A peek inside a NYC apartment

And not just anyone's apartment. This beauty belongs to our new friend and debut author Charity Shumway of the book, Ten Girls to Watch. Remember she interviewed Julia & I on CharityShumway.com? Well, we met and clicked instantly, and when she told us about her penthouse apartment in Dumbo, Brooklyn, we jumped at the chance to photograph her pad for EP. Apartment envy doesn't even begin to describe the feeling we had when we walked through the front door . . . 

The Living Room

Here's a few pretty things we spotted around the room:

1. The view. You can't tell from this photo but there's a clear view (this day was unreasonably foggy) of the Empire State Building dead on. Be still my heart.

2. The actual photo from the Ten Girls to Watch spread in Glamour magazine, hanging on the bookcase. Yes, her book is based on reality, in case you were wondering. 

3. The old window frames sitting on the floor against the wall.

4. The bar cart in perfect Mad Men fashion.

5. This wood dining room table from West Elm paired with an upholstered bench from Etsy. 

The Office

A place for a guest to sleep and Charity's writing retreat.

I mean, really? Who wouldn't get writing done here?!?

And we love love that chair.

The Bathroom

This wallpaper is actually fabric, and Charity changed it specifically for a Derby Day Party she had at her apartment! We needed to know, how in the world do you apply fabric wallpaper so easily?

Here's how it's done folks (in Charity's words):

For the walls -- ah, yes, so easy! The secret is Stay Flo liquid starch (or another brand, but I've never seen another brand). You can order it from Walmart for $3. And then you just paint the wall with the starch and while it's still wet, smooth the fabric onto it, just like wallpaper. If there are bubbles or unevenness, you can paint starch over the top of the fabric and move it around. Once the starch dries, it's just starch, and you won't be able to see it. To take it down, you just peel off the fabric and wipe down the walls, and voila! As if you'd never done it. 

The Terrace

That's our mystery woman, Charity Shumway, 

looking lovely as ever. And that is the Manhattan bridge in the background.

She literally had like 60 plants --roses, peonies, a lemon tree for crying out loud -- placed around the wrap around terrace.

Venessa enjoying the cheese spread and candied pecans . . . 

Julia enjoying the rosé . . . 

It was a such a nice night and what a perfect way to see the sun set over the city. Thanks again, Charity, for inviting us into your beautiful Brooklyn home!