Designer Denyse Schmidt grew up in a family of makers of the hobbyist variety. Surrounded by old textile mills in central Massachusetts, she watched her mother sew her own clothes and her dad make furniture. Along the way (with a stopover at RISD) Denyse picked up the skills for what would become her business: patchwork quilts, colorful fabrics and paper goods. 

Name: James Franco and Mark Goldrick
Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Size: 1200 square feet (includes an outdoor deck)
Years lived in: 8 years; rented

When James and Mark first laid eyes on their third floor apartment, they saw past the hideous wall mural in the stairwell, dingy cabinets and linoleum in the kitchen, holes in the walls, and ratty stained carpeting. The dumpy place that scared every other potential renter away filled them with a sense of excitement and possibility. Inspired by the apartment's hip South Broadway neighborhood, which reminded them of the old East Village of their 1960's youth, the duo set out to transform the place into a home. With a lot of imagination and hard work, they've created a unique space filled with humor, color, and kitsch.

I’ve admired Michelle Pattee’s style since I first visited her family’s farmhouse in Sebastopol, California four years ago. The all-white palette peppered with rustic wood and natural elements made the home, built in 1902, feel modern and cozy and refreshing in its minimalism. 

Stenciled walls are increasingly popular features in nurseries and kids' rooms: they are cheap, easy to create, relatively easy to remove (just re-paint), and add a touch of fun. But...what if you can't paint? Well, Emily, who decorated this room for her daughter Pippi, had the perfect solution: decals!

Name: Sirima Sataman
Location: Dogpatch, San Francisco, California
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years; Rented

Walking into Sirima's loft, I was blown away by the openness of the space, despite the fact that it is both her home and an artist's studio where she teaches classes and workshops in printmaking. A combination of smart, vertical storage (keep an eye out for a kayak, two surfboards and two bikes) and a collection of great vintage pieces makes everything flow together seamlessly.

I love living in Chicago, but I can get a tad envious of places where warmer weather allows for year-round indoor/outdoor living spaces. One such space? This stylish family home composed of sleek mini-buildings.