The Latest

Name: Hannah and Jean Puechmarin Location: Brisbane, Australia Size: Two bedroom house Years lived in: Rented for one year If a passer-by looked at this home, all they would see is a house with peeling paint. But don’t we always say that it is what’s on the inside that counts? My husband Jean and I (along with our puppy, Arthur) were on the hunt for a home with character.

Jil and Jeff’s home showcases many rustic, nautical and Scandinavian-inspired pieces, like the vintage wood crate at the sofa’s side or the coffee table made from a slab of wood. If you had your eye on some of the items in their expansive Toronto loft, you can get some of the items—or something similar—using the sources below.

Name: Franke Chung, Jason Wark, Neko the cat, and Ozzy the dog Location: Streeterville — Chicago, Illinois Size: 640 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year Many folks who live in studio apartments might agree — they function quite efficiently… until you have company over. That’s when there’s a sudden shift in the equilibrium. There’s one too many bodies in here.

Name: Teresa Robinson Location: Portland, Oregon Size: 1,150 square feet Years lived in: Owned 8.5 For Teresa Robinson, maker of the gorgeous jewelry line, Tiro Tiro, a home of one’s own is best filled with things that bring a feeling of warmth. With an eclectic mix of vintage and modern furniture, as well as a healthy dose of DIY, Teresa’s home of nearly nine years captures that feeling in every room.

Name: Jonny and Aimée Mendez Location: Albany Park — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Rented for 1.5 years Jonny and I were married in May of 2015. One of our deepest joys over the past year has been creating our home together. Soon after we were married, we really considered the questions, “How do we want to feel in our home?” and “How do we want others to feel when they enter our home?

Name: Krysta Jabczenski and Joel Leshefka Location: Tucson, Arizona Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 2 years (We remodeled this property earlier this year.) For Krysta and Joel, Tucson is more than just home. The two artists and shop owners relocated to Krysta’s native Arizona from the Pacific Northwest, and planted roots in the blossoming creative community in the area.

Name: Coco Dávez Location: Chueca nieghborhood — Madrid, Spain Size: 193 square feet Years lived in: Rented since February Coco welcomes me smiling in her studio, in an old royal state apartment in the heart of the high Chueca neighborhood in Madrid. Her paintings are full of colors, and fill the small, bright studio space. An artist since she was a child, painting for Coco is a way to relax, to play and to remain connected with that inner child inside us all.

Name: Max Shay, Emily Billings, and their cat, Snowboots Location: South End — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 655 square feet Years lived in: Rented 5 months As you may remember, a couple years ago, Max and I left our city life behind for rural New England where we moved into an old farmhouse with plenty of room to roam.

A 19th Century Chicago home and studio to two artists.

Name: Erika Brulé Location: Jingletown — Oakland, California Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2 years When Erika saw photos of the Oakland loft she now calls home, she immediately signed the lease without even looking at the space in person. She knew it would provide her with all she needed: a spacious area where she could indulge in crafts and DIY projects, expansive walls where she could hang art she loves, and industrial elements like exposed pipes and brick.

Name: Rian, Zeanne and their son Christo Location: Newlands Village — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 250 square meters Years lived in: Owned almost 3 years What was once a dark house with low ceilings has been transformed into a light and airy home with an understated elegance. Zeanne and Rian bought this 1970s house almost three years ago and had to gut it to create the beautiful space you see today.

Name: Sienna and Javod Location: Willow Glen — San Jose, California Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2.5 years Sienna and Javod are inspired by vintage pieces, whether it’s while window shopping at local antique markets, shopping for vintage treasures online, or inheriting family heirlooms. When paired with a penchant for DIY, crafting and art, the result is a beautiful home filled with geometric patterns, textiles and mid-century furniture.

Marie-Laure and Sébastien’s boho-inspired home in France takes inspiration from nature, such as the pine trees in their backyard and the nearby ocean. If you’ve been looking for more Bohemian-style pieces for your home, check out the links below to shop the style.

Name: Robyn Kleffman, John Morley and their dog Daisy Location: Seabright — Santa Cruz, California Size: 350 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 months If John could have it his way, he’d fill his home with comfy La-Z-Boy furniture, but Robyn has completely different tastes, citing Consort, Coup D-Etat, DWR, and Anna Karlin as some of her dream sources.

Sienna and Javod’s San Jose home is filled with art, mid-century modern furniture, and geometric patterns. Though a lot of the items were made by Sienna or purchased second-hand, you can get items with similar patterns and styles online using the links below.

Name: Lisette van de Graaf Location: Gothic quarter — Barcelona, Spain Size: 968 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 7 years I met Lisette at a magazine opening party and she immediately caught my attention because she seemed like a well-traveled person with plenty of stories to tell. Born in Dutch Antilles and raised in Madrid, she hasn’t stopped traveling and exploring since.

Name: Caryn, Edward, and their two sons Kai and Beckett (plus their two pitbulls Dexter and Nuggett) Location: Santa Cruz, California Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned 11 years Caryn and Edward bought their beach cottage on the west side of Santa Cruz, California 11 years ago to raise their growing family. The family is happy to call the quiet street with beach views their home, though the inside isn’t quite as hushed as the street scene outside.

Name: Sydney Krause and Fabrice Bouty Location: Plateau — Montreal, Canada Size: 1,147 square feet Years lived in: Owned 4 years Sydney and Fabrice are a perfect example of how two people with very distinct personal styles can cultivate a harmonized and well-designed home. Fabrice is originally from France and gravitates towards more classic design while Sydney enjoys color, unique lighting and a good vintage find! When Sydney moved in a few years ago, the place was entirely different.

Name: Justin and Anna Spaller + Cat, Oscar Location: Savin Hill — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year Two years ago, Justin and I had no idea we would end up living in an old Boston neighborhood, let alone in a beautiful 19th century Victorian home. At that time, we were Midwest natives turned Brooklynites, planning a big farewell to the city that never sleeps after four years.

Name: Meghan Bogden Shimek Location: Oakland, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 months Meghan’s live-work Oakland loft is very personal and full of inspiration, found in her beautiful fiber weavings, work by her creative friends, or vintage furniture that brings her joy. Though she’s lived in the space for less than a year, Meghan is already enamored with the amount of space the loft provides her, both to create and share with her 5-year-old son.

Name: Lauren and Alex Chapin Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned 4 years Lauren, of Circle G Designs, shares this Pittsburgh home with her husband Alex. Though their tastes tend toward a more modern feel, Lauren believes in respecting the architecture of a house, so their home is a blend of their style and classic elements, the result of which is a simple, classic yet contemporary space.

Lauren and Alex’s Pittsburgh home is mid-century modern, but also features lots of traditional elements. In order to highlight some of these classic details, the couple chose to fill their home with traditional furniture and modern accents—a combination that represents their tastes. If you love both classic and modern pieces, use the shopping sources below to get the look in your home.

Name: Dana Leviston, Mahlie (9) Leon (8) Location: Yarraville, Melbourne, Australia Size: Approximately 700 square metres Years lived in: 11 Years, Rental This house was built in the 1950s and renovated in the ’70s. It came to Dana’s family through her father first; he bought the house in 1992 . (There was only one previous owner before their family.

Lisette’s beautiful, restored flat in Barcelona tells stories of her travels throughout the world with very minimal decor. She has vintage pieces acquired while working in the fashion industry in Hong Kong, and showcases furniture she found while living in Amsterdam. Though some of these items are unique finds, you can find similar styles online using the sources below.

Jane’s San Francisco home is inspired by her surroundings from architecture, retail spaces, and nature (plus some mid-century modern)—a style Jane calls “Happy Californian.” If you’re inspired by these things, as well as clean lines and craftsmanship, check out the shoppable links below. Teepee — Similar: Etsy Table lamp — Similar: Zinc Door Credenza — Similar: Overstock Mini globe — Similar: World Market Brass duck — Similar: Jet.

Name: Marta Garrido Location: Terrassa — Barcelona, Spain Size: 807 square feet Years lived in: Rented for two and a half years Marta lives in Terrassa (a little city near Barcelona) with her two cats, Mandarino and Valentina, and her husband Jules. I met her through her Instagram account @undiagris (it means “a grey day”) but that’s just the opposite of the spirit she radiates.

Caryn and Edward’s Santa Cruz home is full of rich and vibrant colors, just like Caryn’s art pieces. The house style is a mixture of boho-chic and mid-century, plus some beach style thrown in throughout (the end of their street has a perfect view of Santa Cruz and the beach). Use the sources below to get the look in your home and shop some of the items found in their beautiful house.

Meghan Shimek’s Oakland live-work studio is full of inspiration, whether it’s her own inspiration that translates to beautiful weaving, or art created by her friends. Check out the links below to get some of these unique items or something similar in your home.

Name: Alison Gilbert, Jon Polikowski (+ kids Ruby and Noah and dog Baxter St. James) Location: Mount Washington — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,456 square feet Years lived in: Owned 4 years With two 5-year-old twins and a peppy pupster (Mr. Baxter St. James, if you please), it’s a wonder how Alison and Jon flawlessly renovated their Los Angeles post & beam home in just two years.

Name: Jordan and Ryan (Flower, Bowser, Pony & Rocket) Location: Nashville, Tennesee Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Jordan and Ryan bought their Nashville home a couple of years ago. After extensive renovations, their sweet 1905 bungalow is now a charming refuge for them and their four pets. Jordan started her own creative agency, Rare Assembly, and deals rugs and antiques under the web moniker of Hot Child Studio.

Name: Adrienne Moran Location: West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Size: 968 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Adrienne’s sweet apartment is in an old biscuit/cookie warehouse in the inner suburb of West Melbourne, not far from the city. While many warehouse developments lose a sense of history when sliced up in the design process — this block of apartments thankfully retained the beautiful original wooden floors and beams.

Name: Kristen Coates and Michael Paddon Location: Historic Downtown — Newport, Rhode Island Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: Rented 3 years Kristen Coates wears many creative hats: gallery and store owner, artist and curator. When she is at work, her mind is focused on bringing art and beauty into the homes of her customers and clients. When she returns home to the apartment she shares with her boyfriend Michael, she isn’t interested in spending time decorating.

Name: Chad Location: Cape Town, South Africa Size: 968 square feet (90 square metres) Years lived in: 6 years, owned A quirky sense of decor (and bold color scheme) instantly draws you in and makes you want to explore this playful Cape Town home. Chad, a young freelance designer, director and entertainment consultant cleverly transformed his parents’ basement into a gorgeous apartment.

Though Jordan and Ryan’s Nashville home is filled with lots of one-of-a-kind antiques (95% is vintage, in fact), it doesn’t follow one specific style. There are elements of bohemian, rustic-industrial, and traditional decor in every room that come together to create a charming refuge for the couple. To get this unique look in your home, check out the shoppable links below.

Chad’s Cape Town basement apartment is gorgeous and beautifully put together. But guests might not be quick to notice the quirk and playfulness in each room, and that’s exactly what makes his space so inviting. Check out the sources below to shop some of the bold items featured in his home.

Name: Caitlyn Murphy Location: Trinity Bellwoods — Toronto, Canada Size: 600-ish square feet Years lived in: Rented 6.5 years Caitlyn is a visual artist living and working in Toronto. She moved to the city nearly a decade ago, landing herself a one-bedroom apartment within a short distance from the art school she was attending.

Name: Dave and Kelly Marie Thompson, and cats Bootleg and Tippie Location: Kilbourn Park — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Kelly is the owner of Fleur, one of Chicago’s hippest flower shops, and Dave is a manager at the incomparable Chicago Athletic Association. Each of them are passionate about their work, and are dedicated to making their home a personal sanctuary where they can relax after their long days in the city.