The one bedroom rental of murder-mystery author Jane K. Cleland and her husband, bass trombone musician Joe Stanko, features 13-foot ceilings, views of the East River, a working fireplace and even a hint of a terrace. The New York Times shows us how the couple and their four cats make use of this magnificent rent-controlled apartment in Midtown East...

The mural above the fireplace was painted by French artist Francine LeClercq.

The bones of this Art Deco building are truly magnificent — we wish this couple would take full advantage of the space! We would surely open up the main living space and show off the windows and high ceiling! What would you do to maximize this apartment's potential?

Read about the history of the building and the apartment: Artists In Residence and slideshow.

Images: Marilynn K. Yee for The New York Times