A Writer’s Storied Jewel Box Apartment in New York City

Writer and artist Frances Schultz has made a career writing about the beauty of home. Her own apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side reflects that sensibility.

Looking out over the treetops near Central Park, her home is layered with antiques, inherited furniture, contemporary art and piles of collected books. Every room reveals careful editing, thoughtful restraint and an understanding that the most memorable interiors are shaped over time.

Schultz bought the apartment in 2018 after watching the building for years. The unit had lingered on the market in estate condition, its dated finishes discouraging many buyers.

Rather than renovating immediately, Schultz moved in and spent two years learning the apartment before making significant changes.

"You see how the light moves through the apartment," Schultz said. "You understand the difference between how you thought you would live there—and how you actually do."

The living room immediately draws the eye with a lacquered ceiling that reflects the windows opposite, making the space feel brighter and taller. A mirrored wall amplifies the natural light, while velvet upholstery, painted finishes and antiques bring warmth without overwhelming the room.

"The idea was to make it a little jewel box," Schultz said. "Slightly glamorous, but still comfortable enough to live in every day."

Each space in her Manhattan home serves dual purposes. Her writing desk now overlooks the park, dividing the long room into distinct areas for working, dining and conversation. The dining table serves equally well as a library table or painting surface. Her library sectional can work as two twin beds for guests.

Second time's the charm

Several years after completing the renovation, Schultz received the call every homeowner dreads. While she was away on a work assignment, a burst heating coil flooded the apartment, destroying wallpaper, upholstery and finishes throughout much of the home.

Fortunately, the artwork had not yet been rehung after the renovation, sparing many of the pieces she values most.

The rebuilding process largely recreated what had been lost, although Schultz took the opportunity to revise details that had never felt quite right, like her now-cherished living room sofa.

A storied home

The apartment is also a record of Schultz's life. As a writer, artist and contributing editor at Flower Magazine and Veranda, she has a knack for storytelling. Slipper chairs from Katharine Hepburn's estate sit near furniture inherited from her mother. A David Hockney iPad drawing hangs alongside flea market finds. Travel souvenirs, Staffordshire dogs and paintings by friends are woven naturally into the rooms.

"Tell me about your house, and I'll tell you about your life," she said.

Throughout the apartment, Schultz makes a point of using the things many people reserve for special occasions. Family silver sits ready for dinner parties. Fine china fills a vividly painted cabinet instead of a storage box. Antique serving pieces remain in regular rotation.

"If you're using those things," she said, "they become part of your family's memories."

Her home reflects years of thoughtful collecting and a willingness to let rooms change alongside the person living in them.