Jennifer Laing

Once the domain of houses of worship (churches, synagogues and the like), stained glass windows crossed over into the home space back in the Victorian era. Instead of religious themes, scenes from nature (such as flowers, birds, etc.) tend to rule in the residential stained glass sphere. The following versions demonstrate how a little colored glass can go a long way in enhancing the character of—and quite often the view from—a New York City abode. 

Powder room, guest bath, half bath—since so many New Yorkers have only one bathroom, an additional sink or toilet is considered a true luxury (its presence implying the owner already has one, or more, full versions at his/her disposal). Here, a selection of high-end half-baths; what they lack in plumbing, they more than make up for in style. 

In today’s real estate parlance, any apartment with an open floorplan and high ceilings tends to be referred to as a loft. But, the real deal—old school commercial workspaces or artist’s studios with tall ceilings, exposed beams and bricks and few, if any, walls—is so much more. The lofts pictured here are as authentic as they get (super-luxurious finishings and furnishings, notwithstanding) and make clear why living in one is such an amazing score.

For most of us, a foyer is simply a space to drop a handbag or stash some shoes — if you're lucky to have one. But as these apartments prove, a stunning entrance is kind of like a beautifully wrapped gift: It hints at the fabulousness within.

Your party mantra may be go big or go home, but your small-sized New York City apartment demands a fête that’s scaled down to fit the space. The good news, according to party planning expert Michelle Cassera Bachman co-owner of Little Miss Party, a NYC-based event planning company specializing in small space entertaining, is you don’t to sacrifice fun just because you lack square footage. Here, her tips for throwing a great birthday party in a small apartment (for those days when the weather's so extreme, the park just won't do):