Name: Brad, Julie and Rye Olcott
Location: Dolores Heights, San Francisco, California
Size: 2,500 sq feet (not including 1st floor studio)
Years lived in: 3 years; owned

Your home says a lot about you, and the home that Brad and Julie have created speaks volumes about their artistic sensibilities and love of clean and bright spaces. Their sunny Victorian home, situated in Dolores Heights, San Francisco, is warm, modern, welcoming, and filled with art, as befits the home of an artist whose work can be seen all over the city and will soon be featured in the new San Francisco Transbay Center. 

Name: Pacific Helm HQ
Location: San Francisco, CA
Size: 150 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year

One hundred and fifty square feet. That's smaller than some master bathrooms or walk-in closets. So how do you fit four people to work within such tight quarters? Like an ocean-faring vessel, the small office of San Francisco design studio, Pacific Helm, has been optimized for their "crew" of four...but also get it all done in comfortable, vibrant nautical style!

Name: Molly and Tyler King
Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles, California
Size: 680 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years; Owned

I first met Molly and Tyler years ago when I tagged along with a friend to their Labor Day barbecue, and since then, I've watched them welcome countless friends into their charming Eastside home. They're the quintessential Los Angeles couple; she's a successful actress and he's a coffee connoisseur and co-owner of the very popular Coffee Commissary.      

Name: Mae (10) and Marius (8)
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Room Size: 2 bedrooms, 250-300 square feet

When Marius goes to his friend's house, he's not allowed to eat strawberries near the kitchen counters for fear of staining. Marius' parents, Sophie and Michael, have a wildly different approach to homemaking and kid raising and fun is a big part of it. 

Name: Sophie and Michael
Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York
Size: Full corner brownstone with rental unit
Years lived in: 3 years; Owned

Sophie and Michael live with their two kids in a sprawling Brooklyn brownstone. Rather than fill it with a lot of new stuff, they've scoured auctions and curbsides, bartered with artists, stumbled upon floor samples and discontinued items, adapted family heirlooms, and built their own furniture. 

Name: Frank Novak, Co-owner of Modernica
Location: Franklin Hills, Los Angeles, California
Size: 1,800 square feet
Years lived in: 18 years

You may have met Frank at his store, Modernica, or you may have seen him running around during the craziness of their factory sale downtown. Those who have had the pleasure of meeting him know that he is very knowledgable about collecting antiques, Mid-Century furniture, and California design. 

Name: Alexis Tompkins and Ian Mesey
Location: Inner Richmond, San Francisco, California
Size: 850 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year; Rented

As a designer, Alexis views her home as a platform for experimentation. It’s also an opportunity for her and Ian to let their inner funkiness shine. They are art collectors and creative spirits, and have embraced the idea of accumulating meaningful decor that they love to shape their home. We first saw their apartment in 2012's Small Cool contest, and now we're back for more!

Name: Pippi
Location: NSW Australia
Room Size: 172 sq. feet

When I came across the space that Emily had created for her daughter, Pippi, I was instantly smitten by the playful patterns and vibrant colors. Her goal was to create a fun and flamboyant space for her toddler, and I'd say she hit the nail on the head. The room exudes the playfulness and joy of childhood. Read on to learn more about this whimsical wonderland:

Name: Sarah and Brian Meeks      
Location: Homewood, Illinois
Size: 1,000 square feet
Years lived in: 1.5 years; owned

Nearly everything in Sarah and Brian's house – from the credenza they found on the side of the road right down to their three cuddly shelter pets – has been rescued or re-purposed. In many ways, the house itself was a rescue story: Sarah grew up two houses away, and when the house went on the market, they snatched it up despite the fact that it was, to put it mildly, in less than peak condition. The first night in the house, they tore down a wall, and since then, they've poured countless hours and lots of love into fixing up their home.