Okay, so I signed up to do this party-gig-bash for a bunch of three-year-olds in June, and now I have to deliver on the goods. Because who wants to anger a gaggle of toddlers in the heat of summer? Not me, that's who. 

Candace Jackson just wrote an interesting piece for the Wall Street Journal about luxury, over-the-top spaces for kids. It's tempting to focus on the money being spent on these elaborate bedrooms and "teen lounges," but what I find much more interesting is the reason many parents cite for creating these teen havens at home and how it may affect kids and the family dynamic. 

Grain is a design studio based in Bainbridge Island, Washington that is dedicated to social and environmental responsibilities. They introduced two new houseware collections at ICFF this past weekend: the first is a line of hard goods that includes the Dish Table, which was inspired by hand carved African stools, new stitched mirrors, and new candle stick holders. The second is a natural dye collection of cotton pillows and woven towels. 

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Name:

Amal

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Square Feet:

419

Division:

Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

The openness of the space with the tall ceilings, as well as all the natural light that comes in through my main windows. I also love the old Victorian details with the original molding around the archways and windows. Every once in a while I have to pinch myself to remind me that, yes, this is actually my wonderful home!

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Name:

Erica

Location:

Brooklyn, NY

Square Feet:

261

Division:

Teeny-Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

It feels like a home!

This is the smallest apartment I've ever lived in. To fit great location into my budget, I downgraded to this apartment, which is just a bit more than 1/3 the size of my previous apartment.

It is an oddly shaped teeny-tiny 2 bedroom (yes, you can call it a 2-bedroom) with the world's smallest bathroom (no tub, no sink, called the "shoilet" because you can shower and pee at the same time). Yet, I turned it into my own. I feel fun, inspired, relaxed, and happy whenever I am at home.

Advances in technology are making excessive wires and cables slowly go the way of the buffalo but, the remote? It looks like we may be stuck with that one for a while. So if you can’t beat it, hide it! (Along with those goofy 3D glasses that seem to come along with every new TV.)

It's a perennial small space question that merits revisiting. Under ideal conditions most of us would love to have designated workspace at home, but sometimes square footage and circumstances get in the way. So if your home doesn't have an office where do you put it? 

Who has the smallest coolest home? It's up to you to decide. Click through to check out today's entries and then vote for your favorites.

• Little: Myke's Spirit & Creativity
  
• Small: Byron's Modern Quality
  
• Tiny: Jennifer's Exposed Brick Studio
  
• Little: Lois' Happiness Instead of Stuff
• International: Alex's Open Plan in Bilbao
  
• Little: Antonio's Warm Welcome
  
• Teeny-Tiny: Xsusha's Creative Thinking
  
• Tiny: Callie's Little "Big" Loft
  
• Small: Diane's Small Sanctuary
  
• Little: Ellen's Thirties Style Small Space

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Name:

Ellen

Location:

Seattle, WA

Square Feet:

655

Division:

Little

What I Love About My Small Home:

We've been wanting to live in a space like this for years. We appreciate the building's history as a significant design from the 1930's with hints of the Art Deco era. Some of our favorite elements are the triangular bay window that lets in a ton of western light, the view of the city and mountains, the warehouse style windows, the unique archway/alcove by the front door, the hardwoods, the list goes on! This is the first place we've had together, and have enjoyed curating the furnishings to express our style. We've started to dabble in DIY projects, including the dining room table and credenza, with plans for more.

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Name:

Diane

Location:

Queensbury, NY

Square Feet:

960

Division:

Small

What I Love About My Small Home:

Everything! It is the perfect home: old, charming, cozy, and small. It is our sanctuary. We live, cook great meals, make music, read, write, and rest here. Many new homes being built around us are well over 2,000 sq. ft. and some are double that size. I would feel funny in a space that large.

When I first saw the ad for our home in the paper eleven years ago, it was everything we told the realtor we didn't want. But, after seeing it during an open house I fell in love, and my husband soon followed suit.

Soon after moving in, we installed a beautiful wood stove which increases the cozy factor during long fall/winter seasons. The previous owners also installed giant windows in the kitchen addition at the back of the house. I've seen deer, fox, turkeys, and all kinds of other wildlife in the back yard over the years.