The Latest: Oct 2010

Name: Anthony Franco, Clothing Designer and Wardrobe Stylist and Gregory Metcalf, Wardrobe Stylist and Pillow DesignerLocation: Silver Lake — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1,782 square feet — 4 bedrooms & 3 bathroomsYears lived in: 5 years My friend told me about Anthony and Gregory’s home and I welcomed the opportunity to check out a 1912 restored Craftsman home in Silver Lake.

Name: CarolineLocation: Columbia Heights — Washington, DCSize: 475 square feetYears lived in: 1.5 years — rented Studio apartments are tricky in their own right, and studios where the only windows are on one wall are even more so. Add in renter’s white walls, precarious plaster, and a lilliputian kitchen and you’ve got yourself what could easily become a design disaster.

Name: Jessica & Scott O’BrienLocation: Robertson / Pico area — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 750 square feetYears lived in: 3 years — rented From my own experience, moving in with your significant other can be tricky, especially if your decorating tastes are not aligned (we’re polar opposites). But what I absolutely loved about Scott and Jessica’s home is how they seamlessly managed to display one another’s interests through the decor.

Name: Lisa & Dan and their 2 childrenLocation: Bedford, New HampshireSize: 6,200 square feet (including a small in-law apartment not pictured)Years lived in: 10 — owned Lisa and Dan moved into this outstanding farmhouse 10 years ago after living in a modern home made mostly of glass. It is clear from the first few steps inside that there is no shortage of modern amenities here — but when Lisa re-designed and re-structured this home, she did so with a reverence for the past.

Name: Douglas McClellan and Matthew LeeLocation: Lakeview — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 900 square feetYears lived in: 2 months — rented When Douglas and Matthew were looking for their first apartment together, they knew it had to be amazing. As design fanatics, they wanted a home that had enough architectural appeal without sacrificing size or location.

Name: Laurel HarringtonLocation: Mill Valley — CaliforniaSize: 1,800 square foot cottage with guest barnYears lived in: 10 — owned From the first day Laurel Harrington moved into her hillside Mill Valley cottage, she had her mind set on one thing: creating a space that was cheerfully chic. Laurel, an interior designer by trade, started her company, Harrington Design, in 2002 and has been creating lovely interior spaces every since.

Name: James WurmLocation: Pilsen — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 860 square feetYears lived in: 1+ — rented In just over a year, James has transformed this storefront space into a livable, exciting stomping ground for cooking, socializing, and sharing.

Name: Bruce and Melanie RosenbaumLocation: Sharon, MassachusettsSize: 4 bedrooms, 5000 square feetYears lived in: 10 — owned Steampunk means different things to different people, but to Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum whose home is a perfect whimsical ode to the style, it means fusing a modern sensibility with industrial antiques from the Victorian period to create a space that showcases the couple’s passion for antiquing, history, art, and technology.

Name: Ryan and Susan HayesLocation: Williston, VermontSize: Approximately 1550 sq. feet plus finished basementYears lived in: less than one On a quiet dirt road not far from Burlington, Vermont, Ryan and Susan Hayes have put a spin on farmhouse living. Inspired by Ryan’s own great grandparent’s home, they built a traditional Vermont-style house tweaked with their own modern aesthetic. This included some of the latest technologies in green building.