The Latest: 2019

Name: Dee Campling, her husband, three children and cockapoo Ted Location: Cheltenham — Gloucestershire, UK Years lived in: 18 years, owned Cheltenham-based interior and event stylist Dee Campling has recently risen to Instagram fame with her fresh, eclectic, and highly accessible approach to interiors and her often wry and funny take on family life.

Name: Eva Goicochea and Ian Goicochea Location: Greenpoint — Brooklyn, NY Size: 1300 square feet Years lived in: 3 months, renting What happens when two creatives — one from California/New Mexico and the other from Arizona/Oregon — come to New York together with four animals? They make some serious West Coast meets Southwest minimalist magic. Ian and Eva met nine years ago through a mutual friend.

Name: Kerry Lockwood, her husband Justin, kids Alfie and Jersey, and Chester the dog. Location: Northumberland, UK Size: 2000 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting While some renters might shy away from making any dramatic changes to their home, interior stylist and lifestyle blogger Kerry Lockwood jumped right in. The rental home she shares with her family is in the center of town, walking distance from schools, shops, cafes and a local park.

Name: Anissa and Brian Zajac Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Size: 2800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned A year ago Anissa and Brian were living in the northern suburbs of Indianapolis, in a traditional home, in a traditional subdivision. Though perfectly fine, the home just didn’t feel like their family’s style. So, they listened to their hearts and relocated to their dream neighborhood, where the couple has remodeled and redecorated to better match their personalities.

Name: Danielle, Michael, Enzo, and Ziggy Gutelli Location: Plymouth — Michigan Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Danielle and Michael were both born and raised in the Midwest (Metro Detroit and St. Louis, respectively) and met in Chicago, where they resided together for 10 years. After their first born, Enzo, came into the world, they decided to make the move to Michigan to be closer to family.

Name: Grace Location: Washington, DC Size: 495 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned After a marvelous tour with Irwin, fate brought us Grace in the comments thread; she’s a resident of the same, beautiful Art Deco-style apartment building with precisely the same floor plan. Whereas Irwin’s studio was brimming with rich earthy colors, I was delighted to see Grace’s interpretation of the space—in top to bottom pink.

Name: Corine Deshaies and her partner Max Location: Villeray, Montreal Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Corine found her first McCoy planter under a table in a garage sale at only four years old; she’s always had an eye for spotting great deals and rare original goods. Because of her gift for thrift, nearly every furniture piece in the duplex she owns with her partner Max is vintage. She’s found it all at various garage sales and in second-hand shops.

Name: Angela and Wubbi the Bulldog Location: SE Portland, Oregon Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned When Angela purchased her turn-of-the-century home, the kitchen was literally falling off the back of the house. “After moving in, I learned the original 1906 kitchen was moved from the center of the house onto the BACK PORCH! That little tidbit explained the slope of the kitchen floor! I had myself a genuine indoor/outdoor kitchen.

Name: Olivia Mae Romano and her cats Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Sonia Sotomayor Location: Pilsen — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, rented Inspired by her mother’s eye for design and skill at finding home decor gems in back alleys, Olivia has made her Pilsen loft an inspiring space. As a little girl, Olivia remembers being driven to school by her mother who would constantly pull off the road to pick up furniture she spotted.

Name: Lourdes Hernandez and Zach Leigh Location: Highland Park, Los Angeles Size: 1900 square feet Years lived in: 18 months, owned Creative duo Zach and Lourdes started their relationship as musicians — they met one night at The Largo while playing a show. But recently their creative energies have gone in another direction: Refurbishing an old church in Los Angeles’ Highland Park.

Name: Starry Xiao Location: Guozijian — Beijing, China Size: 320 square feet Years lived in: 9 months, renting Starry Xiao’s hutong home is nestled among the throngs of mom and pop stores selling incense for visitors to Beijing’s famous Lama Temple. Within its blue walls, however, it radiates a completely different kind of aroma. A local chef, Starry is known to make use of every corner of his tiny kitchen to whip up elaborate brunches for his girlfriend.

Name: Stephanie Betant and Chace Vanderwolk Location: French Concession — Shanghai, China Size: 2,150 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 months Beijing and Shanghai dwellers often engage in friendly spats over which city is the better one. Stephanie Betant and her husband Chace Vanderwolk recently found themselves in the unique position of getting to know both.

Name: Gaby Suhr Location: ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands Size: 1,163 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Several years ago Gaby spent a couple of months traveling around the world. Living from just a suitcase, she became conscious of just how little one actually needs on a day-to-day basis. Some time later, a friend told Gaby that he felt she had a distinct ability to see the essence of a situation. To focus on the bare necessities.

Name: Martha, her husband Daniel and son Nicolas Location: Gracia – Barcelona, Spain Size: 754 square feet Years lived in: 11 years, renting Though Martha loves the Barcelona neighborhood she lives in — she describes it as a small town with artists living in it — it’s her apartment that she considers an extension of herself. It’s the place where she goes when she needs to relax. But Martha almost missed out on renting this apartment!

Name: Jim Manning Location: Nashville, Tennessee Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 15 years, owned Some homes just have a story. In this case, Jim’s two-bedroom East Nashville home has quite a few of them! He is one of just three owners and has lived here for 15 years, which is very unusual for Nashville these days.

Name: Michelle Paul Toney and James Toney III Location: Chinatown — Downtown Los Angeles Size: 1,115 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting Michelle and James’ lives seem to revolve around downtown LA. After meeting in the Arts District one fated Tuesday night, the couple have since been married, started the Los Angeles-based company Morrow Soft Goods with two friends, and moved into the beautiful and brightly lit Chinatown apartment where they currently reside.

Name: Linda Hsiao, Kagan Taylor and Scallion the Cat Location: Highland Park — Los Angeles, California Years lived in: 2 years, renting Linda and Kagan’s Highland Park home is a perfect reflection of their combined creative collaborations and organic aesthetics. The space is filled with handmade treasures, meaningful art, and friend’s crafts to create a truly cozy and original style.

Ceramicist Kenesha Sneed of Tactile Matter shares this cabin-like home with furniture maker Ben Tetro. It's minimalist meets comfort with bold pops of color.

Name: Jillian Gould Allstadt and John Allstadt, kids Mia and Bodhi, and dogs Bella and Milo Location: Mission Canyon — Santa Barbara, California Size: 1,650 square feet on a 10,000 square foot lot Years lived in: 8 months (bought gutted and designed from NYC); owned Jill and her husband John are New Yorkers who left Brooklyn behind for a West Coast dream.

Name: Mary Kate Fitzpatrick Location: St. Louis Hills — St. Louis, Missouri Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, rented Mary Kate Fitzpatrick’s St. Louis shotgun apartment boasts many delightful characteristics, but perhaps most tantalizing is the bedroom view: just feet away is Ted Drewes, serving the city’s famous frozen custard. But temptation begins to melt away as you make your way to the opposite end to a living room bathed in sunlight.

Name: Ashley Chu and Alex Acker Location: Beixinqiao — Beijing, China Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years, renting Beijing is famous for its centuries-old hutongs — the winding alleyways that once made up the main arteries of the city. They were filled with traditional courtyard homes until the spaces were divided or destroyed to make room for a swelling population.

Name: Christine and Gabe Bridger, Emelia and Jenson Location: Evanston, Illinois Size: 3,000 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned During long summer walks, the Bridger family would peer into the windows of this 1920s cottage. When it finally became available, they purchased it without even stepping foot inside. The home was not period correct, nor was the space very functional, so they opened up every wall possible without losing the historic charm.

Name: Tracy Young Location: Bushwick — Brooklyn, New York Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Pennsylvania native Tracy Young remembers helping her parents garden, ferment, and cook from a young age. Her Brooklyn apartment is an eclectic nod to her idyllic childhood, but also to the decade she spent as a chef cooking aboard yachts that sailed the Mediterranean, South Pacific, and Caribbean. Today, she co-owns the restaurant Kings Co Imperial in Williamsburg.

Name: Erin Cullerton of Design Agency Co and Melanie McGraw of Monk Provisions Location: Silver Lake — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned When Erin and Mel felt it was time to look for a home together, they never dreamed they would be able to find something affordable in the Silver Lake area.

Name: Fernando and Maximiliano Location: La Boca — Buenos Aires, Argentina Size: 1,130 square feet Years lived in: 8 years, owned When Maximiliano and Fernando were looking for a place to live, they realized they could afford a bigger home if they were willing to give it some TLC before moving in. They found a house in this building of La Boca, a neighborhood known by its bright-colored dwellings, the first home of many immigrants, and the story of tango.

Name: Maria and her two children Location: Sant Gervasi — Barcelona, Spain Size: 1,184 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Maria came to live in this apartment when she moved from Madrid with her two children two years ago. The apartment once belonged to her grandmother, so Maria remembers fondly coming to play here with her cousins when she was a toddler. The space looks quite different these days, though. When her grandmother lived here, it was heavy on dark wood.

Name: Steph Rager Location: Highland Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting On her personal website, A Dapper Line, Steph Rager describes herself as “50 percent muralist, 30 percent illustrator, 15 percent sign artist, and 5 percent champagne drinker.” It’s hardly a surprise that, like her art, her home is a brilliantly laid-back mix of color and crisp lines.

Name: Alex Fitzgerald Location: West Village — New York, NY Size: 420 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned The trick to studios is how to make the most of the space you’re given. For Alex, a studio apartment previously owned by an architect obsessed with built-ins has proved both a boon and a challenge.

Name: John Sorensen-Jolink and Fabien Dubuet Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn Size: 900 square feet Years Lived In: 3 years, renting He once performed with contemporary choreographers like Twyla Tharp. Today, modern-dancer-turned furniture designer John Sorensen-Jolink is the founder and owner of Coil + Drift, a Brooklyn-based design studio that creates elegant, contemporary furniture, lighting, and accessories.

Name: Alex Riley and Laure-Anne Carré Location: Plateau — Montreal, Canada Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting Alex and Laure-Anne are designers living and working in Montreal’s trendy and historic Plateau neighborhood. Originally from France, the pair made a move to Montreal last April to pursue new creative opportunities; they arrived in the city with nothing but suitcases of clothing.

Name: Anina, Deon and their daughter Marguerite Location: Bellville — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 3,229 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned From the outside Anina and Deon’s home still tells tales of its ’80s heritage. It was the location and view that initially attracted them to the house, and certainly not the interior, which was old fashioned.

Name: Sasha Fominskaya and Aaron F.L. Location: Fangjia Hutong — Beijing, China Size: 645 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Living in Beijing as an expat often means working with what you have, usually pre-furnished apartments and roommates that never seem to stick around long enough to decorate. But when Sasha Fominskaya and her boyfriend Aaron moved into their first apartment together, they wanted to put more effort into making it a home.

Name: Julie Pointer Adams and her husband Ryan Location: Santa Barbara, California Size: 200 square feet Years Lived In: 1.5 years, renting Choosing to live in a small home—paring down your belongs and living more minimally—isn’t always easy. And sharing a small home can be even harder.

Name: Coro Urdaneta and Marco Cortavitarte Location: Sanlitun — Beijing, China Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting It’s hard to find an expat in Beijing who doesn’t know about the Moka Bros, or the Venezuelan siblings behind it. When the restaurant first opened in 2013, it flipped the capital’s healthy café scene on its head, largely thanks to its refreshingly bold and trendy creative concept.

Name: Anouska Tamony and her partner Scott Location: East Dulwich — London, UK Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned Anouska shares a stunning London flat with her partner Scott. A light-filled home set in a turn-of-the-century terraced house (built in 1898), there are two bedrooms, a wonderfully wallpapered bathroom, a sitting room and a spare bedroom used as a study and guest room.

Name: Rachel Burke, her husband Thomas and their dachshunds, Daphne and Daisy Location: Brisbane, Australia Years lived in: 3 years, owned Rachel Burke has been on my radar since 2012 when she made a dress every day for a year. So it was certainly wonderful to step into her bright and colorful home that she shares with her kind husband Thomas and their two little dachshunds (who eventually warmed to me after a little coercing with some treats!).

Name: Coni, Albert and Mia (plus their cat!) Location: Ciutat Vella — Barcelona, Spain Size: 1,023 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned When Swiss fashion designer Coni met Albert in Barcelona years ago, their adventures as a couple were off to a good start. After a year of dating, they moved into a small apartment in Barcelona. However, they knew they’d have to upgrade to a bigger space when Coni became pregnant with their daughter.

Name: Gabriel Assouline, Sarah Marciano, and Levi Location: Outremont, Montreal Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Sarah and Gabriel’s Montreal home is on the second floor of a building located on a tree-lined street. The space itself could be described as “monochromatic tones meet a few pops of color.” In other words, it’s a space decorated with care and filled with a selection of rich materials, original pieces, and organic details.

Name: Juan Carlos, Coral, and their dog Apple Location: Manises — Valencia, Spain Size: 6,6673 square feet Years lived in: 25 years, owned In Spain, color is a big part of people’s life. The light is warm, the colors are strong, and the people are friendly and relaxed — and Juan Carlos and Coral’s Valencia home is a perfect example of this vibrant lifestyle.

Name: Lisa Zigarmi and Paul Del Vecchio, and French Bulldogs Luna and Boom Location: Hollywood District — Portland, Oregon Size: 3,290 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Lisa and Paul met and fell in love in New York City, and when they made the decision to relocate to Portland three years ago, their biggest challenge was starting from scratch. The couple brought hardly more than their bed and a sofa from their previous home to their new Portland digs.

Name: Céline Lamée and Heather Mowbray Location: Dongsishisantiao — Beijing, China Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting It’s hard to step into Céline Lamée and Heather Mowbray’s home and not be charmed by its sense of playfulness, starting so obviously with an extensive pillow collection that fills their dining nook and has started to take over their living room sofa.

Name: Marci and Carlos Cordero, with children Penelope and Mitchell Location: Vicenza, Italy Size: 2,150 square feet Years lived in: 5 months, renting Marci and Carlos have only lived in their Italian apartment for five months, but you’d never know it from looking around. There are photos and art hung (even with the stubborn concrete walls!) and every piece of furniture seems to fit into place and have a home.

Name: Jenny, Konstantin & Simone Peysin (plus their dog Murray) Location: Windsor Terrace — Brooklyn, NY Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Jenny and Konstantin were married in 2015, moved into their beautiful Brooklyn apartment in 2016, and recently welcomed baby Simone into their lives and the home they share with their quirky pup, Murray.

Name: Vera Claire and Sam Cheadle Location: Bayview — San Francisco, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned For Vera and Sam, the past three years have been filled with the never-ending process of renovating and personalizing their home. The fact that Sam — the acting handyman and contractor — has no experience with renovating is even more impressive.

Name: Darien Zannis and Matt Johnson, and Rescue’s (Mick) Jagger, Wile E. (Coyote), and Stevie (Nicks). Location: Culver City, California Size: 3,000 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, renting While parking is a luxury for most Californians, Culver City residents Darien and Matt have no trouble finding a spot very, very close to home. Yes, the couple (and their three adorable rescue pups) cohabitate with their cars…many cars.