Name: Sarah Schmitz and Fred Gray
Location: Berkeley, California
Size: 1,200 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years; Owned

Plants make a house feel fresh. Just take a look at Sarah and Fred's leafy Berkeley abode. The beautiful one-bedroom house came with the Christmasy poinsettia out front, but the rows of potted succulents and happy houseplants are the result of Sarah's own green thumb.

Name: Rachel Loren — jewelry designer/co-owner at Loren Stewart
Location: Mount Washington; Los Angeles, California
Size: 2,500 square feet (19,000 square feet - lot)
Years lived in: 3 years

I originally saw Rachel Loren's yurt workspace on Tomboy Style and contacted her to get a tour of the rest of her home. I was not surprised to find that her house was just as awesome! It's up in the hills of Mount Washington, and has a very interesting history. 

Name: Mary Sprague
Profession: Artist and Art/Art History professor (retired)
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Size: 4500 square feet
Years lived in: 27 years; owned

Mary's home and studio is an aggregation of 50 years of art. An active and longtime member of the St. Louis artistic community, she's also one of those women you want to be when you're in your 70s — whip smart, creative and kind. While many of the features of her space can be described as utilitarian – even her bed is a twin — the luxury comes with the amount of space she has to work with, and how the light moves through it throughout the day.

Name: Shalyn Nelson
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 1,600 square feet (house)
Years lived in: 3 years

"When life gives you lemons, paint them gold." That's precisely what Shalyn did to create the workspace of her dreams in a home that needed some cheering up. Shalyn, a wedding photographer based in Austin, got creative with a limited budget to create an office every bit as bright as her beaming personality.

Name: Terri Falvey (Advertising copywriter, freelance graphic designer, daydream comedy writer) and Adam Penly (Software engineer, musician, amateur photographer)
Location: Albany Park; Chicago, Illinois
Size: 1,200+ square feet (townhouse w/ partially finished basement)
Years lived in: 1.5 years

You know how some couples are simply fun to be around and some homes are simply happy homes? Well, Terri and Adam are that kind of couple and their home is a happy one, a vibrant mix reflective of their creativity and love of design, with a few tips of the hat to the funny side of life, because after all, any happy home is filled with laughter. 

Name: Arden
Location: Oakland, CA
Room Size: 125 sq. ft.

When I first came across Arden's room, I was instantly smitten with her mother Reichel's design. It was so fresh with its combination of formal and whimsical elements, the black and white paired with warm wood tones, and a few pops of bright color. And of course, we can't forget the polka dot wall! Read on to learn more about Arden's white and black wonderland...

Name: Shell Azar
Location:  Greenwich Village, NYC
Size:  Started with 420 square feet; increased to 520 square feet (not including outdoor terrace)
Years lived in: 6 

Shell lives and works in this gorgeous studio space, which she recently transformed, with the help of architect James Vira, into an open and inviting place to call home. Materials are used in a way that's true to their nature, giving the studio an invigorating and creative feel. 

Names: Sacha (4) and Iris (2)
Location: Paris, France
Room Size: 15 square meters

High above the rooftops of Paris, Janette and Laurent created a colorful oasis where their two little children can dream. Ballerinas, garden gnomes, sleepy owls, and “very hungry caterpillars” form a magical mix that's just right for young imaginations to grow.

Name: Anna  & Ed Chipperfield 
Location: Oxford, England
Size: 2000 square feet
Years lived in: 3.5 years; owned

This beautiful townhouse in Oxford, England is home and workplace to Anna and Ed Chipperfield. Over the last few years, they have lovingly restored the house, maintaining its period details while adding contemporary elements like the spiral staircase and a modern kitchen. This melding of old and new is also reflected in a lively mix of antique and modern furniture. The Verner Panton chair sitting at a vintage writing desks sums the look up perfectly.

Name: TODA
Location: DUMBO; Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1,500 square feet
Years in business: 13 years

From the moment you walk into this workspace, you'll instantly feel the creative vibe. Its main features are soft light and breathtaking views of the Manhattan bridge. This is the home of TODA, a multidisciplinary design studio in Brooklyn with sensible style and a heart for well crafted design.