Name: Maurice La Bonte and Todd Brittain
Location: Edgewater — Chicago, Illinois
Size: 2,000 square feet
Years lived in: 5 — owned

This intriguing two bedroom, two floor, 2.5-bath soft loft was created in a 100-year-old Commonwealth Edison Electric Substation Building. Entering the building's lobby (and then Maurice and Todd's place), you'll find old electrical panels salvaged for visual interest and historical context, old wood and concrete beams, gorgeous glazed brick, and iron railings. The ways that Maurice and Todd combine these elements with their love of modern design speak to their sense of adventure, and their passion for loving where you live and playing with ideas.

Names: Ana Davis and Jim Harbison
Location: Chicago (Ana); Evanston, IL (Jim)

Like their tote bag designs, fun meets function in the home offices of Ana Davis and Jim Harbison, founders of Habit Goods. Not only do their offices reflect their unique personal styles, but these are also productive spaces that allow Ana and Jim to work together virtually from their separate homes, while juggling busy careers, family lives, and other pursuits, such as Ana's art licensing business, Ana Davis Design.

Name: Sam and Candice
Location: Skokie, IL
Size: 1500 square feet
Years lived in: 1 — rented

In 2006, our color contest winning entry was the home of Peter and Marilyn in Skokie. Six years later we're revisiting this near north suburb with the great views, sun-drenched warmth and simple yet strong interior colors of Candice and Sam's place.

Name: Jay Michael
Location: Lincoln Square — Chicago, Illinois
Size: Approximately 300 square feet (this particular model)

Jay Michael and his construction manager (and long time friend) Diana Tokat led me on a recent tour of this small yet mighty Lincoln Square model apartment in one of Jay's converted rental properties. The idea is simple: show prospective renters how beautifully and efficiently one can live in a small, rented space. This studs-up renovation showcases a model unit that Jay hopes sets the standard for all of his properties and their possibilities.

Name: Daymon Bruck
Location: North Capitol Hill — Seattle, Washington
Size: 1600 square feet, 2 BR
Years lived in: 2 — rented/live-work

This Seattle-based brand designer calls a 2-story 1960's loft building both home and work. With expansive windows and views of the city, water, and lush green hills, Daymon is a lucky man: he wakes up to this backdrop, works in front of killer vistas, and can take breaks throughout his days with peeks at the outdoors (either with a telescope or by stepping into his charming yard/patio area).

Name: Nicole Radford Oehler
Location: Edgewater — Chicago, Illinois
Size: 825 square feet
Years lived in: 1 — rented

Shooting Nicole's apartment offered some charming challenges: Moments before my arrival, her pup, Dolce, pulled down the bathroom's shower curtain, and an outdoor chandelier came crashing down (unrelated). The kitchen is sweet and very tight, complete with only a single drawer wide enough to store sandwich bags (there are cabinets, but only one tiny drawer!). Nicole's enthusiasm for and ability to meet those challenges with laughter, style and ingenuity are what make this designer an original in both her own home and in others'.

Name: Roy and Dana Short
Location: Sheridan, Lake Forest Park — Seattle, Washington
Size: 2400 square feet
Years lived in: 1 — 1955 MCM, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, owned

Roy and Dana's house is big — add to the square footage enviable floor-to-ceiling windows, wrap-around decks, high ceilings, and elevation near the green belt, and this everyday home feels like a true getaway. In just a year, the couple has worked and worked, from the simple touches (doorknobs, paint) to the trenches of home ownership (digging ditches to replace and run a new sewer line). And, they've got stellar advice for those making tough home decisions together:

Name: Jeff and Mary LaCoste
Location: Crown Hill — Seattle, Washington
Size: 2100 square feet
Years lived in: 4 — 3BR, owned

Behold! It's the folks behind ModKnobs, which we featured back in 2009 (custom modern doorknobs made from hockey pucks). Rehabbing their home from the the ground up, Jeff and Mary left no detail untouched.

Name: Tali Edut & Cory Verellen
Location: Pioneer Square — Seattle, Washington
Size: 900 square feet
Years lived in: 2.5 — rented

Tali, an astrologer, author, and owner of Astrostyle, describes her home style as "vintage glam with a sacred twist." We couldn't sum it up more perfectly. With her husband, Cory, who re-engineers and restores vintage Polaroid cameras through his company LandCameras, the pair have a passion for glamorous and forward-thinking functions of vintage pieces and ideas.

Name: Crystal & Gavin Gregory
Location: Parkwood — Shoreline (Seattle) WA
Size: 920 square feet
Years lived in: 2 — owned

The owner and creator of Modernist Cat (featured on AT back in January) recently opened up her newly renovated home for us. Vintage feline ledges and custom-built catwalks compliment Crystal's handmade modernist cat furniture, which blends seamlessly with the home's MCM pieces. With a lot of elbow grease and creative solutions, Crystal and Gavin have transformed this house into a true original: