Name: Alexis & Josh
Location: Lower Nob Hill, San Francisco, California
Size: 950 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years; rented

Originally Alexis and Josh were planning to go all Art Deco with their charming Nob Hill apartment built in that era. Instead they gave each room its own style by incorporating a variety of eras and inspirations, including some standout DIY projects. Now they face their next design challenge: how to incorporate an exciting new element into the mix — their first baby.

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Name: Evan Harrison, Greg Gasawski & their schnauzer Bug
Location: Downtown — Los Angeles, California
Size: 850 square feet
Years lived in: 2 — rent

Evan (who is currently seeking new work with a designer or showroom) and Greg (a law student at Southwestern Law) submitted their home to the Small Cool Contest on Apartment Therapy earlier this year. In spite of the fact that they received more commentary on the snapshots of their home versus the actual design and space itself, I found it to be quite awesome. I love loft spaces, and have always admired how unique they are.

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Name: Scott & Kim Vargo (plus two cats and a dog – Maddie, Libby, & Jack)
Location: Logan Square, Chicago, Illinois
Size: 675 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years; owned

Walking into Kim and Scott's condo was like stepping into a dream. Perhaps it's because I had already seen Kim's sunlight-filled photographs or because the soft, oneiric color palette made me feel immediately at ease. Or perhaps it was the touches of whimsy that greeted me at every turn. Whatever the case, it's hard not to fall in love with a home that contains such refreshing color, chic wallpaper, and a picture of a doughnut in an ornate gold frame.

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Name: Robert Gerner – Agent, Four Corner Realty
Location: Wilshire Corridor, Los Angeles, California
Size:1,450 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year; rent

Rob's two bedroom apartment overlooks the Wilshire corridor and has a stunning view of the Hollywood Hills. His home is the perfect bachelor pad, with plenty of personal style. Designer Stefani Rosso lent a helping hand in pulling together some of the finishing touches on the interior design.

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Name:Nicole Lanteri, Interior Designer and owner of On My Agenda, and husband Aaron Trent.
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Size: 1200 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years; Owned

Lawyer turned interior decorator Nicole Lanteri knows a thing or two about making a house a home. A few years ago she stepped away from her career as a lawyer to pursue her passion for interior design, and (thankfully) hasn't looked back. Her own apartment is filled to the brim with home design, architectural, and fashion magazines for inspiration. Moodboards dot the walls of her office, which occupies the top level of the two-story loft that she shares with her husband Aaron.

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Name: Christi Finley and her pup Lilly and a roommate (not pictured)
Location: Bouldin Creek, Austin, Texas
Size: 675 square feet
Years lived in: Rented, 1.5 years

Living in a small space doesn't mean it has to be boring, as evidenced by the home of creative and crafty apartment dweller Christi. The South Austin home she shares with her roommate and her incredibly photogenic pup Lilly is packed with color, pattern, texture and style.

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Name: Kimmy McAtee and Nathan Bell
Location: Downtown Arts District — Los Angeles, California
Size: 1,300 square feet
Years lived in: 3 months — Rent

Practically brand new residents to this space, Kimmy and Nathan relocated from a nearby loft only a few blocks away. Their love of downtown Los Angeles and the arts district keeps them inspired and always involved in local events and their new home is a perfect space for entertaining and gathering.

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Name: Isabel Cooke & Claire Walsh
Location: Hackney, London
Size: 2 bedroom apartment
Years lived in: 2 years; Owned

Isabel and Claire's 1950's ex-local authority apartment has been given a new lease of life with their eclectic and global finds, family heirlooms and a huge dose of enthusiasm. Claire, a trends analyst, travels the world searching for great design, while Bel has a great eye for local vintage finds.

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Name: John
Location: East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City
Size: 900 square foot rental loft
Years Lived In: 1+ year

John is a native New Yorker and used to working and playing hard. For most of John's life, his dwelling place was not a home but rather just a place to land after a busy day working, a week on the road, or a month traveling the world. He paid little attention to decor, interior design, the comforts of home, or the way a home should make one feel.

Name: Pamela Beecroft
Location: Washington, DC
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 4 months (at the time of the tour); Rented

When the owner of her rental apartment suddenly decided to move back in, Pam found herself scrambling to find a new place to live. With few options (it was winter...not a lot of available apartments) and very little time to search, she was forced to move from a smaller space with plenty of soul and character to a larger and more impersonal place.

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