A 1920s Vintage Industrial Dutch Home
Name: Stephan Kaspers, Judith Bolk, and their cats Dinkey and Wolly Location: Coevorden, the Netherlands Size: 1,292 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned A less adventurous person might have backed away from this house built in 1920 — charming as it was, it was practically uninhabitable and in dire need of updates. But as a little boy Stephan loved rearranging his bedroom, tweaking details to make the space look lovely.
Apr 30, 2019
Check Out a Glass Bottomed Pool, 43 Stories Above Houston
Luxury apartment buildings are getting more and more creative with their amenities. Take Market Square Tower in Houston, which goes beyond the usual doorman and fitness room. There’s a rooftop infinity pool that hangs over the edge of the building, and happens to also have a glass bottom. Dubbed “the tallest pool in Texas,” Market Square Tower’s sky pool is 43 stories above downtown Houston.
Apr 30, 2019
A Menswear Designer’s Sophisticated, Small Brooklyn Studio
Name: Thomas Finney Location: Fort Greene — Brooklyn, NY Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting When Thomas moved into his studio three years ago, functionality and style were his primary concerns. “This is the first place I’ve actually invested in. Before, I just had IKEA everything.
Apr 30, 2019
Cole Escola’s Candy-Colored, Granny-Chic Brooklyn Apartment
Doilies, murals, fake cake and Victorian vibes...Cole Escola (Matthew on Hulu's Difficult People) lives in a 425-square-foot candy-colored Brooklyn apartment.
Apr 30, 2019
10 Super-Smart Downsizing Tips From Our Readers
We’ve written a lot about downsizing over the years, sharing tips from experts and house tours, but sometimes the best ideas actually come from you, our readers. From how you let go of your things to the unexpected pros and cons of moving to a smaller space, you’ve shared it all with us. So, for those of you moving or looking to go the minimalist route, here’s a roundup of our readers’ best advice on downsizing, straight from the comments.
Apr 30, 2019
Help! How Do I Place Furniture in This Strangely Shaped Studio?
One of the most perplexing things about moving into a new place, especially a small place, is where to put the furniture. This apartment, with its curving wall of windows, presented a unique challenge. How do you create both a bedroom and a living space (and maybe a dining room and a study, too) in a place that’s so small, and so unusually shaped? We went to the drawing board to come up with a few ideas. First, an intro: This is an advice column.
Apr 30, 2019
A Moroccan-Inspired Amsterdam Home
Name: Driss and Bettina daughters Tala (6) and Ziri (4) Location: Amsterdam (Spiegelkwartier), Netherlands Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned Driss and Bettina, originally from Morocco and Germany, met (and fell in love) in Amsterdam at a small, creative advertising agency where they worked. They’ve both been passionate about interior design and beautiful, charming houses.
Apr 30, 2019
A Nordic Style London Flat
Name: Isabella and Oscar Location: Wembley, London Size: 870 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 year, owned Having grown up, studied, and worked in Hong Kong, Isabella and Oscar went on a trip of a lifetime to Iceland, fell in love with Europe and decided to relocate to London together to pursue their dream of traveling around this little continent.
Apr 30, 2019
A Kitschy, Boho Mashup in California
Name: Courtney Gallagher and family Location: Riverside, California Size: 1252 square feet Years Lived In: 3 years, owned What started as a mild mid-century modern obsession has turned into a full-blown side hustle for mother and resident MCM expert Courtney Gallagher, She uses her successful Etsy furniture store, Not Another Mod Snob, as an excuse to rotate new vintage pieces in and out of her family’s 1951 ranch-style home in Riverside, California.
Apr 30, 2019
The Bohemian Brooklyn Sanctuary of mindbodygreen’s Founders
Name: Jason and Colleen Wachob, of mindbodygreen Location: Dumbo — Brooklyn, New York Size: 1,751 square feet Years lived in: 8 months, owned After back injuries left him in excruciating pain in 2009, Jason Wachob began his yoga practice…and was encouraged by the positive, powerful, life-improving effects. This change sparked an interest in living a more balanced, holistic lifestyle. “It was a real awakening for me,” he confesses.
Apr 30, 2019
Two Creative Friends Share a Sunny, Soothing Brooklyn Walk-Up
Name: Mecca Williams and Ashley Isokpehi Location: Bed-Stuy — Brooklyn, New York Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Longtime friends Mecca and Ashley planned on living together well before Ashley moved to New York. After a long and tedious search, they found a perfect sun-filled spot in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The two creatives worked hard to develop an aesthetic that blends their tastes.
Apr 30, 2019
A Tiny, 5th-Floor Walk-Up Studio in the West Village
Name: Melina Peterson Location: West Village — New York, NY Size: 300 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting When Melina found her tiny West Village studio, she knew she’d have to get creative. Even though small apartments are fairly standard in the Manhattan real estate game, Melina’s space is particularly narrow. And up four flights of stairs.
Apr 30, 2019
A “Scandi with a South African Twist” Style Home
Name: Ivonne Meyer Location: Woodstock — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 1,550 square feet Years lived in: 10 years, owned After many years of renting a bedroom in this very house, Ivonne luckily had the opportunity to purchase the property when her friend relocated to Namibia and needed to sell. With no furniture of her own to begin with, Ivonne slept in the living room on just a mattress for the first few months.
Apr 30, 2019
The Timeless Houston Home of the House of Harper
Name: Caroline Harper Knapp, her husband, and their sons, Knox and Andrew Location: Briargrove — Houston, Texas Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned When Caroline Harper Knapp moved back to her home state of Texas a few years ago from New York, she knew she would have more space to design a home for her and her family.
Apr 30, 2019
A “Europe-Meets-California-Modern” LA Apartment
Name: Danica and Robin Location: Highland Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 4 months, rented When Danica and Robin decided to move to Los Angeles from Oakland, their apartment search began with location in mind. Sure, it’d be nice to have a large space, but it wasn’t a priority — especially with a new baby and Los Angeles’ tight rental market.
Apr 30, 2019
A First-Time Home Buyer’s Colorful Retro Reno
Name: Brandon Bourdganis Location: Ferndale, Michigan Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned “My home is a snapshot of my life…I try to incorporate memories from my family, travels, city, state and friends while making it look very personal and uniquely me.
Apr 30, 2019
A New Orleans House in Disrepair Becomes a Shining Gem Once Again
Name: Wesley & Levi Janssen; their kids James (6), Anders (5), and Julia (1); and the family dog Logan. Location: Mid City — New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 1,690 square feet upstairs; 1,200 in raised basement apartment Years lived in: 4 years, owned It was the second-to-last last day of Wesley Janssen’s maternity leave when a “for sale” sign in front of a stately raised-basement Art and Crafts style home caught her eye five years ago.
Apr 30, 2019
This Home Is Cool New York Loft Meets Chic London Flat
Name: Laura Burkitt and Ben Sarner Location: Queen’s Park, London Size: 1,229 square feet Years Lived In: 18 months, owned Laura Burkitt, a lifestyle and event stylist, bought this two-bedroom flat in Queens Park, London with her boyfriend a year and a half ago. “We bought the apartment as we wanted a garden flat, and decided to do an extension and renovation to make more of the space.
Apr 30, 2019
A Modern Renovation Brings “West Coast Beach” Style to Canada
Name: Ryan and Katie Royle Location: Dundas — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 1 Year, owned When Ryan and Katie first looked at this home, it was like a set on That ’70s Show. Nasty shag carpet, wood paneling, weird blocked off rooms. It had it all…and this couple didn’t want any of it. But after enlisting the help of local designer, Krista of KMSalter Design, they were able to have their dream home.
Apr 30, 2019
This Crafty Austinite Just Might Out-Halloween Us All
Retro Halloween masks, handmade spooky DIYs, glitter, pom-poms, tassels and a ton of faux trees — crafter and blogger Jen Perkins doesn’t just set a few fake tombstones out on the lawn and call it a day. When it comes to Halloween decorating, every inch of her home (inside and out) is splashed with spooky decor. This is the third year in a row we’re showing off what her home looks like in October.
Apr 30, 2019
A Super Cozy Home in an 18th Century Dutch Warehouse
Name: Anne and Coen Location: Dordrecht, the Netherlands Size: 1,367 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned The old city of Dordrecht is filled with many quaint buildings, like a warehouse built in 1750 that was used to store bed sheets and towels for a nearby hospital (that has long since disappeared). Unlike the hospital, the warehouse is still around but is now home to Anne and Coen.
Apr 30, 2019
A Lifestyle Store Owner’s Minimal, Timeless Home
Name: Audrey Morissette her husband Francois and baby William Location: Blainville, Quebec Size: 2,380 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Audrey Morissette established her store Boutique Vestibule in 2014 in the Mile End of Montreal. Vestibule is an original lifestyle concept shop that offers decorative accessories, clothing brands, jewelry and many local products carefully chosen, all in a minimalist, feminine and timeless style.
Apr 30, 2019
A Happy Modern Renovated Melbourne Home
Name: Sara, Damien, Vincent (7) and Lawrence (5) Location: Bentleigh East — Melbourne, Australia Years lived in: 2 years, owned Sara and Damien purchased their home in Bentleigh East three years ago, and it’s been a great first family home for the couple and their two children. In fact, the process of renovating the house actually sparked Sara’s interest in interior design — so much so that after completing the reno she embarked on a “back to school” journey!
Apr 30, 2019
A Charming, Eclectic Brooklyn Studio
Name: Allie Epstein Location: East Williamsburg/Bushwick — Brooklyn, NYC Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 4 and a half years, renting Allie recently acquired a modern mobile, which hangs above the dining area in her studio apartment. In a residual state of post-mobile-procurement bliss, she realized the space she has called home for four years was finally complete.
Apr 30, 2019
A Minimal, Scandi-Influenced UK Home
Name: Kate and Matt Williams, their children Daisy and Joseph, and their whippets Mimi and Olive Location: Mistley — Essex, UK Years lived in: 3 1/2 years This Georgian home dates back to 1710 and sits on one side of the scenic High Street of Mistley village on the Stour Estuary in Essex. The air is scented with the salty smell of the river and the malty hops brewing in the large red-brick brewery nearby.
Apr 30, 2019
Coach Just Bought Kate Spade for $2.4 Billion
Kate Spade’s colorful style has attracted not only millennial shoppers, but also the devotion of another iconic brand. Coach announced today that they have acquired the fellow New York based company in a cash deal of $2.4 billion. “Kate Spade has a truly unique and differentiated brand positioning with a broad lifestyle assortment and strong awareness among consumers, especially millennials,” said Coach CEO Victor Luis in a statement.
Apr 30, 2019
A Perfectly Pink, Adorable Apartment in London’s Notting Hill
Name: Violet Victoria Dent and Harry Dent Location: Notting Hill, London Size: 588 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, renting Millennial pink, rose quartz — whatever you call it, pink is definitely having a moment. One designer in London loves it so much she’s surrounded herself with plenty of shades of pink in the maisonette she shares with her husband in Notting Hill, London.
Apr 30, 2019
A Poet’s Magical Montreal Pad
Name: Melanie Power Location: Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, Quebec Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting When Melanie Power, a poet from St. John’s, Newfoundland, first moved into this compact apartment, it was a neglected space. Over the years, she has collected items and furniture from thrift stores across the provinces to revive and restore it, creating a place full of magical whimsy and intrigue.
Apr 30, 2019
A Charming, Eclectic Farmhouse in Michigan
Name: Kim and Patrick + daughter Fiona + dog CeCe Location: Brighton, Michigan Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned Built in 1940 — with a mint green exterior and eggplant shutters — Kim and Patrick’s Cape Cod style house is steeped in history. “There has only been one owner prior to us and the land for the home was originally parceled from the lot belonging to the house next door.
Apr 30, 2019
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fabric Designs from the ’50s Are Available Again
Good news, FLW fans: Schumacher has re-released the starchitect’s fabric designs in honor of Wright’s upcoming 150th birthday. Frank Lloyd Wright’s collection with the 19th century fabric brand originally debuted in 1955, after former House Beautiful editor Elizabeth Gordon encouraged the architect to start a line for those who didn’t live in his houses.
Apr 30, 2019
Stylephiles Co-Founder Steph Waterman’s Chic Carroll Gardens Home
Name: Steph Waterman Location: Carroll Gardens — Brooklyn, NY Size: 600 square feet Years Lived In: 1.5 years, renting Kaz and Steph are the “design obsessed duo” behind The Stylephiles. “We are oceans apart in Sydney and New York.
Apr 30, 2019
Newlyweds Aim for “Urban Minimalism” in a 100-Year-Old St. Louis Home
Name: Meg and Julia Rigano Location: Fox Park — St. Louis, Missouri Size: 2,126 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, owned Five years ago, hosting a party at this address would have been unheard of — the century-old home was falling apart and on the market for less than $40,000 at the time. But in recent years, St. Louis investors have been quickly buying up homes like this one to flip.
Apr 30, 2019
You’ve Never Seen Her But She’s Famous: The Voice of House Hunters
If you’ve ever sat down to watch an episode (or 47) of HGTV’s House Hunters, then you’ve heard the voice of Andromeda Dunker. BuzzFeed chatted with the actor in her first extensive interview. House Hunters has been a staple at the cable network since 1999 and has spawned a plethora of spinoffs, including House Hunters International, Tiny House Hunters, House Hunters Off the Grid, House Hunters Renovation.
Apr 30, 2019
This Swedish Sauna Is Shaped Like a Golden Egg
It doesn’t take much to convince us to spend time in a sauna. Seriously, who needs an excuse to sit back, sweat it out and let the stress melt away? Well, we’ve found a sauna that’s golden, egg-shaped and sits in the middle of a Swedish city, offering even more alluring reasons to indulge in some heat-assisted restoration. Enter the SOLAR EGG, a dazzling art installation created by designers Bigert & Bergstrom.
Apr 30, 2019
A Kip&Co Founder’s Stunning, Modern Melbourne Home
Name: Alex McCabe, her boyfriend Bobby, and their three dogs Freddy, Jimmy and Gerald Location: St Kilda — Melbourne, Australia Size: 1,345 square feet Years lived in: 8 years, owned About half of the furniture in Alex McCabe’s house is vintage. There’s a “deliciously worn” 1970s brown leather lotus couch, a 1950s Danish dining table set and some super comfortable vintage armchairs.
Apr 30, 2019
A Glamorous & Intriguing Los Angeles Apartment
Name: Erik Kenneth Staalberg Location: Miracle Mile — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented After searching countless websites every day for months, Erik finally found his dream apartment: A charming, pre-war historic building in Los Angeles’ Miracle Mile. Though it wasn’t perfect when he moved in, its been a complete passion project and continues to be everyday.
Apr 30, 2019
Joy’s Beautiful New Orleans Bakehouse
Name: Joy Wilson, aka Joy the Baker Location: Bywater — New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned “New Orleans, you beast. You wild, unpredictable, crazy fun, wholly overwhelming place. New Orleans isn’t just a city… it’s a spirit and culture. It’s a lady and a trouble-maker. It’s palpable and irresistible, and will not be ignored. New Orleans, you excite me. New Orleans, I’m hungry. New Orleans, I love you.
Apr 30, 2019
Before & After: A Beach Condo Kitchen Leaves the Sea of Beige Behind
Wendy is doing Florida her way. After snatching up a beach condo with a view, she set about giving the outdated kitchen some much needed pizzaz. Treating her new digs as a blank slate, she added color and mid-century flair, giving the kitchen updated style. From Wendy: Move over snowbirds, soon the sounds of The Rolling Stones, The Cars and even a little Pink Floyd may be drifting through your condo corridors as your new Baby Boomer neighbors move in.
Apr 30, 2019
A “Folk Modern” Apartment With Urban Cabin Vibes
Name: Steven Miller Location: Los Angeles, California Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, rented Everything in Steven’s apartment has a story behind it: He can recall the thrift store each piece of art came from and can tell you the lengths he went to find a unique piece of furniture. “It makes me so happy that I have a space for all of the things that I’ve thrifted or collected,” he says. For Steven, thrifting isn’t just a hobby.
Apr 30, 2019
A Serial Entrepreneur’s Recently Renovated Modern Farmhouse
Name: Lisa Palmer, husband Rob and son Quinn Location: Fenton, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit) Size: 5,300 square feet (including basement) Years lived in: 16 years, owned Lisa Palmer is a seeker of all things vintage, lover of nostalgia, and fan of making her home a place where anyone can walk in and feel loved by it. On the professional side, Lisa is a serial entrepreneur (16 years in) who has a knack for developing products and building lifestyle brands such as her most recent Lillybee.
Apr 30, 2019
An Interior Designer’s Comfortably Polished Chelsea Brownstone
Name: Whitney and Jordon Giancoli Location: Chelsea — New York City, New York Years Lived In: 2 years, renting Whitney Giancoli — native Texan, new mom and interior designer based in Chelsea — didn’t always work in design. But after transforming her fifth floor walk-up (hence her social media handle @5thfloorwalkup) on the Lower East Side, she unexpectedly kick-started her own design career.
Apr 30, 2019
A Toronto Designer’s Rainbow Renovation
Name: Tiffany Pratt Location: The Beaches — Toronto, Canada Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 8 years, renting For as long as she can remember, Tiffany has had a deep affinity for color. As a designer and stylist, she uses it to create bright and beautiful spaces. She loves evoking thought, inspiration and delight using bold hues that some might overlook.
Apr 30, 2019
A Montreal Duplex Unit Filled with Eclectic Vintage Finds
Name: Marlène Deshaies Location: Villeray, Montreal Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 10 months, owned Marlène considers herself a decor magazine junkie. She lives in a 950-square-foot flat in a duplex she shares with her daughter Corine and her boyfriend Maxime, and it’s inspiring publications like Martha Stewart Living and IDEAT that helped her completely renovate the kitchen and bathroom, as well as decorate the entire space.
Apr 30, 2019
A Regular Furniture Rearranger’s Always Fresh St. Louis Rental
Name: Amy Kuntz Location: St. Louis, Missouri Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 18 months, renting Why stick with one living room when you can have ten? Amy Kuntz loves to change up her first-floor flat in St. Louis whenever she feels inspired, giving her Instagram followers a new, stylish look every few weeks.
Apr 30, 2019
A ’90s Glam Downtown Chicago Loft for Art Collectors
They WON'T be renovating: Two art collectors bought a dated condo last renovated in the early '90s...and they love it just the way it is!
Apr 30, 2019
A Couple Bought This Detroit House…Without Ever Walking Inside!
Name: Courtney, Paul, and (daughter) Redding Location: Corktown — Detroit, Michigan Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned After living in Brooklyn for 10 years, Courtney and Paul relocated to Detroit in 2016 and took a chance on buying a house…without ever walking inside. The couple discovered the property through family: Paul’s cousin moved back to the Motor City a few years before them and found this duplex. Now they all currently live in it!
Apr 30, 2019
An Event Planner’s Modern, Quiet Quonset Hut in Detroit
Name: Haley Lertola Location: True North — Detroit, Michigan Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 1/2 year, renting Haley Lertola owns an event planning and design company, Detroit Cultivated, where she’s “committed to disrupting the Detroit event industry by creating inspired experiences that incorporate sustainable practices. One of the goals of each event is to transport guests to a truly original setting.
Apr 30, 2019
A Playful Pasadena Apartment Where You Can Chill the Eff Out
Name: Aurora Lady and Ben Pringle Location: Pasadena, California Size: 830 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented “Our home is our everything — it’s our retreat, our workplace, and our safety net,” Aurora Lady says of the Pasadena apartment she shares with her partner Ben. It’s a place where Aurora can create, where Ben can work on his music, and where the couple can just chill out. But to Aurora and Ben, it’s more than just an apartment.
Apr 30, 2019