Name: Jennie Cohen Location: Greenwich Village Size: 450 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5.5 years This bright and airy Manhattan studio is full of mid-century charm while at the same time feeling comfortable and modern. The minimal use of vibrant color creates a startling contrast in this clean white space.
Name: Tom Foakes and Tom Bowen Location: Dalston, East London Size: 700 square feet Years Lived In: Owned for 16 years It seems as though we’re obsessed with decluttering at the moment. Last year it was all about the KonMari method and this year we’re seeing Danish Hygge everywhere. Both of these concepts are about creating a space that is calm, serene, peaceful and free of clutter, which are my first impressions when I stepped into this two bedroom flat in Dalston, London.
Name: Greg, Nola, Vivian (8 years) and Pepper Talmage (4 years) Location: Mid Wilshire/Miracle Mile — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,550 square feet Years lived in: Renting 5 years This great Spanish style home is located just off a busy street filled with high rises and heavy traffic. But walking into Nola’s apartment, you sense light and serenity. She has made her home a cozy, creative solace from the fast-paced Los Angeles that lies just outside her door.
This gorgeous one bedroom London apartment is bursting with bold colors, patterns, and textures. Check out Shanade’s resource lists below to shop her style and add some bold elegance to your home!
Name: Neffi Walker and her children (Adonis 23, Kawhyii 22, Jhette 17, Nile 5) Location: Northern New Jersey Size: 5,000 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5 years Some know her as the proprietor of Jersey City interior design destination, Le Noir Home. Others know her for her uplifting and unapologetic attitude on her blog and its related Instagram page. But all who know Neffi Walker know that her family is the center of her being.
Name: Ashley Beaumier Location: Lakeview East — Chicago, Illinois Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 Year Ashley Beaumier has hit the sweet spot of home design, that moment when all those one-of-kind finds that took you months of searching to find finally all come together and fit perfectly into your home. You know it’s right because there is nothing to add, and nothing to take away.
Name: Svenja Bruecker Location: Vienna, Austria Size: 1300 square feet Years lived in: Renting 6 months Svenja is an interior design blogger and her boyfriend Jonas is a professional poker player, and they share a 1300 square foot airy apartment in a big old building in the heart of Vienna. It’s also the kind of all-white, Scandinavian-inspired dream holiday home that’s just perfect for kicking off this holiday season!
Name: Aleks and Clay Location: Montreal, Canada Size: 1000 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year Over the years, Aleks and Clay have acquired a lot of treasures from their travels. They moved into their apartment last February, and already, the space is decorated with objects and souvenirs from all over the world. For them, setting up their home is all about surrounding themselves with meaningful things. It is what contributes to their happiness.
Name: Mary and Brandon Location: Plateau Mont-Royal — Montreal, Canada Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Rented, 2 years Mary, a cook and artist who grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, shares this rental with Brandon, a software developer who grew up in Florida and moved to Montreal in 2011. Though they’ve both called Montreal home for years, they consider this apartment their true first home.
Name: Emily Loughlin Location: Crown Heights, Brooklyn Size: 280 square feet Years lived in: Renting, less than one year Emily lives in the tiniest, sweetest apartment. Guests immediately fall in love with the artwork (her grandfather’s) and the mid-century bar stools. Emily, herself, is calm and inviting amidst the hustle and bustle of New York. She works for an architectural firm, called Sage and Coombe.
Name: Elizabeth Andersen Location: Brooklyn Heights — Brooklyn, NY Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 8 months, renting Liz lives in a beautiful, fourth floor apartment in Brooklyn Heights, just a few blocks from the water. The apartment is a fourth floor walkup but that natural light is a worth payoff. In fact that natural light is so nice, she felt confident adding some dark, dramatic paint colors to her living room — and the space still feels bathed in light.
Bring modern Mediterranean vibes into your home with Noemi and Cristian’s resource lists! Their minimal and airy (but also very fun and casual) Barcelona rental is sure to inspire.
Name: Carlos João Parreira and Greg James Location: Brooklyn, New York Size: 1500 square feet (with a whole lot of stairs) Years lived in: 2 years, owned Carlos and Greg are an incredibly talented and kind couple in Brooklyn, New York. Travel lovers, their style has been inspired by all the places they’ve been. Their loft is in a building that used to be a cheesecake factory, so the architecture is as big a part of the design as their own style.
Name: Emily Ogden Location: Historic German Village — Columbus, Ohio Size: 350 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting People laughed a little when Emily Ogden would say she wanted to live in German Village. A pricey part of Columbus, it was a long shot that Emily might be able to find a place she could afford. But the area was her dream. “The quaint brick streets, historical homes, coffee shops, restaurants, a great park, all within walking distance.
Name: Claren and Ashley Boyer Location: Old Irving Park, Chicago Size: 3,000 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Claren lives in a single family Chicago bungalow built in 1911 and renovated in 2013. She writes: “I am interior architect and this is my personal space. I consider my style to be transitional, mixing modern with more traditional pieces. The space has high contrast with dark floors and white walls as well as cooler tones with inky blue window treatments.
Name: Megan Sekermestrovich and David Keller Location: Brooklyn, New York Size: Less than 1000 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Megan and David have a little apartment with big windows. And the natural light that pours in from those big windows is one of their favorite elements of the apartment (although a personal elevator is a close second!). Most of all, they try to keep their apartment minimal, homey and colorful.
Name: Monica Dyer Location: West Village, New York Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, rented Monica and her husband have lived in this apartment in New York for about three years and have transformed it into a perfect compact and chic city home. It’s light-filled and lovely, designed with a fresh outlook and plenty of savvy.
Jess’s Ravenswood Chicago rental is bursting with inspiring DIY projects, both from scratch and simple furniture upgrades. They fit together seamlessly with her overall natural and modern style. If you aren’t quite as handy or patient as Jess, check out her resource lists to source some similar ready-made items to add your home.
Tami’s New Orleans home couldn’t get much happier than it already is. It’s bright, colorful, completely unique, and even has it’s own name. Tami’s home is constantly changing, in true artist fashion. But if you like what you see right now, check out her resource lists to shop her unique style and make your space happy, too!
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!
Furnishing a brand new home can be a challenge when you’ve recently exhausted your budget on building it. As many of us do, Athena has an IKEA nearby that helped her get off on the right foot. If you’re looking for some ideas to maximize affordable IKEA style and add DIY features while keeping your space looking unique and inviting, check out Athena’s resource lists!
Name: Erin D. Brittain Location: North Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: Renting 5 years Erin’s home is a playful blend of her talents as an antique dealer, a seamstress, and an interior designer. This is evident in the fearless mix of velvet, ikat, plaids, florals, and geometrics of which she uses to sew her bedding, draperies, and pillows.
Name: Kevin and Lori Shoults Location: Barrington, Illinois Size: 5,700 square feet Years lived in: Owned 9 years This home was once a farmhouse in the Historical District in Barrington, Illinois. When the Shoults family discovered the potential of the property, they were sold. With the help of a fantastic architect, who specializes in historical preservation, the family worked to create a gorgeous home while adhering to the architectural standards of the historical district.
Name: Kyle and Alex Location: Tenderloin — San Francisco, California Size: 450 square feet Years lived in: 4 years rented After 20+ apartment viewings, Kyle and Alex settled on this 1920s apartment in the Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco. They had some basic criteria for their would-be apartment.
Name: Katie Taylor Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1,400 square feet Years Lived In: Owned 7 years When you first walk into Katie’s home, you just can’t help but want to move right in. Each room is drenched in cheery, loud, earthy California-vibe colors, and decorated with hilariously sassy signs, brass pineapples of all sizes, and an abundance of sweet, little details. It’s the kind of place you want to skip work and stay in to host a girls-only hangout day.
Brett and Brandon made renovation decisions with the idea that things should be sentimental, functional and comfortable; three things that result in a beautiful home.
Look no further than Nicole and Dave’s Baltimore loft if you’ve been searching for a modern and minimal, yet budget-friendly look. They have perfected using easy to find and easy on the pocketbook IKEA staples along with DIY and intriguing decor to create a cohesive, modern, and stylish live/work space. Check out their resource lists to shop their style!
Name: Ursula Location: Logan Square — Chicago, Illinois Size: 500 square feet studio Years lived in: Renting for 8 months Turning a 500-square-foot studio into a visually vibrant and cozy home that feels personal and looks great is no small feat, but that’s exactly what Ursula has done with her Logan Square apartment — an apartment she took sight unseen when she decided to move from Los Angeles to Chicago to pursue a career as a baker.
Name: Millie Sims Location: South of Broad — Charleston, South Carolina Size: 803 square feet Years lived in: Renting 2.5 years South of Broad is a particularly beautiful area of Charleston. It is known for a colorful row of homes, called “Rainbow Row,” historic homes with multiple levels of grandeur. South of Broad is also known for carriage houses, window boxes, and tiny European-style streets.
Mylène’s style is a “mix of retro, Scandinavian, modern elements and plants.” Her Montreal apartment is filled with old and new with DIY projects in nearly every room. Shop Mylène’s style to achieve a “soft retro” look of your own.
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: Francesca Sifferlin Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 380 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Francesca’s tiny natural-light-filled Minneapolis studio is the perfect size for her first place away from home. Just big enough to fit everything she needs, yet small enough to not gather too many odds and ends (or dust bunnies). With limited space, Francesca has included only the things that bring the most inspiration and fond memories to her tiny apartment near a lake.
Colie and her husband have only lived in their 781 square foot North Loop Minneapolis apartment for a few months, but it doesn’t show. As the daughter of an interior decorator, Colie has great design instincts and an eye for a deal. Take a page from Colie’s book and shop her style for a modern eclectic look of your own!
Name: Courtney and Jeffrey Location: Greenpoint — Brooklyn, New York Size: About 700 square feet Years lived in: Renting 2 years Courtney and Jeffrey live in the charming Greenpoint neighborhood in Brooklyn. Known for its Polish roots, Greenpoint is a destination for artists and families alike. The couple met at work — they both work at Kickstarter — whose offices are located “literally 30 seconds away.
Name: Katie McCrum Location: Camden — London UK Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 14 years Situated in the Camden Square Conservation Area in London is this Scandi-inspired apartment by interior designer Katie McCrum. Katie has lived here for 14 years, and over the years has turned a rather unremarkable Victorian two-bedroom flat into an open, airy and relaxed home.
Marni and Laine’s Los Angeles rental is sure to inspire. They’ve mastered the art of mash-up — one a collector with a love of flea market finds and a boho vibe, the other leans toward minimal, negative-space style. If you’re trying to reconcile these two styles, look no further than Marni and Laine’s resource lists!
Name: Christine Martin, David Marino Location: Rockridge area — Oakland, California Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: Renting 3 years Christine and David love their home in the heart of Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood for a lot of reasons. They’re within walking distance of great shops, restaurants and bars.
Wood floors, dark molding, lots of natural light and a gorgeous, contrasting black, white and brass palette. Even more impressive? Matthew's only lived here two months!
Name: Sonia Rayos and Ibán Ramón and their four kids Location: Ensanche, Valencia Size: 2238 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Sonia and Ibán’s home illustrates a perfect harmony between two design disciplines. He is an award-winning graphic designer, and she’s an award-winning architect. They complement each other, and their family flat is full of functionality and great design.
Emily has mastered the art of tastefully combining modern and bohemian decor and furniture while keeping it refreshingly minimal in her 1967 renovated Austin charmer. Take a peek at her resource lists below to shop her delightful style!
Name: Michaela-Sophie Chin and Nicholas Sangster Location: Brisbane, Australia Years Lived In: Renting 2.5 years Michaela and Nick both work in the creative industries, which is obvious to any guest who enters their imaginative home. They furnished the space with secondhand finds that complement the house’s unique features and reflect their artistic interests. One doesn’t often get to design a part of their rental home—but in this case Michaela did!
Name: Roger and Chris Stout-Hazard and dog Buck Location: Upper Montclair, New Jersey Size: 2,700 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Nestled on one acre of land and stretched across four stories, this house in New Jersey is a mid-century modern lover’s dream. It’s also currently the rental home of the multi-talented furniture design duo Roger+Chris. You may know Roger from his popular show “Sell This House.
Name: Rachael Donaldson Location: St. John’s — Portland, Oregon Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 12 years, owned Rachael makes jewelry that transcends time and place. Her delicate pieces look like they could be worn by Cleopatra or a modern woman, and her home is equally inspiring. She is an avid collector of vintage furniture and objects — and has bought and sold both as a pastime and a profession.
Name: Soffia Gardarsdottir Location: Alftanes, Iceland Size: 1991 square feet Years lived in: 9 years, owned Floral designer and interior stylist Soffia Gardarsdottir likes to mix it up. Often. We first got a peek at her inspiring Icelandic home in her house call two years ago…but it’s already evolved a lot since. It’s a stylishly designed home, but it’s also comfortable, which is important for a family of four (five with dog, Storm).
Name: Jenny, Glen, Stella (cat), Harley (cat) Location: Lake Worth, Florida Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Jenny, lead floral designer at Port + Palm Co., calls this charming 1950s-era house in Florida home. Only three miles from the ocean and two miles from downtown, it’s enviable for its proximity to the beach, but it’s also retained much of its original character. Not every room in Jenny’s home is “done.
Name: Alee Ruggieri Location: Greenwich Village — New York City Size: Roughly 200 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years Alee Ruggieri is a film director, editor, writer and photographer living in New York City’s bustling Greenwich Village. The neighborhood is filled with things to see and do; coffee shops, restaurants, vintage clothing stores and more.
Sarah has executed the perfect mix of traditional, rustic, Chinoiserie, and mid-century styles in her family’s Massachusetts home. With easy-to-source furniture and decor you can shop Sarah’s style and achieve this bright mix of styles, too!
Name: Courtney Croxdale Location: Old Louisville — Louisville, KY Size: 330 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1.5 years Artist and writer Courtney Croxdale lives in a tiny studio apartment in historic Old Louisville. It’s the location, the neighbors and great landlords that Courtney describes as her home’s “best attributes.” But I think it’s how she has created a cozy, beautiful home in only 330 square feet.
Name: Micaela Clouse and June Carter Cash the Pug Location: South Central Austin, Texas Size: 630 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Drawing inspiration from her family’s collective design styles, Micaela brings together ’70s charm with Southwestern flavor in this mid-century apartment in Austin, Texas. Tucked away in an apartment complex in South Central Austin is an oasis of macrame and greenery. Micaela has effortlessly made this 630 square foot space a home.
Name: Arden Bull Location: Port Colborne, Ontario Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned This bright and airy studio is so open and full of light it’s hard to believe it’s in a basement! Although it’s a small space by square footage standards, the apartment feels huge thanks to a light wall color, open windows and tall ceilings. Arden’s smart design sensibilities have kept furnishings to a minimum, creating a comfortable home that functions perfectly for her.
Name: Alexandra Sifferlin Location: Park Slope — Brooklyn, New York Size: 350 square feet Years lived in: Renting 9 months Having lived in New York neighborhoods like Hell’s Kitchen and Crown Heights, Alexandra Sifferlin recently settled into her first studio apartment, this time in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Her small space is above an acupuncturist, and is close to Prospect Park. “It seems like every time I move, I’m in a calmer location,” Alexandra reflects.
Name: Eli and Luis Location: El Borne — Barcelona, Spain Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Though Eli and Luis consider themselves modern nomads, they decided to settle down in one spot two years ago. That’s when they found this apartment in Barcelona’s El Borne neighborhood. Luis wasn’t initially sure it had any potential; the apartment wasn’t in great shape. But Eli fell for it from the moment she saw it and convinced Luis to give it a chance.
Elijah’s Boston apartment seamlessly combines inspiration sourced from New England, classic Americana, his world travels (to Scandinavia and beyond), and his German heritage. If you’re intrigued by his “Ralph Lauren’s son returns from study abroad in Stockholm” style, check out his resource lists below to shop his charming style!
Name: Mark Dye and Jeffrey Spivock Location: River North — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Jeffrey and Mark have lived all over the world. Jeffrey is from Montreal, Mark is from London, and the two met while they were both living in Toronto. They then moved to Japan where they lived for two years, and most recently they relocated to Chicago.
Name: Christine Alcalay, her teenager daughter and two-year-old son Location: Brooklyn, New York Size: 4,600 Square Feet Years lived in: 8 years, owned After emigrating from Vietnam with her family when she was just three years old, Christine Alcalay grew up in New York City. Her mother, who was a self-taught tailor and worked in factories in the Garment District, introduced her daughter to the art of sewing.
Name: Kat and Brett (pit bull Burger and corgi Fitz) Location: Cooper-Young District in Memphis, Tennessee Size: 1,970 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1.5 years Kat and Brett’s beautifully maintained 1920s bungalow in Memphis introduces itself with a beautiful wrap-around porch, a spacious living area, and two of the friendliest dogs on the planet, Fitz and Burger.
It’s often a good idea to trust the design instincts of a successful interior designer and Bethany’s Brooklyn apartment does not disappoint. If you’re looking for some colorful and easy-to-source inspiration, check out Bethany’s resource lists below to shop her style!
Name: Laleh and Matt Lewis Location: Medford, Massachusetts Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: Rented, 2.5 years Matt and Laleh’s home is full of collected items, inspiration from nature, and positive mantras to remember daily. With backgrounds in early childhood education and environmental science, the two are active members in their community.
Name: Eric Kunau Location: Beverly Hills, California Size: 1000 square feet Years lived in: Renting 2 years Eric’s sunny Beverly Hills apartment combines his love for art, mid-century modern style, and contemporary design to create a bright, welcoming space to call home in his adopted state of California. Originally from Minnesota, Eric now calls Beverly Hills home in this 1000 square foot apartment.
Name: Tucker Schreiber Location: Little Italy — Toronto, Ontario Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented Tucker, a product manager for Shopify, lives in this bright and open loft apartment in downtown Toronto, filled with a balance of passed down family heirlooms and IKEA essentials. The loft is found in a central location that’s within walking distance to all necessary amenities including his office, the subway, grocery stores, and of course, Starbucks.
Name: Adela Location: Valencia, Spain. Size: 6,458 square feet Years lived in: 16 years, owned Adela is an interior designer and the owner of a beautiful furniture store named Vilmupa in Valencia. You can choose your own fabulous furnishings or let her advise you how to design and decorate your own home. And seeing how beautifully she’s created her own home, it’s clear she’d give great advice.
Name: Karli Kane Hendrickson and pup Olive Location: West Side, Providence, Rhode Island Size: 659 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year Karli lives in a cozy apartment in a larger house inhabited entirely by female artists. On the first floor are two musicians in the Providence band Secret Circle, on the second floor is Muffy Brandt who runs a very successful Etsy shop.
Name: Delia Kenza, Júlio Leitão, and their two daughters Location: Clinton Hill — Brooklyn, New York Size: 3,500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Having already renovated and/or designed 10+ homes together over the past 15 years, Delia and Júlio were already well on their way to capitalizing on their experience. They had lived in four of these homes together, all in Manhattan, ranging from trendy Soho to soulful Harlem.
It was the interesting architecture of this place that drew Jeannine in when apartment searching. She scoured estate sales, garage sales and Craigslist to fill it on a budget.
Name: Laura, Marshall, Hotch (German Shepherd) & Sadie (Border Collie/Australian Shepherd) Location: Green Hills — Nashville, Tennessee Size: 2650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Laura and Marshall’s home in the classic Nashville neighborhood of Green Hills is a place of sanctuary in a bustling section of town. Their home sits at the end of a long driveway placed at the top of a lush green hill.
Name: Michelle Lopez, her partner Erlend and their cat Penny Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, rented Michelle and her partner Erlend recently relocated from Portland, Oregon to this sunny Brooklyn apartment. The couple moved to New York for Erlend to attend grad school at Columbia University. Michelle is a food blogger, specializing in desserts.
Name: Adrianne Hawthorne Location: Lower Pacific Heights, San Francisco Size: 400 square feet Years Lived In: Renting 1.5 Adrianne’s studio apartment, perched high up in a Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, is an oasis of color and unique details. The thoughtfulness of each item placed in her home isn’t surprising; Adrianne works as a visual designer by trade!
Name: Nacho, Irene and baby Ray Location: Gracia – Barcelona, Spain Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 10 years Nacho bought this 1930s attic apartment in rough, raw shape. The old kitchen is where the current kitchen is today. The beautiful mezzanine (that houses the master bedroom) didn’t even exist. After two years of remodeling it solo, he was ready to enjoy his loft “for one.” But then he met Irene, and a little later, a third resident arrived: baby Ray!
Elizabeth fell in love with Providence and, after renting for years, bought and renovated a 1900 Victorian. She lives on the top two floors and rents out a first floor apartment.
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.
