Pennsylvania

Alexander and Bobby ignored “resale value” rules when it came to renovating their 1900s townhouse in Pittsburgh. Instead, they filled the space with bold, joyful colors and painted every single wall.

Nearly everything in Michaella Becker’s Philadelphia rental is thrifted, DIYed, or trash-picked.

Anna Ladd didn’t want a home with all the history renovated out of it. But she also wanted “something updated enough that I wouldn’t be totally in over my head with first-time-homeowner DIYs.”

This second-floor apartment in a grand Victorian has gorgeous bay windows, and that’s where Ashley placed her bed. “I love waking up in my bed nuzzled between all the windows,” she writes. “It’s heaven.”

Katherine repainted all of the downstairs rooms, added peel-and-stick wallpaper, installed peel-and-stick tiles in the kitchen (to cover up a beige backsplash,) and used fabric on unfinished walls to create a style she describes as "moody, exuberant, colorful, often messy."

Justin Hollinger describes this 1939 Cape Cod house before purchasing it as "[t]ired, run-down, layers of questionable DIY, unfinished projects, cheap fixes."

This rental apartment before Madeline Warshaw moved in was “sad, drab, landlord special.” Not anymore!

The built-in planter in the entryway was a huge draw for Lauren and Mark, who got a friend to add a vintage mural, too.

See inside a rental that transformed from a “completely empty, all-gray, kinda crusty box” to a “Lisa Frank and Y2K vibe.”

Kevin Boyle and Mac Francis' townhome is filled with a collection of secondhand gems, and they needed the storage to display it all!

Mixed materials (inspired by Kelly Wearstler) blend seamlessly with the couple’s lush greenery.

Tour the Philadelphia rowhome of artist and designer Mitch Wiesen, who cleaned, caulked, and painted to update their home.

It’s now a colorful, eclectic space for their family and two cats.

Cara and her dog, Sterling, share this small studio apartment in Philadelphia’s Center City neighborhood.

It's a "creative homebody's safe space" for Chaereen Pak and her two cats.

With creative furniture placement and storage solutions, Ashley's place came together perfectly despite only being 450 square feet.

Heather Davis is the Design Director of Concept, Print & Color at Urban Outfitters, and her home is a mish-mashed, cluttercore mix of textiles, cool chairs, and thrifted finds.

The colorful, retro tiles in Sidney and Brandon's rental apartment's bathroom were taken from a train station in Philadelphia during the '80s... and the vibrant tiles were even used for the baseboards around the main space, too!

Danielle and her family searched Facebook Marketplace for almost all of the furniture for their small cabin, including a full dining set for only $100! "We also upcycled all of our lighting. We kept most of the lighting original to the cottage and just painted and rewired it," she explains.

"Being a natural light photographer I have this strong appreciation for the conversation the sun has in a space," writes Taylor Baldwin of her 800-square-foot Philadelphia rental apartment.

Amanda Hicks says her two-level rental apartment is tiny, but just perfect for herself and her dog, Harlow. "I've surrounded us with books, plants, and positive vibes," she writes.

Emma Chasen and fiancée Carolyn Chernous' home is a mix of eclectic, maximalist, Art Deco, retro-inspired styles, and a TON of hand-painted DIY colorful murals.

Photographer turned novelty chandelier maker, Adam Wallacavage, has completely transformed his South Philadelphia brownstone, filling it with Victorian style furniture, DIY plaster elements, funky art, oceanic sculptures, his own incredible octopus chandeliers, and more. This house is Halloween ready no matter the time of year.

After her divorce, Erin got rid of most of her belongings for a fresh start. Her Philadelphia cottage gives her the space to huddle with friends during cold months and maximize what's most important to her.

Built in 1920, this rental rowhome's builder-grade renovation stripped it of its original character, but renters Bryce and Stefan have been on a mission to "inject some love and character back into the space."

Photographer Kat Malo only had a few plants when she moved in, but when she saw how well they were doing in this light-filled space, she fully embraced being a plant parent and now has over 50.

Amanda and Dan moved from California to Pennsylvania in April 2020, eventually buying this farmhouse with lots of architectural character.

The finished result features mirrored tiles in the kitchen, transparent closet doors, and other unique ideas.

Lots of furniture in Tiffany, Joseph, and Ashley's rental rowhome is salvaged, found, or antiqued.

Liz S. and her daughter Olivia share this Pittsburgh rental apartment that's filled with a beautiful yet budget mix of decor from thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace, along with a few splurges like Panton chairs.

Every room in this old Philadelphia house got an affordable upgrade, and the result is a bright, cheery home absolutely PACKED with home makeover inspiration!

This art teacher and museum educator draws inspiration from "estate sales in untouched time capsule houses, old magazines, and period movie and TV show sets" for decorating her own 1970s Philadelphia house.

Zach and Hugh are “interior design enthusiasts, home renovation-attempters, and backyard chicken dads” and run the popular blog and Instagram account This Yunky House.

Sourya has completely transformed the 600-square-foot Philadelphia rental apartment she shares with her husband, DIYing everything from the renter-friendly kitchen refresh to furniture that looks much more expensive that it actually is.

Decorating her home is an outlet for her creative energy and most of the brightly colored paintings scattered throughout the space are her own.

Sue Eggen is an artist and creative director at Urban Jungle, shares this Philadelphia home with and writer and librarian Nathaniel Eddy.

And we bet you'll think so, too.

Jawaria and her family—husband Jibin and four children Zayn (almost 17), Sayf (14), Zoya (11), and Sophia (6)—beautifully and successfully share a very small rental apartment.

The unit’s arched windows, exposed beams, and rustic brick are charming, and the building’s location can't be beat—just steps away from art galleries, cozy cafes, and the nation’s oldest residential street.

Valerie Green's house was renovated just before she bought it, but it wasn’t her style, so she's spent the past few years updating without undergoing too many major renovations.

There are smart storage ideas... as well as one of the cutest jewelry storage ideas maybe ever.

Chelsea and Warren's home—a two-story apartment in the Olde Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia—is perfectly reflective of the merging of their two lives.

This whole home's remodel came together in an organic, emotional, and beautiful way.

This designer has created an utterly gorgeous minimal retreat in Philadelphia.

According to professional organizer Janet M. Taylor, one of the most common misconceptions about getting your home in order is that once you get organized, you're done.

After buying the house, this couple had a 30-day remodel marathon putting in all new hardwood flooring, painting just about every surface, replacing light fixtures and more.

An adventurous family remodeled this 115-year-old Victorian house to have comfy, modern farmhouse vibes. And they did most of the work themselves!

Digital and experiential brand designer Melissa Alam lives in an 1800-square-foot loft, where she also hosts events like the annual conference for women called FearlessCon.

Name: Lauren and Alex Chapin Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned 4 years Lauren, of Circle G Designs, shares this Pittsburgh home with her husband Alex. Though their tastes tend toward a more modern feel, Lauren believes in respecting the architecture of a house, so their home is a blend of their style and classic elements, the result of which is a simple, classic yet contemporary space.

Lauren and Alex’s Pittsburgh home is mid-century modern, but also features lots of traditional elements. In order to highlight some of these classic details, the couple chose to fill their home with traditional furniture and modern accents—a combination that represents their tastes. If you love both classic and modern pieces, use the shopping sources below to get the look in your home.

A lot fits into this 550 square foot Philly rental: a drool-worthy fireplace, brick walls, hip furniture and tons of plants.

Name: Michelle and Alex Gage Location: Havertown, Pennsylvania Size: 2000 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned “Everything needed to go!” That’s how interior designer Michelle Gage describes the Havertown house she and her husband bought three years ago. Because it’s in the suburbs, they were able to get more for their money — 2000 square feet — but Michelle reports that though large, it was, well, hideous. And she means all of it.

Name: Jen Nolan Location: Rittenhouse Square — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Size: Roughly 500 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting When Jen moved to Philadelphia from Washington, D.C., she didn’t have any connections in the real estate world. Like many young professionals, she turned to Craigslist. Thankfully, she stumbled across an ad for a beautiful studio apartment in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Philadelphia.

This is a home full of VERY unique reclaimed and salvaged materials.

Name: Jes and Caleb Plain Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Size: 1600 square feet Years Lived In: 9 months, owned Though they both grew up in Central Pennsylvania, Caleb and Jes have spent their entire relationship elsewhere. Nashville, Philadelphia, Los Angeles…and even a year on the road in an 18-foot travel trailer. This 1950s brick home in Lancaster is the first roots they’ve put down close to their families.

Name: Deanna Leone, Jessie Mademann (and Thurston & Shermie the cats) Location: Fishtown, Philadelphia Size: Large Loft Studio (don’t know the square foot) Years Lived In: 2.5 years, renting Fishtown is one of Philadelphia’s many booming neighborhoods, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a unique (and affordable!) home in the area. When you’re as creative as Jessie and Deanna, settling for a typical white-wall one-bedroom isn’t the ideal.

Name: Liz Sparacio Location: Northern Liberties — Philadelphia, Pennslyvania Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting Liz resides in a natural-light filled loft space that was origionally part of an old textile factory in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Name: Maddie Flanigan Location: Old City, Philadelphia Size: 500 square feet (approximately – slightly less) Years Lived In: 4 years, owned What’s old is new—that’s a theme that plays throughout every facet of Maddie Flanigan’s life. She is the founder of Madalynne Intimates, a Philadelphia-based lingerie brand (featuring bras, bralettes, undies and bodysuits that are made in the USA!

Name: Savannah and Zach Kolodziejski Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Size: 56.7 square feet / 259.68 cubic feet Years Lived In: Owned This rad retro 1976 Chevrolet van is more than just a home-away-from-home for Savannah and Zach. The couple was married this past summer in Palm Springs, California, and the van was both the groom’s method of getting to the wedding and their honeymoon suite on wheels after getting hitched!

Name: Maggie Smoller and family Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Size: 1,600 square feet Years Lived In: 4 years, owned Since the day we closed on this house four and a half years ago, we’ve been putting our stamp on it room by room. As self-proclaimed homebodies, there’s nothing we love more than staying in and getting cozy, and it was so important to create a home that we loved being in and living in.