William Strawser

Amelia's 490-square-foot studio features storage solutions and clever DIYs... and it's an absolutely cozy, festive space for the holidays.

Name: Paul Giordano and Simon Mathis Location: New York, New York Size: 625 square feet Years lived in: 15 months, rented This extremely welcoming home in Manhattan is full of vibrant colors, natural textures, and personalized treasures. Though on the small-ish side, big windows let in a lot of light, and charming architectural features like a brick wall add tons of charm. But it’s Paul and Simon’s ability to mesh styles and colors that has created such a warm, eclectic home.

Name: John and Wesley Yates-Parietti Location: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Size: 630 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years Before John and Wesley moved into this 1890s Brooklyn townhouse, they say they were each living in separate “windowless dumps.” It took lots of unpacking and plenty of painting, but this small shared space is filled with historic artifacts, collected treasures and the couple’s heart and soul. (No windowless dumps in sight.

Name: Thomas Dobrowolski and Ben Ezrick Location: West Village, New York Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned When you only have 400 square feet to work with, every inch of your home has to be considered during a remodel. Not just for aesthetics, but for also for function. Which is precisely what Thomas and Ben did with their West Village home when they set about renovating the small space: There are sleek, smart, built-in storage solutions in every room of the apartment.

Name: Peti Lau Location: New York, NY Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Full of unique art collected from around the world, this apartment has a relaxing and inviting atmosphere. From the moment you step inside this stunning apartment with bedroom loft, you are greeted with warm colors and a smiling host.

Name: Gretchen Maull of GG Maull Location: Tribeca / City Hall — New York, NY Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2 years I absolutely love seeing cleanly designed spaces that aren’t afraid to work with bold graphic patterns and colors. This beautifully designed home in the heart of Manhattan has everything that you’d want to see in a modern luxe New York apartment.

Name: Gabriela Goff and Jeffrey Goff Jr. Location: Rochester, New York Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 5 years This unique apartment is the home of Gabriella Goff and her brother Jeffrey Goff Jr. It’s located in the basement of the sculpture studio of Paul and Christine Knoblauch, who designed and refurbished the space five years ago. It’s a home full of original art — from the sofa to the tables to the walls.

Name: Dan Koday, Yves Yakoubyan Location: Chelsea — Manhattan, New York City Size: Approx 750 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 Years This modern and artistic apartment is full of farmhouse accents, crafty DIY, and unique art pieces collected during travels. Renters Dan and Yves have created a magical home that is both inviting and artful with lively green plants that conjure notions of secret gardens and relaxing lush metropolitan parks.

Name: Emily Graff Location: Greenwich Village, New York Size: 550 square feet Years lived in: 3 years This home in Greenwich Village is full of energy thanks to bold and colorful patterns. But it also feels quite larger than its small size. The owner Emily has done an amazing job with maximizing space by utilizing a Murphy bed, smart furniture layout planning and wallpaper as a means of visually dividing the space. And her eclectic decor makes for a cozy, comfy home.

Name: Jennie Cohen Location: Greenwich Village Size: 450 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5.5 years This bright and airy Manhattan studio is full of mid-century charm while at the same time feeling comfortable and modern. The minimal use of vibrant color creates a startling contrast in this clean white space.

Name: Christine Alcalay, her teenager daughter and two-year-old son Location: Brooklyn, New York Size: 4,600 Square Feet Years lived in: 8 years, owned After emigrating from Vietnam with her family when she was just three years old, Christine Alcalay grew up in New York City. Her mother, who was a self-taught tailor and worked in factories in the Garment District, introduced her daughter to the art of sewing.