The Latest: Feb 2019

Name: Micah Clasper-Torch, designer and artist Location: Bed-Stuy — Brooklyn, New York Size: 260 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Tours photographed on rainy days always have a way of making me extra aware of the true coziness of a place. Micah’s space contains within in it such a wonderful sense of who she is and the things that make her happy and productive.

Name: Caro Ritchie of Corita Rose Location: Shaftesbury; Dorset, UK Size: 400 square feet Years in business: 4 years Caro Ritchie’s studio, located in the heart of one of Britain’s most ancient towns, is an explosion of riotous color and bold prints. Stepping inside is a bit like cracking open a piñata and releasing the colorful candies and confetti in its centre.

Name: Will, Rebekah, & Liam Hasting Location: Paris, France Size: 1,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms Years lived in: 8 Months In Paris’ 14th arrondissement, not far from the Place Denfert-Rochereau, is a little family home with a lovely view.

Name: Irma Zandl and Brad Kahlhamer Location: Lower East Side, Manhattan; New York, New York Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 20 years; Owned Light, open and airy, Irma’s Manhattan loft feels like an oasis in the heart of downtown. Upon entering, it is immediately clear that the art that fills this home has all been chosen with a strong eye for talent and a great love of the work. To spend time in this gorgeous space is at once calming and inspiring.

Name: Gigi Eligoloff, editor of Gransnet, her husband John and their children Kit and Delphi Location: Barnes; Southwest London, UK Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 and half years; owned When the money for Gigi’s kitchen fund was stolen, she didn’t despair. She got straight onto Gumtree (UK’s answer to Craiglist) and tracked down another kitchen at a fraction of the price.

Name: Carlos E. Fernández-Dieppa Location: Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York Size: 670 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; rented Carlos Fernández takes the expression “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” to a whole other level. Carlos is a resourceful and highly intelligent designer who never lets a single item go to waste. His custom pieces are thoughtful and functional, with a playful flair.

Name: Myka + Georges Haddad Location: Laurel Heights — San Francisco, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, rented Myka of the blog Modern Sequins shows us how great style can translate from fashion to the home. With pieces collected from years of event styling and her signature sparkle throughout, the apartment that she calls home with her husband George is only out-shined by one thing… …Her wardrobe!

Name: Laurence Guilloud & Fabrice Le Dantec, photographer and journalist for the blog L’Instant Parisien Location: Paris, 9ème Size: 755 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; Rented One minute you’re in a busy shopping district, and then you turn into a quiet side street and find yourself in front of Laurence and Fabrice’s building.

Name: Sophia Hansjacob Location: 11th arrondissement, Paris, France Size: 355 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Sophia Hansjacob lives in what might be the perfect Paris apartment. This little flat has it all: beautiful details, huge casement windows, wood floors (in the bedroom), and the very best part: a balcony with a view over the rooftops of Paris.

Name: Kelly Furman Location: Graceland West; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; owned Kelly is a colorful person, vibrant in personality and exuberant in spirit. Her home, which she affectionately calls the “tree house,” captures the poise, humor, and grace with which she approaches the world, but it does so with an understated elegance.

Name: Jeff and Erin Mooney, and Hank the dog Location: Rice University Area, Houston, Texas Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Erin and Jeff’s apartment, which occupies the second floor of a duplex in a neighborhood not far from Rice University, has all the spaciousness you would expect from a much larger home. They’ve judiciously filled their home with just enough furniture to make things cozy, while still leaving the space room to breathe.

Name: Zainab Ahmed and husband Farhan Ahmed (and for six months of the year, Farhan’s mom who divides her time between Pakistan and here) Location: Business Bay, Dubai Years lived in: Renting 3 years The rental apartment Zainab shares with her husband (and an occasional visiting mother-in-law) is considered large by local Dubai standards.

Name: Beth Puscheck, owner of Blue Cottage Hill Location: Villa Park, Illinois Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; owned Who else lives here: Beth’s boyfriend & their dog, Aaron A professional beautician by day, Beth’s always had an eye for style. And from the moment she and her boyfriend bought their 1926 cottage in the Chicago suburb of Villa Park only 6 months ago, she’s been taking her talent home and completely transforming the formerly uninspired space.

Name: Jake Pedziwiatr and Bridget Mahoney Location: Whittier, Denver, CO Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; owned Around town, Bridget is know as one of Denver’s best barbers. To her friends and Instagram followers she is known as the queen of power tools, master of weekend DIY projects, and just a plain bad-ass.

Name: Abigail Ahern, her husband Graham Scott, Mungo the miniature schnauzer, and Maude the Welsh terrier Location: Dalston; London, UK Size: 2,200 square feet Years lived in: 13 years Imagine if Vermeer and Rousseau got to share a canvas, the Dutchman filling it with his trademark dark interiors, soft light filtering in through a window, and the Frenchman adding lush ferns, copious flowers, birds and animals peeking through the foliage.

Name: Jim and Laura Nelson Location: College Hill, Providence, Rhode Island Size: 3,400 square feet Years lived in: 4 1/2 years; owned There had been no talk of moving in the Nelson family when a house in Providence caught Laura’s eye in the newspaper one Saturday in 2009. Pictures of the sun-drenched kitchen and unusually large backyard jumped off the page. And the charming College Hill colonial, built in 1772, was a mere two blocks from Laura’s childhood home.

Name: Caro Ritchie of Corita Rose, her husband Josh and their three children Blue, Tiger and Kit. Location: A village near Shaftsbury; Dorset, UK Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 21 years The Ritchie’s family home in a former-brewery in rural Dorset is a riot of color and pattern. You may remember Caro Ritchie from Corita Rose’s Vibrant and Colorful Studio, where she creates bold and brilliant fabrics under the name Corita Rose.

Name: Mike and Lea of The Casa Pino Location: Arlington, Virginia Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; renting Creative husband and wife duo Mike and Lea Pino met in New York several years ago, and have been working together and designing up beautiful modern textiles with their business The Casa Pino ever since. So it comes as no surprise the same fun aesthetic they put into their collection is reflected in their equally stylish home.

Name: Nikki Witherspoon-Whited, owner of East West Vintage Rentals (with husband Steve and children Atlas and Rosie) Location: West Asheville; Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1350 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; rented Artfully styled scenes of found objects can be discovered at every turn in Nikki’s delightful 1920s bungalow. The vintage treasures, once covered in dust, shine again as they join a new family of modern furnishings and accessories.

Name: Kristoffer Keul and Carrie Bloomston Location: Phoenix, Arizona Size: 1,750 square feet Years lived in: 14 years; Owned Kristoffer Keul and Carrie Bloomston are on a mission to enable creativity, and their home is the center of operations. Carrie has a book that helps people find their creative spark.

Name: Chris Corrado and Jenny Kaplan Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: Chris 7 years / Jenny 10 months It’s not often that I walk into someone’s home and feel instantly inspired. To begin, the combination of their two separate styles merge effortlessly. Their home is filled with bold and unique pieces that are beautiful yet practical for everyday use.

Name: Dena Fields and Punkin the English Bulldog Location: East Nashville; Nashville, TN Size: 570 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Rented Dena’s home is her retreat, her sanctuary. It is filled with items that nourish her mind and spirit. From her vibrant paintings to her collected items, everything has a story. A story of family, travel, and friendship. The duplex Dena lives in has beautiful hardwood floors and thick plaster walls.

Name: Katie and Matt with their cats, Fritz & Pepper Location: Washington Heights, New York City Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Katie 2.5 years, Matt 6 years; Rented When Katie moved into her two bedroom home in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, she had her work cut out for her. At the time it was occupied by her fiancé and two roommates—the living room doing double duty as common space and as a bedroom.

Name: Tanya Lacourse Location: New Hampshire Size: First floor of a two-family home; Tanya’s part is 1100 square feet, and there’s also a large yard. Years lived in: 5 years When Tanya purchased this little house in New Hampshire five years ago, she had no idea of the time, elbow grease, and persistence it would take to make it into a home. But persist she did. And after all the hard work, Tanya has a ton of renovating experience — and a beautiful place to call home.

Name: Robyn and Drew Location: Logan Square; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: 5 months Robyn and Drew’s vintage graystone apartment is filled with more than just cool-looking pieces, it’s filled with original vintage finds and soul for days. They choose their belongings thoughtfully and they take their time; they scour Craigslist and local vintage stores—they celebrate secondhand furniture for its craftsmanship and unique style.

Name: Marie-Lyne and Karlo Location: Villeray; Montreal, Canada Size: 575 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; owned We settled in an up-and-coming neighborhood where young families and first-time buyers choose to live for its affordability and convenience. Our condo is near Jean-Talon market and is surrounded by trendy coffee shops, fashionable restaurants and local boutiques.

Name: Lauren & Mikko Location: Punavuori; Helsinki, Finland Size: 473 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; owned When Lauren and Mikko bought their 473 square foot apartment two years ago, they completely renovated the entire space to create the most efficient layout possible. So despite the small footprint, this bright Helsinki apartment feels spacious, and is chock-full of personal touches.

Name: Darlene Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 23 years; owned Darlene lives in a ranch on the north side of Grand Rapids, within walking distance of Riverside Park. The neighborhood’s wide, winding streets are lined with unique houses – and Darlene’s home, with her collection of original art, is no exception.

Name: Becky and Jordan Location: Northeast Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; owned Becky and Jordan live in a 1986 tri-level in northeast Grand Rapids. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood about five miles from downtown, the location is a happy medium for a couple from the country who wanted to be close to downtown, but not in the middle of downtown. Becky, an interior designer, is always thinking of renovation projects.

Name: Holley, Dining Editor for the Washington Post Express, and Audrey Location: Mt. Pleasant, Washington DC Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; renting One can only imagine the stream of fun ideas and shared secrets that two cool, creative women who are equally inspired by the Anthropologie-meets-Kinfolk aesthetic must dream up.

Name: Beth-Anne Thomas & Arron Thomas Location: Parkdale; Toronto, Canada Size: 2100 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 1 year This gregarious couple is as well-known for their masterful ability to get the party started as they are for their frequent participation in charitable events.

Name: Saara Helkala Location: Helsinki, Finland Size: 430 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; rented Just beyond the small, shadowy entryway to Saara’s loft-style apartment, daylight beckons through two grand windows on the main wall of the living space. While the natural light in Saara’s apartment—during the months that the sun actually shines in Helsinki—is really remarkable, it’s just one of the many inviting things about her space.

Location: Austin, Texas Size: 960 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Candice is an amazing Austin-based stylist and sells a collection of her vintage finds on her online shop, Oh Fox Creative. Everything she salvages has a story and her home is filled with them, too! Her classic taste is showcased through her vintage hints and globe trotting finds. Keep an eye out for her one of a kind must-haves and take a peek at her ‘found’ rugs. They’re all works of art.

Name: Nyakinyua Gill, Ivan Iricanin, and Baby Vuk Location: Howard University-Shaw; Washington DC Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Owned Nyakinya Gill (affectionately known as Nya) and her husband Ivan Iricanin are no strangers to the interior design industry. Ivan is an international restaurateur, with award-winning venues in Washington, DC, New York City, and Serbia, and Nya has played lead interior designer to some of these establishments.

Name: Lauren Svenstrup of Studio Sven Location: Andersonville; Chicago, Illinois Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 2 years When Lauren’s House Call was featured this summer, readers were intrigued by her wonderful mix of vintage and modern, so I was thrilled when Lauren gave an enthusiastic “yes” for a full tour. On my recent visit to Lauren’s home, I was inspired by the distinct yet harmonious moods and tones she’s achieved in one relatively small space.

Name: MICHI Atelier Location: Liberty Village, Toronto Size: 825 square feet Years occupied: 1 year Cutting-edge fashion designer Michelle Watson’s MICHI athletic wear is probably the most fashionable fitness apparel you’ve ever laid eyes on.

Name: Erin and Chris Location: Heritage Hill; Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; rented Erin and Chris like to keep things simple and neat. Upon entering their home, I was impressed by the lack of clutter. No piles of mail, no stacks of books, no leaning towers of magazines. That’s because the couple is wise about storage. They purchased iconic IKEA furniture pieces with clean, simple lines and lots of storage.

Name: Elise Becker Location: Franklin, North Carolina Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; owned An old house with lots of original charm is now a groovy and colorful dreamboat filled with vintage objects and funky heirlooms. If you thought the days of orange, green, and yellow were long gone, a tour of this sweet sixties throwback will show you that they still live on, and are as fantastic as ever. Elise is a sunny and funny gal, and her spirit shines through in her whimsical home.

Name: Kim Laidlaw Location: Paris, France Size: 40 square meters (approx. 430 square feet) Years lived in: 5 years Kim, a freelance writer and the author of Unlock Paris, an insider’s guide to the City of Light, may be an import from London, but her home feels quintessentially Parisian. It’s small by American standards — only 430 square feet — but blessed with floor-to-ceiling french doors that open onto a balcony which overlooks the city.

Name: Kaisa and Otto Location: Käpylä; Helsinki, Finland Size: 441 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned There are a few things that one expects when stepping into a Finnish apartment—a row of shoes by the door, labeled towels racks in the bathroom, and at least a few Finnish design staples. Kaisa and Otto’s home certainly ticks all of those boxes, but when it comes to showcasing Finnish design staples, they have gone above and beyond.

Name: Nick and Lizzie Johnson Location: Meatpacking District / Chelsea, New York City Size: 1 Bedroom Years lived in: 18 months Nick and Lizzie relocated from London to New York during a rough week; Hurricane Sandy had just hit and they were about to face some apartment-seeking challenges. Narrowing their search to areas unaffected by the storm, they fell in love with Chelsea and the West Village.

Name: Emily Moore, founder of Moore Design Works, and Xia, Loyal Yellow Lab Location: Museum District, Houston, Texas Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented The first thing you’ll notice about Emily’s Houston apartment is probably the boldly painted blue walls in the living room.

Location: Paris, France Size: 452 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned. Amaury and Amandine’s Paris apartment is proof that it’s possible to have it all, even in a tiny footprint. Their 452 square foot space has a cozy bedroom, a beautiful kitchen, and plenty of space for eating and lounging. And, thanks to tall ceilings and generous windows, it still feels incredibly spacious.

Name: Yana Puaca of NoMad Luxuries and Petar Location: Lakeview; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,385 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Owned The name of Yana’s lifestyle blog, NoMad Luxuries, also accurately describes the style of the home that she and her husband Petar share.

Name: Lisa Vanin Location: Parkdale; Toronto, Canada Size: 390 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, Rented Take away the laptop and tattoos and it would be easy to mistake twenty-something illustrator Lisa Vanin’s tiny, old-fashioned apartment for a knitting granny’s cozy den. Her homey digs are reminiscent of a previous generation’s warmth and slow pace, thanks to her nostalgic collection of old-soul treasures.

Name: Dee and Paul Location: Northville, Michigan Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Owned Dee and Paul live in Northville, a western suburb of Detroit. Their traditional home is open, airy and layered with trinkets. Dee is drawn toward turquoise, sparkles, shiny surfaces, beach imagery, and a mix of old and new. Paul likes mementos from the couple’s travels (especially out west) and vintage clocks (which he restores).

Name: Dani and Will Location: Heritage Hill; Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 3 years for Will, 1 month for Dani; Rented Dani and Will live on the third floor of an old Victorian house in Heritage Hill, the historic neighborhood just east of Downtown Grand Rapids. Will grew up in Michigan while girlfriend Dani moved to Grand Rapids from London, England one year ago.