Nutritionist Keri Glassman’s Manhattan Apartment Offers Lessons for Pandemic Living
The founder of Nutritious Life invites us into her Upper East Side home and shares how healthy habits have helped relieve stress.
The founder of Nutritious Life invites us into her Upper East Side home and shares how healthy habits have helped relieve stress.
"When I first saw this apartment, it felt like this place knew exactly what we needed," Keri Glassman says of her New York City residence. "The previous owners had two young kids—also a boy and a girl—so moving my kids in felt like a continuation of what this home could do."
"I never want to make healthy living feel like this unattainable thing," says Keri. "I think it comes down to small steps people can take that eventually turn into a big-picture lifestyle. Eating whole foods, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress all begin from square one." She designed her kitchen with help from Scavolini.
Photo courtesy of Magaret Costello
As the founder of Nutritious Life, Keri has long been advising others on how to cultivate and sustain healthy habits in all of their daily concerns—from work and relationships to sleep and exercise. She’s a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition from New York University, and she’s written four bestselling books on the subject. Not only does her home embody her lifestyle, but it’s also a case study in how thoughtful living can help families weather a pandemic.
"My approach to healthy living focuses on eight pillars, and the one I really wanted to focus on in my home was ‘live consciously.’ It was important for me to be at peace with my surroundings, and to have them nurture my mental health," she says. "I was looking for an apartment with enough room to be separate but together."
"I try to make use of storage as much as possible to keep my home clutter-free," Keri says. "Clutter tends to make us feel stressed—our cortisol levels go up and our heart rate increases—whether we realize it or not." She uses the built-ins along the living and dining spaces of her home, and creates "designated areas" for things like exercise equipment. A West Elm sectional is accompanied by side tables and a chair from Blu Dot.
Photo courtesy of Magaret Costello
The one she found on the Upper East Side seemed to fit that mold. It’s in the same neighborhood where her teenagers Rex and Maizy had gone to school when they were younger, and offers enough space for Keri and her boyfriend Ken Slotnick to stay out of their way. "The previous owners had already done the hard work of combining two apartments to create three bedrooms," she says. "It was laid out in a way that was best for Rex and Maizy’s privacy, too: The kitchen and living room are down the hall from the bedrooms."
The 1,950-square-foot apartment’s biggest selling point, however, was the large den that Keri recognized as a rare flexible space. "In New York City, apartments typically only have bedrooms for sleeping, kitchens for eating, and living spaces where everyone goes to relax," she says. "I saw the den as a place that didn’t have a designated label."
"My kids mostly work in their rooms, so I'll work here or in the kitchen. I've also turned my bedroom vanity into a small desk," says Keri of how her family has adapted to COVID-19. "I try to remember to get up every now and then and drink water, which I know is something a lot of people also forget to do." Wishbone chairs from Design Within Reach surround a classic Tulip table that Glassman already owned.
Photo courtesy of Magaret Costello
See the full story on Dwell.com: Nutritionist Keri Glassman’s Manhattan Apartment Offers Lessons for Pandemic Living
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