Four on the floor

Megan's apartment

COMPARE TO: Sarah's apartment  |  Lincoln and Zak's apartment  |  Suzan's apartment

Megan is an executive search consultant who has lived in her apartment for six months.

The livingroom

“My brother made that painting.”

“The old tool chest was in our family barn in Vermont. I keep old press passes and reporter notebooks in there—and my AC, which will soon be replaced with winter coats.”

The livingroom (back)

“I sit here to read. This is a space that has nothing to do with the TV. And I like the view—I can see a lot of sky from this chair.”

The alcove

“This little table has been very useful. I like art lying around, not always perfectly placed on the wall.”

The details

“When my family was living in Indonesia, we bought quite a few of these textiles. They’re meant to be worn for weddings and special celebrations, but I opened it up and framed it.”

The layout

Total square footage: 550

Sarah's apartment

COMPARE TO: Megan's apartment  |  Lincoln and Zak's apartment  |  Suzan's apartment

Sarah is a book editor who has lived in her apartment for four and a half months.

The livingroom

“I wanted to live in an apartment that felt more expansive, since I work from home a lot. This place felt more like a one-bedroom than a studio. ”

“The table is from a now-closed antique store called Cobweb. It’s the first place I go in the morning when I wake up, to e-mail and read newspapers. There is a beautiful skyline view in the morning when the sun comes up.”

The livingroom (back)

“I wanted an apartment that was within my budget, but that also had one very large sitting room. I sit here and look out into the room. The couch and table are from Crate & Barrel.”

The details

“Those two vases were made by my aunt when she was in college. As for the pictures, one is a print my mother gave me and the one behind it is from a flea market.”

The kitchen

“There are books everywhere in my apartment. I have no cooking stuff, just books.”

The layout

Total square footage: 550

Lincoln and Zak's apartment

COMPARE TO: Megan's apartment  |  Sarah's apartment  |  Suzan's apartment

Lincoln and Zak are a marketing director and an A&R rep , respectively. They’ve lived in their apartment for one and a half years.

The livingroom

“The dark color really separates it from the main room, which is white,” Lincoln says. “We wanted to make the distinction that they were two separate rooms, as opposed to our bed being in the living room. It gets so sunny, too, in the morning. This makes it feel like a cave.”

The details

“I have very little furniture because I like a nice, sparse feeling.”

“It’s a very eccentric place to put a television, but I thought if I put it in a normal place, it would take over the room. I sit on the couch to read and watch television, but I can also watch TV from bed.”

The livingroom (back)

“I cook most of my meals— even lunch I cook and take to work. But I don’t like a lot of clutter. I’m happier when it looks this way.”

The bathroom

“The Moon Calendar [on the wall] is a key allowing me to remember that I exist in an infinitely beautiful, intricate, connected system.”

The layout

Total square footage: 550