New York Apartments

Reading through Elle Decor columnist Gregory's lavish volume is a bit like watching several back-to-back episodes of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Though Gregory's voice is much more nuanced and urbane than that of Robin Leach, she employs the same kind of admiring enthusiasm that made Leach's television show so successful. Certainly, the apartments she showcases in this volume are opulent decorating feats. Most were done over by professional interior designers, like Mario Buatta, Bunny Williams, Henri Samuel, Pamela Banker and David Easton. Most have stunning views of Manhattan's best-known parks, plazas and rivers. Though many of the apartments lean toward traditional decorating styles--lots of fine china, gilded furniture and trompe d'oeil paintings--there are a few more modern examples as well, including Lisa Perry's futuristic residence above the 59th Street Bridge. ""It's the Jetsons!,"" Perry says of her home, which is striking in its use of glossy white surfaces and boldly patterned textiles. One of the most inviting residences was actually remodeled by its owner, designer David Netto, who has become, Gregory says, ""known for the youthful spin he put on his friends' traditional apartments."" While Gregory provides little in the way of down-to-earth advice for ordinary readers, she does elegantly summarize how each apartment was put together and what their owners enjoy about them the most. In short, this is a great book for easy, covetous reading, with gorgeous color photos to tempt one on every page.