Modern

Name: Ben and Viv Yapp, and their two little sons Covey and Arlo Location: Bristol, UK Size: 1,450 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1.5 years Having been in London for over 10 years, my husband and I finally decided to leave our little flat and moved to the countryside in Bristol.

The super cute family above are Esther, Álvaro and Aníbal and they live in Valencia, Spain. They own a fashionable shop called Gnomo and have style to spare, as was proven in their recent house tour. We’ve pulled out some great shoppable photos from the tour, providing you with links to the smart mix of high and low products that fill their home.

What is it about Paris homes that feel so chic and elegant? This apartment in a classic Haussmannian building in Paris is both those things. But it’s also a beautiful example of mixing traditional architectural elements with modern designs. Anna Piwonska of Atelier Anna Piwonska designed the remodel of this 1,150 square foot home. Tall ceilings, natural light and charming architectural features make this apartment a classic space, but Anna faced design challenges.

Name: Michel Biehn Location: Old Medina — Fes, Morocco Size: 150 square meters (1,614 square feet) Years lived in: 6 years; Owned “Eight years ago, I needed to refresh my life, before becoming too old,” says Michel, the larger-than-life French expatriate textile expert, author, chef, hotelier and owner of Le Jardin des Biehn, who has taken up residence in the Old Medina.

Name: Jeni Wu Location: Nob Hill — San Francisco, California Size: 685 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented After years of roommates and carpeted studios, Jeni finally got the chance to move into her own apartment, and she couldn’t wait to add her personal style. She works as a home decor buyer and as an interior designer with her own styling business, Wunder Design, so it’s only natural that her space is as stylish as the homes she puts together for clients.

Name: Holly and Ryan, daughters Stellan and Kinley, and German Shepherd Dublin Location: Peterborough — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned When you walk into this family home, you are overcome by a sense of happiness. It’s one of those spaces where you can feel the amount of love and care that has been put into it. It also happens that the people who live in the home are just as warm and welcoming as the physical space itself.

In order to chase dreams and golf balls, photographer/business coach Brittany and her husband, Jordan, an aspiring golf pro, mobilized their lives to go on tour for half a year. Months of searching for a camper with enough space and height (Jordan is 6’5″) for themselves and their pets led to this beauty of a camper. Though built in 2007, the house on wheels didn’t exactly scream “this century.

Project by: J. Wheeler Designs Location: Atlanta, Georgia The 850 square foot apartment designed by James Wheeler of J. Wheeler Designs is located in Midtown Atlanta and is the homeowner’s first home. It was chosen based on its location and the amenities, including accessibility to entertainment options, security of a 24-hour concierge, and ease of maintenance.

Name: Paul and Katie Alexander and their daughter, Mabel Location: De Beauvoir — Shoreditch, London Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned Katie and Paul searched for a flat in London that was close to both their work in the city and the nightlife of Shoreditch, and they ended up finding the perfect compromise: a lovely flat in the leafy De Beauvoir neighborhood a stone’s throw from the exciting city life.

Name: Jane Heath and Jeremy Walker and their son, Henry Location: Gospel Oak near Hampstead Heath — London, UK Size: 1,120 square feet Years lived in: 18 months When architects Jane Heath and Jeremy Walker first saw this late-Victorian flat, located just around the corner from Hampstead Heath, they were at once drawn to the layout and the sense of space and light.

Name: Anthea and Stuart, their daughters, Kate-Ruby and Rachel, and their dogs, Cameo and Pippa Location: Cape Town, South Africa Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; Owned This lovely family home is tucked away in a quiet, secluded corner of the Cape Town City Bowl and is home to Anthea and Stuart, their two young daughters, and their adorable Italian Greyhounds.

Name: Dave and Cathy Location: South West London; UK Size: 270 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Editor’s note: This greatest hits tour of a teeny shared studio apartment is cleverly furnished and the commentary from the person who lived in it is hilarious! I always tell people that this studio was both the best and worst place I’ve ever lived.

Name: Kiana and Steve and their kids, Mathilda and Milo Location: Chelsea, Quebec Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Owned This beautifully renovated house in the woods is a playful and welcoming space brimming with its owners’ personalities.

Name: Robbie and Dan Location: Brooklyn, NY Size: 635 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Robbie and Dan have lived in their apartment for a little over two years. Since this is their first home together, they wanted to find a place that matched both of their lifestyles and tastes. After persevering through the rat-race of apartment hunting in New York, the couple finally landed this fantastic place in Brooklyn.

Name: Alexander & Carla Zidarevich and their dogs, Sadie and Rocco Location: Willard-Homewood; North Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1600 square feet Years lived in: 6.5 years; Owned After moving to Minneapolis from Michigan, Alex and Carla lived downtown in a modern space that they quickly outgrew. The couple discussed their home aspirations and agreed their ideal would be something historic with tons of personality. Not long after, they found it: a 1924 Dutch Colonial in need of some love.

Name: Jenni and Esai Location: Heritage Hill — Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; Rented Jenni and Esai’s apartment is a loop. The living room leads into the kitchen/dining room, which flows into the bedroom/office/nook, which is open to the living room. While photographing the space, I notice chevron curtains, art pieces featuring triangles, a striped blanket, a striped rug, a parallelogram rug, a diamond rug, and lots of circles.

Name: Samara Vise Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Hello, my name is Samara Vise and I’m a recent contributor to Apartment Therapy. After sharing a few homes in the Boston area with you, I decided I would open up my own apartment to a House Tour. My home speaks a lot to who I am, where I’m from, and the people and places that have been in my life.

Name: Woodworker and craftsman Mark Maček, his lovely wife Pamela Peltz and three adorable cats Location: Gullet Gardens — East Austin, Texas Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: 7 1/2 years — owned Mark Maček’s first impression upon seeing a tiny photo of the exterior of this house in the MLS listing was that this looked like a “house.” An archetypal structure, with a gable roof and a homey feeling. Like what you think of when you think of “home.

Name: Danielle Suppa & Mark James Location: Toronto; Ontario, Canada Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned This loft is home to Danielle and Mark, a creative and sporty duo, and is located in Toronto’s emerging West End. The building was originally the manufacturing portion of an early 19th century train factory and was converted into a residential space in 2008.

Name: Yigit Pura Location: Nob Hill — San Francisco, CA Size: 570 square feet Years lived in: 8 months — own When Yigit decided to take the leap and buy an apartment in the city, he wanted a home that intrigued him every time he walked through the door. Clocking in at just 570 square feet, this one bedroom has a small kitchen, a cool modern bathroom, and a nice view of downtown San Francisco.

Name: Matthew Herbert Location: Downtown Phoenix, AZ Size: 468 square feet Years lived in: 6 Months; Rented When Matt first toured White Stone Studios, he was immediately drawn to the aesthetic; he knew it would highlight his personal style and design choices. His previous apartment was about twice the size of the studio, and downsizing his possessions, he says, has been a refreshing experience.

Name: Tiffany Napper Location: Uptown; New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; Owned When Tiffany Napper was house hunting in New Orleans five years ago, she couldn’t get her mind off the first place she saw. The little white shotgun, located near the Mississippi River, was previously owned by a 93-year-old woman who had been born in the house and lived there until she died. It had drop ceilings, faux wood paneling, and dirty wall-to-wall carpeting.

Name: Carl Seeno Location: Shaw; Washington, DC Size: 375 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; rented Carl lives in the carriage house that’s attached to Jonathan and Colleen’s place, and when I peeked into his clean, stylish and seemingly spacious 375 square feet, there was no question: we’d have to take a tour of the carriage house, too!

Name: Andy Crepeau & Andrew Arbaugh (plus Oliver & Scout) Location: Somerville, MA Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 4 — rented Just blocks from some of greater Boston’s best vintage furniture locales, Andy & Andrew’s home is curated with an endless array of cool and quirky finds.

Name: Karen Hollywood Location: Nashville, Tennessee Size: 3,500 square feet Years lived in: 9 years You may recognize Miss Hollywood’s home from Toby Keith’s Red Solo Cup video, or maybe Rhonda Vincent and Dolly Parton’s video for Heartbreakers Alibi, or maybe Miranda Lambert’s Dead Flowers video, or perhaps Martina McBride’s Teenage Daughters video.

Name: Brick + Mortar Location: Size: Years lived in: David Kowalski, the vintage curator/designer behind local Atlanta favorites such as Bell Street BurritosThe PinewoodLadybird Grove & Mess Hall David certainly keeps himself busy with new projects rolling in, and most recently, his pop-up shop in the Westside Provisions District. So, I was lucky enough to catch him on a rainy afternoon which happened to be the perfect vibe for his comfy 1930s bungalow.

Name: Laura and Tyler Location: Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, British Columbia Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented This artists’ dwelling is filled to the brim with light that pours through the windows at every turn. It conjures a sense of space through dramatic restraint, a play on traditional minimalism.

Name: Kelly and Ed Smithson Location: Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 8 years; Owned This cottage — home to Kelly, who runs jewelry business Cabbage White England from her studio, husband Ed, their two children and Herbie the border terrier — is a fresh and vibrant take on a traditional English country home.

Name: Dan Maddox + Alan Rauta of Cromatti Location: West Los Angeles, California Size: 2,200 square feet Years lived in: 7 years—Own Dan and Alan have been enjoying this modern and airy two-story home for about seven years. With ample room for entertaining, an indoor/outdoor shower combo and an outdoor gym, they have everything they could need under (and outside of) one roof.

Name: Lori + John Glass Residence (designed by Tamara Honey of House Of Honey). Location: Beachwood Canyon, Los Angeles, California Size: 2,700 square feet Years lived in: 6.5 years; Owned When Lori and John hired Tamara of House of Honey to come redecorate their newborn’s nursery, the inspiration and desire to redo spread quickly throughout the entire home.

Name: Wedding Photographer Megan Wynn Location: Capitol Hill; Denver, Colorado Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented Indiana native Megan Wynn is an incredible wedding photographer, a free spirit, and one inspiring lady. She recently decided to make a life change and move to a place that had always called her name. Leaving behind her 1930s duplex and vowing to have no regrets, Megan packed up a Uhaul, her golden retriever pup, and headed west for Colorado.

Name: Heather and Jeff LaHaise Location: Wales Garden; Columbia, South Carolina Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Owned Heather and Jeff LaHaise, along with their son Walker (a high school freshman) and dogs Charlotte and Teeny, are surrounded by art. Heather is an artist herself, and her appreciation for art and design shows in every room. The LaHaise family uses every inch of their 2,600 square foot home, built in 1920 and revamped for a modern lifestyle.

Name: Designer Allison Burke, with architect husband Ryan and hound dog Blue Jay Location: French Place/Cherrywood; Austin, Texas Size: 1600 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years; Owned Allison Burke is a designer with 13 years of experience in high-end residential, small scale commercial and craft-driven interiors. It’s not surprising the home she shares with her architect husband is a modern mix of white walls, pops of color and purposeful accessories.

Name: Lori LaMont and Monte Weiss Location: Belmont Heights – Long Beach, California Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Own Lori and Monte live on the top floor of the duplex building that they own. Just mere blocks from the beach, they enjoy an incredibly sunny and well decorated home. Their gorgeous flat is layered with Lori’s paintings, modern fixtures and vintage pieces.

Name: Brian Cobb and Brad Harris (Benny, greyhound & Chi-Chi, chihuahua mix) Location: Rogers Park; Chicago, Illinois Size: 901 square feet Years lived in: 9 months; Owned Brian and Brad have the eye, the patience, and the motivation that is required from artists who create perfectly harmonious and balanced spaces. They are also able to pull it all together in quick order — just nine shorts months.

Name: Paola, Steve, and their twin baby sonsLocation: Venice Beach, CaliforniaSize: 2500 square feetYears Lived In: 1.5 When Paola and Steve purchased their Venice Beach home, it was essentially a blank canvas. More specifically, a boxy blank canvas with impressively high ceilings, a wide open floorplan, copious natural light, wood floors, and exposed beams.  It had all the makings of an enviable modernist dream home.

Lori and Ken’s home was featured here on Apartment Therapy in 2009 and four years later, the space is more elegant and creative than ever. As an established photographer and interior designer (Ken has his own investment firm), Lori uses her home as a canvas for her work and ideas. However, these aesthetic changes didn’t happen overnight, says Lori: “It has taken us ten years to get the house we really wanted, as we have to budget and save for every additional piece.

Name: Bill Johnson and Leah Forester Johnson, wife, mother, and blogger Location: Venice – Los Angeles, California Size: 3,300 square feet (main house), 1,000 square feet (man cave) Years lived in: 8 years (approximately 2 years since the remodel) If you’ve ever believed in fate, keep reading: this story is for you. I am not just showing you a beautiful house on the boardwalk in Venice — this home has a special story behind it.

Name: Rebecca Proctor, Andrew Wightman and baby WrenLocation: Bude, Cornwall, UKSize: 780 square feetYears lived in: 4 years; Owned Moving to the Cornish countryside from London four years ago, Andrew and Rebecca embraced a major design challenge. “We knew that we wanted to create a home that would feel cosy but not cluttered. Moving to the countryside was all about living a simple life and we wanted the house to reflect that.

Name: Joey WilliamsLocation: Austin, Texas Size/Room: 97 square feet Years lived in: 1 It may sound small, but 97 square feet is all the space Joey needs for his home office, video editing room, coffee lounge, and patio. His Sett Studio is a compact, highly sustainable piece of modern architecture. You’ll be surprised at how much style, tech, and functionality can be thoughtfully packed into this practical dwelling.

Name: Alex & Debra Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,406 square feet Years lived in: 4½ Living on the East Coast offers residents a choice in housing stock of homes built before the 1900s. Finding fluted columns on the exterior of a Greek revival home is commonplace, but finding the columns on the inside of the house was a surprise for Alex and Debra.

Name: John Schoenfeld & Sophie Schoenfeld Location: Joshua Tree, CaliforniaSize: 1,450 square feetYears lived in: 7 Desert living is quite different than living in the city. Many Angelenos make the trip to Joshua Tree to relax and bask in the hot and dry climate. John and Sophie wanted to create the best of both worlds when designing their home. They wanted the local desert environment reflected in their decor, but with modern elements incorporated.

Name: Edyta Czajkowska + fiancé + 2 adopted lovable pit bullsLocation: Des Plaines, IllinoisSize: 1,100 square feetYears lived in: 5 — owned It’s always fun to see the homes of interior designers. I had been checking out Edyta’s professional projects on her website and flickr photostream for a while and I’ve always been impressed by her amazing style.

Name: Allison and her cats, Pooh Bear and LBA.Location: Cleveland Park, Washington, DCSize: One bedroom, about 850 square feet. The apartment is split into two levels, which helps it feel a bit roomier.Years lived in: 2.5, rented If there’s one thing I learned about Allison from visiting her lovely home, it’s that she is way too modest about her DIY skills. Walking in, my first impression was that her home felt very “put together,” in the best possible sense.

Name: Tyke O’Brien and Jon LeaverLocation: Topanga Canyon, CaliforniaSize: 1,700 square feet — 2 bedrooms Years lived in: 3 — ownedWho else lives here? Our son, Monty (almost 2 year old) and our cat, Tiny. And there’s a coyote named Jeff who sometimes mills around outside. When we last saw Jon and Tyke in their Topanga Canyon Casa it was cozy and warm, filled with wood and deep rich colors and patterns.

Name: Cameron Saless & Matthew AllardLocation: West Hollywood, CaliforniaSize: 1,600 square feetYears lived in: One year We vividly remember the day when we were forwarded pics of Matt and Cameron’s home. We were in the midst of a frenzied loop of Facebook, GoFugYourself and Dlisted, when we immediately stopped what we were doing. Our eyes were drawn to the blend of beautiful modern pieces mixed with playful colors and a cozy touch that can’t be beat.

Name: CJ & Renee FolliniLocation: SoHo — NYCYears lived in: 3 CJ Follini and his wife, Renee, graciously invited us to tour their bright, Soho apartment shortly before moving uptown. CJ and Renee took a leap of faith in the purchase of the apartment three years ago: it was bought as part of a user deal from a developer who put a consortium of artists and filmmakers together to purchase the building. The catch?

Name: Amy (and Janis, her Maltese)Profession: Editor & Founder of Venus Zine and venuszine.comLocation: Humboldt Park, Chicago Size: About 500 square feetYears lived in: 1 year, ownedType: 1920s brick apartment building-turned-condos >> Amy is a wiz at working from the ground up. In college, she started a black-and-white stapled fanzine that evolved into Venus Zine, an internationally distributed full-sized glossy that covers women in pop culture.

Name: Danielle & Lakshan, and Mortimer the Bulldog Location: Glebe, Inner City, Sydney Australia Size: a little over 800 square feet + deck and small roof terraceYears lived in: 5 months >> You might be wondering why this house tour looks so familiar. It’s because you’ve got a great memory and are recollecting the home of two folks who’ve recently entered our 2008 Smallest Coolest Apartment Contest, representing Sydney, Australia in our #7 International category.

Name: Jim & Kari (and Elsa & Henry) Location: Evanston, ILType: split-level ranch house, ownedSize: 2000 sq ftYears lived in: 1 After more than a year of house hunting and several months of updating and renovations, Jim and his family spread their Scandinavian style all over their 1950s split-level.