The Objects of Her Affection

When I first saw the 1,400-square-foot space in New York's financial district, it registered as just another featureless two-bedroom apartment. But there were glimmers of character: The ceilings, crossed with drywall beams, are 11 feet rather than the usual 9, which gives the place an airy quality. And although they're unevenly shaped, the open rooms that form the kitchen and the living area share a dramatic expanse of a wall.