Name: Matt, Betsy, and Inge (18 months) Siber
Location: Wicker Park, Chicago
Size: 2,100 square feet
Years lived in: 6 years, owned

I visited Matt and Betsy on a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon, which couldn't have been in starker contrast to the vibrant mix of warmth and color that greeted me the moment I walked into their home. A home filled with jazz on the stereo, beautiful art, handcrafted furniture, and lots of smiles. I found the playful beauty of their space endlessly interesting, and I think you will too.

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Over two years ago we asked our readers to help pitch their ideas for Treehugger's founder, Graham Hill, new 420 square feet apartment. Earlier this year we gave a sneak peek at the design concept, and now the project has been completed! With tons of transforming spaces and multipurpose furniture, it's a great exercise in small space living. More

Ever wondered how to get your tomatoes to grow into trees? Ben Gould brings us our second One MInute Tip, this time in the garden! More

Studded furniture is a great way to add a little gravitas to your decor. Instead of some wimpy table, pick pieces that stand up and say, "Take me seriously! I was expensive! I'll last forever!" Happily, our Classifieds have a few to get you started.

• Los Angeles, CA: Vintage Sofa - $1200
• Brooklyn, NY: Reclaimed Coffee Table - $800
• Los Angeles, CA: Brass Parsons Table - $1250
• Los Angeles, CA: Black Upholstered Headboard - $180
• Chicago, IL: Vintage Fainting Couch - $1800
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Name: Veronica Sheaffer and Keith Dumbleton
Location: Ukrainian Village, Chicago, IL
Size: 1,400 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years; rented

My Hands Made It, the name of Veronica's blog, is not a misnomer. A simple glance at the source list for their apartment's furnishings will tell you that Veronica and Keith are creative and capable DIYers who have invested a great deal of time, imagination, and care into their home.

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Name: Alec (the first Apartment Therapy LA editor!) & David
Location: New York, New York

This is the apartment I share with my fiance David. It's a one bedroom (about 550 square feet) in Hell's Kitchen. The apartment has a few amazing aspects (a little back yard! Really tall ceilings!) and some not so great ones (a tiny bedroom that can only fit a double bed! No closets!) Luckily, the amazing aspects far outweigh the not so great ones. More

My current obsession is a fascinating blog called Big Old Houses, which opens the doors to amazing old mansions, many in upstate New York — and many containing relics of the past, from original bathrooms and kitchens to century-old cabinets and door knobs. The blog documents the intersection of architecture, social history and interior design through the rooms of old houses.

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Name: Erin & Rob
Location: Old City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The biggest challenge in our apartment was figuring out how to break up one very long room into discrete dining, working, and living areas. Since we both work in publishing, we also had to figure out storage for a lot of books. (Ikea bookcases to the rescue!) More

Name: Alexis Hadjopulos - owner of TINI and lead interior designer on HGTV's Pop Shop
Location: Hollywood Hills - Los Angeles, California
Size: 3000 square feet
Years lived in: 2 1/2 years

It is fun to see how shop owner and interior designer Alexis decorates his own home. Even though his place is clean lined and modern, it is also very personal and definitely reflects Alexis' fun energy. Even his dog (Rocky) fits in with the decor!

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Ben will be bringing us How-To videos on making compost bins and planter beds from scratch, as well as a series of One-Minute Tips on all things garden related (with some fun ideas for gardening with kids, too). His first One-Minute Tip, "How to Grow Your Tomatoes Into Trees," will be posted on Wednesday. More