Home

Name: Stephen Eichhorn and Jessica PaulsonPets: 2 toy poodles, Francis and Lulu; 2 cats, Poncho and KevinLocation: Ukrainian Village; Chicago, IllinoisSize: Roughly 2,000 sq ft (1,200 living space & 800 studio space); Single family home built in 1895Years lived in: 6 months, rented It’s no surprise that Stephen and Jessica listed the phrase “Always be Knolling” as a source of inspiration.

Name: Katherine & AlbertLocation: Prospect Heights — Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 4-story limestone building. Phase 1: one-floor, 938 square feet. Phase 2: 2-floor, 3-bedroom, 1,876 square feet (tenants live on the other two of the floors)Years Lived In: 3 Katherine, a stylist, is very particular about, and sensitive to, her immediate environment.

Name: Steven ShortridgeLocation: Venice, CaliforniaSize: 800 Square FeetYears lived in: 14 Steven Shortridge’s home was part of a larger house, which was relocated to Venice in 1937. He kept many of the original architectural details and built-ins and also added modern elements to fit his lifestyle. Choosing a bright bright orange for his dining room and kitchen was definitely a bold move, but Steven felt it was just the right color for the space.

Name: Sherry Joniff-Solomon and Dana Solomon — Owners of 22 Bond St.Location: West Hollywood, CaliforniaSize: 1,300 square feet (main house) + 300 square feet (pool house)Years lived in: 10 Months My favorite interior design inspirations are homes that have creative solutions for limited space. With under 1,500 square feet and a baby on the way, Sherry and Dana were on the fast track to renovate their new home.

Name: Marie Muscardini & Nick Silberman + Siena & Rocco Location: El Cerrito, CaliforniaSize: 1,300 square feetYears lived in: 2 — owned Who said that lightning can’t strike twice? Welcome back to El Cerrito, California! Nestled in the hills of the East Bay, El Cerrito sits northwest of Berkeley and is an increasingly favored destination for young families. Marie and Nick were no exception, moving into this 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch to make space for their growing brood.

Name: Aaron and Shannon Hase, owners of Yuppie Decor, and their spoiled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, PepperLocation: Arlington, Virginia (Douglas Park)Size: 1450 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Years lived in: owned 2 years Part preppy coastal, part old boys club, and part fresh traditional, Shannon and Aaron’s home is a lighthearted interpretation of yuppie East Coast style.

Name: Kathleen White-Almanza – former set decorator, designer, and co-owner of Eccola and Maurizio Almanza – co-owner of Eccola Location: Miracle Mile — Los Angeles, California Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 2½ Kathleen and Maurizio’s home is my absolute dream house. When you enter through the front door into a courtyard with an outdoor fireplace and even a scooter in the driveway, how can you not feel like you are in a rural town in Italy?

Name: A project by Sally Breer Interior Design Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1700 square feet Designer Sally Breer was tasked with taking an older South Austin bungalow and turning it into a hip, inviting and cool home for a young bachelor. The house, like a lot of older homes, had great bones (namely beautiful wood floors and a neat layout) but lacked a lot (okay any) style. Full of vintage details and lots of bright light, we love the cool, accessible look of this home she’s created.

Name: Ingrid & SjaakLocation: Driewegen , The NetherlandsSize: 2,421 square feetYears lived in: 2½ — owned An incredibly crafty and creative gal, Ingrid has filled her historic eclectic home with lovingly-made blankets, edited furniture, and textile art. What could easily have become a visually chaotic space is actually a soothing environment with just the right amount of color, texture, and vintage details.

Name: Addison Location: Madison, WI When Addison’s fantasy-filled attic playroom was featured as part of a Green Tour on Re-Nest, it won the hearts of readers. Parents Lynn and Steve transformed the attic space–along with Addison’s bedroom and bath–when they renovated their 1860’s carriage house in Madison, WI.

Name: Chris Gardner Editor in Chief of CurblyLocation: Columbus, OhioSize: 12 x 10′ home office and craft roomYears: 2 Even though Chris is the editor-in-chief of Curbly and also the man behind the crafting for guys site, ManMade, he found himself falling under the stereotype of the typical guy, working within a space that focused on function, but skimped on the aesthetic.

Name: IkeAge: 18 monthsLocation: Austin, TXRoom Size: 180 sq ft. We’re lucky to have very spacious bedrooms for a house built in the 60s. Too bad I can’t say the same about our closets… A name like Ike commands a certain amount of presence. You picture a young man with sophisticated tastes ready to conquer the world. This room put together by his mother Erin is just that, a regal and elegant space to be a kid.

Name: Lizzy JanssenLocation: Fishtown — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: One Bedroom, One BathroomYears lived in: 2.5 years, rent When visiting Lizzy’s neighborhood you never know what type of house you’re going to end up in. Fishtown is eclectic and certainly stylish and the homes range from industrial lofts in old factories to untouched rowhomes and occasionally you’ll find a complete and utter surprise like the one I was presented with when Lizzy opened the door.

Name: Time Warner’s Signature HomeLocation: NoHo, ManhattanSize: 3,000 square feet — 3 bedroom triplexYears lived in: temporary showhome In an effort to introduce their new Signature Home product in style, Time Warner took over and redecorated a triplex on Bond Street. The idea was to imagine a seriously wired home, on in which technology was seamlessly integrated into every room in the house.

Name: Warren Techentin and Mimi Techentin Location: Los Feliz, CaliforniaSize: 3600 Square FeetYears lived in: 4 years When I visit an architect’s home, I sometimes find it to be an untouchable piece of art. However, Warren and Mimi’s lovely home was very welcoming and showed signs of life and children really enjoying the space. I asked Warren how he kept the twin babies from not pulling all the books off the shelves or trying to climb the library ladder.

Name: Pam, Bryan, their sons, Sawyer and Zane, and dog, ShaynaLocation: Arlington, Virginia (Clarendon)Size: 4 bedrooms, 4 ½ bathroomsYears lived in: almost 11, owned Pam is an intuitive decorator. Rather than adhering to any strict design principles or striving for complete cohesion, she’s designed each room with elements that she and her family love regardless of whether the spaces have a strong stylistic connection to each other.

Name: Michael & Mandy, author of the craft blog Fabric Paper GlueLocation: Arlington — VirginiaSize: 608 square feetYears lived in: 3 Mandy and Michael’s place is just like them, adorable. Both are Nashville transplants who came to the DC area for grad school and decided to stick around. Michael is a criminal defense lawyer and Mandy works as an analyst for Health and Human Services (HHS).

Name: Kate and Mark ShawLocation: The Mission — San Fransisco, CaliforniaSize: 1,200 square feetYears owned: 6 Kate and Mark’s decor mission is simple: to steadily curate their space by adding and rearranging pieces in a way that ensures everything serves a purpose — even if only to celebrate favorite memories. Their collection is largely comprised of natural curiosities, handmade items, and found objects.

Name: Nan Lawson and Michael JonathanLocation: Silverlake — Los Angeles, CASize: 1 bedroom flat, on the bottom floor of a converted craftsman style homeYears lived in: 1 year and 7 months — rent Last month I randomly stumbled upon the website of Nan Lawson. I was instantly attracted to and amused by her drawings and sketches. She has a knack for simplifying a genre of hipster cool in her prints, which she sells on Etsy.

Name: Jason, Denise, & OwenLocation: Midway Hollow — Dallas, TexasSize: 1,200 square feetYears lived in: 4 years — owned Denise and Jason’s 1952 ranch style home is an excellent testament to resisting the tear-down movement now common in the surrounding areas of Dallas. Rather than remodeling, they used basic design aesthetics to complement the 1950’s charm: clean white walls, pops of color, and no clutter.

Name: Alexis Tjian, Robert Madison, Stella, Virgil & ZitoLocation: El Cerrito, CaliforniaSize: 1,200 square feetYears lived in: 5 — owned As the Associate Photo Editor of Dwell Magazine, Alexis is no stranger to good design. Her husband Rob, a general contractor, is no stranger to making design a reality. This enviable combination is harmoniously displayed in their El Cerrito home, where authentic mid-century charm is enhanced by modern colors and textures.

Name: Chris Sewell and Kenny Osehan, proprietors of the Presidio Motel and on-site shop, the Supply RoomLocation: Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSize: 900 square feet — 1 bed + 1 bathYears lived in: 2½ I met Chris and Kenny while in Santa Barbara photographing their friend’s home, Jesse & Leia’s Inspired Americana Bungalow. I have a theory — people with beautiful homes have friends with stylish pads (which proved to be the case with Jesse and Leia).

Names: Lainey & NellaLocation: FloridaRoom size: 13’x13′ Readers of Kelle Hampton’s blog, Enjoying The Small Things, have come to love Kelle and her daughters, Lainey and Nella. True to her blog’s name, Kelle delights in little details, and her daughters’ shared room is a study in simple and beautiful pleasures.Enjoying The Small Things has a huge and fiercely devoted following.

Name: Nancy Mims, co-founder, designer and creative director of Mod Green Pod, her husband, Rodney Gibbs, her two delightful children (ages 4 and 9), and their very old cat, Fuzzy WeaselLocation: Hyde Park — Austin, TexasSize: 1,700 square feetYears lived in: 6 — owned Nancy and her great organic fabric designs are no strangers to Apartment Therapy — we’ve previously featured her style and her approach to creating healthy materials for the modern home.

Name: Sonja TeriLocation: Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CASize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 1.5 years Last week we previewed Sonja’s Silver Lake apartment’s home office and studio over at Unplggd, and now we’re back with the rest of her stylish apartment for a full tour. Filled with a colorful and harmonious assortment of artwork, prints, sculptures and photographs, the quintessential Silver Lake apartment is a glamorous extension of Sonja’s love of the arts.

Name: Family of Three plus one adorable service dogLocation: Providence, Rhode IslandSize: 3000 square feetYears lived in: 3 — owned You get to see plenty of streamlined, minimalist spaces on Apartment Therapy. This isn’t one of them. This is a home that feels more like a delightful, giant cabinet of curiosity. This place isn’t shy about reflecting the stories, experiences and history of those who are lucky enough to live here.

Name: Steven Arroyo, restaurateur Location: Hancock Park — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 2,100 square feet — 2 beds, 2 bathsYears lived in: 1 year I had the pleasure of meeting Steven for the first time in his home. I immediately picked up on his strong demeanor and disciplined, yet multifaceted sense of style. With more than a few successful restaurants under his belt — Cobras & Matadors, Church & State, Sgt.

Name: Dana & Steve Miller along with sons Layne & Everett Location: Cincinnati, OhioSize: 2500 sq ft – 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath homeYears lived in: 2.5 — owned When Dana and her husband Steve bought their new construction home a few years ago, they were certain they could bring their own casual style to this boring builder’s home. And have they ever succeeded!

Name: Jessica & Scott O’BrienLocation: Robertson / Pico area — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 750 square feetYears lived in: 3 years — rented From my own experience, moving in with your significant other can be tricky, especially if your decorating tastes are not aligned (we’re polar opposites). But what I absolutely loved about Scott and Jessica’s home is how they seamlessly managed to display one another’s interests through the decor.

Name: Bruce and Melanie RosenbaumLocation: Sharon, MassachusettsSize: 4 bedrooms, 5000 square feetYears lived in: 10 — owned Steampunk means different things to different people, but to Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum whose home is a perfect whimsical ode to the style, it means fusing a modern sensibility with industrial antiques from the Victorian period to create a space that showcases the couple’s passion for antiquing, history, art, and technology.

Name: Ryan and Susan HayesLocation: Williston, VermontSize: Approximately 1550 sq. feet plus finished basementYears lived in: less than one On a quiet dirt road not far from Burlington, Vermont, Ryan and Susan Hayes have put a spin on farmhouse living. Inspired by Ryan’s own great grandparent’s home, they built a traditional Vermont-style house tweaked with their own modern aesthetic. This included some of the latest technologies in green building.

Name: Matt, Zack, Dexter the Wheaton Terrier and Parker the Miniature Retriever Location: Washington Square — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Size: 980 square feet Years lived in: 10 months We first got a look into the home of Matt and Zack during Small Cool 2010. Their home did so well that we knew a full House Tour would be much appreciated. There’s something for everyone in this home, so pay attention!

Name: Pong C. & Gatsby the dog.Location: Rittenhouse — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 568 square feetYears lived in: 2 years You may remember the Pong’s Restraint entry from this years Small Cool 2010. I just couldn’t resist paying his Rittenhouse digs a visit and I’m sure glad I did. There’s nothing more inspirational than a well decorated small space — restraint is key. Not only in restraint a key to the success of this space, there’s also color.

Name: Andrew, Kathleen, and RubyLocation: Berkeley Hills — Berkeley, CaliforniaSize: 2,600 square feetYears lived in: 7 — owned It’s all about respect. It is, at least, for Kathleen and Andrew when it comes to decorating their 1947 mid-century modern home in the Berkeley Hills. When they first moved into the space they were perplexed by the layout of the home. The bedrooms were small and awkward and the living spaces were open and undefined.

Name: Shanan and ChrisLocation: West Queen West — Toronto, CanadaSize: 2000 square feet + 400 square foot studio (building behind the house)Years lived in: 3 — owned Take one newly renovated, 3 bedroom semi-detached home up for sale in Toronto’s West Queen West neighborhood. Add Shanan, a graphic designer who recently returned to Toronto in search of a home and workspace for her company, Linseed Projects. Wait a few months.

What: Showtime House 2010Location: Midtown — New York, New YorkSize: 3 Penthouse apartments in Cassa Hotel & Residences, Benefiting: Harlem Children’s Zone Showhouses are a bizarre animal — and the third Showtime House is no exception. Pulling inspiration from 7 Showtime original series, the designers mix high-concept and high-design into themed rooms for the public to tour.

Name: Patricia CaldwellLocation: Los Feliz — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 800 square feetYears lived in: 2 months The idea of finding a new space, packing my stuff, and making it all fit somewhere else makes my head spin. But Patricia’s one-bedroom hideaway, nestled in the lovely Los Feliz area of Los Angeles makes me think again about the moving process. Three weeks is all it took Patricia to make an empty shell feel like a home.

Name: Mary & Eric Martineau (and Bogart the dog) Location: Harrison West — Columbus, OhioSize: 1,620 square feetYears lived in: 2 owned for 3½ Creative reuse is nothing new to Mary Martineau. As owner of Short North gallery Transformations, she used decoupage and paint to rework ordinary pieces of used furniture into functional works of art.

Name: Kevin Sharkey, decorating editorial director of Martha Stewart LivingLocation: Far West Village — New York, New YorkSize: 2,500 square feetYears lived in: 2 After 18 months of renovations, Kevin Sharkey was so pleased to have his apartment complete for the September issue of Martha Stewart Living that he invited Apartment Therapy editors for a private tour! The contemporary space is high over the Hudson in one of the Richard Meier towers on the West Side Highway.

Name: Amna & Paul WerdelLocation: Adams Morgan — Washington DCSize: 750 square feetYears lived in: 2 — rented Take a good look, because these are some of the last pictures snapped of Amna and Paul’s Adams Morgan gem before it goes under the knife…or the sledge hammer as it were. Their turn of the century building is being turned into condos, and part of the process is a major renovation of all the units.

Name: Lindsay & JeremyLocation: Capitol Hill — Washington, DCSize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 1 As anyone who’s ever lived with a significant other can tell you, there’s an art to compromise. When Lindsay and Jeremy moved in together four years ago, they found themselves confronted with the challenge of creating a space that reflected their mutual interests (books, movies, music) without losing sight of their individual aesthetics (geek chic for him, granny chic for her).

Name: Dan & Sarah Herchenroether Location: Newport, Rhode Island Size: 1,176 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years Dan used all his experience as an architect and whole lot of elbow grease to transform a small cottage on a quiet street away from the tourist hustle and bustle of Newport, Rhode Island from drab and dated (think tons of wood paneling) into a sweet and contemporary family home.

Name: Nicole GibbonsLocation: HarlemSize: 650 square feetYears lived in: 3.5 years We love peeking inside the homes of designers and other creative professionals, and our latest House Tour comes courtesy of Nicole Gibbons, who is the brains and the beauty behind one of our favorite interior design blogs So Haute.

Many rooms just mandate a bed on an angle. Placing it against the walls makes the space feel stale and sticking it straight out into the room might take up all of the available floor space. So when we ran across Jonas’ bedroom from yesterday’s Hollywood Regency Homestead tour, we wanted to make sure to highlight that it can be done and the end result is fabulous!

Name: Jonas Location: Brookside, Kansas City, MissouriStyle: Dutch Colonial Years lived in: 4 On the drive to photograph Jonas’ home, I had geared myself up for the “nice but non-creative” that is usually found in neighborhoods of this age. His home resides just south of Kansas City in an area that’s trying to make a shift from old money to new young blood.

Name: Susan Castor Collection “Beach House”Location: Port Aransas, TexasSize:3980 square feet — 6 bedrooms and 5½ bathrooms The Gulf Coast is all over the news these days, but it’s rarely linked with design and decor. Today we’re bringing you news from the Texas Gulf Coast of a lighter, fresher sort. On a recent trip to Port Aransas, we unexpectedly discovered a beautiful custom-built (and eco-friendly) vacation home open for tours at Cinnamon Shore.

Welcome to Beth from New York; a blogger trying out for a place on the Apartment Therapy editorial team as a House Tour Contributor. Enjoy her work!Names: Eli and JenniferLocation: Clinton Hill / Bedford Stuyvesant border —Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 16 feet wide by 45 feet deep, 5 floorsYears lived in: 1 year lived in (and still no couch) It is hard to imagine that Eli and Jennifer’s Brooklyn brownstone was on its way to disrepair when Eli acquired it a couple of years ago.

Name: Randal DawkinsLocation: North Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 700 square feet (approximately 490 square feet pictured)Years lived in: 6 We first featured the apartment that Randal coined his “miniature country house” during our Small Cool Contest. Though situated in Brooklyn, Randal is spot-on with his description.

Name: Mike & Maddie WitterLocation: Upper West Side, NYCSize: under 500 square feetYears lived in: 2 This couple of acclaimed public school educators have learned a thing or two themselves during the process of decorating their small bi-level apartment. Because of their high marks in our Small Cool Contest, we decided to get a closer look at this charming home.There is a great mix of antiques and new pieces happening here.

Name: Amanda RamsdenLocation: Sterling, VirginaSize: 1,600 square feet — 2 bedroom, 2 ½ bathYears lived in: 5½ Amanda lives nestled away outside of the hustle and bustle of Washington, DC. She gets the simplicity and calm vibes of the DC suburbs, but for her interiors, she embraced the loud, colorful, artistic mashup that encompasses the District.

Name: LJ, Elena and Teo Location: Downtown Brooklyn Size: 550 square feet studio Years lived in: 5 years Long-time Apartment Therapy fans may recall LJ’s impressive work in progress! Well, LJ finally finished and it looks incredible! This home is a labor of love and sweat. LJ, an architect, built almost everything you see! Major elements that he didn’t build with his own two hands were often salvaged from other people’s architectural projects.

Name: Marc Gomes, actor & directorLocation: Hollywood, CaliforniaSize: 2,000 square feetYears lived in: 5 Originally built in 1896 in Glendale, Marc’s home was moved to Hollywood in 1937. The house still has many of the original architectural details and Marc has added another level of depth to the architectural character with his choices in design and decor.

Name: Dale & Adam — Dale’s firm is DRD Studio (website underway)Location: Chelsea — NYCSize: 1,070 square feet — 2 bedroom duplex Years lived in: 7 years Five years ago, I had the pleasure of documenting Dale and Adam’s home for a pioneering Apartment Therapy House Tour! Since then, they’ve had a few changes: a new kitchen, new half-bath, and twins! Dale is an architect so all the designs for the renovations over the years were home made.

Name: Ed and Ellie GroverLocation: Roseville (near Sacramento), CaliforniaSize: 1,872 square feetYears lived in: 1 year Ellie and Ed bought their first house about a year ago. While they would have rather purchased a good ol’ fixer upper, market conditions meant a brand new house made more sense. Fearing that her home would fall into the tract home rut, Ellie quickly set out to “make the new look old and add a little character to the cookie cutter-ness.

Name: Violeta Konieczna & D.P. KellyLocation: County Limerick, IrelandSize: 1,500 square feetYears lived in: 2 Violeta lives in a village in Ireland that looks like it’s straight out of a movie. Her home is just as picture perfect as the surrounding land. Each and every item has its very own place and purpose. Sure, there are a lot of strictly decorative elements, but the home doesn’t feel over done.

Names: Jen, Michael, Eva & Esme Location: Lexington, MassachusettsSize: 3,000 square feetYears lived in: 2 Remember the story of the city mouse and the country mouse? The country mouse envies her sister’s riches, but eventually chooses a life of safety and ease in the country over the wealth and danger of the city. The fable aptly describes artist Jen’s search for the ideal home.

Name: A Very Modest Cottage Location: Elkhorn, Wisconsin, on the grounds of Tereasa and David’s summer camp Size: 10 x 10 square feet Type: Half-sawn log cabin from a prohibition-era motor cabin court Years lived in: Guest cottage on our summer camp for 3 years Tereasa Surratt advises people to “look for the abandoned souls,” and once you know the story of this cottage, you’ll understand exactly what she means.

Name: Lanz Brooks with roommates Michael and BrentLocation: Hayes Valley, San FranciscoSize: 4,000 square feetYears lived in: Lanz for 4½ years (Michael since 1994) Last Thursday, we had a glimpse into half of Lanz, Michael and Brent’s amazing Hayes Valley home with Part 1 of their House Tour. The first part focused on the first floor of their two story Hayes Valley apartment and many of the common areas.

Name: Lanz Brooks with roommates Michael and BrentLocation: Hayes Valley, San FranciscoSize: 4,000 square feetYears lived in: Lanz for 4½ years (Michael since 1994) The home of roommates Lanz, Michael and Brent is one of those rare San Francisco apartments that actually predates the earthquake and fire of 1906 that nearly destroyed the entire city.

Name: Jenn SkiLocation: Bedford, New HampshireSize: 2,400 square feetYears lived in: 2½ years — ownedWho else lives there: My husband Al and cat FloydThe mid-century modern aesthetic gets lots of air play here on Apartment Therapy and seems to be the coveted style among hipsters. This interior design style which often includes sparse furnishings and straight lines is often austere.

Name: Julie, James, and Possum (dog)Location: Bernal Heights, San Francisco Size: 1,275 square feet; 2 bedroom, one bathYears lived in: Eight Julie and James don’t consider themselves “hard-core DIYers.” And yet—wait for it… they demolished the kitchen all by themselves. That little tidbit alone should give you some idea of these two: their rare blend of enviable talent and genuine humility.

Name: Sandy Chilewich & Joe SultanLocation: East 50’s, NYCSize: 1,500 square feet — 2 ½ bedroomsYears lived in: 4 years Rent or Own: Own Who else lives here? Our youngest son, Harry (15 years old) This is the home that Chilewich built. If you don’t know Chilewich, here’s a quick rundown. After a successful career in fashion, Sandy Chilewich took her love for textiles and entered the design world. She first gained accolades with the now iconic Raybowls.

Name: PatriciaLocation: Greenwich VillageSize: 2,000 square feet loft — 1bedroom Years lived in: 2½ Patricia thought all those new, crisp white condos going up all over the city would go poorly with her and her husband’s female artist dominated impressionist paintings. So, they searched for an apartment that was all on one floor and had a significant history.

Name: Jennifer (of The Little Things), James, Laine and Harley Johner (plus 2 dogs, a cat and a bunny)Location: Acreage (30 minutes north of Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada)Size: 1,544 square feet (main floor)Years lived in: almost 4 years You might remember Jennifer’s lovely turquoise and yellow kitchen we posted a couple of months ago. After seeing this room in the house, we couldn’t wait to see more and Jen was happy to oblige.

Name: Ingrid Jansen (living with husband Henk, son Minne and daughter Pippa
Location: Dordrecht, the Netherlands 
Size: 160 m² Years lived in: almost 7Like many of you, we’ve been obsessed with wood and wool’s crocheted stools practically since Ingrid Jansen decided to share them with the world. In fact, they’ve got pride of place on our inspiration board for our dream home.

Name: Bob and Courtney NovogratzLocation: West VillageSize: 6000 square feetYears lived in: 1 Bob and Cortney were lay architects and interior designers for years out of necessity. They kept buying abandoned lots in marginal neighborhoods and turning them into incredible homes. And in order to keep costs down, they figured out how to do nearly every aspect of the project themselves. It was DIY on a massive scale.

Name: Brian H. AndriolaLocation: San Francisco, CASize: 800 s.f.Years lived in: 1 year Upon first glance, it isn’t hard to understand how Brian Andriola has made quite a successful career for himself as a prop stylist. Brian’s home is a culmination of beautiful furniture, art, and accessories accumulated over many years. The provenance and character of each piece is more important than whether it “goes” with the decor, and the result is a whimsical and welcoming home.

Name: Rene & JerryLocation: Jamaica Plain, MassachusettsSize: 3200 square feetYears lived in: Almost 4 If a house can have good karma, this Victorian Mansard’s got it. Before the current owners, Rene and Jerry, bought this beautiful Jamaica Plain home, the previous owners made a bold and rare move. They skillfully returned this glorious single family home, which had been chopped into three units over years, back into the cohesive single family home that it longed to be.

Name: Sebastian & SarahLocation: Noordhoek — Cape Town, South AfricaSize: 2,360 square feet homeYears lived in: 2 (unrenovated) and 1 (as you see it) Meeting Sarah and Sebastian in their wonderfully colorful home was a breath of fresh air — a home where you instantly fall in love with the building and its inhabitants. It’s inviting and interesting without overwhelming your senses — casual chic at its best!

Name: Joni and Eric (with daughters Elsa, 7 and Ava, 4)Location: Bellevue, WashingtonSize: 2,800 square feetYears lived in: 3 years As a professional stylist Joni effortlessly blends her love of vintage pieces with her other cherished objects: her family. Homeowners Joni and Eric designed a home where family comes first. It is a place where creativity and style naturally share space to create a warm and welcoming environment.

Name: Juhi, Jayant and Aksh PrabhuLocation: Bangalore, IndiaSize: 1,400 square feetYears Lived In: 5 months When Juhi sent us photos of her family’s recently renovated home in Bangalore, asking us if we wanted to feature it as a house tour, we jumped on it! We’ve found the homes we’ve featured from India to be especially beautiful in their use of vivid colour and this one is no exception.

Name: Hollister Hovey & Porter HoveyLocation: Williamsburg, BrooklynSize: 1,400 square feetYears lived in: rented, 4½: years A few misconceptions about the Hoveys. They are not big-game hunters from the 1930’s. They are sisters from Kansas City with the given names Hollister and Porter. They are not taxidermists. Hollister works in PR and Porter for a management consulting firm. They are not hoarders. They are collectors of awesomeness.