Modern

Name: Nick and Julia and their three children Location: Toronto, Ontario Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 8 years Modern, colorful and striking, this renovated home is full of great architectural features, elegant design and clean lines. Nick and Julia love the family- and party-friendly home they were able to create with the help of Solares Architecture, a firm that renovates and builds environmentally integrated homes.

Name: Faith and Hannah Russell Location: South London, UK Size: 1158 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Faith Russell and Hannah Russell aren’t just sisters; they’re roommates, business partners and the co-founders of Layer. What started out first as an Instagram account, then morphed into a popular lifestyle blog, has now evolved into a UK-based online marketplace featuring thousands of vintage and pre-owned furniture items for sale.

Name: Melissa (“Mel”) Nichols, Jake Durrett and Apple the adorable dachshund Location: Cole Valley/Upper Haight — San Francisco, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; rented Jake and Melissa have lived in four apartments together over the last seven years. But they love this apartment so much—located in a neighborhood close to Haight street, Golden Gate Park and tons of great food—they almost can’t see themselves living anywhere else!

Name: Brad, Julie and Rye OlcottLocation: Dolores Heights, San Francisco, CaliforniaSize: 2,500 sq feet (not including 1st floor studio)Years lived in: 3 years; owned Your home says a lot about you, and the home that Brad and Julie have created speaks volumes about their artistic sensibilities and love of clean and bright spaces.

Name: Irina (and Lummi) Location: South Loop; Chicago, Illinois Size: 975 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; owned Coleridge, influenced by an opium-induced dream, wrote of “a stately pleasure-dome” that Kubla Khan established in Xanadu. In this space, verdant gardens mingled with caves of ice, and the sweet scent of incense floated above the sun-dappled hills, inspiring “deep delight.

Name: Tracy Steele Location: West 14th Street, New York, New York Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 15 years; rented In Tracy Steele’s apartment, things are not always what they seem: a drink set hides inside a bowling ball trophy, a rotary telephone lamp base is a clock that used to be a cigarette lighter, and the narrow slice of a drawer inside a mid-century modern buffet opens vertically and holds sewing supplies.

Name: Marti Palermo and Jarrod Routh Location: Lincoln Square; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; rented There’s a real effortlessness about Marti and Jarrod’s home: a fresh, comfortable simplicity that immediately puts one at ease. I felt right at home on a Sunday afternoon with sunlight streaming through the windows, Wild Belle on the stereo, and a cold glass of beer.

Name: Scotti Sitz, creator of GARDE (lifestyle, gift, and home accessories shop) Location: Hancock Park; Los Angeles, California Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 4 months Scotti’s home reminds me of the classic California Spanish-style interiors you find in Malibu or Santa Barbara. The home (and its inhabitant) carry such elegance and beauty without being overly fussy.

Name: Tyler and Lolly Lux Location: Kensington, London, United Kingdom Size: 560 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, rented The morning of my photo shoot at Tyler and Lolly’s west London mews home, the couple were visited by an unexpected guest, in the form of a pigeon who somehow managed to fall down their chimney into the living room. “We woke up and could hear this strange flapping noise” Lolly told me when I arrived several hours later.

Name: Seth and Natalie Brookshire Location: Presidio Heights; San Francisco, California Size: 2,700 square feet Years lived in: Seth for 10 years, Natalie for 3.5; Owned Walking up to this residence you’ll be greeted by Seth, an architect, and Natalie, a floral designer. The modern, light filled space you step into feels like a hidden treasure, and for good reason. The place was designed from the ground up by Seth, and every detail was carefully considered, with flawless results.

Name: Jesse Leake, Photographer Location: Lower Pacific Heights; San Francisco, California Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 10 years; Rented The antithesis of the proverbial bachelor pad, photographer Jesse Leake’s well-considered space is evidence that stereotypes are meant to be broken. A reflection of his globetrotting, artistic endeavors and eye for the offbeat, the space hits all of the right notes.

Name: Thayer Allyson Gowdy and Scott Paterson Location: Bernal Hill, San Francisco, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 7 years; Owned Photographer Thayer Gowdy’s carefree style comes together with a mix of clean-lined Danish designs, eclectic accessories, and pieces sourced from her travels around the world. → Re-edited from a tour originally published in 2014 The result is collected without feeling too busy, and modern without losing its sense of warmth.

Name: Mikola Accuardi, photographer and blogger at Portland Supply Co., Randall Garcia, designer at Wieden + Kennedy, and baby Valentino Location: Southeast Clinton; Portland, Oregon Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, 5 months ; Rented Mikola and Randall’s apartment is one of those spaces I swooned over, but never actually get to visit, until today.

Name: Hope & Pete Colling Location: Terra Linda, California Size: 1955 sq ft. Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Pulling up to Hope and Pete’s home I can’t help but notice that I’ve entered a place where all of the homes are perfectly landscaped in gravel and native plants and maintain a uniform sense of modern, minimalist design. It’s almost Stepford-ish in its perfection, if the Stepford wives took their cues from Dwell magazine.

Name: Lisa and Richard Location: Museumplein, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 1,150 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Lisa, from the States, and Richard, from the Netherlands, bought their first home in Amsterdam in 2012. Their vision was to create “a space that had character but was still minimal and not overloaded with artifacts.” They also wanted a home with a cozy feel, or as the Dutch would say, “Gezellig”.

Name: Dave Widmer, CB2 eCommerce Brand Director and Chad Ross, Crate and Barrel Visual Merchandising Team Lead Location: Andersonville; Chicago, IL Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Never hesitate to walk through a bright green front door: I promise you, only good things are waiting for you on the other side. In the home of Chad and Dave every last detail from the foundation to the roof and everything in between was meticulously thought about and designed.

Name: Myka + Georges Haddad Location: Laurel Heights — San Francisco, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, rented Myka of the blog Modern Sequins shows us how great style can translate from fashion to the home. With pieces collected from years of event styling and her signature sparkle throughout, the apartment that she calls home with her husband George is only out-shined by one thing… …Her wardrobe!

Name: Rachel Shipp Location: Cow Hollow; San Francisco, California Size: 1,009 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned After turning 30 last year, Rachel decided to pull the trigger and buy her first place—a one bedroom apartment in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood, just minutes away from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Name: Bobbie Ann Tilkens-Fisher, Owner of At Home Modern, and Matthew Fisher, Owner of Night Kitchen Interactive; Cats: Lucha and Lincoln Location: Wallingford, Pennsylvania Size: 2,600 square feet with 600-square-foot annex Years lived in: 4.5 years; Owned You can’t help but be inspired by Bobbie and Matthew’s beautiful home. Each room exudes both style and comfort.

Name: CEO Simone Vingerhoets-Ziesmann of Wilkhahn, German Furniture Manufacturer Location: Chicago, Illinois Size: 2,225 square feet Years lived in: 9 months Wilkhahn is a well-known and respected office furniture design and manufacturing firm with roots in Germany but with a global presence and offices around the world.

Name: Tanika and Brian Hochhauser (plus George the turtle and Tansy the dog) Location: Long Island City, New York, New York Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 6 months You might recognize Tanika and Brian from the Love Videos, where they shared the charming story of how they met (and of their spur-of-the-moment wedding). The home they share is just as charming as they are, a beautiful Long Island City aerie with breathtaking views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the East River.

Name: Ana Kamin, freelance photographer, writer and blogger and Patrick Kamin, software engineer Location: Haight Ashbury — San Francisco, California Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years rented When Patrick and I moved from Germany to San Francisco in 2012, we were lucky to find this little gem—an apartment on a rooftop of an old Victorian in Haight Ashbury—just next to Golden Gate Park.

Name: Kendall Location: Bellingham, Washington Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 12 years “Maybe I’ll move in next door to you,” I kidded when I found out the tenant in the space next to my sister Kendall’s light-filled, one-bedroom apartment would be moving out in the fall. She laughed,”Oh, there’s a waiting list.” People have been lining up for years to get into this small complex.

Name: Kathryn Baugher of Up to Date Interiors Location: Okinawa, Japan Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: 1 year It takes creativity, guts and energy to turn a plain space into something spectacular, and Kathryn’s done it. The home in Okinawa that she shares with her family exudes both serenity and excitement—and those floral covered kitchen cabinets are amazing!

Name: Kristen Ley and pups Willow Scarlet Ley (photographed) and Henry Albert Ley, and cat Norman Location: Jackson, Mississipi Size: 2300 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1.5 years Kristen Ley is the creative mastermind and founder of Thimblepress, a letterpress, stationery and celebration company out of Jackson, Mississippi (perhaps most recognized for their incredibly cheery and colorful Push-Pop Confetti).

Name: Mekiel Nuñez and Saadiq Vaughan Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1 year The stereotypical New Yorker’s wardrobe consists unapologetically of black, greys, neutrals, and denims. Perhaps the overabundance of visual stimulation in our surroundings is why we prefer our clothes understated.

Name: Jessica Davis and family Location: Nashville, Tennessee Size: 4200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Full of fresh white walls, warm materials and bold splashes of color and pattern, it’s not surprising that the home of Jessica Davis, principal Interior Designer at JL Design Nashville, is lovely to look at. But it’s the way she has incorporated smart design choices—and fun—that has made this home so warm, welcoming and family friendly.

Name: Katherine Harris Location: Highland Park; St. Paul, Minnesota Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: 9 months rented As a professional photographer, Katie has a keen eye for design, finding inspiration in vintage kitchens and old farmhouses. Most of all, Katie leans heavily on the philosophy that decor need not be expensive. To Katie, meaningfulness trumps all else, with the majority of her furniture being gifts, hand-me-downs, and local purchases.

Name: Mike, Amanda, and Declan (5 years old) Location: Los Angeles, California Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: Owned 9 years Amanda, an elementary school teacher, is a master of planning. She pulled off a modern remodel of this Mar Vista house thanks to lots of dream boards and spreadsheets. And she created a sophisticated home that’s also fun and functional for five-year-old Declan.

Name: Seth and Ali Rongkawit Location: Ballard — Seattle, Washington Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Renting 2+ years When Seth and Ali moved into this Seattle space, they faced the same design dilemma that many renters come across: How to create distinct areas when your apartment is wide open. After two years of living here, they’ve found a layout that functions well. And they’ve added their personality to create a bright and sweet home.

Name: The Lemon Bowl (Founders: Kate Zaremba, Linny Giffin and Holley Simmons) Location: Park View, Washington, D.C. Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 1 year Visiting The Lemon Bowl—a retail space, shared workspace and workshop studio in Washington D.C.—is like being inside a gumball machine where all the treats are handmade.

Name: Drew Location: Platinum Corridor — Addison, Texas Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1.5 years Though Drew works in the medical device industry, he has a deep love for interior design, and his loft studio in Addison, Texas (north of Dallas) showcases that love.

With or without a house built in the 1950s, it’s possible to achieve a mid-century style mixed with your own personal flare. Astral’s home seamlessly joins elements from mid-century design with both modern and vintage elements—and some contemporary chic. Find out how you can achieve Astral’s style with the shopping resources below!

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: Pilar Sinclair Location: Cinta Costera — Panama City, Panama Size: 1184 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year Panama City is a place of contrasts. And the Cinta Costera neighborhood is very modern, with the best views in the city. The Pacific Ocean is right in front of your eyes (you can almost jump in and take a dip!). Pilar has the incredible luck of waking up everyday with these views—as well as living in the colorful, playful home she’s created.

Evan and Gavin have perfected the art of finding impressive decor at antique and thrift shops. Their Seattle home is a treasure trove of mid-century modern finds and one-of-a-kind pieces. But not everyone can be so lucky. Check out this shopping resource list to find some new mid-century modern-inspired treasures that you don’t have to cross your fingers and make a wish for.

From the moment you step inside, you are greeted with the open, honest expression of a couple who fills their home with good vibes, delicious food, and lots of great memories.

Name: Sandra Location: L’eixample — Valencia, Spain. Size: 3530 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5 years Sandra’s home is full of flowers. Incredible light and high ceilings frame floral patterns, shades of blue and elaborate tiles, which in turn add modernity to a space with stunning, classic architectural details. Sandra is a fashion designer and has her own brand, Kaif. She also has a beautiful store in Valencia where she sells all the pieces she creates.

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: Stephanie Michaan Location: West Village NYC Size: 1,495 square feet Years lived in: Owned 6 years Though Stephanie has owned this apartment in New York’s West Village for six years, she says it feels brand new thanks to a recent redesign she gave the home. White walls maximize the beautiful bright natural light that pours in from big windows. Sparse furnishings are kept interesting by choosing good designs in rich materials.

Name: Simone Tobias, designer/owner SIMONE TOBIAS swimwear Location: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years Simone’s apartment, on the 29th floor of a tower that overlooks the East River and the Williamsburg Bridge, has some pretty impressive views, but if you visit you might be so taken with the things in her apartment that you hardly even notice the ones outside.

Christina and her family’s newly updated 1902 home in Pennsylvania is filled with modern farmhouse charm from floor to ceiling. Whether or not you live in your own actual farmhouse, you can still share in the timeless and traditional charm of modern farmhouse style living using Christina’s shopping resource list!

Name: J. & Stephanie Stack, & Baby Leo Location: Pilsen — Chicago, Illinois Size: 5,000 square feet Years lived in: 1-1/2 years; Owned Calm, cool and collected…these are the feelings you get as you step through the front door of J and Stephanie’s home. I am sure, however, the couple probably wasn’t feeling calm cool or collected during the 15 month process that they embarked on to rebuild a home from the ground up.

Name: Jane Location: Noe Valley — San Francisco, California Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 1 year What makes Jane’s home unique is the mixture of items and styles that can only be described as “Happy Californian,” such as the bedroom wallpaper inspired by greenery, the mid-century modern furniture and paintings, and the gorgeous vaulted ceilings that make her smile every day.

Alyssa and her family have created a calm and peaceful sanctuary in their Echo Park Bungalow. Filled with pops of color and the perfect touch of whimsy you’re sure to find some inspiration here – check out their resource list to shop their style!

Name: Mareka and Anders Stake with their 2-year-old daughter and 6-month-old son Location: Bethnal Green, East London Size: 98 square meters Years lived in: Owned over 5 years Set in the heart of the hustle and bustle of trendy East London is this Victorian terrace belonging to the Stake family. Mareka, an art director, together with her creative director husband Anders, have carefully designed everything in this beautiful house.

In the middle of Australian wide open spaces sits Leesa and Darren’s home, a place filled with vintage and modern, Danish style and bright colors, and plants and original art. If you’re looking for bright Danish modern inspiration, look no further! Take a peek at Leesa and Darren’s resource lists below.

Liz and Andrew were forced to start from scratch when decorating their 700 square foot apartment in Paris when they moved themselves, their pets, and little else from Canada. Utilizing affordable sources like Ikea and Target, they’ve made a modern and minimalist creative haven filled with just the right amount of color – check out their resource lists to shop their style!

Name: Edwin Nikkels Location: Amsterdam – The Netherlands Size: 645 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year Edwin played it smart when it came to furnishing his small space; he kept the design minimal, the colors neutral and found a unique way to carve out a bedroom (despite there not being an actual bedroom). He also invested in high-quality pieces of furniture and decor. The result is an airy, “feels bigger than its size” space.

Name: Anke and John Summerhill of Minotti London Location: Barcelona, Spain Size: 120 square metres Years lived in: Owned 6 months This apartment in Barcelona features stunning architectural details, a soothing neutral color palette and an envious array of furniture and accessories from Minotti. Not surprisingly, considering the home’s occupants: Anke Summerhill, the Creative Director of Minotti London, and her husband John Summerhill, MD of Minotti London.

Name: Alison, Bob, and Angus Masey Location: Highland Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; rented Alison and Bob’s mini Craftsman may be petite, but it’s loaded with warm and fuzzy anecdotes. Whether given or found on the side of the road, every single item inside seems to have fatefully found its way there without being sought out, and each one with a great story to boot.

Name: Shanade McAllister-Fisher Location: Little Venice — London, UK Years lived in: Owned 6 months Interior designer Shanade writes: “My husband and I bought this one bedroom apartment in leafy West London from our local authority. It was in a very sorry state and hadn’t been updated for many years but the magnificent Georgian sash windows and beautiful high ceilings won me over immediately and I knew I had to have it.

You most likely don’t live in a spaceship or a spaceship shaped house. But if you wish you did, or want to bring some space age style into your space on this planet, check out the resource lists for this one-of-a-kind spaceship shaped home in California.

Simone’s Brooklyn apartment is decorated almost exclusively in gray, black, red, and clear, and the effect is unified, uncluttered, and luxurious. Whether or not you’re able to stick to such a strict palette, you can definitely shop the style!

Name: Emily Kurzweil and Grady Jurrens, and Eva (6), Sam (3), Edie (3) and Juni the Boston Terrier Location: Laurelhurst Neighborhood — Portland, Oregon Size: 3,200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5.5 years Emily and Grady moved from Chicago to Portland when their eldest child was just an infant. They wanted to be close to family, and bought their home in Portland’s historic Laurelhurst neighborhood with children in mind.

This recently renovated home includes carefully thought-out and well-planned decor and custom features. With no detail overlooked you're sure to find something to love.

Name: Athena Pelton Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned After moving her family from an older home (often in need of repairs and attention as so many are) into their brand new digs, Athena began to decorate. Soon after the move, however, Athena and her husband realized that they didn’t exactly account for furniture and decor in the budget for building their new home.

While you may not have the same luck as Mercedes when it comes to stumbling upon free or inexpensive decor and furniture, you may be equally interested (or inspired by) her modern, eclectic and quirky style. Check out the resources from her 850 square foot space in Montréal.

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: Mylène Location: Villeray, Montreal Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: Rented, 2 years It’s not surprising to learn that Mylène works as a visual merchandiser for a decor boutique; her apartment reflects someone who’s both interested in and really talented at design and home decor. Lots of stylish second-hand furniture and a variety of small elements and objects animate a space where a soft color palette mixes well with natural wood tones.

A cohesive eclectic style can be hard to achieve. Christina has successfully combined a love of vintage and modern in her cozy Australia home. Check out her resources to achieve a similar eclectic mix easily without spending hours perusing thrift shops near and far!

Name: Colie Location: North Loop, Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 781 square feet Years lived in: Renting 8 months Colie and her husband recently made the move from Fargo, North Dakota to Minneapolis. On a recommendation from a friend, they found their new home in the North Loop of Minneapolis, an area that has seen a major housing boom over the past few years. While they looked into old rehabbed warehouse living, they eventually settled on this new one bedroom in a building full of neat amenities.

Name: Lauryn Evarts and Michael Bosstick Location: West Hollywood, California Size: 1100 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years You may recognize Lauryn Evarts; she’s the founder of The Skinny Confidential and a best-selling author. To say Lauryn’s endeavor has been successful is an understatement: Since launching, she’s also branched out into a fitness & nutrition eBook, podcast, YouTube channel, and more.

Not only is this sustainable home in the Philippines an architectural marvel on the inside and out—it is styled beautifully in every single room. Modern design with clean lines and surfaces melds seamlessly with a flea market/industrial vibe influenced by the owners’ travels. Shop their style below to achieve some modern and clean serenity in your space.

A seamless and eclectic mix of vintage and modern has resulted in a warm, colorful, and cozy Portland home. Check out the resource lists below to shop Teresa’s style and bring some mid-century inspired charm to your home! Wall Color — Miller Paints Wall Unit — Similar: Design Within Reach Print — Mark Warren Jacques Yes banner — Secret Holiday & Co.

Name: Allen, Clara and Henry Hah Location: Austin, Texas Size: 2100 sq ft Years lived in: Owned almost 2 years. Purchased Jan 2014; moved in Nov 2014 due to renovations Allen and Clara met through a mutual friend years ago and became long distance pen pals, between San Francisco and Houston. Texas has always been home for Clara, so she was itching to move back. Allen got a job opportunity that he couldn’t pass up, so they packed up and moved to Austin in 2012.

Name: Emily Waldmann Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Austin is known for its music scene and amazing barbecue. But Austin also boasts some diverse, singular design. Deep down in East Austin is where you’ll find Seattle native Emily Waldmann and her incredible modern-meets-bohemian style. This 1967 renovated charmer features welcoming common areas, ample outdoor space, and a private master bathroom ensuite.

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.

Name: Pamela Hill and Michael Castellon, their son Max, age 17, and dogs Bentley and Rosie Location: The Alphabet District — NW Portland, Oregon Size: 3,790 square feet Years lived in: Owned, 4 years When Pam and Michael purchased their 1906 historic home in one of Portland’s most desired neighborhoods, they knew they were signing up to tackle a huge project.

This bright and airy Manhattan studio is full of mid-century charm while at the same time feeling comfortable and modern.

Name: Tom Foakes and Tom Bowen Location: Dalston, East London Size: 700 square feet Years Lived In: Owned for 16 years It seems as though we’re obsessed with decluttering at the moment. Last year it was all about the KonMari method and this year we’re seeing Danish Hygge everywhere. Both of these concepts are about creating a space that is calm, serene, peaceful and free of clutter, which are my first impressions when I stepped into this two bedroom flat in Dalston, London.

Name: Elizabeth Andersen Location: Brooklyn Heights — Brooklyn, NY Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 8 months, renting Liz lives in a beautiful, fourth floor apartment in Brooklyn Heights, just a few blocks from the water. The apartment is a fourth floor walkup but that natural light is a worth payoff. In fact that natural light is so nice, she felt confident adding some dark, dramatic paint colors to her living room — and the space still feels bathed in light.