New Yorkers' apartment must-haves: Calcutta marble and working washing machines
Proper heating, adequate plumbing, and simply more storage: Five New Yorkers share all the things their city apartments lack, and how they'd improve them if they could.
Floor it: I’d love under-floor heating. I think it would be the best way to heat our loft and we could get rid of our ugly, creaking, dirt-collecting radiators. We have polished concrete floors that we love, but it is cooler than carpet or hardwood, of course. - Brad, Carroll Gardens
50 shades of grey laundry: I would love to have a washer/dryer in the apartment. Pretty standard New Yorker wish, but that’s what I really want. I have a laundry room in my building, but the machines we have there are awful. I don’t think they really get clothes clean. When I wash newly purchased items, I know I’m starting the countdown to when the colors will fade. White towels and sheets are especially susceptible to drabness because they either a yellowing-gray. And if I use bleach, they all turn a dingy gray within a few months. - Rose, Inwood
Next time, top of the line: I’m about to renovate my apartment, starting with the kitchen. We are installing pretty basic cabinetry and appliances from Ikea, which is really nice. But not the stuff of dreams. Unfortunately, the budget wouldn’t allow for any items off my dream list: Bleached dark-oak floors throughout, Calcutta marble and Viking appliances in the kitchen, and custom cabinetry. Oh, well. Next time! - Vicky, Jackson Heights
Moving box standstill: it My boyfriend and I moved in together several months ago and we are still not done unpacking. There just isn’t enough space for everything. So we really need to declutter, and “edit” down our stuff. It’s insane to still have moving boxes lining the hallway. We’ve started piling mail, shoes, umbrellas and coats on top of them. We need to create more storage for sure: shelving for storage boxes, and a new wardrobe for the bedroom. But I don’t know what we’ll do about our bikes and skis, and now we have three A/C [units] between us, not to mention summer clothing and a ton of books. I don’t want to put it in storage because then I know we will never use them again. - Maria, Upper West Side
Anything for a second bathroom: I’d love a second bathroom. It’s really become necessary with our growing family. Unfortunately, the co-op won’t allow us to install a second bathroom, or even just a powder room, which would help with the morning traffic. Sadly, I think we are ready to leave this building. We were willing to live with not being allowed a washer/dryer in the apartment, but this is too much of an inconvenience. It’s sad because we like our neighbors and we like living in an old apartment. But if having adequate plumbing for toilets and laundry means having to go into a new condo, then so be it. - Brian, Inwood
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