Massachusetts

When Shardé and her husband bought this Boston house, built in 1885, the basement had never been touched.

This literature professor and fiber artist has turned a “dingy, run-down, cramped” apartment located in an attic into an incredibly layered, fascinating, rich, comfortable, and artistic home.

“I got creative with fun ways to add color and personality to blank walls — DIY fabric wallpaper, gallery walls, vintage plates, pennants, and book pages have been some of my favorite paint alternatives,” explains Marissa Zingg.

"As a plant-collecting maximalist, I've blended greenery and decor to create such a peaceful and nature-inspired vibe," writes homeowner Jeremy Rebelo.

“I have been working hard in finding my style. My home is intentional in showcasing who I am as a Black Latina immigrant from the Dominican Republic,” Anne Hernandez begins. “I collect original art, and it is primarily the art of BIPOC artists. I want to pay homage to my African roots at every corner of my home.”Anne says that when she first moved in, the place needed a total renovation. “It is a place I was fortunate to purchase after renting the apartment below.

It’s not hyperbole to say that I’ve been completely in love with this fabric designer’s home since the moment I saw it.

Tara Wendler says the natural light in her loft is amazing. "I love drinking my coffee and watching the sunrise every morning."

Tour a small studio decorated with a coastal, colorful, maximalist style and decorated with with pieces designed by LGBTQIA+ artists.

See how this renter decorated her small Boston studio apartment with ultra-minimal, calming vibes.

See inside this graphic designer and painter’s Beacon Hill rental where the furniture and decor was designed around the art, not the other way around.

When Justine and her spouse, Fen, moved in, they only had a mattress and some hand-me-downs, but over nearly a decade they’ve painted every wall at least once and thrifted, rewired, and DIYed it all.

This is Jacqueline’s first time living without roommates, and she’s made her small space bright and cozy with colorful rugs, green plants, and lots of mirrors to reflect sunlight.

See inside this architect’s Cambridge rental apartment that she’s designed to be minimal, contemporary, eclectic, and cozy.

Colorful prints pop among the cool-toned modern, rustic furniture in this studio apartment.

Lily’s favorite thing about her apartment is all “the sunlight that comes in through the windows. The entire front wall is curved in a semicircle shape, so strong sun comes in from all sides. The plants have all really flourished, and I love watching them grow over.”

Alley and Ty's communal spaces "lean Scandinavian and minimalist, with the intent of fostering a calm space to recharge and connect."

This home already had tons of charm, like lots of windows, great molding, and cute built-ins. The designer and homeowners worked to allow those elements to shine when they refreshed this condo.

Amazingly, Tim bought nothing new for his condo remodel, opting to visit local secondhand shops and estate sales as well as scouring Craigslist.

Ceramicist Molly Hatch and her husband have completely renovated this 1948 Cape-style house... and the after is stunning!

There are bold patterns, cool colors, and even a pair of Lady Gaga's 12-inch stilettos.

Before the renovation this house had yellow and teal walls, wood paneling, and Christmas-colored red and green checkerboard floors.

Nick and Sarah had one toddler and baby number two on the way when they purchased their 1920s island cottage — and had ambitious ideas for what they could do with the space.

With all the abundance of natural light in this Boston loft, it’s like living in a greenhouse!

Name: Jessica Cook & Ryan Taylor and their cat, Olive Location: North Shore — Ipswich, Massachusetts Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Rented Jessica and Ryan are no strangers to the challenge of fitting a busy life into a small space. The two creatives have managed to live and work out of a 700-square-foot apartment for the last six years.

Name: Melissa Miranda and Ulises Serret, their son Alex, and cats Tammy and Siddharta Location: Harrison Hill — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 7 years; Owned Nearly a decade ago, interior designer Melissa Miranda moved into her now-husband’s home in the Harrison Hill area of Dorchester in Boston.

Name: Charlie and Jill Bent and their two children Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 13 years; Owned Jill and Charlie Bent live with their two teenaged children in an 1899 Victorian house on a sleepy street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their home is a labor of love, thanks to high-impact renovations paired with carefully collected furnishings—from family heirlooms to found pieces and vintage textiles that have been transformed by Jill.

Name: Philip Saul and his cat, Toby Location: South End; Boston, Massachusetts Years lived in: 8 years; Rented For Philip Saul, his South End apartment boasts two major advantages: the incredible amount of natural light his large south-facing windows offer, and the ridiculously short commute to his men’s clothing shop, SAULT New England. Much like his brick and mortar store, Philip’s apartment is easygoing, and reflective of his passion for sourcing New England-inflected decor.

Name: Stone Dow, Julia Goldstein, and their cat, Kiki Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 5 months; Rented Stone and Julia happened upon their 1960s duplex via Craigslist — it’s an unbelievable find that would make anyone want to start looking around in the off-season of the Boston rental market.

Name: Alejandra Bennett and Oliver Katz Location: Beacon Hill — Boston, MA Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; rented Alejandra Bennett and Oliver Katz’s s light-filled Beacon Hill apartment in Boston is a convergence of new and old, near and far. The couple has filled the apartment with hand-me-downs and inherited family pieces, budget solutions and quality staples purchased for their first place together.

Name: Anna and Zan Winchell, and mini-labradoodle, Pennylane Location: Waltham, Massachusetts Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2 years Anna and Zan’s apartment is one you walk into and immediately know they have had fun designing it and making it their own.

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.

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: Li Ward and husband Dan Location: South End — Boston, Masschusetts Size: 1,380 square feet Years lived in: 10 years, owned Li Ward and her husband Dan initially met through their work as computer science professionals, but after a decade in the industry, Li decided it wasn’t the right future for her. Around 2009, Li took the plunge into full-time freelance photography after seeing a West Coast friend succeeding at the same thing.

Name: Milicent Armstrong, Brian, and Gerry Location: South End — Boston, Massachusettes Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned Walking into Milicent’s South End home is like being invited into a small oasis. Upon entering, guests step into a hallway with soaring ceilings and beautiful wallpaper.

Name: Jess Cooney Location: Great Barrington, Massachusetts Size: 3,000 square feet Years Lived In: 7 years, renting New England-based interior designer Jess Cooney worked reno magic on an old carriage house a few years ago. Everything from an exterior paint job to a complete refresh of the interior transformed what was an outdated, dark space.

Name: Stacey Norkun and Chris Norkun Location: Salem, Massachusetts Size: 2,629 square feet Years Lived In: 3.5 years, owned We would visit Salem often in the early 2000s and loved the history, culture, and vibrancy of the city. It was a place that always held special meaning in our hearts. After some years living in the metro D.C. area, we decided to move back to New England, and Salem was the obvious choice—it had just the right amount of kitsch and character we were looking for.

Name: Mary and Tom Eirich Location: Watertown, Massachusetts Size: 1,100 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, owned We had previously lived in Belmont, Massachusetts, for 30 years and had decided, as empty nesters, to move to the north shore, not far from the ocean. After a few years of being further from our children (and, eventually, grandchildren) and also missing the conveniences and cultural benefits of being close to the city, we decided to look at real estate closer to Boston.

As a writer and photographer for Apartment Therapy, Emily Billings knows that readers look to House Tours for inspiration. She was kind enough to provide a glimpse into her Boston apartment—where she lives with her partner Max— and also provides links to most of the items in her beautiful home. Check them out below.

Name: Ashley & Bryan Norwood Location: Cambridgeport; Cambridge, MA Size: 440 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Rented Filled with bright personality and space-conscious items, Ashley and Bryan’s apartment in the Cambridgeport neighborhood of Cambridge, MA, feels full but not cluttered. An intrinsic balance exists here—his and hers, style and function—and everything feels well-used and loved.

Name: Julie Judson Location: South End; Boston, Massachusetts Size: 779 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Julie’s enthusiasm is contagious and her hospitality undeniable, so it’s no wonder this Texas transplant has been wildly successful engaging Boston-area millennials in supporting her passion: the arts. When you step into her apartment, you feel immediately at home.

Name: Caitlin Snyder Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented Caitlin was lucky to score her apartment the old-fashioned way: by word of mouth. Three years later, she’s transformed the cozy two-bedroom into her first “adult” apartment.

Name: Hank Scollard and his two cats Location: Inman Square — Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 16 years; Rented When Hank Scollard was a child growing up in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, his mom would take him to open houses. The family wasn’t looking to move, but Hank’s mom loved to glimpse how others lived in and decorated their homes.

Name: Grant Devine Location: Fort Point — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 350 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented On the way up from the trendy lobby in Grant’s building—a recently converted shoe factory in the rapidly developing Fort Point neighborhood—he tells me that a year ago it would have been unimaginable to invite a photographer into his home. He explains that in his first year here, he did little more than move in the essentials.

Name: Steve and Robin Anderson and their two sons Location: Cambridgeport — Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 8 years; Owned Robin and Steve’s condo in a former elementary school is a playful convergence of colors and textures. It’s an ode to surf, sand and sun. But it wasn’t always that way. They purchased the condo pre-construction almost a decade ago, when the developer was still in the process of converting the school into residences.

Keeping a 600 square foot space fresh and simple is more affordable than you might think. Alejandra and Oliver have filled their Boston apartment with both old and new while keeping their space timeless and bright. Use their shopping resource list to get this look and make it your own without breaking the bank!

Name: Elijah Clark-Ginsberg Location: Somerville, Massachusetts Size: 450(ish) square feet Years lived in: 2 years, rented Elijah, a well-traveled marketer and designer, moved into his beautiful one-bedroom rental in Somerville two years ago. This West Coaster turned East Coaster now draws design inspiration from the collegiate, preppy feel of the New England area, and his love for international travel.

Name: Christa Cardwell Location: South End — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 550 square feet Years lived in: Rented 10 years According to Christa Cardwell, her 550 square foot apartment in Boston’s South End is full of junk. When asked to describe her style, she laughs. “Junk Chic? Is that a thing?” Christa grew up in New England before moving to Austin, Texas, where she worked as a graphic designer.

Name: Christine Gasparich and her husband Location: Beacon Hill neighborhood — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 1100 square feet Years lived in: Renting 2 years In 2014, Christine’s husband was accepted to graduate school in Boston, so they sold their D.C. house, sold or stored most of their furniture, and moved to Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood for two years. “I am an interior designer.

Name: Alissa Lenore Minehart, owner of Lenore Design, and family Location: Newton, Massachusetts Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2 ½ years Over the past two years, interior designer Alissa of Lenore Design has had the task of turning her family’s rental into a home. With an industrial feel (“overhead pipes and very little overhead lighting”), the space wasn’t an easy project to tackle.

Name: Sarah, Keith, Charlotte (age 9), Cormac (age 6), and Otis “My Man,” their Wheaten Terrier Location: Melrose, Massachusetts Size: About 2,200 square feet (including finished basement) Years lived in: Owned 8 years Sarah and her husband Keith moved from Boston up to Melrose, Massachusetts after getting married and having their first baby. Having a small child in the city wasn’t ideal for them, and it seemed like the right time for more space.

Sarah has executed the perfect mix of traditional, rustic, Chinoiserie, and mid-century styles in her family’s Massachusetts home. With easy-to-source furniture and decor you can shop Sarah’s style and achieve this bright mix of styles, too!

Elijah’s Boston apartment seamlessly combines inspiration sourced from New England, classic Americana, his world travels (to Scandinavia and beyond), and his German heritage. If you’re intrigued by his “Ralph Lauren’s son returns from study abroad in Stockholm” style, check out his resource lists below to shop his charming style!

Name: Laleh and Matt Lewis Location: Medford, Massachusetts Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: Rented, 2.5 years Matt and Laleh’s home is full of collected items, inspiration from nature, and positive mantras to remember daily. With backgrounds in early childhood education and environmental science, the two are active members in their community.

Name: Austin Young and Jeremy Rodgers Location: Jamaica Plain — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1 Year, renting Jeremy Rodgers and Austin Young’s apartment in a converted schoolhouse in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood feels much larger than its 800 square feet. Simultaneously sparse and personal, with soaring ceilings and an open layout, their place achieves the ultimate apartment goal: comfort without the clutter.

Name: Maeve Stier (and dog Weaver) Location: Back Bay — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 515 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year When Maeve and her dog Weaver moved to Boston last July, the first apartment they looked at fit the bill just perfectly. It was in the ideal location, had tall ceilings with intricate molding, lots of natural light, wooden floors, and was dog-friendly! Maeve signed on the spot and became a resident of the hip Back Bay neighborhood.

Name: Kristin Nicholas. I live here with my husband Mark and teenage daughter Julia Location: Western Massachusetts Size: 3500 square feet Years lived in: 20 years, owned Our home was built in 1751 in western Massachusetts on a south facing knoll. It sits alongside an abandoned apple orchard that backs up to a small mountain populated with all kinds of wildlife. In the orchard during the growing season, our flock of sheep and lambs graze and rest, graze and sleep.

When Jill and Charlie Bent bought their Cambridge home, the kitchen hadn’t been updated since 1920. Cosmetic changes made the space function aesthetically for the family, but the space had its fair share of structural issues, leaking ceilings, and ant infestations every spring. After compromising their comfort for half a decade, the couple decided to hire a contractor, Monarch Carpentry, to renovate it.

Name: Jesse and Dan Moskowitz and their dog, Stormy Location: Roxbury — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 5.5 years; Rented When you enter Jesse and Dan Moskowitz’s comfy and colorful apartment in Boston’s historic Roxbury neighborhood, two things immediately stand out: the records and the pup. “It’s her apartment,” Dan states matter-of-factly, referring not to Jesse but to Stormy, the four-year-old Moskowitz dog.

Name: Alice Saunders and her pup, Maisey Location: Jamaica Plain; Boston, Massachusetts Size: Approximately 800 square feet Years lived in: 5 1/2 years; Rented Alice Saunders is a prominent figure in the world of artists and makers. A native of New Hampshire, this New England gal is the owner of Forestbound, where she designs and crafts beautiful leather and canvas totes out of vintage materials sourced at flea markets, estate sales, and military shows.

Name: Katherine Hysmith and Josh Gantt and their cats, Eleanor and Maxwell Location: Belmont, Massachusetts Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; Rented When Katherine Hysmith, The Boston Globe contributor and founder of the food blog The Young Austinian, left her native Texas to pursue a graduate degree in gastronomy from Boston University, she brought her Southern roots with her.