Stephen Turner’s Amazing Exbury Egg
Name: Stephen Turner Location: The Beaulieu River; Hampshire, UK Size: 6 meters long, 3.6 meters wide Years lived in: 9 months At the head of a creek somewhere in the South of England, a weird and wonderful structure bobs up and down on the tide. It is a giant wooden egg, polished smooth by the wind until it shines like silver. A round window on the top and a hatch on the side are the only clues that this may be something more than an otherworldly sculpture dropped down in a remote salt marsh.
Feb 20, 2019
Amanda & Justin’s Bold & Blue Brooklyn Railroad Nook
Name: Amanda Bullock & Justin Taylor Location: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, New York Size: 1.5 bedroom; 600 square feet (estimated) Years lived in: 11 months; rented Amanda Bullock and Justin Taylor like books. Amanda came from the book publishing world and is now the Director of Public Programming at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe; Justin is an acclaimed author and teaches creative writing at a number of universities in the city.
Feb 20, 2019
Cozy Farmhouse Style in Chicago
Name: Nick Fanelle & Spiro Georgi Location: Andersonville; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented There’s no reason you can’t enjoy both the vibrancy of city life and the peacefulness of a rural retreat. Now, if you were to find an urban townhouse on a farm, it might strike you as a bit odd, but bringing the rustic, worn-in feel of the country into a Chicago apartment turned out to be just the thing for Nick Fanelle and Spiro Georgi.
Feb 20, 2019
Homepolish’s Modern/Vintage Mix
Name: Homepolish Location: NoMad, New York, New York Size: 1,000 square feet Years worked in: 1 year When you’re a design team known for creating fabulous office spaces for high tech and high profile clients, the pressure can really be on when it comes to your own workspace. This was Homepolish’s challenge — and one that they’ve risen to with comfort and grace. The folks at Homepolish are known for mixing vintage treasures with modern and classic pieces.
Feb 20, 2019
Refined Industrial Modern Style
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.
Feb 20, 2019
Meg & Joe’s “In Full Bloom” House Tour
Name: Meg, Joe, & Wells Piercy and their toy poodle Jack Location: Uptown; Chicago, IL Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; owned In Meg and Joe’s living room, there’s a blackboard with a family friend’s delicately drawn reminder to “live life in full bloom,” and the Piercys have certainly taken this advice to heart.
Feb 20, 2019
Sibylle’s Flea Market Style in Berlin
Name: Sibylle Location: Berlin, Germany Size: 1,076 square feet Years lived in: 8 months; rented Sibylle is at it again but this time in a different part of the map. We saw the first tour of her home in Montreal that was filled with her funky DIY style. Now that she has moved across the world to get back to her roots in Berlin, we are getting another peek into her fun and eclectic decor world.
Feb 20, 2019
Matt & Mel’s Animated Home in Virginia
Name: Matt and Mel Location: Fairfax, Virginia Size: 816 square feet Years lived in: 10 mos; Renting Is it ever the case where you visit the home of designers and find that their space isn’t the coolest one on the block, filled with creative design and a beautiful harmony of eclectic trinkets? Never! And the graphic home of designer and animator Matt and Mel is thankfully no exception.
Feb 20, 2019
Erin’s Casually Sophisticated Modern Loft
Name: Erin of Apartment 34 Location: Mission/Potrero Hill , San Francisco CA Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years Anyone who follows Erin’s lifestyle blog Apartment 34 will know that her style is synonymous with clean lines and tasteful restraint, with a touch of glam and global influence. Her loft follows suit with beautiful bones, and airy style and refined textures, with perfectly styled accessories bringing things up a notch or two.
Feb 20, 2019
Jose & Oliver’s Lofty Living in London
Name: Jose Campos and Oliver Herbert, co-owners of SUPERMERCADO SHOP (plus pet finches Selena and Harry) Location: Converted Victorian Tram depot, Southeast London Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Jose and Oliver can attest to the fact that finding a flat in London isn’t easy.
Feb 20, 2019
Micah’s Small & Stellar Bed-Stuy Studio
Name: Micah Clasper-Torch, designer and artist Location: Bed-Stuy — Brooklyn, New York Size: 260 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Tours photographed on rainy days always have a way of making me extra aware of the true coziness of a place. Micah’s space contains within in it such a wonderful sense of who she is and the things that make her happy and productive.
Feb 20, 2019
Corita Rose’s Vibrant & Colorful Studio
Name: Caro Ritchie of Corita Rose Location: Shaftesbury; Dorset, UK Size: 400 square feet Years in business: 4 years Caro Ritchie’s studio, located in the heart of one of Britain’s most ancient towns, is an explosion of riotous color and bold prints. Stepping inside is a bit like cracking open a piñata and releasing the colorful candies and confetti in its centre.
Feb 20, 2019
Will & Rebekah’s Traditional with a Twist in Paris
Name: Will, Rebekah, & Liam Hasting Location: Paris, France Size: 1,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms Years lived in: 8 Months In Paris’ 14th arrondissement, not far from the Place Denfert-Rochereau, is a little family home with a lovely view.
Feb 20, 2019
Irma’s Art-Filled Downtown Manhattan Loft
Name: Irma Zandl and Brad Kahlhamer Location: Lower East Side, Manhattan; New York, New York Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 20 years; Owned Light, open and airy, Irma’s Manhattan loft feels like an oasis in the heart of downtown. Upon entering, it is immediately clear that the art that fills this home has all been chosen with a strong eye for talent and a great love of the work. To spend time in this gorgeous space is at once calming and inspiring.
Feb 20, 2019
Gigi’s Candy-Colored London Cottage
Name: Gigi Eligoloff, editor of Gransnet, her husband John and their children Kit and Delphi Location: Barnes; Southwest London, UK Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 and half years; owned When the money for Gigi’s kitchen fund was stolen, she didn’t despair. She got straight onto Gumtree (UK’s answer to Craiglist) and tracked down another kitchen at a fraction of the price.
Feb 20, 2019
Carlos’ Custom DIY Loft
Name: Carlos E. Fernández-Dieppa Location: Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York Size: 670 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; rented Carlos Fernández takes the expression “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” to a whole other level. Carlos is a resourceful and highly intelligent designer who never lets a single item go to waste. His custom pieces are thoughtful and functional, with a playful flair.
Feb 20, 2019
Myka and George’s Modern Abode
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!
Feb 20, 2019
Laurence & Fabrice’s Friendly Eclectic Mix in Paris
Name: Laurence Guilloud & Fabrice Le Dantec, photographer and journalist for the blog L’Instant Parisien Location: Paris, 9ème Size: 755 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; Rented One minute you’re in a busy shopping district, and then you turn into a quiet side street and find yourself in front of Laurence and Fabrice’s building.
Feb 20, 2019
Sophia’s Rooftop View Over Paris
Name: Sophia Hansjacob Location: 11th arrondissement, Paris, France Size: 355 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Sophia Hansjacob lives in what might be the perfect Paris apartment. This little flat has it all: beautiful details, huge casement windows, wood floors (in the bedroom), and the very best part: a balcony with a view over the rooftops of Paris.
Feb 20, 2019
Kelly’s Luminous Tree House
Name: Kelly Furman Location: Graceland West; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; owned Kelly is a colorful person, vibrant in personality and exuberant in spirit. Her home, which she affectionately calls the “tree house,” captures the poise, humor, and grace with which she approaches the world, but it does so with an understated elegance.
Feb 20, 2019
Erin & Jeff’s Texas Cool
Name: Jeff and Erin Mooney, and Hank the dog Location: Rice University Area, Houston, Texas Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Erin and Jeff’s apartment, which occupies the second floor of a duplex in a neighborhood not far from Rice University, has all the spaciousness you would expect from a much larger home. They’ve judiciously filled their home with just enough furniture to make things cozy, while still leaving the space room to breathe.
Feb 20, 2019
Zainab and Farhan’s Colorful & Contemporary Dubai Apartment
Name: Zainab Ahmed and husband Farhan Ahmed (and for six months of the year, Farhan’s mom who divides her time between Pakistan and here) Location: Business Bay, Dubai Years lived in: Renting 3 years The rental apartment Zainab shares with her husband (and an occasional visiting mother-in-law) is considered large by local Dubai standards.
Feb 20, 2019
Beth’s New-Meets-Old Beach Cottage Inspired Bungalow
Name: Beth Puscheck, owner of Blue Cottage Hill Location: Villa Park, Illinois Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; owned Who else lives here: Beth’s boyfriend & their dog, Aaron A professional beautician by day, Beth’s always had an eye for style. And from the moment she and her boyfriend bought their 1926 cottage in the Chicago suburb of Villa Park only 6 months ago, she’s been taking her talent home and completely transforming the formerly uninspired space.
Feb 20, 2019
A “Make It Your Own” Denver Homestead
Name: Jake Pedziwiatr and Bridget Mahoney Location: Whittier, Denver, CO Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; owned Around town, Bridget is know as one of Denver’s best barbers. To her friends and Instagram followers she is known as the queen of power tools, master of weekend DIY projects, and just a plain bad-ass.
Feb 20, 2019
Abigail Ahern’s Dark and Dramatic East London Home
Name: Abigail Ahern, her husband Graham Scott, Mungo the miniature schnauzer, and Maude the Welsh terrier Location: Dalston; London, UK Size: 2,200 square feet Years lived in: 13 years Imagine if Vermeer and Rousseau got to share a canvas, the Dutchman filling it with his trademark dark interiors, soft light filtering in through a window, and the Frenchman adding lush ferns, copious flowers, birds and animals peeking through the foliage.
Feb 20, 2019
A Light-Filled 1772 Colonial House in Rhode Island
Name: Jim and Laura Nelson Location: College Hill, Providence, Rhode Island Size: 3,400 square feet Years lived in: 4 1/2 years; owned There had been no talk of moving in the Nelson family when a house in Providence caught Laura’s eye in the newspaper one Saturday in 2009. Pictures of the sun-drenched kitchen and unusually large backyard jumped off the page. And the charming College Hill colonial, built in 1772, was a mere two blocks from Laura’s childhood home.
Feb 20, 2019
Caro & Josh’s Colorful & Quirky English Home
Name: Caro Ritchie of Corita Rose, her husband Josh and their three children Blue, Tiger and Kit. Location: A village near Shaftsbury; Dorset, UK Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 21 years The Ritchie’s family home in a former-brewery in rural Dorset is a riot of color and pattern. You may remember Caro Ritchie from Corita Rose’s Vibrant and Colorful Studio, where she creates bold and brilliant fabrics under the name Corita Rose.
Feb 20, 2019
The Bright Home of The Casa Pino
Name: Mike and Lea of The Casa Pino Location: Arlington, Virginia Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; renting Creative husband and wife duo Mike and Lea Pino met in New York several years ago, and have been working together and designing up beautiful modern textiles with their business The Casa Pino ever since. So it comes as no surprise the same fun aesthetic they put into their collection is reflected in their equally stylish home.
Feb 20, 2019
Nikki’s Vintage Boho Styled Bungalow
Name: Nikki Witherspoon-Whited, owner of East West Vintage Rentals (with husband Steve and children Atlas and Rosie) Location: West Asheville; Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1350 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; rented Artfully styled scenes of found objects can be discovered at every turn in Nikki’s delightful 1920s bungalow. The vintage treasures, once covered in dust, shine again as they join a new family of modern furnishings and accessories.
Feb 20, 2019
An Unpretentious Creative Phoenix Home
Name: Kristoffer Keul and Carrie Bloomston Location: Phoenix, Arizona Size: 1,750 square feet Years lived in: 14 years; Owned Kristoffer Keul and Carrie Bloomston are on a mission to enable creativity, and their home is the center of operations. Carrie has a book that helps people find their creative spark.
Feb 20, 2019
Chris & Jenny’s Collective Elegance
Name: Chris Corrado and Jenny Kaplan Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: Chris 7 years / Jenny 10 months It’s not often that I walk into someone’s home and feel instantly inspired. To begin, the combination of their two separate styles merge effortlessly. Their home is filled with bold and unique pieces that are beautiful yet practical for everyday use.
Feb 20, 2019
Dena’s Tiny Quirky Retreat
Name: Dena Fields and Punkin the English Bulldog Location: East Nashville; Nashville, TN Size: 570 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Rented Dena’s home is her retreat, her sanctuary. It is filled with items that nourish her mind and spirit. From her vibrant paintings to her collected items, everything has a story. A story of family, travel, and friendship. The duplex Dena lives in has beautiful hardwood floors and thick plaster walls.
Feb 20, 2019
Katie & Matt’s Washington Heights Home
Name: Katie and Matt with their cats, Fritz & Pepper Location: Washington Heights, New York City Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Katie 2.5 years, Matt 6 years; Rented When Katie moved into her two bedroom home in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, she had her work cut out for her. At the time it was occupied by her fiancé and two roommates—the living room doing double duty as common space and as a bedroom.
Feb 20, 2019
Functional Yet Fabulous Style in New Hampshire
Name: Tanya Lacourse Location: New Hampshire Size: First floor of a two-family home; Tanya’s part is 1100 square feet, and there’s also a large yard. Years lived in: 5 years When Tanya purchased this little house in New Hampshire five years ago, she had no idea of the time, elbow grease, and persistence it would take to make it into a home. But persist she did. And after all the hard work, Tanya has a ton of renovating experience — and a beautiful place to call home.
Feb 20, 2019
Drew & Robyn’s Smart, Sunny Logan Square Graystone
Name: Robyn and Drew Location: Logan Square; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: 5 months Robyn and Drew’s vintage graystone apartment is filled with more than just cool-looking pieces, it’s filled with original vintage finds and soul for days. They choose their belongings thoughtfully and they take their time; they scour Craigslist and local vintage stores—they celebrate secondhand furniture for its craftsmanship and unique style.
Feb 20, 2019
Marie-Lyne & Karlo’s Small Montreal Condo
Name: Marie-Lyne and Karlo Location: Villeray; Montreal, Canada Size: 575 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; owned We settled in an up-and-coming neighborhood where young families and first-time buyers choose to live for its affordability and convenience. Our condo is near Jean-Talon market and is surrounded by trendy coffee shops, fashionable restaurants and local boutiques.
Feb 20, 2019
Lauren & Mikko’s Colorful Mix
Name: Lauren & Mikko Location: Punavuori; Helsinki, Finland Size: 473 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; owned When Lauren and Mikko bought their 473 square foot apartment two years ago, they completely renovated the entire space to create the most efficient layout possible. So despite the small footprint, this bright Helsinki apartment feels spacious, and is chock-full of personal touches.
Feb 20, 2019
Darlene’s Art-Filled Riverside Ranch
Name: Darlene Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 23 years; owned Darlene lives in a ranch on the north side of Grand Rapids, within walking distance of Riverside Park. The neighborhood’s wide, winding streets are lined with unique houses – and Darlene’s home, with her collection of original art, is no exception.
Feb 20, 2019
Becky & Jordan’s Modern Day Mid-Century Charmer
Name: Becky and Jordan Location: Northeast Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; owned Becky and Jordan live in a 1986 tri-level in northeast Grand Rapids. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood about five miles from downtown, the location is a happy medium for a couple from the country who wanted to be close to downtown, but not in the middle of downtown. Becky, an interior designer, is always thinking of renovation projects.
Feb 20, 2019
Holley and Audrey’s All the Pretty Colors Home
Name: Holley, Dining Editor for the Washington Post Express, and Audrey Location: Mt. Pleasant, Washington DC Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; renting One can only imagine the stream of fun ideas and shared secrets that two cool, creative women who are equally inspired by the Anthropologie-meets-Kinfolk aesthetic must dream up.
Feb 20, 2019
Beth-Anne & Arron’s Social Style
Name: Beth-Anne Thomas & Arron Thomas Location: Parkdale; Toronto, Canada Size: 2100 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 1 year This gregarious couple is as well-known for their masterful ability to get the party started as they are for their frequent participation in charitable events.
Feb 20, 2019
A Bright & Quirky 430 Square Foot Helsinki Loft
Name: Saara Helkala Location: Helsinki, Finland Size: 430 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; rented Just beyond the small, shadowy entryway to Saara’s loft-style apartment, daylight beckons through two grand windows on the main wall of the living space. While the natural light in Saara’s apartment—during the months that the sun actually shines in Helsinki—is really remarkable, it’s just one of the many inviting things about her space.
Feb 20, 2019
Candice’s Creative Austin Home
Location: Austin, Texas Size: 960 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Candice is an amazing Austin-based stylist and sells a collection of her vintage finds on her online shop, Oh Fox Creative. Everything she salvages has a story and her home is filled with them, too! Her classic taste is showcased through her vintage hints and globe trotting finds. Keep an eye out for her one of a kind must-haves and take a peek at her ‘found’ rugs. They’re all works of art.
Feb 20, 2019
Nyakinyua & Ivan’s Chic Victorian in Washington DC
Name: Nyakinyua Gill, Ivan Iricanin, and Baby Vuk Location: Howard University-Shaw; Washington DC Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Owned Nyakinya Gill (affectionately known as Nya) and her husband Ivan Iricanin are no strangers to the interior design industry. Ivan is an international restaurateur, with award-winning venues in Washington, DC, New York City, and Serbia, and Nya has played lead interior designer to some of these establishments.
Feb 20, 2019
Lauren’s Bold Chicago Apartment Bursting With DIY Projects
Name: Lauren Svenstrup of Studio Sven Location: Andersonville; Chicago, Illinois Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 2 years When Lauren’s House Call was featured this summer, readers were intrigued by her wonderful mix of vintage and modern, so I was thrilled when Lauren gave an enthusiastic “yes” for a full tour. On my recent visit to Lauren’s home, I was inspired by the distinct yet harmonious moods and tones she’s achieved in one relatively small space.
Feb 20, 2019
MICHI’s Sassy Fashion Studio
Name: MICHI Atelier Location: Liberty Village, Toronto Size: 825 square feet Years occupied: 1 year Cutting-edge fashion designer Michelle Watson’s MICHI athletic wear is probably the most fashionable fitness apparel you’ve ever laid eyes on.
Feb 20, 2019
Erin & Chris’ Industrial Heritage Hill Condo
Name: Erin and Chris Location: Heritage Hill; Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; rented Erin and Chris like to keep things simple and neat. Upon entering their home, I was impressed by the lack of clutter. No piles of mail, no stacks of books, no leaning towers of magazines. That’s because the couple is wise about storage. They purchased iconic IKEA furniture pieces with clean, simple lines and lots of storage.
Feb 20, 2019
Elise’s Eclectic Cottage in the Mountains
Name: Elise Becker Location: Franklin, North Carolina Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; owned An old house with lots of original charm is now a groovy and colorful dreamboat filled with vintage objects and funky heirlooms. If you thought the days of orange, green, and yellow were long gone, a tour of this sweet sixties throwback will show you that they still live on, and are as fantastic as ever. Elise is a sunny and funny gal, and her spirit shines through in her whimsical home.
Feb 20, 2019
Kim’s Sunny Small Space in Paris
Name: Kim Laidlaw Location: Paris, France Size: 40 square meters (approx. 430 square feet) Years lived in: 5 years Kim, a freelance writer and the author of Unlock Paris, an insider’s guide to the City of Light, may be an import from London, but her home feels quintessentially Parisian. It’s small by American standards — only 430 square feet — but blessed with floor-to-ceiling french doors that open onto a balcony which overlooks the city.
Feb 20, 2019
Kaisa & Otto’s Black and White Abode in Helsinki
Name: Kaisa and Otto Location: Käpylä; Helsinki, Finland Size: 441 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned There are a few things that one expects when stepping into a Finnish apartment—a row of shoes by the door, labeled towels racks in the bathroom, and at least a few Finnish design staples. Kaisa and Otto’s home certainly ticks all of those boxes, but when it comes to showcasing Finnish design staples, they have gone above and beyond.
Feb 20, 2019
Elizabeth & Nick’s Attic Apartment in Manhattan
Name: Nick and Lizzie Johnson Location: Meatpacking District / Chelsea, New York City Size: 1 Bedroom Years lived in: 18 months Nick and Lizzie relocated from London to New York during a rough week; Hurricane Sandy had just hit and they were about to face some apartment-seeking challenges. Narrowing their search to areas unaffected by the storm, they fell in love with Chelsea and the West Village.
Feb 20, 2019
Emily’s Small but Mighty Houston Home
Name: Emily Moore, founder of Moore Design Works, and Xia, Loyal Yellow Lab Location: Museum District, Houston, Texas Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented The first thing you’ll notice about Emily’s Houston apartment is probably the boldly painted blue walls in the living room.
Feb 20, 2019
Amandine & Amaury’s Lovely Little Loft in Paris
Location: Paris, France Size: 452 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned. Amaury and Amandine’s Paris apartment is proof that it’s possible to have it all, even in a tiny footprint. Their 452 square foot space has a cozy bedroom, a beautiful kitchen, and plenty of space for eating and lounging. And, thanks to tall ceilings and generous windows, it still feels incredibly spacious.
Feb 20, 2019
Yana & Petar’s Nomad Luxuries
Name: Yana Puaca of NoMad Luxuries and Petar Location: Lakeview; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,385 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Owned The name of Yana’s lifestyle blog, NoMad Luxuries, also accurately describes the style of the home that she and her husband Petar share.
Feb 20, 2019
Lisa’s Pint-Size Storybook Nook in Toronto
Name: Lisa Vanin Location: Parkdale; Toronto, Canada Size: 390 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, Rented Take away the laptop and tattoos and it would be easy to mistake twenty-something illustrator Lisa Vanin’s tiny, old-fashioned apartment for a knitting granny’s cozy den. Her homey digs are reminiscent of a previous generation’s warmth and slow pace, thanks to her nostalgic collection of old-soul treasures.
Feb 20, 2019
Dee & Paul’s Thrill of the (Halloween) Hunt
Name: Dee and Paul Location: Northville, Michigan Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Owned Dee and Paul live in Northville, a western suburb of Detroit. Their traditional home is open, airy and layered with trinkets. Dee is drawn toward turquoise, sparkles, shiny surfaces, beach imagery, and a mix of old and new. Paul likes mementos from the couple’s travels (especially out west) and vintage clocks (which he restores).
Feb 20, 2019
Dani & Will’s Goodwill Finds
Name: Dani and Will Location: Heritage Hill; Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 3 years for Will, 1 month for Dani; Rented Dani and Will live on the third floor of an old Victorian house in Heritage Hill, the historic neighborhood just east of Downtown Grand Rapids. Will grew up in Michigan while girlfriend Dani moved to Grand Rapids from London, England one year ago.
Feb 20, 2019
A Fresh Start in Toronto
Location: Little Italy; Toronto, Canada Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 4 months When these two idea-makers were preparing to move in together, their main mission was to find a space that could accommodate two home offices in an atmosphere that would inspire their work. Countless viewings of windowless basement dens & crowded corner set-ups helped this gorgeous loft-style apartment stand out among the misfits. My Style: Modern bones, vintage touches, and a lot of breathing room.
Feb 20, 2019
Mariana & Mark’s Artistic Melbourne Home
Name: Mark and Mariana of m2matiz, Josh [20], Madeleine [18], Charley [dog], Friday [cat] and six very generous chickens. Location: Thornbury, Victoria, Australia Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 10 years owned I’ve admired Mariana’s work since around 2007 when her creative images started to appear in my “flickr” stream (the choice of pre-Instagram hep-cats in the olden days).
Feb 20, 2019
Kai and Dan’s Lovingly Restored Brownstone Flat
Name: Kai Avent-deLeon and Dan Solomito Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant; Brooklyn, NY Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 4 years Kai Avent-deLeon (pronounced Kai-E) is no stranger to the homes that have put her Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood on the historical record of architecture and design. She was born and raised here, and the brownstone that her apartment is in, which she shares with her boyfriend Dan, has been in her family for nearly half a century.
Feb 20, 2019
Esther & Brendan’s Industrial Chic California Home
Name: Esther Hahn, Brendan Cooney, and Timothy Hahn Location: Pacifica, California Size: 1,610 square feet Years lived in: 1 years; Owned The home that Esther and Brendan share (along with her brother Timothy) is colorful, vibrant and full of energy. Esther works as an editor for Racked, is an avid surfer and rides horses, and she and husband Brendan are often out together with their two (adorable) cattle dogs.
Feb 20, 2019
Erin’s Layered Oakland Loft
Name: Erin Kelsey Location: Oakland, California Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 1 year With a career as a textile designer, you would expect no less than beautiful fabrics and finishes of all sorts—and Erin’s loft does not disappoint. From buttery leather and perfectly worn wood, to an abundance of richly patterned rugs and blankets the loft is a test lab for layered, textured perfection.
Feb 20, 2019
Diana & Mik’s Pop Art Inspired Family Home
Name: Diana, Mik and baby Harper (15 months) Art director, Musician/lighting designer, Captain of playtime respectively Location: Thornbury; Melbourne, Australia Size: 2 bedroom, one study, living and dining Years lived in: 16 months Di is an art director in the advertising world, so it should come as no surprise that the home she’s made with musician/lighting designer Mik and their baby Harper is ornamented with treasures from the most whimsical of places.
Feb 20, 2019
Darren & Preston’s Castro Home With a View
Name: Darren Elms and Preston Ames Location: Castro; San Francisco, CA Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented Los Angeles natives Darren and Preston consider themselves fortunate to have found a beautiful apartment with breathtaking views in the Bay Area’s competitive rental market.
Feb 20, 2019
Ben’s Renovated Brooklyn Penthouse
Name: Ben Erickson Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant; Brooklyn, New York Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Renovated and Rented Homes like this one are what neighborhood legends are made of. Tourists walk by them and ponder their historical significance. School children imagine what fairytale or superhero character might be living inside. And adults dream the wildest dreams of ever calling a place like this home.
Feb 20, 2019
Jynne & Louie’s Small & Colorful Brooklyn Duplex
Name: Jynne Dilling Martin & Louie Saletan Location: Park Slope; Brooklyn, New York Size: 500 square foot split-level duplex + 400 square foot backyard Years lived in: 2 years; Rent Jynne Dilling Martin is the Associate Publisher of Riverhead Books (and author of We Mammals in Hospitable Times, a book of poetry). A Texas transplant, Louie Saletan taught Russian language to the first crew of NASA astronauts to fly on a joint Space Shuttle flight with their Russian cosmonaut counterparts.
Feb 20, 2019
A Mix of Old and New in Houston
Name: Christ Robart and Kate Bracksieck Location: Houston, Texas Size: 2,650 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; Own Kate and Chris recently traveled to Copenhagen where they picked out a full shipping container’s worth of mid century furniture, having recently begun importing amazing pieces for the launch of their online shop, Indre by Design. Last time I was in Houston, I stopped by and saw her beautiful pieces being unpacked in her downtown Houston warehouse.
Feb 20, 2019
Oscar’s Well-Preserved DC Rowhouse
Name: Oscar Beisert Location: Grant Circle (Petworth); Washington, DC Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Own When I first entered the home of Oscar Beisert, I thought for sure he had inherited it from an 90-year-old retired art historian who redecorated as a side hobby. Each wall in his sprawling two-story, three-bedroom home was chock full of carefully placed framed paintings, filled with portraits of historical characters both related and non-related to Oscar.
Feb 20, 2019
Elizabeth’s Urban Cabin
Name: Lenora Elizabeth Curbo Location: Northeast Los Angeles, California Size: 1,150 square feet; 2 bedroom/2 bath Years lived in: 2 years; Rented It’s hard to imagine a spot as serene as Elizabeth’s rustic bungalow existing mere minutes from Downtown Los Angeles. Her sweet 1920s home is nestled in the hills of El Sereno, an up-and-coming suburb of Los Angeles, and feels like a secret mountain retreat amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.
Feb 20, 2019
Felicity & Paul’s Innovative South Australian House
Name: Felicity (interior designer) and Paul (architect), Jade (6) and Ella and Mia (twinnies, 18m) Location: Torrens Park, Adelaide, South Australia Size: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom Years lived in: 2 years; Owned What an impact! Walking into Felicity & Pauls’ 1975 architect designed wundervault*, I am immediately reminded of a trip to Paris and being overwhelmed by the beauty of the Arts et Métiers station on the Paris Métro, a station clad in shining curved copper.
Feb 20, 2019
Valentina & Alessandro’s Colorful Treasure Trove
Name: Valentina and Alessandro Location: Princeton, New Jersey Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Rented When walking into Valentina and Alessandro’s bright and inviting space, you immediately feel like sitting down for a glass of wine. Their home is both modern and comfortable, and full of treasures from their travels around the world. Valentina and Alessandro are originally from Italy, but have lived in Princeton for several years.
Feb 20, 2019
Natalie Bowen Designs + Porro
Name: Natalie Bowen Brookshire & Seth Brookshire Location: SOMA; San Francisco, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years in Business: Natalie 10 years, Seth 15 years, Studio has been open for one year The combined studios of Natalie Bowen Designs and Seth’s architecture firm Porro are just as you would expect from the creative duo.
Feb 20, 2019