Name: Oded Location: Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree, California The basics: 2 years, owned — 1,375 square feet Oded’s home is an open and functional space with the sort of desert vibes that are distinctly California. Designed with the landscape in mind, the desert light floods the house and the outdoor space has views to die for. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We completed our home in December of 2015.

Name: Deepali, her husband and their 2 kids Location: Portland, Oregon The basics: 12 years, owned — 1,800 square feet Deepali’s home balances striking textiles with, well, kids. Creating a home that is as visually interesting as it is welcoming to all ages, she has created rooms that look lovingly lived in. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: This was the first home my husband and I purchased 12 years back.

Name: Amanda, her wife Courtney and their daughter Location: Stevenson, Washington The basics: 10 months, owned — 1,800 square feet Amanda and Courtney took a chance on a cabin in the woods that was in not-so-great shape. Their hard work and leap of faith paid off in dividends, their cabin is full of the kind of rustic charm that city folks spend their days daydreaming about on the subway.

Name: Tracy and Ian Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia The basics: 4 years, school staff housing — 1,500 square feet Tracy and Ian, two International School employees, have filled their home with colorful and just plain cool finds. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We, Tracy Hill and Ian Hogg, have lived in Riyadh for four years, both work at an International School, I’m a teacher coach and Ian works in Facilities and Security Management.

Name: Jamie Location: Cincinnati, Ohio The basics: 6 years, rented | 1,800 square feet Jamie’s enviable apartment search, which took about five minutes, led her to this charming Cincinnati apartment. Exposed brick and rich colors set off her collection of thrifted finds and her gaggle of plant children. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My apartment is my best Craigslist find to date.

Name: Ingeborg, Anton and their two daughters Location: Pankow — Berlin, Germany The basics: 5 1/2 years, rented 68 square meters (732 square feet) Ingeborg and her family have added color and character to their starkly white apartment. With little adjustments for every major life change, the apartment has been made to fit the family as it grows. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Anton and I didn’t feel at home right from the start.

Name: Susan Yeley, her husband, 3 kids and 1 dog Location: Bloomington, Indiana The basics: 12 years, owned |3,000 square feet Susan, an interior designer, has slowly and lovingly renovated her home to meet the needs of her family of five. Taking their time with updates and expansions has helped the house truly make the lives of its inhabitants happier and healthier. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: In 2005, I was 37 weeks pregnant with our first child.

Name: Clemence, her partner and their cat Location: Saint Mandé, France The basics: 3 years, rented | 45 square meters (485 square feet) Clemence’s apartment mixes clean lines with leafy plants, black and white with pops of yellow. She also makes the most of the space, dividing it into areas designated for work and play. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My boyfriend, my cat and I have lived in this apartment since 2014.

Name: Nicole and her family Location: Austinmer, Australia The basics: 1 year, rented Nicole describes Austinmer as, “a hidden coastal village tucked between the mountains and the seas only an hour south of Sydney.” If that doesn’t get you packing your bags, Nicole’s breezy bungalow will have you hoping on a plane.

Name: Talia Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant — Brooklyn, New York The basics: 1 year, owned | 1,350 square feet After living in the smaller unit for a few year, Talia and her son moved down into the larger unit of their Brooklyn brownstone. Super bright and kid (and cat) friendly, the space feels stylish yet unintimidating. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Our apartment is on the garden and parlor floor of an old Brooklyn Brownstone.

Name: Courtney and her family Location: Ross, California The basics: 7 years, owned (recently sold) | 2,800 square feet Courtney decorated her home with usability in mind, which you might not immediately guess given how stunning it is. Beautifully thought out, the space balances curated style with a life with children and all that entails. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: This was our family home for seven years.

Name: Jennifer Location: East Austin — Austin, Texas The basics: 1 year, rented | 1,500 square feet Jennifer and her dogs have put down roots in this lovely Austin home. Jennifer is a designer by trade, and her ability to mix high and low, make bold choices work and balance a space is truly on display here. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I live in a great neighborhood on Austin’s eastside.

Name: Will and Jaz the cat Location: Westport — Kansas City, Missouri The basics: 2 years, rented | 500 square feet Will’s apartment has a casual cool that is endlessly inviting. Full of funky art and fantastic finds, it feels like a twist on classic Americana. We’re totally ready to stop on by for a beer on the balcony! Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I stumbled upon this little gem on Craigslist.

Name: Mili, her husband and their dog Location: Dallas, Texas The basics: 2 years, owned | 2,300 square feet Mili’s home has a mid-century flair that is perfectly balanced with global finds and accented with gorgeous textiles from her own line. After a kitchen and dining room remodel, the home is now open and inviting. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: It’s a 1979 ranch style home in Dallas, Texas.

Name: Cara, her roommate, 2 suite-mates and 9 plants Location: Baltimore, Maryland The basics: 8 months, rented | 286 square feet At first glance, you would have a hard time sussing out the fact that Cara’s room is actually in a dorm. The bright colors and cute accents are a far cry from the white cinderblock and bunk beds most often associated with freshman year. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: This is my freshman-year dorm room.

Name: Kathryn and her husband Derek Location: San Francisco, California The basics: 9 months, rented | 381 Square Feet Kathryn and Derek not only make this small space work for them, they thrive in it. Choosing to look at their apartment not as a burden but as an opportunity, they’ve embraced living small and all of the ways it can bring them closer together.

Name: Terra Location: St Clair West, Toronto, Ontario The basics: 8 months, rented | 700 square feet Terra’s apartment is one part plant conservatory, one part friendship coven and one part personal sanctuary. After apartment hopping around Toronto, Terra settled into her new space. Taking root physically and metaphorically, she has filled her apartment with plenty of plants and tons of good vibes.

Name: Lauren, Tulip the cat and Alfee the rabbit Location: Stamford, Connecticut The basics: 4 months, rented | 450 square feet Lauren’s lovely little studio is bright and calm. Using white to keep things light and airy helps the space feel open, but the personal accents keep the space from feeling impersonal or static.

Name: Lauren Location: Montreal — Quebec, Canada The basics: 1.5 years, rented | 500 square feet Lauren struck rental market gold with her Montreal studio. With the high ceilings, moldings and that window the space is full of glamorous antique charm. With a clever layout and personal touches, Lauren has played up all of the best aspects of the space, creating a sun-drenched dream that looks for bigger than its 500 feet.