British Columbia

The bedroom is giving serious magazine vibes, thanks to green limewashed walls and a six-foot-tall DIY mirror. And the owners made a design choice that everyone (even the painters!) was skeptical about at first.

La Carmina is a blogger about “Japan cute culture, travel and design” and her small apartment’s design puts a “personal kawaii (cute Japan) spin on Mid-Century Modern.”

Rhea knows a thing or two about living in a small space; she’s made a stylish but functional home in this 420-square-foot studio apartment.

Esther has poured her soul into this little apartment by “planning, painting, and installing cabinets, shelves, and a finicky wall desk.”

Including wood floors with a patterned inlay, antique glass doors with brass hardware, arched doorways, intricate moldings, cast iron radiators, and a mauve-tiled fireplace.

See inside this full-of-life Vancouver rental apartment that brings in character with thrifted furniture.

Musician Mathew V has moved five times in the last six years in “search of a home that felt like just that: home.” He’s found it here in this polished condo he shares with his partner, Justin.

David and Mitzi spend their summers on Shuswap Lake. "We are foodies, book lovers, and travelers, and we enjoy hosting family and friends. We are active and outgoing; we love nature, and so a summer home on the lake is a dream come true," Mitzi writes.

Victoria Ashley is the founder and creative director of Laundry Day, a design-forward glassware and smoking accessories brand. She rents this historic life/work loft in Victoria that's filled with cool, stylish, and intentional furniture and decor objects.

Tessa started Tessa Ariane Design, which focuses on affordable design work, in "response to how out of touch the interior design industry can be with what most folks actually need. We are all impacted by our environments, and I really believe we need to prioritize providing solutions for renters, folks in small spaces, and within realistic budgets that don’t leave anyone behind," she says.

Lifestyle blogger and interior designer Jessica-Sara Morris turned a small dark rental into a cozy, clean, inspiring space.

Name: Dani, Dave & Freddy (4 years old) Valentine Location: Coquitlam, British Columbia Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; owned The Valentines live in Coquitlam, British Columbia which is about 25 minutes outside of Vancouver. You may remember from awhile back Dani’s House Call of their Scandinavian, minimalist inspired home. I had to get the chance to see this home for myself and trekked out for a visit to explore this family’s beautiful, clutter-free space.

Name: Fiona Morrison, owner of Wolf Circus Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Size: 850 square feet Years Lived In: 1 year, owned While she was still at British Columbia’s University of Victoria, entrepreneur Fiona Morrison founded Wolf Circus, “a line of demi-fine jewelry thoughtfully designed and hand fabricated in Vancouver, BC.

Name: Gillian and Mark Location: Vancouver, BC Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 6 Months; Rented Mark, an electrical engineer, and Gillian Stepping into Mark and Gillian’s apartment felt like stepping into a quiet country home. Their home is just tucked away enough to escape the busy city life most people in Vancouver are used to. The building has an amazing view of the ocean and mountains, and their home is often filled with a wonderful sea breeze.

Names: Jag Nagra, Agata Matyszcuk and their two dogs Location: Port Coquitlam — British Columbia, Canada Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; Owned “When Agata and I decided to move in (and purchase our first home together), we went to visit a new townhouse development on a lazy weekend on a whim,” begins Jag. “As soon as we walked in, we knew we had to live there. It was the only place we visited in person and it was exactly what we wanted.

Name: Laura and Tyler Location: Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, British Columbia Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented This artists’ dwelling is filled to the brim with light that pours through the windows at every turn. It conjures a sense of space through dramatic restraint, a play on traditional minimalism.

Name: Dan, resident engineer at Vancouver’s The Space Studios; Tegan, co-creator of Treasures and Travels Location: Mount Pleasant; Vancouver, British Columbia Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Located in the heart of Mount Pleasant, Tegan and Dan stumbled upon this tucked away corner unit in one of Vancouver’s finest heritage buildings.