Interior Decorator Shares Her ‘Jewel Box’ Apartment With A 16-Year-Old Dachshund

When Susanna Maggard bought her prewar one-bedroom apartment, it was far from move-in ready. The space needed an overhaul, but as an interior decorator, Maggard saw potential, not problems.

She couldn’t wait to put her stamp on the Carnegie Hill, New York, home. There was just one important thing to be factored into nearly every design decision: her then 8-year-old dachshund, Angus.

Maggard invited Dodo Digs and Isabel Klee of @simonsits in for a tour of her 600-square-foot apartment, where her vision was to make each space special. “I wanted to keep the prewar charm, have a jewel box and stay true to my own style,” Maggard told The Dodo.

A wood-burning fireplace anchors the living room, bathing the space with a warm glow in the winter months. Most mornings, Maggard sips her coffee by the fire while Angus, now 16, relaxes nearby in his WallyBed, one of his favorite spots in the apartment.

While light wood floors cover the majority of the apartment, Maggard installed indoor-outdoor carpeting in the living room. She knew it would be far easier to clean and more stain-resistant than a statement rug — a practical choice for life with a senior pup.

A bold color palette of greens and pinks runs through the entire apartment. An olive green cotton-velvet sectional wraps around the living room (a great shade for hiding pet hair, Maggard notes), which is offset by pink accent pillows and brass sconces with pink shades.

The same rosy hue carries into the bedroom, which is enveloped in pink textured wallpaper. There’s a display of English pink lusterware on top of a mirrored dresser, across from the bed with an upholstered headboard tying together all the colors. Angus can be found in that bed each night, curled on top of his dad’s pillow or head.

Between the bedroom and bathroom, Maggard carved out a bespoke office space, complete with a desk and custom built-ins for paperwork and storage. While Angus typically follows his mom from room to room, when she’s working he prefers to supervise from the heated tile floors of the bathroom.

The petite kitchen is its own jewel box, featuring lacquered navy cabinets, brass hardware, a mirrored backsplash and mint-colored appliances, including a SMEG toaster. Angus even has an entire cabinet devoted to his needs, stocked with treats, food, medications and wee-wee pads.

“I wanted to keep within the prewar charm, but you have to have modern conveniences,” Maggard said. “A lot of people want open kitchens, which is ‘in’ and practical — but not in this apartment.”

While Maggard has clearly achieved her goal of creating a “jewel box” on the Upper East Side, every inch of the home also reflects how deeply Angus is loved. According to Maggard, having Angus by her side is “a gift.”

“Having him so long, every day is a gift,” Maggard said. “We appreciate every second with him.”