Before she was one of The Real Housewives of New York City, which began airing its second season on Bravo TV in February, Jill Zarin was a mom, wife, sometimes-socialite, and flex-hours associate in husband Bobby's family business, Zarin Fabric. As a housewife (lowercase "h"), she did her home decorating with a lowercase "d" -- that is, for the appreciation of her family and friends, period.

This year, though, little that Jill does escapes the viewing public. For example, the show recently televised the fund-raiser for orphans that Jill hosted at her Hamptons house last summer. So when she decided to redecorate the Upper East Side apartment she shares with Bobby and her 17-year-old daughter, Ally Shapiro, she knew fans would be watching.

"Naturally, I'm a little nervous," says the otherwise self-confident redhead, shown here with her beloved Chihuahua, Ginger. "People will either love what I've done or hate it," she frets.

Photography: John Bessler
Produced by Jenny Bradley

Interior design: Brad Boles; project manager, Katelyn Northcraft: Zarin Fabrics, 314 Grand at Allen St., New York, NY 10002; 212/925-6112, zarinfabrics.com [1].
Contractor: Frank Gallo; paper hanger: Jeffrey Strumeyer; painter: Thomas Blee-Carlyle, Blee Studio, 480/213-5458; bleestudio.com [2].

BEFORE

Several factors prompted Jill to redecorate. "When I decorated the apartment seven years ago, I put the TV over the fireplace. After practically breaking my neck trying to watch it, I realized I hadn't utilized spaces properly," she explains.

The apartment was full of dead zones. "There were a lot of empty areas-a lot of wasted space," Jill says. Her wish list in-cluded capturing that lost square footage for a second living area; improving lighting; and creating a lighter, more modern look.

AFTER

One of the first things interior designer Brad Boles did was take room measurements. "I didn't believe there was really enough space for two living areas until he taped out the room," Jill recalls. "He was absolutely right-we had the space."

Boles anchored the main living area with a U-shaped sofa, then created a second sitting area by the window. That change reaps big benefits for the Zarins, who love to entertain. "Whenever we have people over, we always move to the second seating area," notes Jill. "It has the best views in the house."

Sources:
Sectional sofa (#V291); entertainment center, right foreground (#P423ET-VK, Portobello Road Collection): Vanguard Furniture, 828/328-5631, vanguardfurniture.com.
Sofa fabric (antique velvet): Zarin Home, 212/925-6112, zarinfabrics.com, trade only. Sofa pillow fabric ("Mirella''/Glacier #29214-516): Kravet, 888/457-2838, kravet.com, trade only.
Bolster pillow fabric ("Razzle Dazzle''/Pale Aqua #ED85035-715): Lee Jofa, 800/453-3563. leejofa.com, trade only.
Teal area rug: Feizy Rugs, 800/779-0877, feizy.com.
Wall lamp behind sectional sofa ("Jenson Brass Wall Lamp'' #49840-943): Arteriors Home, 877/488-8866, arteriorshome.com, trade only.
Mirrored tables; artwork: owner's collection.
Decorative wall treatment (custom): Thomas Blee-Carlyle, Blee Studio, 480/213-5458; bleestudio.com.

To correct the neck strain caused by the too-high TV, Boles not only removed the ill-placed set, he also discarded the fireplace beneath it. "It was a fake fireplace, and it was the bane of my existence," he laments. "I convinced Jill to replace the fake fireplace with a beautiful cabinet that allows motorized access to the TV. When it's not in use, it's hidden."

When considering how to freshen up the walls, Boles looked to Jill-her complexion, her eyes, the most flattering colors in her wardrobe. "This is where my background as a makeup artist for film and fashion comes into play," notes the designer. "Creating a beautiful face on a woman was a natural transition to creating a sumptuous interior she looks great in. Blue-greens and teals are the most flattering colors for her." He hired a decorative painter to update the walls with a faux shagreen finish. "He applied seven layers of paint," recalls Jill, "and literally lived in our apartment for six weeks."

Sources:
Drapery ("Overlay Silk Vine''/Aegean #8933-35): Kravet, 888/457-2838, trade only.
Sofa ("Hardigan,'' custom upholstery): Interlude Home, 888/525-6199, interludehome.com, trade only.
Sofa fabric ("Fretwork''/Teal by GP & J Baker #BF10049-615): Lee Jofa, 800/453-3563, trade only.
Sofa pillow fabric ("Day Dream''/Spa #27015-4): Kravet, 888/457-2838, trade only. Floor lamps ("Jet Set II Lamps'' in polished nickel #LL134N): Frederick Cooper, 773/384-0800, frederickcooper.com.
Azure rug: Feizy Rugs, 800/779-0877, feizy.com.
Cocktail tables ("Mother of Pearl Bunching Cocktail Table'' #60P-606 by Oscar de la Renta); chairs (#60-11-728 by Oscar de la Renta): Century Furniture, 800/852-5552, centuryfurniture.com.
Chair fabric ("Silken Satin''/Aqua #27763-135): Kravet, 888/457-2838, trade only. Elephant table ("Elephant Spot Table'' #P429E, Portobello Road Collection): Vanguard Furniture, 828/328-5631.
Sculpture ("Reaching for Center'' #8.80682): Global Views, 214/956-0030, globalviews.com.

BEFORE

The dining room before the redo.

"The design before we redecorated was gorgeous but very heavy," Jill says. Its Tuscan theme included elaborately swagged draperies, mustard-colored Venetian plaster walls, and mahogany woodwork. "It was too dark and not really comfortable."

AFTER

For a lighter look, fabric blinds replace swagged draperies at the dining room windows. Walls in a faux shagreen finish are Jill's favorite hue--Tiffany blue. Tufted chairs with nailhead trim introduce clean lines while remaining classic. A new chandelier was chosen to work with the apartment's new Art Moderne feel.

Sources:
Table ("Metal-Base Dining Table with Glass Top" #55A-307, Contemporary Classics Collection): Century Furniture, 800/852-5552.
Chairs ("Atlanta''/White #2316); table lamp (Deco Diamond Lamp with Nickel Shade'' #9.90439); stacked ball candleholders (small #1585; medium #1586; large #1587): Global Views, 214/956-0030, globalviews.com, trade only.
Chandelier ("Gala'' #LCB001XX): Frederick Cooper, 773/384-0800.
Roman blind fabric ("Bezel''/Horizon); trim: Kravet, 888/457-2838, trade only.
Dishes; bowls: Pearl River, 212/431-4770, pearlriver.com.
Salt-and-pepper shakers; napkin rings; napkins; place mats: Kim Seybert, 212/564-7850, kimseybert.com, trade only.
Beveled mirror cabinet inserts: Venetian Gems Inc., 718/435-2001, venetiangems.com.
Ceiling wallpaper (polished silver): Cowtan & Tout, 212/647-6900, trade only.

BEFORE

The Zarins' old kitchen.

AFTER

The easiest part of the redo was the kitchen. "It was just a face-lift, not a renovation. But what a face-lift!" Jill enthuses. Instead of replacing cabinets, Boles changed their look with wallpaper insets. "We had a limited amount of money to make a major difference, and this was a great trick that I highly recommend," Jill says.

Sources:
Wallpaper inserts in upper cabinets ("Bird''): Sonia's Place, 212/355-5211, trade only. Birds cut out of wallpaper and inserted over custom blue paint, antique finish; decorative wall treatment (custom): Thomas Blee-Carlyle, Blee Studio, 480/213-5458; bleestudio.com.
Cabinetry hardware: Simon's Hardware, 888/274-6667, simonsny.com.

BEFORE

The master bedroom prior to being redecorated.

AFTER

Rather than discard the crystal chandelier that had previously hung in the dining room, Jill moved it to her bedroom. "The apartment has cement ceilings, so we weren't able to hang the chandelier until we first coffered the ceiling. We needed the wood to hide the wires," she explains. She couldn't be more pleased with the results. "You'd think that adding wood to the ceiling would make a room look smaller, but the opposite is true," she says.

Sources:
lstery ("Antoinette''/Khaki" Excursions Upholstery by Raymond Waites): Laneventure, 800/235-3558.
Euro pillows and bolster pillows; bed linens: Legacy Home, 703/830-6818, legacylinens.com, trade only.
Carpet: Country Carpet, 516/822-5761, countrycarpet.com, trade only.
Drapery: Kravet, 888/457-2838, trade only.
Chandelier: Holly Hunt, 312/661-1900, hollyhunt.com, trade only.
Art above bed; bedside tables: owner's collection.
Lamps on bedside table: Maitland-Smith, 336/812-2400, maitland-smith.com.
Decorative wall treatment (custom): Thomas Blee-Carlyle, Blee Studio, 480/213-5458; bleestudio.com.
Blinds ("Duette Honeycomb Shades'' in opaque fabric): Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, 800/274-2985, hunterdouglas.com.

The ceiling in Ally's room also was coffered to accommodate a large chandelier. Then a beautiful lacy pattern was stenciled onto the panels of the ceiling grid for an ultrafeminine effect. The room now makes the most of the views with better furniture placement that allows room for a desk. The apartment's palette deepens here in a variation on its theme of blue.

Sources:
Daybed; daybed fabric (antique velvet): Zarin Home, 212/925-6112, zarinfabrics.com. Pillows: Ankasa, 212/861-6800, ankasa.com.
Butterfly wall art (set of 6): Two's Comany, 800/896-7266, twoscompany.com. Chandelier ("Facade'' #9623): Currey & Co., 678/533-1500, trade only.
Decorative wall and ceiling treatment (custom): Thomas Blee-Carlyle, Blee Studio, 480/213-5458; bleestudio.com.
Table lamp ("Farfalla'' #26971): Uttermost, 800/678-5486, uttermost.com.
White leather chair; rug: owner's collection..

Jill, Bobby, and her 17-year-old daughter, Ally Shapiro.