk neighbors

By Angelina Fanous | July 18, 2012 - 8:42AM

If you could change one or two things about your apartment, what would you do? Here's what seven New Yorkers told us:

Some sun please: “I wish my apartment had natural light… and didn’t have mice coming up through my stove. But you know, beggars can’t be choosers. I can deal with a small place, but I can’t deal with not knowing if the sun is out. Nine times out of ten the brick wall outside my window tricks me into bringing my umbrella and leaving my shades at home. Not to mention the seasonal depression. I feel like I’m in '30 Days of Night' when I go home. At the end of the day, I’m scared, depressed and wearing a mediocre, what-I-thought-was-weather-appropriate, rainy day outfit.” - Taryn, Upper East Side
A stand-up shower: "No tub. I want a tiled, stand-up shower instead. Bath tubs are for Middle Americans with no reason to leave the house.” - David, Vinegar Hill
An apartment that's worth the price tag: "I wish my apartment was more affordable for the price I pay and amenities I receive. We pay $3,800 for a two-bedroom, and we have a washer/dryer, but we live in a modest building where the living room windows look onto nothing. I got used to it, but it would be nice to have some sort of view and sunlight.” -Eric, Nolita
A living room, and some outdoor space: “My roommate and I split a one-bedroom, so I miss having room for a couch. I also would love to be able to access the rooftop without the alarm going off.” -Estee, Greenwich Village
A break from dishwashing: “The only thing I would change is installing a dishwasher, because that would keep our kitchen cleaner. We all do the dishes, but sometimes, my roommates do only half the dishes or only the dishes they've just used. Although, admittedly, there are times I'm guilty too.” -Maggie, East Village
More sober neighbors: “This past weekend, a drunken gentleman rang my doorbell, realized he was in the wrong apartment building and then decided to urinate from my floor down to the floor below me. I wish I could change that… so that it never happened.” - Jared, East Village
Access to the great outdoors, and lower rent: I’d love to have an outdoor space, like a balcony or a rooftop lounge. Also, lower rent.” - Justin, Park Slope

BrickUnderground's Renter's Survival Kit

The 7 worst places to live in a building

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.