Name: Giana Shorthouse Location: FLATS at Ponce City Market — Atlanta, Georgia. Size: 655 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, renting I’m a designer and prop stylist living at Ponce City Market; the building is a historic, mixed-use community hub and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. My apartment is an extension of me and what I do.
Name: Greg and Becky Simpson Location: East Austin Size: 1,500 square feet Years Lived In: Owned 2 years Greg and Becky don’t have any particular favorite time period of design. Nor do they hold any allegiances to any brands or designers. Truthfully? They just buy what they like. Influenced heavily by their “groovy friends” and the lively city of Austin, their home is a playful, unique reflection of their two fun personalities.
Name: Amanda and Chris Covo Location: East Austin, Texas Size: 967 square feet Years lived in: 7 months owned, after an 8 month renovation Amanda and Chris live in Austin, Texas — East Austin, to be specific. They are right down the street from Franklin BBQ and East Side Pies, local favorites. The house isn’t just cool because of its proximity to the hippest restaurants, though; it’s also a historic landmark.
Name: Chad Palmatier and Anthony Sobotik Location: North Austin, Texas Size: 1,850 square feet Years Lived In: 1.5 years, owned In their business—Lick Honest Ice Creams—as well as their home, Chad and Anthony focus on bringing an appreciation of simple things into the world. When it comes to decorating their North Austin house, they only brought in items they really love. The kind of items that bring them joy every day. For the couple, that means color, pattern and family heirlooms.
Name: September Scott Location: Austin, Texas Size: 740 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, renting Designer September Scott is all about the hunt—for treasures, one-of-a-kind finds and absolutely any found object she can reinvigorate. “Almost all the pieces in my space are reclaimed from an estate sale, flea market, Goodwill or on the side of the road. My passion is bringing new life into found objects,” she writes.
Name: Lara and Adam Location: South Austin, Texas Size: 930 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, owned Not counting the couches and chairs, nearly all the furniture in this home was built by its owners! Pallets, old fences…any reclaimed wood Lara and Adam found around their neighborhood became building material for their home’s contents. And they saved a lot of money by salvaging fencing they took down during the renovation and other wood scraps.
Name: Cindy and HarveyLocation: Granada Hills, CASize: 2500 sfYears lived in: Own, 9 months In the northern most part of Granada Hills, in an area where time seemingly forgot, is an enclave of colourful modernist homes…a slice of Midcentury heaven filled with preserved and renovated homes all sharing the recognizable architectural details of the California-based, post-war residential real estate developer, Joseph Eichler.
Name:Laura Stang-O’Dell, creator and head designer of Porridge; Jason O’Dell, photographer; and Hazel, awesome dogLocation: Los FelizSize: 1600 sq/ftYears lived in: 2 Years, own >> you can put that as our most embarrassing element...> should put it on something higher jason said actually gets fed sometimes.> Remember when we introduced you to Porridge Home a few weeks back? We promised you a house tour.
Name: Katy and Jules and their dog, Otto Location: Bermondsey — London, UK Size: 749 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; owned This new-build apartment in London, just south of the river, is home to interiors blogger Katy Orme, her partner Jules, and their (adorable!) Golden Retriever, Otto.
Name: Faye and Dave Campbell, and their four children Location: Sutton Green — Surrey, UK Size: 3,000 square feet Years lived in: 6 years With its tall elevations and white-painted, wood-clad exterior, this house gives an impression of New England that feels quite unexpected in the heart of the quintessentially English countryside.
Name: Ned and Sarah Corbett-Winder Location: Shepherds Bush, London Size: Around 1600 square feet Years lived in: 18 months, owned Ned Corbett-Winder is the founder of Not-Another-Bill, an online subscription service from London that sends subscribers a unique surprise gift in the mail every month.
Name: Missy Logan, Antony Shaw, Prudence (6), Lili (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, 2) Location: Harrow, London Size: Around 800 square feet Years Lived In: 3 years, renting You may remember this warm and funky garden flat submitted by Missy last year; it felt so cozy that I wanted to come and see it in person! Since then, Missy and her partner Antony have been busy upgrading the flat, putting in wooden flooring, new wallpaper, and painting walls.
Name: Ruth Matthews, husband Dan and son Ted Location: Wallington — London, UK Size: 1,050 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years “The right colour has such an impact on the way you feel about your home, and I like to think the colours we’ve used make ours a relaxed and happy home,” says Design Soda blogger and interior stylist Ruth Matthews of the London home she shares with her husband and their two-year-old son.
This is from DC finalist, Hilary. Comment away!Name: Polly E.Location: GeorgetownSize: 580 sq feetYears Lived In: 2 >> We’ve always loved Pomander Walk, a secret alley of tiny, pastel-colored rowhouses in Georgetown. But even in our fantasies, it seems impossible to imagine where everything would fit. So we were delighted when Polly invited us into her 11-foot-wide, two-bedroom house.
Name: Natalie Pollard, owner of Villagers, and cat Melon Location: Candler, North Carolina Size: 265 square feet Years lived in: 6 months Natalie’s home may only be eight feet wide, but it is packed with inspiring design details and unexpected features for a tiny home including a large side entrance, a central bedroom loft, and the creative use of heirloom furniture pieces to contribute to that familiar feeling of home.
Name: Angela Henley and her dog, Tex Location: Lauriston; Victoria, Australia Size: 30 square meters (323 square feet) Years lived in: 1 year; Owned Earlier this year, a friend posted a few photos of her friend’s home in Lauriston, which is a cute, wee town about 1.15 hours from Melbourne.
Name: Julie and Andrew Puckett, Starbuck the dog, and Mr. Butters the cat Location: Stone Mountain, Georgia Size: 200 square feet Years lived in: 4 months; Owned The American dream seems to change with each generation, and with the high cost of living these days and the longing to simplify, many young Americans are skipping the white picket fence and jumping straight into the tiny house movement.
Name: Jordan and Brittany Griggs Location: Charlotte, North Carolina—but currently traveling the country! Size: 276 square feet Years lived in: Owned since December 2015 Brittany, a newborn/family photographer and business coach, and Jordan, a banker-turned-aspiring golf pro, traded in their Charlotte, North Carolina home for life on the road to chase Jordan’s dreams.
Name: Niki Azevedo Fairchild and Bennett Harrell Location: Brooklyn, New York Size: 22 feet long Years lived in: 1 year, owned Most of the year Niki and her partner Bennett share a fearlessly decorated Brooklyn apartment with “Jonathan Adler Goes Dumpster Diving at the Golden Girls Estate Sale” vibes. And while that creative space is their permanent residence, every now and then the couple calls this incredibly colorful bus home.
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: Liz and Tim Kamarul, with pups Bo and Cudi Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 176 square feet Years Lived In: 5 months, owned I find it incredibly inspiring when people shirk off their worldly possessions, say no to the 9 to 5, and trade a rent check for a home on wheels.
Name: Sheena Armstrong, husband Jason and Riley the dog Location: Currently in Southport, North Carolina Size: 180 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned The dynamic duo behind Mavis the Airstream sold this first home—a 1975 Airstream Overlander—last spring, and are currently renovating a 1977 Airstream Sovereign they are calling “Mavis 2.0.” (The original Mavis went to a good home, don’t worry.) Mavis 1.
Name: Steph and Matt Location: We’re constantly on the move: currently in Portugal then heading to Morocco! Size: 140 square feet Years Lived In: 3 years, owned Stephanie and Matt live a pretty slow and steady life…but one that’s also full of adventure, travels and creativity! They’re the duo behind Slow ‘n Steady Living, and they’ve shared this beautiful boho van home for the past three years.
Name: Jill Dupre Location: Fairgrounds Triangle — New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 160 square feet Years owned: 3 years, owned “Let’s hit the road, Ann.” Jill Dupre remembers her grandfather’s catchphrase whenever she’s getting ready for travel, big or small. So it seemed only fitting that when it came time to name her vintage Airstream trailer, she chose Ann, after her grandmother.
Name: Ashley Petrone, her husband and their three kids Location: Southern California Size: 180 square feet Years Lived In: 9 months, owned Last year, Ashley and her husband sold their five-bedroom house and bought 2.2 acres of land to build a dream home. Instead of renting an apartment while their home is being built, they decided to try sharing an RV! Impressively, it only took them three weeks and $2500 to finish the RV’s renovation.
Name: Gabriel and Debbie Mayes and kids Gracen, Darby, Deacon, Jovey and Gideon. Location: Redding, California Size: 250 square feet Years Lived In: 6 months, owned Gabriel and Debbie Mayes’ journey to small home living started when they purchased a school bus in February 2017, with the intent to convert it to a full-time home for themselves and their kids. Unfortunately, their first bus buy turned out to be a (rust-covered) lemon.
Name: Rachael Gibilterra, her husband Virgil, and their rescue pup, Jovie Location: San Diego, California Size: 180 square feet Years lived in: 3 months, owned Rachael and Virgil live full time in this Airstream (currently parked at an RV park in San Diego) that they renovated themselves.
Name: DerekLocation:Los Feliz, CAYears lived in: 6 years Enter Tour SlideshowWe hope you like colour, kitsch and Midcentury design, because we have all three in abundant amount with our house tour coming by way of Los Feliz. Overlooking the beautiful St. George Reservoir, Derek’s modest 2-bedroom apartment, with it’s wood shingle clad exterior, hides a wealth of unexpected colour and collectibles within.
Wasps can be helpful little creatures- they’re to thank in part for keeping the pest population in check- but they can also be quite the nuisance. Picnics and other outdoor summer activities are a bit difficult to enjoy when wasps are swarming overhead, so try to keep things under control with a DIY wasp trap. 2-liter soda bottle Honey or sugar water Utility knife Stapler or clothespins 1.
Name: LauraLocation: Boerum Hill, BrooklynSize: 450 sqft, one bdrm rentalYears lived in: 7.5 years “I’ll show you the closet, it’s really nice!” When Laura said this, I knew this house tour was going to be different than nearly any other from the past 3 years.That’s because Laura is a professional organizer and she puts her money where her mouth is….
Name: Rhonda Drakeford Location: Hackney, East London Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: Rented for 1 year Living in a rental flat can be very limiting. You usually have to live with pretty bland walls and remodeling isn’t really an option…unless you want to spend a lot of money upgrading someone else’s house. So what can you actually do to a rental to make it a bit more Pinterest-worthy? Come and take a look at this one-bedroom flat in Hackney, East London.
California-based artist and designer Bridgette Thornton started taking painting seriously all the way back in 8th grade. “That age was very intense for me socially and academically. Art making was not only an emotional outlet but made me feel empowered,” she says. “As a child my mom would always have me working on a craft. Whenever I wanted to buy something, instead of purchasing it from the store, she would say, ‘you could make that!
Name: Katherine, one roommate, and a three-legged cat, Baby Location: Austin, Texas Size: 800 square feet Years Lived In: 3 years, renting My apartment occupies a single unit in a quaint four-plex on a gorgeous residential street just west of downtown Austin. I was lucky enough to discover it on Craigslist, and rushed to see the rental and to meet the tight-knit community of residents who’ve lived there for years. Needless to say, I was sold, and I rented it that very same day.
Name: Bill IndurskyLocation: Chelsea — New York, New YorkSize: 350 square feetYears lived in: 17 — owned Paint it black? Only a true design maverick like Bill Indursky would have the courage to paint a tiny studio such a rebel color. But Bill is a confident character. He’s the man behind VandM.com, the site that has been taking on 1stdibs. Take a look at his fearless and fabulous apartment.
Name: Donna Mingo, Lyla TurnerLocation: South St. Louis, MissouriSize: 1850 square feetYears lived in: 2 years — owned Cheerful yellow tile greets you in the entryway of Donna and Lyla’s Saint Louis home. It’s a fitting introduction to a house filled with both color and decorative original details, but the real show stopper is in the kitchen. The room’s walls and ceiling are covered with a milky green glass tile called Vitrolite.
Name: Mimi Lettunich and her son Bennett Raymond Location: Portland Heights — Portland, OregonSize: 6,000 square feetYears lived in: 10 — owned The 1954 modern ranch home owned by Mimi Lettunich is the ultimate urban family lodge. She shares her home with her son Bennett and (part-time) with boyfriend Kris Wigger and his son Jaxen.
Name: Caitlin McCarthy and Levi OgnerLocation: Haas Building — Downtown Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 875 Square FeetYears lived in: 1½ years Caitlin and Levi are a fun young couple who have learned how to truly share a small open plan loft, even figuring out a set up that allows for two separate home offices.
Name: Tim TuckerLocation: St. Louis, MissouriSize: 3,500 square feetYears lived in: 7 — owned Tim Tucker likens his carriage house in St. Louis’ Benton Park neighborhood to an “old boot.” The reference, which calls to mind neglected and timeworn materials, is apt. Inside his home is a what’s what of architectural and industrial detritus from well-known and/or demolished buildings in the city. With its 16 ft.
Name: Emily Schuman, Geoffrey Fuller and their kitty Luna Location: Carthay Square — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,800 square feet (3 Bedrooms + 2 Bathroms) Years lived in: 4 months — rent Emily and her fiance Geoffrey, just recently moved into their new home in Carthay Square. Known for her popular fashion and lifestyle blog Cupcakes and Cashmere, Emily’s home is just what you’d expect — it’s warm, rich with color and ultra stylish.
Name: PaulLocation: Financial District — Manhattan, New YorkSize: 350 square feetYears lived in: 2½ — rented Making the most of a tiny studio apartment, Paul creates a luxurious and inviting living space befitting of his motto to “decorate like your clothes and dress like your bed.
Name: Chris PaulsenLocation: New York, New YorkSize: 280 square feetYears lived in: 4 — rented Nestled between Gramercy and Murray Hill, in one of those nebulous neighborhoods of Manhattan, lives Chris Paulsen, a former model with a propensity for modern design. As I first met him in the doorway of his little apartment to conduct our House Tour that day, I couldn’t help but blurt out my first question, “Where exactly am I?
Designer: Lisa ZadorLocation: West Village, ManhattanSize: 400 square foot, two-bedroomYears Lived In:: 20 Lisa has grown into the person she is today — over the past 20 years — in the same apartment. While it started out as a cramped share amongst college friends, replete with milk crates and plywood desks, it started to mature when Lisa took over the lease.
Name: AJ, Alex, Ira (the pug) and Dudley (the cat)Location: Astoria — Queens, New YorkSize: 580 square feetYears lived in: 9 months — rented We got our first peek at Alex and AJ’s apartment when we pointed out their bedroom before and after. Now, the couple are sharing their entire apartment with us. With the scant 580 square feet they have to work with, AJ and Alex have packed a lot of whollop into their space.
Name: Stefanie and Mike Location:Hollywoodland — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1800 square feetYears lived in: 2 years — owned Stefanie and Mike are cast perfectly for their role in this charming two bedroom home. Stefanie an actress with a talent for design and Mike a handy and thoughtful husband with a flair for surprises have managed to capture a little bit of that old Hollywood charm.
Name: John and Stacey Cline (and dog, Laz)Location: Skinker-DeBaliviere Neighborhood — St. Louis, MissouriSize: 787 square feetYears lived in: 2 — rented Minimalists, avert your eyes. Stacey and John’s apartment is the interior equivalent of a crazy quilt. It comprises an eclectic mosaic of recycled items, vintage fabrics, and reclaimed tidbits that Stacey brings in, mainly from thrift stores. She’s not afraid of pattern and color, and mixes them liberally to good effect.
Name: Michael FrancesconiLocation: Downtown — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1,000 square feetYears lived in: 2 years Michael’s home is not just another run-of the mill downtown space. While It is common to find concrete floors and industrial modern style furnishings in lofts, Michael has balanced out his space by incorporating color, built-ins, and unexpected furniture choices.
Look in practically any room today, and you’ll find some element that has its design origin ties to that high era of style, smoking and culture known as the Sixties. Sure TV’s “Mad Men” has certainly had its impact on the recent style resurgence in today’s interiors, but folks were going mad for 1960s style even before Don Draper started sipping whiskey at 10am in the morning.
The kitchen magician or grill master in your life will love this handmade, personalized BBQ mop from you! Pair this easy-to-make kitchen tool with a jar of homemade sauce 100% cotton twine 3/4″ x 12″ wood dowel (I found mine in a 3 pack at a hobby store, but you can always cut a longer dowel down to size.) 2 zip ties (use clear if you can find them!) Scissors 1. Wrap the cotton twine around a book or piece of cardboard that is 4″-6″ in length approximately 40-60 times. 2.
These rice and lavender hand warmers are a cozy winter treat. They may seem to lack a certain high powered, high priced, in-demand shiny Christmas present quality, but believe me, they are magical. Because nothing is more comforting when you just can’t get warm. Make them for your office mates, your aunt, your dog walker — everyone will love them. Guaranteed.
This simple little strap is just as useful as it is cute -and it takes just minutes to make. No sewing machine? No problemo! We constructed this beauty out of webbing found at the craft store and specialty fabric tape. So as long as you’ve got an iron and an embroidery needle, you can easily tackle this cheerful little stocking stuffer. Or combine it with a yoga mat for a more substantial gift.
Dear Readers, It’s finally the month for our Sixth Annual Homies Awards – the biggest linkfest of our year. Starting in one week, we will be inviting all of you to share your favorite home design and home cooking blogs, dig deep into the blogosphere, and spread link love everywhere we go. All info is below. Join us and share your favorites!
Remember when we blogged about Paris Hotel Boutique a few weeks ago? And we begged Lynn to let us do a house tour? Well she graciously agreed, and here’s her beautiful home! Name: Lynn Goldfinger-Abram & Leif Abram Location: San Francisco, CA Size: 1550 sq ft. Years lived in: 10 Our style: Hollywood Glamour meets Paris Hotel with a modern twist!
Name: Shannon Schelbert of mac+cam photography, along with husband Michael, sons Mac (10) and Cam (8) and dog Tottenham (named after Tottenham Hotspur) and cat Messi (after soccer player Lionel Messi) Location: Aldridge Place — Austin, Texas Size: 2500 square feet Years lived in: 3 — owned It’s all about details and materials in this Central Austin home. It’s also about customizing a home to fit the residents’ needs.
Name: Cynthia Zamaria and Graham Loughton Location: Keene — Ontario, Canada Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, owned Cynthia possesses an incredible ability to see the potential for a space and then make it come to life. For years she has been exercising her creativity through interior design by transforming her family’s city and country homes.
Name: Leo + Jordan Miller + Alexander Lynch Location: West Village — Detroit, Michigan Size: 550 square feet Years lived in: 8 months, renting Jordan is an Ohio native who moved to Detroit on a whim in the summer of 2016 because of her love for the state of Michigan, particularly its lakes. Al grew up in a small town in the Upper Peninsula called Norway.
Name: Ginger Griffice and Chick Rabourn Location: Marfa, Texas Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned If you ask people what the town of Marfa, Texas is all about, you’ll hear a variety of different narratives describing this small, rural cultural curiosity: It’s an old place that is having new life breathed into it; It’s a dying town that’s being reborn as a cultural center. It’s hip…it’s dried up.
Name: Corey Dane Location: Madison, Wisconsin Size: 809 square feet Years Lived In: 5 years, owned My 800-square-foot condo has been a labor of love since purchasing it in the winter of 2013. Funny thing…I wasn’t looking to purchase a home at the time. I had just moved to Madison and planned to rent an apartment while I got a lay of the land, then stumbled upon the building and my home while helping a friend move into another unit.
Name: Grace, blogger of Grace Happens and Collin SorensenLocation: San Diego, CaliforniaSize: 1,200sq ftYears Lived In: 2.5 months All month long, we’ve been sharing Home Hacks from small projects like caring for teak furniture and dealing with stripped screws to bigger challenges, like how to cover up an ugly AC unit. But how’s this for the ultimate Home Hack?
Name: Rick, Marya, baby James & Sadie the catLocation: Arlington, VirginiaSize: 1000 square feet (including the basement)Years lived in: 1.5 If there’s a perfect balance between cozy and clean, fresh and welcoming, Marya and Rick have found it. Marya knows how to make the most of the old home’s small rooms without letting it feel the least bit contrived or overly decorated.
Innovative DIY projects are always inspiring, but even more so when they’re budget-conscious! All of these Before & After DIY projects can be done for under $50. So pick your favorite and get to it!
There’s a big misconception in the renovating and real estate world that kitchen remodeling needs to be flashy and expensive to be good. That’s simply not true! We’ve found that with a little creativity, some reuse, a new coat of paint — and sometimes not even that much work, kitchen renovations can be not only eco-friendly, but also inexpensive. Here are our 15 best before and after kitchen posts of the year!
The power of paint can’t be denied – we all know how it can transform a room, but the effect is also powerful when it comes to projects that involve the application of paint to furniture and cabinetry. Here are ten examples from the archives (including one where the “furniture” didn’t even exist prior to the paintjob!); check out the befores in this gallery and then click through on each for the always-fun-to-see afters.
An ABCs print or poster is a popular piece of nursery decor, but some parents really go all out when it comes to displaying those essential 26 letters. Here are 25 creative examples, from wood and cardboard letters to decals to string art and much more. Row One: 1. McKenzie’s Modern Traditional Mix 2. DIY Feature Wall Baby Nursery on Project Nursery 3. Jude’s Nautical Big Boy Room 4. Lincoln’s Easy As ABC Room 5. Baby G’s Elegant Gender Neutral Nursery Row Two: 6.
Do you have unusual inspirations like Pee Wee Herman, Banksy and Lady Gaga? Do you take pride in that? If so, check our Bob and Heather’s Oakland loft and shop similar items that will fill your space with color, rainbows and overall weirdness (that’s a good thing).
