Washington

Name: Anna, Jason and Freddy Location: Ballard — Seattle, Washington Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned After buying their Seattle home five years ago, Anna and Jason spent about two years updating elements that likely hadn’t changed in decades — all new windows, refurbished kitchen counters, new paint throughout — and the list goes on.

Name: Anastasia Antoinette and Jamon Johnson Location: Columbia Heights — Washington, DC Size: 825 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, rented It’s not every day that you’re in the market for a new apartment and stumble upon an architectural masterpiece — which also happens to align perfectly with your profession — but that’s exactly what happened to Anastasia and Jamon when they were looking for their first home together.

Name: Curry Hackett Location: Howard University/Shaw — Washington, D.C. Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: Renting, 1.5 years The apartment that Curry has lived in for one and a half years couldn’t be anymore perfect for his diverse pursuits, which include graphic design, vintage furniture collecting, and playing the trombone. He’s also the founder of Hackreative, a multidisciplinary design studio specializing in placemaking, visual design, and creative direction.

Name: Elizabeth Podlesnik Location: Queen Anne — Seattle, Washington Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Back in June, this former personal stylist-turned-photographer got an itch to redecorate. Like, seriously redecorate. “I sold everything on Craigslist and Offer Up, and started from scratch,” Elizabeth told me. I was slightly jealous of the adventure she’d just been on. From scratch, you say? Swoon. I really do have a thing for blank slates.

Name: Michelle Qazi and family Location: Bellevue, Washington Size: 3,000 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented Walking through Michelle’s front door, you see right away from her design aesthetic why she chose this particular home, which she shares with her husband and two young sons. The vaulted ceilings, wood-paneled walls, and windows that are forms of art in themselves, could not be a more perfect frame for the strong ’70s vibe the interior as a whole exudes.

Name: Adria and Dan Location: Ballard — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned Adria—who works in UX design and is also the founder of the food and travel blog, The Emerald Palate—says she never considered green among her favorite colors. But when she and Dan—a software engineer—first walked into this house in Seattle’s Ballard area, she immediately knew that the wall in the dining room needed to be green.

Name: Natasha Lawyer and Brett Bashaw Location: Seattle, Washington Size: 200 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Natasha Lawyer and Brett Bashaw’s 1971 Airstream Sovereign packs incredible style into a compact space — every inch has been thoughtfully designed and curated by the couple. Over one very eventful year of renovation and restoration, they have been able to build a home that is warm, bright, and that even boasts a feeling of loftiness, all in 200 square feet!

Name: Jonathan, husband Ryan, Sadie (a 5-year-old Devon Rex), and Robbie (a 3-year-old American Cocker Spaniel) Location: Adams Morgan — Washington, D.C. Size: 925 square feet Years lived In: 3 years, renting I’ve lived in this apartment for three years along with my husband Ryan, and our two sweet pets, Robbie the American Cocker Spaniel, and Sadie our Devon Rex—both rescues, both crazy.

Name: Keila Hill Location: Arlington, Virginia Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; renting For Georgia transplant Keila Hill, sprucing up her apartment into a colorful oasis is never more than a paint can away. See how this thrifty gal maximizes impact on a small space.

Name: Brooke Baker Eide Location: Ballard; Seattle, Washington Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented I came across a really exciting and unique House Tour adventure to bring you all on. We have two individually inspiring tours to go on by a very design savvy couple. You see they were just about to get married and move in together, and I was lucky enough to catch them at their individual homes just a few weeks before their wedding.

Name: Amy Zeller and Jeremy Location: Capitol Hill; Washington, D.C. Size: 520 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Renting To say this cool couple knows how to maximize space would be an understatement. Amy and Jeremy may very well be the champions of resourcefulness, tidiness, and organization, while maintaining a charming and minimalism about their home. Stepping into the space initially, one might mistake it for a long foyer leading to the bedroom.

Name: Tyler Eide Location: Queen Anne; Seattle, Washington Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years; Rented Last month we introduced the Design & Chemistry House Tour Trilogy with Brooke’s Modern Boho Loft. Now get ready for Part 2 as we get a peek at Tyler’s space weeks before he and Brooke moved in together as a married couple.

Name: Megan and Jason Clark and their 7-month-old son, Ever Clark Location: West Seattle, Washington Size: 2,300 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; Rented Though they each hail from other places in the Northwest, Jason and Megan have made a beautiful home together near Alki Beach in Seattle. She is a VP at the non-profit LifeCenter Northwest, and he works for Groupon and writes the blog THE BLACK CANOE.

Name: Katy Mason and Devin Hampton and their dog, Ace Location: Washington, D.C. Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Rented With its loft-like essence, exposed brick, and beautifully industrial structural elements, this apartment has felt like home for Katy and Devin since day one. Having lived in D.C. for six years, Devin moved from one side of the wall (the apartment next door) to the other when Katy moved from NYC to D.C. last year.

Name: Dave Winkler Location: Capitol Hill — Seattle, Washington Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; Owned The first time I visited Dave’s home was for a summertime party that he and his housemates hosted. The house was filled with people laughing, enjoying cocktails and relaxing. It’s easy to relax in such a comfortable space that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Name: Blanca Martinez and Cody Perez Location: Seattle, Washington Size: 1160 square feet (560 sq ft cottage with a 600 sq ft basement) Years lived in: 2 years; Rented When Blanca Martinez and Cody Perez moved into their small, one-bedroom cottage in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle, they immediately saw the potential for more usable living space in the concrete basement—all it needed was a good bit of TLC.

Name: Seth and Maureen Conant and their cats, Frank and Lucy Location: Seattle, Washington Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Owned Walking into Maureen and Seth’s house transports you to the 1950s. In fact, just walking along their street gives you that feeling! They live in a little enclave of mid-century homes in northwest Seattle, most of which were built by the same architect, Thomas Dunstan, in the late 1950s.

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: 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: Evan and Gavin Gregory Location: Parkwood — Shoreline (Seattle), Washington Size: 920 square feet Years lived in: 7.5 years, owned On an unassuming residential street in a suburb just north of Seattle, you’ll find a house down a hill, surrounded by bushes and hidden by a fence. One step into Evan and Gavin’s front yard and it feels as though you’ve been transported to a relaxing sanctuary far from the bustle of the city.

Name: Lauren and Jason Location: West Seattle — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,792 square feet Years lived in: 3-1/2 years The first time I got a look at Lauren and Jason’s super chic West Seattle townhome, I was a guest at their “Roaring Twenties”-themed 2016 Oscar party. I climbed the stairs, turned the corner into their kitchen, and bam! It was all Great Gatsby up in that place.

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.

Name: Hilary and Glenn Location: Central District — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,382 square feet Years lived in: 3 years Guests make their way up to Hilary and Glenn’s front door via a winding path that’s a little on the steep side—even by Seattle standards. And when you walk inside, you definitely feel as if you’ve reached a summit of sorts.

Name: Liz and Brendan, and cat Vincent Location: Mount Vernon Square — Washington, D.C. Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Renting 10 months Inviting, modern, and thoughtful. Like most people, Brendan and I have sought to make our living space representative of who we are. When we combined our homes last year, we had to be intentional about what came with us. Brendan is a web developer and I’m a graphic designer.

Name: Ali and Duffy Location: Green Lake — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,900 square feet Years lived in: Rented 4 years When I posted a picture to Instagram of the wallpaper in Seattle restaurant, Joule, gushing over it as one of my favorites in the city, I had no idea it would lead me to my next House Tour subject. “My husband’s company Electric Coffin designed and made that wallpaper,” read a comment from a woman named Ali, “as well as the whole restaurant!

Name: Judith Bigham and her daughter Idabelle, 18 Location: Madrona — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,650 square feet Years lived in: Rented, 2 years Judith Bigham‘s home in Seattle is layered with furniture, art, and treasures that she has spent decades lovingly collecting and creating. Judy is a painter, an interior designer, and a fun, fascinating person to talk with.

Name: Audrey and Kevin McGill, sons Aidan (12) and Evan (10), and Charlotte the Yellow Lab Location: Lake Forest Park — Seattle, Washington Size: 2,240 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned When Audrey and Kevin moved their family across the country two years ago, they knew they wanted to live in a mid-century home. They found what they were looking for in a quiet, forested neighborhood just north of Seattle.

Name: Ricardo Guisse and three roommates Location: Washington, DC Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: Renting 3 years Architectural charm fills this renovated row house, as do roommates! Four young professionals share this 850 square foot rental home (an affordable option in a big city). With so little space, the challenge was creating a comfortable home with enough room. Their smart storage solutions help the small space function and look stylish.

Name: Suki Location: Queen Anne — Seattle, Washington Size: 677 square feet Years lived in: Owned 9 months Before she started decorating, Seattle homeowner Suki set out to create a space that felt like a vacation home, which worked out nicely for me since it was an especially gloomy day the afternoon I showed up to snap some pictures. I was desperately in need of a mini getaway and Suki’s condo totally delivered.

Name: Ryan and Teressa Location: Sumner, Washington Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, owned When I arrived at Teressa and Ryan’s sweet, light-filled house, it came as no surprise to see the couple does natural chic like the pros that I already knew they were. Teressa is the owner of a floral design company for both special events and everyday flower delights. Ryan is a teacher by day and quite the woodworker in his off hours.

Name: Sarah Lyon Location: Georgetown, Washington, DC Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: Almost 1 year, renting You’d never guess by this rental’s chic, classic style, but Sarah purchased 95 percent of her furniture off of Craigslist. The only things she bought for full price (in other words, from a store) were her bed, headboard, couch, and front console table. Everything else has been the result of successful scavenger hunts! Sarah’s a Washington D.C.

Name: Linda Derschang, and Jack the Westie Location: Belltown — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,523 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Linda is a Seattle powerhouse. She is the force behind many of the city’s hippest bars and restaurants, and has designed her latest home, a modern condo in Belltown, with vintage finds, designer pieces, eclectic artwork, and a solid dose of ’70s glam.

Name: Angel and Ben Location: Fremont — Seattle, Washington Size: 580 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting The first thing you notice when walking into Angel and Ben’s Fremont studio is the huge floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the space, letting light pour into their living area.

Amanda and Courtney DIYed this cabin from uninhabitable to livable in eight months.

Name: Kim Location: Capitol Hill — Seattle, Washington Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Having great style kinda comes with the territory when you’re a successful jewelry maker (and the owner of a business like Fresh Tangerine), but Kim has a particular brand that you just don’t see very often. She describes her home’s look as quirky Parisian with some PNW cozy mixed in. And it’s so true!

Name: Sarah Lyon and a roommate Location: The Dupont Circle/Logan Circle neighborhoods of Washington, D.C. Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 11 months, renting I absolutely love my current apartment. It took awhile for my roommate and me to find this space, but without sounding too cliché, it was truly worth the wait.

Name: Joe Gast and Willow the Weimaraner Location: Leschi — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,690 square feet Years lived in: 25 years, owned My 1908 Leschi cottage was a victim of several ill-conceived remodels and plenty of deferred maintenance. A transplant from Ohio, with an Ohioan’s modest budget, I purchased the house because it was in my price range and it was located on a magical stairway, steps above Lake Washington.

This author's style is best described as "minimalist chic influenced by the beauty and diversity of the African diaspora."

Name: Emily Kim Location: Pioneer Square — Seattle, Washington Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Ever since I saw Emily’s first Instagram post of her new Pioneer Square apartment back in January, I’ve been hounding her about doing a house tour: “Are you ready yet? I mean, no pressure!” Then quietly, “But, are you ready yet?

Name: Mona Tavakoli, Beau Ritten, and cats Minnow and Sushi Location: Central District — Seattle, Washington Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Make your way up the stairs to Mona and Beau’s converted top-floor apartment in the heart of the Emerald City, and you can feel the eclectic vibes seeping into the landing. The elongated cat statue staring at you on your way in could be playing a large part. Needless to say, their pad is very cool.

Name: Gaby Dalkin Location: Lower Queen Anne — Seattle, Washington Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, owned “I love the Seattle house!” I had just wrapped up shooting food blogger Gaby Dalkin’s lower Queen Anne townhome when she let out that statement with a serene smile.

Name: Samantha Nobles and husband Daniel Location: Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting The Nobles’ Nest is our first home as a married couple, for this reason alone we have a special adoration for this basement apartment. The couple who lived in the space before us are coincidentally our friends, and when they were moving out we conveniently slid right in to fill their spot! The best part of living here?

Name: Mary Lee, her partner Jacob and her sweet chihuahua Kyley Location: Seattle, Washington Size: 366 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned The amount of blood, sweat and tears in any home remodel is substantial. But can you imagine the amount while making over a 366 square foot studio when you’re still living in it? A space that you share with your partner and a dog? It’s extraordinary, chaotic, and in Mary Lee’s case, ultimately worth it.

Names: Finley (4-years-old) and Jackson (5 1/2 years old) Location: Seattle, Washington Room sizes: Bathroom – 47 square feet; Finley’s Room – 100 square feet; Jackson’s Room -130 square feet The adorable Finley and Jackson of Finley and Jackson’s “Modern Shabby-Chic” Bedrooms & Playrooms are back with new and improved big kid bedrooms and bathroom. Their mom, Emily, had been thinking about adding a bathroom to the upper level of their home for years.

Name: Derek Erdman and Ashley Armitage Location: Seattle, Washington Size: 1,500 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years This apartment is what happens when two vibrant—and cheeky!—artists make a home together.

Raya is inspired by natural materials, classic colors, found objects, and timeless modern design.

Name: Erin Lyons and John Paul Doguin Location: Georgetown; Washington, DC Size: 525 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented Meet Erin and John Paul. Erin’s a writer and JP works on a design team at a federal agency. I shot their studio one week before they moved into a larger one-bedroom apartment downstairs; I had seen their place for the first time a few days earlier and insisted we do a House Tour before they packed up! I’ll tell you why.