Name: Monica, Graduate Student at the University of Michigan, Mildred the dog
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Size: 350 square feet studio
Years lived in: 6 months, rented

Graduate students often don't have the time to make their temporary rental a home. With limited budgets, no free time and the scramble to settle into a new city, there's usually little room for nesting in their schedules. I was quite drawn to Monica's teeny-tiny studio, measuring in at just around 350 square feet. It has the efficiency and neatness that one needs to study and focus, but this home is more than your average grad student pad — Monica's place has a cozy sense of warmth.

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Name: Dan Brown/Craig Denham (Curiosity Shoppe)
Location: Downtown Austin, TX
Size: 2,500 square feet, six room collective space
Years lived in: Since Jan 2012

Welcome to the Curiosity Shoppe — a hip multimedia outfit housed in the BLK MKT Filmmaker Studios. The converted warehouse contains just about everything great about Austin — creativity, independence, personality, and soul. We go behind-the-scenes of this collaborative tour de force to see the workspace and technology used to create industrial magic.

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Name: Ailin Doman
Location: TriBeCa — Manhattan, New York
Size: 600 square feet
Years lived in: 1.5 years — rent

Above a bustling downtown Manhattan intersection busy with gawking tourists and locals going about their daily routine, you might not notice a small fire escape perfectly situated for an optimal view of the chaos below. Stepping into the home it belongs to, you quickly forget the lively street below. The space is at once serene and yet full of life. This well curated, thoughtfully laid out apartment makes up for any lack of square footage with artful arrangement and comfortable charm.

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Name: Callen & Eli
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 800 sq ft, open floorplan
Years lived in: 2 months

Art can be therapeutic and transformative. You realize that shortly after stepping into Callen and Eli's delightful studio space. The cheery open floorplan among the trees is filled with vintage treasures, handmade objects, and a very agreeable sense of relaxation. It's art therapy done right.

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Name: Ann Mack
Designer: Christina Love
Location: East Village — New York, New York
Size: 500 square feet
Years lived in: 7 — rented

Call it the six-ish year itch. After as many years in one place, Ann wanted a clean slate, to banish the shadows and let in the light. She looked to favorite places for inspiration, to a professional for guidance, and in the process, strengthened a friendship and rediscovered the love she once had for her home, all while preserving and polishing the best of a studio in a vibrant New York neighborhood. That's a nice way to start a new chapter.

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Name: Natalie Linden aka The Unreliable Novelist
Location: Mission District — San Francisco, California
Size: 400 square feet
Years lived in: Almost 3— rented

My friend Jen and I popped by the home of Natalie Linden, aka The Unreliable Novelist, for some French 75s and girl chat last weekend. It was my first visit to what Natalie calls her hen pen and my attention was instantly drawn to the colorful textiles and thrifty treasures in all the nooks of her large studio. It became difficult to hold a conversation as my eyes wandered everywhere. Collections (obsessions?) of tiny vases, books, plates, and things fill the space in unexpected ways. "I come from a long line of collectors--dishware, antiques, taxidermy, jewelry, surfboards, frogs, more dishware, you name it. But in a space like this, I really have to keep it in check," she says.

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Name: Tiffany
Location: The Mission District, San Francisco

My boyfriend and I moved into this tiny studio apartment about five months ago. The overall style of the apartment is very much inspired by our jobs (which are conveniently located by our home). He works at Dog Eared Books, a used bookstore, and I work at Paxton Gate, a store that sells plants, taxidermy, and beautiful objects inspired by nature and science. More

Name: Nina Bakos
Location: South East — Portland, Oregon
Size: Approximately 500 square feet
Years lived in: 2 — rented

Nina's job is to make objects fit into a space just right as a product merchandiser for Nike, so it's no surprise her studio is arranged with love, care and impeccable taste. Her biggest design inspiration? The aesthetic of her Finnish mother and Slovac father. Great style runs in the family.

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Name: Femi
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

My boyfriend and I grew up in Curacao (small island in the Caribbean) where the houses are big and have big yards. When we moved to Amsterdam, a big city, into a small apartment where we had to make it our "own".

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Name: Shelby Girard
Location: Gold Coast — Chicago, Illinois
Size: 375 square feet studio
Years lived in: 10 months, rented

When one lives in 375 square feet, every inch matters. What I love about Shelby's home is that despite her space limitations, she doesn't shy away from decoration. Artwork, textiles, collectibles and photos are thoughtfully chosen and carefully placed around her home, surrounding her daily life with memories and inspiration.

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