Brian and Nicki Rohloff

Name: Kennesha Buycks, her husband, and children Location: Seattle, Washington Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, renting To only call Kennesha Buycks a “designer” would be missing a lot of what she does. “I am an encourager. A storyteller. A life-breather. A creative. An influencer. A stylist. A gatherer. But, most of all? I am a woman who loves connecting with the hearts of others through home,” she writes on her popular blog, Restoration House.

Name: Danielle and Justin McKim and Great Dane Charlotte Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Danielle and Justin have a home that could not be more full of their own individual style and personality. Collecting affordable pieces and turning them into magic was once a hobby of Danielle’s that soon became her career as a designer and local storefront owner here in Charlotte.

Name: Ariene C. Bethea and Daren Z. Bethea II (and Mini) Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 3,100 Square Feet Years lived in: 9 years, owned There are dreamers and there are doers. Ariene Bethea fits into the latter. Ariene brought her dream to life through her designer furnishings storefront, Dressing Rooms Interiors Studio. She has been called a “design maven,” whose arrival is “changing the face of design in the South.

Name: Melanie Branam, husband Scott and brand new baby Molly Location: Myers Park — Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 4 1/2 years, renting You can immediately smell the flowers when you walk into Melanie’s home, which is only natural given she is one of Charlotte’s premier florists. Melanie is the talented woman behind New Creations Flowers and her 1,600 square foot home is not only where she lives, it also serves as her floral studio.

Name: Katie, Anthony, Isabelle and Freya Miller, with dogs Oliver and Tulip Location: Belmont, North Carolina Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Katie’s friends are right, walking into her lovely duplex in Belmont, North Carolina is an immensely welcoming experience. Maybe it is the two insistent yet extremely friendly dachshunds that greet you upon arrival, or maybe it’s the comforting furnishings and thoughtful art that permeate her abode.

Name: Kaitlin Grunder and Dilbert the Dachshund Location: Lower Highlands — Denver, Colorado Size: 550 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting Kaitlin is a graphic designer in Denver, Colorado; so it came as no surprise to discover her space to be so sufficiently streamlined, while also looking so good. Her studio is fun and functional, from her decorative use of her IKEA shelving to her DIY faux fireplace. Every inch of her 550-square-foot studio is thoughtfully utilized.

Name: Brian and April Location: Villa Heights — Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 1,940 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Brian and April have done an incredible job of turning their first home into their own. Since purchasing in 2014, they have added fun pops of color and personality into almost every room and turned it into a happy haven in the Plaza Midwood area in Charlotte.

Name: Ana and Mansour (and Molly) Location: NoDa — Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5 years Ana and Mansour have a home filled with pieces that each tell a story. Ana is a talented writer, originally from Dominican Republic, and travels often. Mansour is a Harvard graduate from Washington DC who enjoys biking in his free time. They are both intelligent and hilarious…and the corner garden in their living room is a dream.

This basement apartment in the city feels more like a handcrafted cottage, neatly nestled in a hidden forest somewhere in the mountains.

Name: Mona Tavakoli, Beau Ritten, and cats Minnow and Sushi Location: Central District — Seattle, Washington Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Make your way up the stairs to Mona and Beau’s converted top-floor apartment in the heart of the Emerald City, and you can feel the eclectic vibes seeping into the landing. The elongated cat statue staring at you on your way in could be playing a large part. Needless to say, their pad is very cool.

Name: Seana Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: Own. I am a first-time home owner! Seana does not claim to be a design expert, but she could have fooled us. As a corporate professional she spends her days in a more formal atmosphere, so her first house provides a unique canvas to express her creativity.