An “Eclectic Granny” Patterned, Colorful Chicago Home
Name: Elizabeth and Tom (and Walter the dog) Location: Logan Square — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting Elizabeth and Tom have a fearless approach to decor and life. They had only been dating a few months before deciding to move in together. And I should mention that their version of moving in together was signing a lease on an apartment in disrepair and then spending a year fixing it up together.
Apr 30, 2019
A Pin Designer’s Chicago Home is Mid Mod Magic
Name: Victoria Pater Location: Bucktown, Chicago Years lived in: 2 years Victoria, her husband Joe, and their cute pup live in a colorful apartment bubbling with mid-century modern energy. After a look around their home, it comes as no surprise that Victoria is the owner of a charming pin business, Mid Mod Pin. In her day job, she designs brands, experiences and digital products. And in this home, her Mid Mod Pin headquarters is housed in a delightful mint green home office.
Apr 30, 2019
A Scandinavian-Inspired Renovation on a Budget in Chicago
Name: Nara, John, Halina and Lars Location: Bucktown — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1900 square feet Years lived in: 2 ½ years While house hunting, home designer Nara and her husband stumbled across a short sale home with a very neglected interior. Although hesitant to take the plunge, Nara could envision the potential under the questionable (and very red) cosmetic surface. Now, two years and a lot of work later, the family cozily lives in their Scandinavian-inspired home.
Apr 30, 2019
A Lovingly Made “Take Your Time” Kitchen Makeover
Project by: Émilie Location: Quebec City, Canada We bought our 1970s bungalow almost six years ago and we’ve been renovating it ever since, from the roof to the basement. Our biggest and most challenging project was definitely the kitchen. My husband, who is quite handy but no professional carpenter, decided to make all the hardwood cabinets by hand.
Apr 30, 2019
A Graphic Designer’s Collected Seattle Home
Name: Jordan Location: Capitol Hill — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting A friend of Jordan’s once called her a professional appreciator, and that is just exactly the right title to give this creative force of a woman.
Apr 30, 2019
Take it From the Top: Tips & Tricks for Cleaning Ceiling Fans and Fixtures
I have to fess up: our end goal, with this spring cleaning plan, isn’t a totally spotless home, top to bottom. We’re all here to tackle our seasonal cleaning slowly—20 minutes at a time—over the course of 20 days. So, you know, life is going to happen in between.
Apr 30, 2019
A Minimal, Handmade Melbourne Rental House
Name: Aliça and Antony + Teti (dog) + Claudia and Sybil (cats) Location: Thornbury — Melbourne, Australia Size: 2800 square feet Years lived in: 3 months! Rented Aliça and Antony have only quite recently moved into their cute rental home in the northern suburb of Thornbury in Melbourne. Unfortunately for them, their stay is short lived; the house is due to be demolished and the land redeveloped at the end of the year.
Apr 30, 2019
A Dark, Moody, Vintage-Filled Victorian in the UK
Name: Nicola Broughton Location: Leeds, UK Size: 3000 square feet Years lived in: 13 years, owned Dark charcoal grays, velvety emerald greens and rich, earthy browns enliven the walls and furnishings of the big Victorian just north of Leeds that Nicola Broughton shares with her husband and kids.
Apr 30, 2019
An All-White “Renewed Classic” Spanish Home
Name: Beatriz Traver Location: El Carmen — Valencia, Spain. Size: 1022 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting This splendid space was once owned by a Peruvian consul in the 1900s, and it features tall ceilings, gorgeous architectural details and one-of-a-kind elements — like painted-on floral designs on the bedroom floor. It’s the perfect space for an art historian like Beatriz.
Apr 30, 2019
An Art Deco Dream Apartment in Manhattan
Name: Devin VanderMaas, her boyfriend Ranga and Chelsea the cat Location: Murray Hill — New York City Size: 775 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, own When Devin first saw this apartment, it reminded her of The Great Gatsby. Full of charming Art Deco architectural details, this isn’t the dark and dramatic kind of Art Deco style you might be imagining, though. Big windows and Devin’s mastery of a soft, neutral color palette make the small space seem bigger than it is.
Apr 30, 2019
A Fiction Writer’s Creative Los Angeles Home
Name: Aditi Khorana Location: Los Feliz — Los Angeles, California Size: 1300 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned As a writer herself, Aditi Khorana‘s eclectic mid-century home captures the essence of storytelling in more ways than one. As if a grand entrance with high ceilings, open windows and an expansive view of the Hollywood Hills weren’t enough to gush over, the novelist has filled her entire space with personality and memories from all over the world.
Apr 30, 2019
A Creative Couple Renovates Another Small London Flat
Name: Josie and Jules Location: South East London — UK Size: 677 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1 year Seeing this home’s style might give you déjà vu. Josie and Jules first showed off their small space maximizing skills when we toured an Edwardian flat in South East London they remodeled in 2015. It was a top-to-bottom renovation — the layout was reconfigured, and light and function were added to a dated space.
Apr 30, 2019
A Coffee Connoisseur’s Mexican Folklore-Inspired Amsterdam Apartment
Name: Alex Kitain Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 527 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, owned Alex’s light-filled Amsterdam apartment is an early riser’s dream come true. Filled with the scent of coffee brewing and sunlight streaming through the windows, mornings are something to be worshiped in this home! Decorated with eclectic but modern design, Alex’s apartment is both welcoming and stylish.
Apr 30, 2019
A 350-Square-Foot NYC Studio Feels Much Bigger Than It Is
Name: Angie Teater Location: Midtown East — New York, NY Size: 350 square feet Years lived in: 8 years, renting Have you ever seen a dining room, living room, and bedroom fit so elegantly into 350 square feet? Long-time New Yorker and avid traveler Angie Teater made it happen. She’s the owner and principal designer of Angela Leland Interiors and she knows how to make good use of small spaces. She’s also a master at styling a room.
Apr 30, 2019
A Healer’s Bright, Calming L.A. Home
Name: Ashley Neese Location: Silver Lake — Los Angeles, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Though Ashley Neese was born in a small town in Wisconsin and grew up in Georgia, she went to grad school in San Francisco in 2005 … and hasn’t left the West Coast. She wanted to build a practice in the healing arts and fell in love with the light and energy of Los Angeles. “I dreamed about living in L.A. when I was much younger.
Apr 30, 2019
Saying Goodbye to a Craigslist Chic San Francisco Apartment
Name: Allison Shiman Location: The Mission — San Francisco, California Size: not sure about the square feet Years lived in: 5 years, renting “I’m so excited about having my apartment memorialized on Apartment Therapy,” Allison tells us. She’ll be saying goodbye to her beloved apartment soon…to leave on a trip around the world. “I have put so much effort and love in my little space that having it somewhere captured forever makes me so happy!
Apr 30, 2019
A “Rainbow Bohemian” Tiny Cottage in the Berkeley Hills
Name: Rachelle Padgett Location: Berkeley, California Size: 525 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting In Rachelle’s living room, a rich and colorful rug is layered on top of another, creating a kaleidoscope of colors on the floor. Bright turquoise sheets in her bedroom complement the framed photo of a bright French Quarter house she took on a recent trip to a jazz festival.
Apr 30, 2019
A Toy Store Owner’s Creatively Collected California Home
Name: Caroline Rodrigues @shopmercimilo @rebelandquillobjects Location: Mt. Washington, Los Angeles Size: 2 bed, 2 bath Years lived in: 1 year, renting Caroline and her husband, Jason, have designed their home in a way that strongly reflects their personality and aesthetic. After moving from New York City back to their home state of California, the couple took every opportunity to feel more connected to nature. They settled into the Mt.
Apr 30, 2019
An Engineer’s Quirky Beach Bungalow on Balboa Island
Name: Corinne Schnieders Location: Balboa Island, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 9 months, renting Corinne has never been one to follow the crowd, so when it came time to decorate her apartment on Balboa Island in sunny Southern California, she made this back guest house all her own. Forget the bohemian beach style populating everyone’s Pinterest boards these days; this mechanical engineer followed her heart by gathering finds that reflect her love of comfort and fun.
Apr 30, 2019
A One-Bedroom Becomes Two in a “Traditional Glam” Manhattan Rental
Name: Chelsey Brown and roommate Location: Manhattan Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting Chelsey is a fiery go-getter who lives in a small Manhattan apartment with a roommate. No bunk beds are needed here, though; Chelsey transformed this one-bedroom apartment into a two-bedroom home by having temporary faux walls built! An editor by day (for the Dr. Oz Show) and an interior designer by night, this New Yorker does it all.
Apr 30, 2019
Before & After: Moving In and Making a Space Baby-Friendly
Project by: Meena Location: Ashbury Heights — San Francisco, California This converted bedroom project comes from first-time parents who recently bought a house in San Francisco. After spending nearly 10 years on the East Coast, they returned back home to the Bay Area in January to raise their daughter. The family moved in the home when the baby was just two weeks old, so needless to say it was an exhausting and whirlwind experience.
Apr 30, 2019
A Beautiful Brooklyn Home Designed on a Tight Budget
Name: Marcus, Alicia and Phoenix Brandon Location: Prospect Lefferts Gardens — Brooklyn, New York Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting First of all, this beautiful apartment has a private elevator. Call in, beam up, doors open and you’re there. It’s a wildly easier ride than a fifth-floor brownstone walk-up and definitely one of Marcus and Alicia’s favorite aspects of their home.
Apr 30, 2019
Three Roommates Share a Small Attic Apartment
Name: 3 roommates (plus their cats Boogie and Sammie) Location: California Size: ~600 square feet Years lived in: 5 years These three roommates live in a two-bedroom attic apartment in a historic mansion that was converted to apartments. The space has its perks, such as the walls painted yellow and its convenience to downtown Oakland and public transit. But the awkward attic space also has its drawbacks: small windows resulting in low light, weird ceilings angles, and a tiny kitchen.
Apr 30, 2019
A Dutch Interior Stylist’s Home Full of Scandi Eye Candy
Name: Ilse van Elleswijk and Jasper and their puppy Jackie Location: Arnhem, the Netherlands Size: 1,640 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned There’s a lot to see in Ilse’s home — not a shock, considering her profession as a stylist — but what is surprising is how uncluttered the space feels. Ilse’s a big fan of accessories; she feels they add coziness to any room. But she hasn’t gone overboard in her home.
Apr 30, 2019
A Long-Time Love Affair with a 1930s Dutch Home
Name: Irene and Rob Burg Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands Size: 1,614 square feet Years lived in: 19 years, owned As a girl, when Irene would visit her grandpa, she would always pass this quaint house built in 1934 and think to herself: “One could be so lucky to live in this home.” Years later she and her husband Rob moved into this very home — and it felt like a dream come true.
Apr 30, 2019
A Journalist’s Instagram-Famous Home in Buenos Aires
Name: Carina, her husband, and their daughters Isabel and Francisca Location: Nordelta — Buenos Aires, Argentina Size: 2580 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Carina and her family moved in to this house they built in the suburbs just one month before giving birth to their youngest daughter. While she’s paused her career as a journalist to devote herself to raising her children, she’s used her curiosity to seek inspiration for decorating her house, room by room.
Apr 30, 2019
A “Crap Whisperer’s” Colorful, Converted Attic in Concord
"Politician in recovery" Arnie Arnesen inherited this 1890 Queen Anne Victorian house from her aunt.
Apr 30, 2019
No More Ugly Radiators: How To Buy (or DIY!) Your Way Around an Eyesore
While you may be grateful for it in the middle of a cold winter, an ugly heater can be an eyesore that you get tired of having to decorate around. Peeling or chipping paint, the wrong color or shape, or an awkward location can all make a radiator your least favorite piece of your home. Even if you don’t have a problem with how it looks, it may just be taking up valuable real estate that could be put to better use. But, don’t despair!
Apr 30, 2019
A Textile Designer’s Colorfully Chic NYC Apartment
Name: Judy Ross Location: Union Square — New York City, New York Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 18 years, renting It’s no wonder Judy’s apartment is flawless; the accomplished textile designer’s space is a stage for her art. Located in the buzzing Union Square area in Manhattan, Judy manages to keep a cool, chic and totally under-control apartment that works for her busy family.
Apr 30, 2019
A Modern Renovated Spanish Home with Beautiful Tile Floors
Name: Marcial and Andrea Location: El Carmen — Valencia, Spain Size: 2045 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned While Marcial and Andrea’s beautiful home is a minimal and modern space today, that’s not how they found it. When they bought this home, it was in a dilapidated condition. Thankfully, Marcial’s brother runs a design firm, Boor Studio, and together he and the couple tackled the renovation.
Apr 30, 2019
A Scandinavian Fairy Tale House in the North of the Netherlands
Name: Ria and Piet Veld Location: Appingedam, the Netherlands Size: 1,722 square feet Years lived in: 18 years; owned In the most northern province of the Netherlands lies the quaint city of Appingedam. It’s such a charming place, that when Ria and Piet Veld sold their previous house there eighteen years ago, they didn’t want to leave.
Apr 30, 2019
An All-White Buenos Aires Home Full of Art
Name: Martin Bustamante Location: Villa Crespo — Buenos Aires, Argentina Size: 530 square feet (plus patio and terrace) Years lived in: 7 years, owned Martin was struggling to find a decent place to buy within his modest budget, as often happens. He thought he had seen every house in the neighborhood until a friend told him about this place.
Apr 30, 2019
Make All-Natural, Great Smelling Orange Pomanders for the Holidays
Looking to add a festive vibe to your home, without all the glitter and lights? Orange pomander balls are quite possibly the quickest and best all-natural, great smelling, non-gaudy decoration you can make this holiday season. And according to our ancestors of yore, they ward off bad spirits and bring strength and fortune —a holiday bonus. Make them around Thanksgiving and, if dried correctly, they’ll last through the entire holiday season, and maybe even longer.
Apr 30, 2019
A “Crafty-Cozy” 400-Square-Foot Brooklyn Studio Is Adorable
Name: Alanna Okun Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant — Brooklyn, New York Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting Alanna’s cheery apartment in Brooklyn is the first space she can truly call her own. She grew up surrounded by siblings, next lived in college dorms, and then moved in with roommates. As a writer, she needed a quiet place for herself. As a crafter, she needed a creative space to inspire her.
Apr 30, 2019
Best Friends Share a Maximalist Nashville Home
Name: Bonnie (Mooky-Dog) and Trevor (Taco-Cat) — Not a couple, just a couple of best friends. Location: East Nashville — Nashville, Tennessee Size: 1100 square feet Years lived in: 4 months, renting Trevor and Bonnie’s home is a colorful oasis filled with collected treasures from various antique malls, thrift stores and family members.
Apr 30, 2019
An Illustrator’s Beautifully Minimal London Flat
Name: Pui Lee Location: Turnpike Lane — London, UK Size: Roughly 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting London-based illustrator Pui Lee is the founder of lifestyle brand Scout Editions, and lives in a two-bedroom Victorian terrace flat in North London.
Apr 30, 2019
A Dutch Design Shop Owner’s Stylishly “Stoer” Home
Name: Hetty Webbink, her son Noah and daughter Luna, Jip the cat Location: Deurne, the Netherlands Size: 1,431 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Although she was trained as a nurse, interiors and styling have always been in Hetty’s blood; she’s even had a subscription to vtwonen (the most popular interior magazine in the Netherlands) since she was 19. So it comes as no surprise that Hetty would eventually find her way to a career that involves home decor and styling.
Apr 30, 2019
A Truck Bed Goes From Garage To Guest Room
Project by: Dona Location: Shelter Island, New York My husband’s hoarding habit paid off. Once I learned that the bed of a truck is the same size as a queen mattress we took his rusting 1965 Chevrolet truck and turned it into a guest bed! We worked on this project together, it required sawing the cab (now it’s the headboard) in half; sawing the tailgate off the truck body; wire brushing the rust off , etc. We carried the pieces into the house where we put the truck together again.
Apr 30, 2019
Before & After: A London Bedroom Gets a Dark Dramatic Floral Makeover
Name: Nadia Location: London, United Kingdom A few weeks ago I decided to participate in a six week makeover challenge. I chose to do my bedroom and closet, but the funny thing is that I had no idea what I would do when I started. No real plan, I was just obsessed with a gorgeous dark floral wallpaper so I wanted create something dark and moody. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford to buy that beautiful and pricey wallpaper.
Apr 30, 2019
A West Coast Meets East Coast Mashup in L.A.
Name: Jake Berkowitz and John Ruggiero Location: Carthay Circle — Los Angeles, California Size: 1200 Square Feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting This isn’t the first time we’ve had the chance to visit hair stylist John Ruggiero at home. Seven years ago we toured a Hollywood house he shared with two roommates, and now we’re touring the Carthay Circle rental he shares with his roommate Jake.
Apr 30, 2019
A 600-Square-Foot Railroad Apartment in Alphabet City
Name: Maggie and Lucas Vocos Location: Alphabet City, Manhattan Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 4 months, renting Maggie and Lucas Vocos met and fell in love in Chicago, moved to Los Angeles for work, and then moved to Brooklyn for work again. After living in relatively peaceful neighborhoods in the aforementioned cities, they decided it was time to try out the hustle and bustle of Manhattan.
Apr 30, 2019
A Creative, Layered Home in L.A. Gets an Update
Name: Leslie Landis and Jake Martinez Location: MacArthur Park —Los Angeles, California Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, renting “The kind of decorating I do is less matching and more layering of elements. I think it’s the more interesting option, but when you switch out one thing the whole room is affected,” writes Leslie, an interior decorator. This home might seem a bit familiar; three years ago we toured Leslie and Jake’s Los Angeles home.
Apr 30, 2019
An Entrepreneurial Duo’s Light & Airy Los Angeles Rental
Name: Dina Epstein and Michael “Frosti” Zernow Location: Century City, Los Angeles Size: 2000 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Bi-coastal and bold, Dina and Frosti wear many hats. The duo started Clark and Madison together, a locally sourced, hand-crafted, heritage leather goods company based in Los Angeles.
Apr 30, 2019
A Creative Prop Stylist’s Southern California Home
Name: Rebecca Buenik and Bruno Tysh Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles Size: 1050 square feet Years lived in: 8 years, renting Both creatives in their own right, Rebecca, a prop stylist, and Bruno, a television and movie writer, have created a home that also doubles as their creative workspace. The pair met at a school in Chicago, moved to LA after graduation and made a home for themselves in the Echo Park area before it became the popular area it is today.
Apr 30, 2019
A Mid-Century-Inspired Amsterdam Apartment
Name: Tolga and Tomi Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Tolga and Tomi’s colorful apartment is a starter home dream-come-true. Located in a fun Amsterdam neighborhood that is filled with many restaurants and bars, it’s just what the couple had dreamed of; a space that they could return to and relax from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Apr 30, 2019
A “Maximalist Thrift” Industrial Michigan Loft
Name: Darren DeWitt and Adrian Ohmer Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 2 1/2 years Darren hasn’t stayed in one home or job for very long in the past 20 years. “I’ve been an instrumentalist, a dancer, a Shakespearean actor, a photographer, a waiter, a concierge, and the Easter Bunny, (a position I one day hope to leverage into a gig as Press Secretary.
Apr 30, 2019
A Quirky, Industrial Modern Apartment in Michigan
Name: Rachael Barlock Location: Metro Detroit — Ferndale, Michigan Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting There’s a duality to Rachael’s life: She’s a water engineer by day, but by night she runs a hand-lettering and paper goods business, Hazel + Dolly. She loves balancing the structured, math and science half of her life with the fun, creative half. And her home is a balanced mix, as well.
Apr 30, 2019
A Furniture Designer’s Super Cool Handmade Home in Spain
Name: Fer and dogs Deli and Wanda Location: Paiporta — Valencia, Spain. Size: 1,937 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned Fer, the incredible furniture designer and owner of Lebrel Furniture, is a gifted craftsman and a master of DIY. Through his company he designs (and makes by hand) beautiful, minimal furniture, mixing different types of wood and iron in original creations. There’s really not much he can’t make.
Apr 30, 2019