I lived on the Upper East Side for most of my adult life: about 48 years, starting in the late 1970s. My wife and I bought into a co-op on 85th Street in 1999 for $265,000 and lived on the third floor of the five-story walk-up. Our apartment was 1,200 square feet and had a very nice layout, as well as a working fireplace. The building had no amenities whatsoever, but we were still very happy to be there.
There are custom arched windows in the living room and bedroom - dramatic and plenty of sky to take in. There are white oak floors throughout, and in the kitchen, Italian custom cabinetry along with Carrara marble countertops and backsplashes. The bathroom walls also have a marble situation going on (fluted, dark), and on the other side of the apartment, there's a bonus office space that's petite but has a well-placed window.