The Apartment: 1935

I lived in a basement apartment in Greenwich Village until 1996. Same sink, much worse cabinetry, slightly better gas stove, linoleum flooring (like the one pictured), only, no windows. Paid $900 a month, and considered myself lucky.

I'm sure the photographer took this shot to illustrate bad housing conditions, but a sink and cabinet almost exactly like that were one of the main selling points for me when I bought my house three years ago -- and I plan to put in a similar linoleum floor.

In most of the world today this would be a very luxurious kitchen.

Newspapers piled atop the burners is a nice touch.

My NJ apartment in the 1990s looked just like this, too, without the old stove, which was to the distant right of the sink, the whole room being only 4 and half feet wide and 11 feet long. One section of wooden cabinets had been removed to make room for a refrigerator, with a single outlet, and along the wall facing the sink was another, single outlet. Made making toast and coffee at the same time impossible. Not a problem in the 1920's, when mine was built, either, since both would likely have used a stove in that era. The countertop had at least ten layers of oilcloth, wallpaper, contact paper and a top layer of thin plastic that I had to remove at one point before painting it all white. Thought I was being "Modern" - but I guess not!

Unless it is the focal length playing tricks on me, it would be hazardous to approach the sink while the left burner is on.

[Check the floor. There are four and a half diamonds of space between stove and sink. - Dave]

Adorable D.C. studio apt available downtown. Amenities include charming turn-of-century hardware, gas stove, spacious enamel sink. Quaint period flooring lends provenance to this cozy historic prize. Such potential! 2500/mth, utilities not included. No pets.

That kitchen in Dupont Circle is considered charming and the apartment goes for $3,500 a month.

It's funny to think that many people in American cities have lived in just such an apartment, even to this day. The place is probably 40 years old in this photo. I've lived in three just like it.

My apartment in the Bronx (1990s) had a built-in just like this. Maybe a little less lopsided than this one, though.