apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

(Welcome to Smith from Chicago, one of the bloggers trying out for a place on the Apartment Therapy editorial team as a House Tour Contributor. Enjoy her work - comments welcome!)

Name: Erik (software engineer for Table XI) and Smith (Departmental Technician for Architecture and Design at the Art Institute of Chicago)
Location: Chicago, Prairie Avenue District
Size: 900 square foot one bedroom
Years lived in: 4 months

Erik and I are lucky enough to rent the Mother-In-Law unit in one of the eleven remaining Prairie Avenue historic homes. Having moved each year for the past 5 years, we have developed a simple yet comfortable style that easily adapts to different kinds of space.

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(Welcome to Abby from Toronto, one of the bloggers trying out for a place on the Apartment Therapy editorial team as a House Tour Contributor. Enjoy her work - comments welcome!)

Name: Amy, Stéphane, and their dog Henry
Location: Toronto
Size: 1800 square feet
Years lived in: 1/5 years

From the outside of their Victorian era semi-detached home that lies wedged between the slightly scruffy Parkdale and the über-hip, artist-filled West Queen West neighborhoods of Toronto, one would never guess what sort of curious surprises, beautiful vignettes, and inspired surroundings await visitors the moment they enter Amy and Stephane’s otherwise humble abode.

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Name: Sarah & Alex
Location: Columbia, Missouri

We fell in love with our rental's great architecture features the second we walked in. The house was built during the Civil War Era and still has its original hardwood floors! This is the first time my boyfriend and I have lived together, so we wanted a house we could call home, together. Unlike most men, he too likes interior design, so while we have had our battles (all over art!) we both take great pride in our home.

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Name: Jared
Location: Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Type: Guest House
Years lived in: Two

Jared is an American photographer who relocated to Indonesia to work on a long-term project photographing portraits in Bali. (To see his work, check out his recent exhibition at Tonyraka Gallery in Bali.) He found this amazing rental house in Ubud, the town made famous by Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, Eat, Pray, Love. If you're not jealous yet, you will be when you learn how much a house like this costs…

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Name: Mary
Location: Louisville, Kentucky

I am a Freshman in college. My parents announced this fall that they were selling the home that my siblings and I had grown up in. I took the news very hard. I had a very special room that was built for me when I was little. As a little kid, I never stayed in my bed. Every night, either my sister or my parents would find my tiptoeing in their room and tucking myself into their beds...

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Name: Sarah
Location: Duluth, Minnesota

A year ago we downsized our family of six's home massively so that both my husband and I could have more time to pursue our passions. We are both physicians and I had realized that design and self development were my passions......so we put our 6000 sf wonderful old home (with fancy acid washed marble countertops and glorious dining room to seat 16) on the market and found a foreclosed single level house that spacewise had everything we needed.

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Name: Mackenzie
Location: Chicago

I live with my sister in a condo on Michigan Ave. in Chicago. We live in the South Loop in a low-rise built in the late 90's - approximately 1,200 square feet - 2 bed, 2 bath. I'm 26 and have a degree in Interior Design (although am currently an Executive/Personal Assistant) and absolutely love decorating and scouting antique shops, estate sales, flea markets, etc...it's really my passion!

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Name: George and Sara Aye
Location: Logan Square, Chicago
Size: 1300 square feet
Years lived in: 1.5

George and Sara are a very creative Chicago couple. He is a creative director and she is a design researcher. In addition to their full-time work, they teach design innovation at the School of the Art Institute, and run a small travel apparel company called Hubwear. Whew! We love it when people are passionate about design.

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Name: Libby Alexander and Ryan McCarthy
Location: Andersonville, Chicago
Size: 1,200 sq. ft. 3 bedroom apartment in a 100 years old 2-flat
Years lived in: 3

Libby and Ryan live in a 100 year old 2-flat in northern Chicago, just a short throw from Wrigley Field. Their home is a treasure chest filled with surprises of all sorts. There's an iguana on the mantle, thrifted and salvaged pieces we could only dream of coming across, all in combination with some designer pieces and a plethora of plants. This is one house tour, loaded with pictures — you don't want to miss.

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Name: Kara
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma

My husband and I graduated from college 3 years ago, immediately bought a fixer-upper and began working. We started not knowing how to do anything- and have just finished with a wealth of knowledge and ton of experience.

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Names: Johnny & Stacie
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota

The space is located in a historic building in lowertown Saint Paul that has been the Tilsner Artist Cooperative for about 15 years and was built in the 1800's. We have lived in the space for a little over two years and love the exposed beams, tall ceilings, wood floors, and 1300 sqaure feet. Our style is eclectic and is a mix of modern and mid-century with a small collection of antiques for character and a few inexpensive, clean ikea pieces.

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Names: Jodi & David
Location: Evanston, IL

Our 1890’s historic Tudor is located 7 miles outside of Chicago. The home “looked like a haunted house” when we bought it five years ago, but is now an eclectic blend of vintage details, modern amenities and unique furniture.

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Name: Martha Mulholland and Ben Chappell
Location: Wicker Park, Chicago
Type: 1890s Victorian Brownstone
Size: 1700 sq ft
Years lived in: less than one

When designer and stylist Martha Mulholland left her native Kentucky to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she brought her southern roots with her. Her current home, shared with boyfriend and videographer Ben Chappell, is a mix of family heirlooms, estate sale finds, and the occasional stuffed bird or deer head from a Kentucky antique shop.

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Names: Kim & Scott
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Just over 2 years ago, we purchased our first "home" in Chicago. (Read: move-in ready condominium). With less than 650 square feet to play with, we knew we had a challenge on our hands, but we were ready. Being color lovers, our first project was to tackle those khaki walls with bright splashes of cool mints, punchy greens, and my favorite color for the bedroom - orange.

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