Luminous NYC apartments with sun rooms and solariums

"Shall we adjourn to the conservatory?"

A line from a Regency romance? Hardly - as the New York Post recently reported, a surprising number of apartments in present-day New York are home to glass-walled, glass-ceilinged spaces also known as solariums or sunrooms. Features such as these date back to ancient Egypt, but really caught on in 16th-century Europe as a way to preserve citrus fruits and delicate potted plants in the winter. In more recent days, they can also be found in a more unlikely place: New York City apartments. Even in the darkest days, they lend their rooms a sunny, airy ambiance. With the days getting longer from here, these units will enjoy ever more light.

As sunrooms require sky access, they would appear limited to top-floor units. Enterprising homeowners have the option to install them, but there is a chance that it may require approval from the Department of Buildings. Even if this turns out not to be the case, proper installation is key to prevent leaks.