The Latest: 2011

Name: Alan Gonzalez Garcia, owner of new East Austin restaurant Papi Tino’s and Taco (the dog). Location: East — Austin, TexasSize: 2,500 square feetYears lived in: Owned 3 years Two things hit you first when you walk into Alan Gonzalez’s hip-looking East Austin home. One: Whoa! A black ceiling! And two: The realization that this is going to be one awesome house.

Name: Robbie LaughlinLocation: Hollywood near Runyon Canyon — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1,000 square feet, 1 Bedroom + 1 BathYears lived in: 6 years — Rent Robbie Laughlin, the E! News host, lives in an ideal mid-sized one bedroom home at the foot of Runyon Canyon. His building boasts classic floor plans and gorgeous city views. Tucked minutes away from the hustle of the city in the heart of Hollywood, this apartment’s location truly is the best of both worlds.

Name: Jesse Kamm (fashion designer) & Lucas Brower (founder of AP Academics) Location: Mt. Washington – Los Angeles, California Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: 1 1/2 years Jesse and Lucas’ home represents both their love of great design and a rather minimalist lifestyle.

Name: Peter and Blair Stocker, their two kids, and a kitty named Gracie.Location: North Seattle, WashingtonSize: 2500 square feetYears lived in: 10 years, owned Peter and Blair live in a sweet (and deceptively large) house, tucked away amongst giant, shady trees in the Greenwood area of Northern Seattle. The self-employed duo have been cultivating the home’s modern twist on traditional decor over the past ten years.

Name: The YardLocation: Long Island City, New YorkSize: 650-square-feet — 1-bedroom condo Modern Spaces has taken brokerage and marketing of new condos at the Yard to a new level. The model apartments benefit a long list of local artists and a female furniture design duo who transform salvaged wood scraps into signature pieces! Nightwood, the deconstructed furniture and textiles company, is very into modern rusticity.

Name: Tammy, John, Sam, Will, and Dobbs Location: Gulf Islands, British Columbia Size: 180 square feetYears lived in: One (mostly on weekends) Before I get started with this tour, I cannot emphasize this enough: My husband and I are not rich and we are not particularly handy. Heck, we’re not even all that smart. This latter fact was probably the driver behind why two people with little money and even fewer skills would even attempt to build a cabin on an isolated island with no amenities.

Name: Giovan and Chloe PolancoLocation: Fashion District — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize:865 square feetYears lived in: 1.5 years — rent Giovan and Chloe have embraced their downtown converted loft for all its natural light and a spacious floor plan. Using a bit of creativity and elbow grease, these two have creatively added DIY charm to their home by building their own closet and coffee table. Their style is a mix of vintage and estate sale chic put to good use in an urban loft.

Name: Jay Michael Location: Lincoln Square — Chicago, IllinoisSize: Approximately 300 square feet (this particular model) Jay Michael and his construction manager (and long time friend) Diana Tokat led me on a recent tour of this small yet mighty Lincoln Square model apartment in one of Jay’s converted rental properties. The idea is simple: show prospective renters how beautifully and efficiently one can live in a small, rented space.

Name: Sandra Location: Brentwood — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 2,400 square feetYears lived in: 8 months — Own Months ago I was visiting interior designer Craig Olsen at his showroom on La Brea. In the corner window, he had a gorgeous black and white striped couch on display. He told me how he had custom upholstered it for his client Sandra’s new home. After almost a year of residence, Sandra welcomes us to her new Brentwood abode.

Name: Kelly ReemtsenLocation: Downtown — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 3600 square feetYears lived in: 11 years — rented When you enter Kelly’s loft you are taken aback by its enormity, the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, great lighting, bright colors, incredible art and mid-century charm. Kelly is an artist in Los Angeles who has lived in her space for over a decade and is one of my dearest friends.

Name: Beatrice Valenzuela (shoe designer and hairdresser) & Ramsey Conder (clay modeler for Tesla Motors) Location: Echo Park – Los Angeles, California Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year A good friend, Kathryn Bentley, suggested I tour Beatrice and Ramsey’s unique and well decorated Echo Park home. From the moment I walked through the door I knew their place was very special. There were no barriers between the indoor and outdoor areas.

Name: Harper and Caleb Carnes with Piper the PomeranianLocation: Dalton, GeorgiaSize: 2000 square feetYears lived in: Own — 9 months Sure, we used the word “sophisticated” in the title because it pairs so cheerfully with the word “Southern,” but make no mistake; the Georgia home of cute couple Harper and Caleb might be grown-up and good-looking, but it’s also bold, bright, adventurous, fun and full of inspiring ideas and enviable thrift store finds.

Name: Amy & Greg Strunk, their brand new baby, Graham, and their two kittens, Pips and Fawkes Location: Penderbrook (Fairfax, VA)Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 ½ baths on 4 floorsYears lived in: owned 4 years I didn’t even have to look at the house number to find Amy and Greg’s home on photo shoot day— as soon as I saw the flowers and foliage cascading down the front steps I knew I had arrived. Knowing that Amy is a landscape designer, that part was a giveaway.

Name: Rich and Emily and their daughterLocation: Somerville, MassachusettsSize: 2000 square feetYears lived in: 3 — owned I tend to be a little Jamaica Plain-centric with my house tours so it’s always fun when I scooch on over to the other side of the river for a house tour. Rich and Emily’s Somerville home was well worth the trek! Their condo includes the second and third floor of a two-family house.

Name: AnuLocation: Seattle, Washington My home is like a canvas bringing my thoughts to life. Its a haven for me and my family. I love to decorate my home with things that have a special meaning for me. In my home silver treasures go together with a few sea shells from a memorable trip to the beach.I believe that one should not be afraid to blend different styles and colors as it will all come together to create the”look” thats all yours!

Name: Cody, Kamie & Sophia RasmussenLocation: North Beach — Seattle, WashingtonSize: 2240 square feetYears lived in: 5 — rown Cody, a graphic designer and owner of the custom furniture shop Modgrain, his realtor wife, Kamie, and their daughter, Sophia, have settled into one of the hidden gem neighborhoods of Seattle.

Name: Noa Azoulay-Sclater & Stuart SclaterLocation: Spring Valley — San Diego, CASize: Home: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. 1100 sq ft, built in 1951. Studio: about 300 sq ft. Shed-to-studio remodel in 2010.Years lived in: 2 yrs — owned A suburban corner of San Diego’s Spring Valley neighborhood feels more like Laurel Canyon in its bohemian heyday, at least at the midcentury house owned by Noa Azoulay-Sclater, a photographer, and her husband Stuart Sclater, a musician.

Name: Shannon KayeLocation: San Mateo — just south of San Francisco, CaliforniaSize: 1,000 square feetYears lived in: 6 years — rent Shannon Kaye, a Bay Area interior designer is “making room for more”. With years of experience in the design industry and host on the DIY Network, she opens up her personal home to share her ideas with us. She has used a rich palette of textures and color to bring out the charm of her DIY home.

Name: Emily StearsLocation: Zurich, Switzerland                        Size/Room: 161 sq. ft.

Name: Michael Yates, furniture designer and founder of Michael Yates DesignLocation: South — Austin, TexasSize: 800 square feet studioYears lived in: Rent 6 years It’s evident upon walking into the studio of furniture designer Michael Yates that this is a guy with a whole heap of style.