After reading Ellie’s flat post, I could hear a collective whine all the way over here from my family friends: When is Sara going to post pics of HER apartment?

Call me a People Pleaser. Here goes it.

First, a preface: As you already know, I live in Way-the-F Wapping, which is in South East London, but north of the river. Unlike Ellie’s middle-of-Manhattan abode, it’s very quiet over here. You could seriously hear a pin drop in these parts. I am reminding you of this because in New York, location is everything. Case in point, a typical conversation with a real estate broker might go like this:

New Yorker: So, tell me about the apartment.

Real Estate Broker: Well, it doesn’t have a full fridge and may not be able to fit a couch, but it’s a stone’s throw from the Spotted Pig and Kingswood.

New Yorker: What floor is it on?

Real Estate Broker: The fifth — and there’s no elevator. But you get TONS of light. (This really is a plus.)

New Yorker: What about closets? How many?

Real Estate: Hmm. Well, there aren’t any. BUT the A/C/E, B/D/F, L and 1/2/3 trains are RIGHT nearby, as is the Highline, Washington Square Park and Bleecker Street.

New Yorker: Sounds like a STEAL. I’ll take it!

So I’ve traded location for space. LOTS of it. I’ve got a TWO bedroom all to myself on the FIRST floor. There’s an elevator and I take it sometimes just because I can. There’s no fancy gym, which is unfortunate for my growing gut. And while I do have a terrace, I’m afraid it’s about 10 feet off the ground, so there’s really not much point in standing on it. Plus, it’s winter. I do miss hard wood floors, as I’m not such a fan of carpeting. But at least I can walk around barefoot! Another plus? I’m a stone’s throw from work. Literally. You could actually throw a stone and hit the office. So on days like today when I forgot my phone and need to change my shoes because they’re squishing my toes, I can just pop back over!

From the outside…

The living room: Notice the (rare) light streaming through — score! — and the ancient TV. It may look flat, but baby got back!

The kitchen, complete with washer/dryer and cute towels from work!

This is where I sit a lot and write/google/facebook/skype. Take note of how similar my glass table is to Ellie’s!

The place needed some character, so I went to Spitalfields and bought a few matted Banksy photos, which I’ve hung around a lovely Buddah-esque canvas. Funny story about the Buddah canvas: It was actually in the lobby of my building, but I preferred it to the icky line drawing that was here, so I cheekily swapped them.

Artsy Banksy and a Buddah.

Line drawing is now in the lobby.

Over in my bedroom, I’ve got my own bathroom (!) and closets so big a collection of Hobbits could probably sleep in them. It saddens me that a good majority of my winter wardrobe is stuffed into a storage space near the West Side Highway back in Manhattan, while one entire side of these double-doored closets sits completely empty.

“Fill me, Sara, fill me!”

My super comfy bed (notice the new throw!) and my attempt to glam things up with more Banksy art and a scarf disguised as a bench cover.

Another attempt to Sarify the space: Hung my bracelets on a scarf, my necklaces on the wall and photos of family around the mirror.

There’s also a patio with a BBQ, which could be nice in spring. Right now, it’s a bit dirty and dark out there.

To remind me of home…and my friends.

“Now I lay me down to sleep…” my NYC snowglobe, notes from pals and “The Happiness Project,” which I will happily finish reading…someday.

The other bedroom looks pretty much the same (sans patio) AND there’s another bathroom, which I rarely use.

It may not be Notting Hill or hipster enclave Shoreditch, but what it lacks in location, it makes up for in comfy-cozy spaciousness — a lovely treat. Plus, I’M LIVING IN LONDON!