Mayra David

In a city where even the most basic features of life (washer/dryer, anyone?) are considered luxuries, we thought it would be fun to contemplate having real luxuries at your disposal. We asked six New Yorkers if they could have either a driver or a chef, which they'd choose.

It’s probably the truest cliché in the homeowners’ handbook: There are few things more stressful or disruptive than a renovation. So, what can you do to mitigate the trauma? Anybody who has gone through a remodel will tell you that it begins and ends with hiring the right contractor. We talked to the pros to get their take on their own industry, and how to vet your candidates.

We have a love/ hate relationship with summer in this city. One one hand, the parks are teeming with activity, the waterfront's alive again (kayaking on the Hudson!), and there are plenty of cool (and free!) events everywhere (free outdoor movies at Bryant Park!). On the other hand: the heat, the humidity, the sweaty subways. So we asked six city citizens: Would you rather spend summer weekends in your house outside the city (sans pool, though), or in a NYC building with a pool?

Living wall-to-wall with our fellow New Yorkers can be a blessing: having friendly neighbors gives you instant community and security. But the blessing can quickly turn to a curse when it comes to noise. We asked five city dwellers: If you had to deal with nonstop noise from your neighbors, which is worst: a barking dog or a crying baby?

If last week's unseasonably warm temperatures were any indication, summer is fast approaching, and our collective minds have turned to air-conditioning. We asked five New Yorkers whether they'd rather live in an apartment with central A/C and floor-to-ceiling windows that can't open (think shiny, brand new developments) or put up with more run-of-the-mill windows and average window-unit A/Cs (think pre-war charm).

New York City is all about living wall-to-wall with a diversity of humans.  We asked five New Yorkers: Would you rather live in a building where everybody knows your name? Or stay anonymous?