Name: Sarah Steinberg Location: East Village, NYC Size: 425 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, rented After living in tiny apartments with more roommates than bedrooms, Sarah decided it was time to have a place of her own. It may not be big, but a studio apartment with a separate kitchen and space for her bed were successes in Sarah’s book.
Name: Alida and Alex Location: Gracia – Barcelona, Spain Size: 480 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Having a boyfriend who works at IKEA can make it difficult not to turn your entire home into an IKEA catalog, but as Alida and Alex’s small Spanish apartment shows, infusing your home with cute details can completely transform the personality of a place. Their apartment is best described as an adorable pastel nook, a rare style in Barcelona.
Name: Jon and Jessie Location: St. Catharines — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Jon and Jessie bought their home knowing they would be filling it with lots of DIY projects in every room. Jessie’s love for light and simple spaces is nicely complemented by Jon’s desire for modern, darker decor.
Jarod and Tim's home reflects a love of good design, an appreciation for quality, a willingness to go bold, and a sense of fun. In other words, there's a lot to love.
Name: Emily Eaton Location: South Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, renting Emily’s south Minneapolis space may be teeny, but it packs a one-of-a-kind punch, the likes of which you may have never seen. All small space dwellers are faced with the reality of their situation — some conquer and others fail.
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: Coco Cohn Location: Upper West Side — New York, New York Size: 430 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, rented Coco’s Upper West Side apartment in New York is an homage to her theatre career. Not only is the actor and drama teacher’s space filled with pieces highlighting her adventures, but the space itself is dramatic: The living room is dark gray, the bedroom walls are red, and the bathroom is primarily pink.
Name: Maria Raco, Founder of NewWall Location: Toronto, Ontario Size: 2,000 square feet Years Lived In: 9 years, owned The walls in Maria Raco’s downtown Toronto apartment do not disappoint. As the founder and director of NewWall, a wallpaper distributor of collections from Marimekko, Timorous Beasties and more, plenty of rooms in her home feature vibrant patterns.
Name: Molly Fitzpatrick and William Sill and Malachi (3) and Malala (two months old) Location: Cleveland, Ohio Size: 875 square feet Years Lived In: 6 years, owned What happens when a mason and a textile designer renovate a house together? In the case of Molly Fitzpatrick, the creative behind the colorful home wares of DittoHouse, and her husband William Sill, the result is a modern space with an attention to detail and a respect of natural materials.
Name: Maria Manrique Location: L’eixample — Valencia, Spain. Size: 1400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Maria studied Fashion Design in Barcelona, but has always had a good eye for mixing designs. The home she’s been renting in Valencia for three years wasn’t created overnight; instead, she slowly collected simple but special pieces to craft the minimal look this home has.
Name: Lucia and Jose Location: Valencia, Spain Size: 1291 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Natural light bounces off of the high ceilings, patterned tile floors and other dazzling architectural features of this Spanish apartment, which serves as both the home and workspace for a creative, world-traveling couple. Lucia and Jose run Anker Prod, where they create videos for advertising and weddings.
Name: Phyllis and Bill Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois Years lived in: Owned 25 Years This is a house I know intimately…because it’s the home I grew up in! My parents, Phyllis and Bill, bought this house over 25 years ago when it was filled with pink and teal decor from the ’80s. Once we moved in, they chose to decorate with neutral colors and vintage furniture that seemed more appropriate for a house built in 1902.
Name: Tom Chirico and Carolyn McMenemy-Chirico Location: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Renting 7 years The original architectural details of this apartment — located on the top floor of a 1912 row house in a quiet spot in Williamsburg — are to die for. We’re talking well-preserved marble fireplaces, stunning hardwood floors, and enviable crown moldings.
Name: Tim and Kelly Fischer Location: SE Portland, Oregon Size: 1,650 square feet Years lived in: Owned 4 years After making offers on six other houses in Portland’s competitive real estate market, Tim and Kelly and their nine-year-old twin daughters Isabelle and Olivia were thrilled to finally have a home to call their own.
Name: Roxy and Daniel Location: Kensington Market, Toronto, Canada Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned since August 2016 The architecture of this loft is impressive from the moment you step in. Extremely high ceilings partner with a wide open, airy interior. South-facing windows and a large balcony provide a stunning view of the CN Tower and give the home cool downtown vibes.
Name: Kendall Leigh Location: Echo Park — Los Angeles, California Years lived in: Renting 4 years Kendall’s collection of antique oddities and memorabilia from her childhood is the perfect mix of charming and alarming, giving her home-sweet-home a bitter twist.
Name: Mackenzie Kirk, Hannah Kirk, and Rachel Wyatt Location: Mount Washington — Los Angeles, California Years lived in: Rented, 1 year Sisters Hannah and Mackenzie seem to possess a quintessential sisterly bond that allows for creative exploration and unrestrained authenticity when decorating their hilltop home.
Name: Marianne Brown Location: Denver, Colorado Size: 600 square feet Years Lived In: 1 year, renting “My apartment is a small one bedroom in downtown Denver. Not among the tall buildings of downtown, but just on the edge, in the Uptown neighborhood of Denver. A whopping 600 square feet. I’ve lived here for a year, after moving several times over the past few years.
Name: Puji Sherer Location: St. Johns neighborhood — Portland, Oregon Size: 864 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, owned Nine. That’s the number of different colors on display in the Portland house of Puji Sherer, President and “Chief Color Nerd” at Colorhouse Paint, an eco-conscious, low-odor paint company. But don’t think you’re in for a dizzying blend of too-bright hues in this tour.
Name: David Kean Location: Glendale, California Size: 2,600 Years Lived In: 4.5 years, owned We first got a peek at David’s mid-century ranch-style home after witnessing his ridiculously satisfying kitchen and bathroom makeovers. While David has made sure to keep the architecture in his home true to mid-century standards, his abundant collections of modern art and fine antiquities are somewhat counter to the minimalist movement of the mid-century era.
Name: Gosia, Anita and Josephine Location: Plumstead Common Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 11 years Gosia and Anita live on a pretty tree-lined road in the outskirts of London with their three-year-old daughter Josephine. Originally from Poland, the family has lived in this home for 11 years, slowly and lovingly renovating it bit by bit ever since. “Anita is the creative one with crazy ideas everyday.
Name: Mark Shapiro Location: Venice, California Years Lived In: 4 years, owned For podcaster Mark Shapiro, the house hunt was daunting — and long-lasting. It took 12 months of scouring the city for him to find this “tree house” in Venice in 2010. And..it was love at first sight. When Mark opened the front gate to the property, a majestic coral tree immediately caught his eye. Inside, a slanted wood ceiling and tall windows reminded him of the ski chateaus from his childhood.
Name: Louise, husband Brett and three kids Location: Camp Mountain, Australia Size: Approx 4413sqft Years Lived In: 3 years, owned Louise and her family have the best of both worlds: a lovely old home on a large block with gumtrees and only a 30-minute drive to the city. The old house suits Louise’s style perfectly, as her home is full of furniture from her grandparents, and finds from antique shops, thrift stores and local makers.
Name: Austin Young and Jeremy Rodgers Location: Jamaica Plain — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1 Year, renting Jeremy Rodgers and Austin Young’s apartment in a converted schoolhouse in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood feels much larger than its 800 square feet. Simultaneously sparse and personal, with soaring ceilings and an open layout, their place achieves the ultimate apartment goal: comfort without the clutter.
Name: Danika and family Location: Fort Worth, Texas Size: 3400 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting When you’re outnumbered by kids, it can sometimes be hard to craft a home that both fits your style personality and theirs. Particularly if you’re renting. But as this young family proves, you can get creative — and colorful — even in a rental. Danika’s advice for making a home is simple, but universal: “Make your home yours. Unapologetically.
Name: Holly Schnackenberg and Dylan Sylwester Location: Sullivan’s Gulch — NE Portland, Oregon Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, rented Holly and Dylan live in what was originally the foyer, living room, dining room and kitchen of a 1907 home in Portland’s Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhood.
Name: Pere and Marta Location: Gracia — Barcelona, Spain. Size: 970 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, rented Pere has been living in this Barcelona apartment for seven years; a long time for a rental. And even more impressive when you learn he’s been sharing it with one of his best friends. How has such a feat of rental roommate relations been achieved?
Name: Natasha Location: The Annex, Toronto Size: 190 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting A historic mansion in Toronto is a book and history lover’s dream and for Natasha, it’s also home. Well, one small bit of it is home: Natasha rents a 190-square-foot studio apartment in the building. And though teeny, she finds her living space less congested now than when she lived in a house full of roommates.
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: Tuva, with partner Lars and 10-month-old son Bo (and a cat called Nils) Location: Tøyen — Oslo, Norway Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Welcome to Scandi Week—Apartment Therapy’s seven-day focus on all-things Scandinavia (often defined as the countries of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway).
Making design decisions for your home doesn’t have to be a hand-wringing experience. But there’s something about choosing paint colors for your walls that can seem impossible. With so many options out there, it can make you want to turn to someone else to make the final choice. Today’s Frequently Asked Home question: Which color should I paint my walls?
Name & Location: Lizeth in San Diego, California My Favorite Room: Mini Home Office Specs: 300 square feet, rented My home style has evolved to a mix of modern furniture with organic and eclectic decor elements. Since we rent an apartment and do not have the luxury of an extra room for an office, I wanted to incorporate a mini home office into the living room area as organically as possible.
The dictionary definition of eclectic is something that “derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.” It should be no big surprise, then, that eclectic homes can come in an endless array of different vibes. Here, we highlight three of our favorites, as spotted in our Apartment Therapy house tour archive.
Taylor and Steph, the owners and builders of a small, sustainable “Earthship” home in the mountains of California, have a lot of advice to folks considering building their own home: “Forget about normal and make designing and building fun. Don’t let the process stress you out.
Name & Location: Victoria in Dallas, Georgia My Favorite Room: Nursery Specs: 25 square feet, owned Decorating Cove’s nursery was so much fun for us. We knew that we wanted a space that was full of the things that we love with a west coast modern feel. I love white walls and bright spaces, so keeping things simple and minimalistic was also really important. Overall, we are very happy with how it turned out, and I can’t wait to add a little boy and his personality to it as he grows!
Life is hectic. It can be even more overwhelming if you live in a vibrant, bustling urban area. Interior designer Séverine Piller and her boyfriend Gianfranco share this Milan apartment, and she wanted to create a calming, minimal retreat.
If you’re looking for a minimal look that isn’t too stark and melds together such eclectic decor styles as “Parisian Chic” and “California Cool,” you’ll love this apartment in Milan. Its effortless atmosphere mixes in modern furnishings and travel finds with warm woods and clean lines. The result is a stunningly simple, modern space. Find resources on how to recreate the look in your own home.
Even if you don’t have a lot of money in your budget, you can fit a lot of bold into your home. We’ve gathered up examples of real life decor choices from our tours that prove our point; they are are wallet friendly and made a big impact on the space. Mixing patterns can be an affordable way to get really bold in your home. Because different patterns interact with one another dynamically, you can mix high- and low-priced pieces (even all-low pieces) to create a bold composition.
Name: Thimblepress headquarters Location: Jackson, Mississippi Size: 2300 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years In business for over three years, Thimblepress is “an art studio, sewing studio, design studio, woodworking studio, and basically anything creative that Kristen [the founder] wants to try her hand at next.
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to balance the design of an outdoor area—so it can be a creative space for kids, a refreshing zone for parents and a playful space for entertaining— this backyard is full of ideas. It’s a balanced mix of clever kid’s toys and dreamy areas to relax in. Inspiration: We love California inspired indoor-outdoor homes, Scandinavian sensibilities, neutral spaces with a hint of mid-century modern, and sustainable design features.
When a minimal approach to furnishings, Scandinavian influences, warm colors and playful accents combine, they create an interesting and inviting place. That’s just what Mina and Sumit did in their Stockholm house, which is also home to their three young children. Below, find the shopping resources to incorporate a playful, minimal, Scandinavian style in your space.
Name: Astral Riles Location: Harvey, Illinois Size: 990 square feet Years lived in: Owned 8+ years Astral is a interior designer, DIY home blogger and fiber artist, and her cozy house in Harvey, Illinois showcases all her loves — as well as design talents! Astral writes: “I live in a mid-century, all-brick, raised Ranch home located in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. The house was built in 1950. I originally purchased the house as a fixer-upper.
In this 650 square foot loft studio, located in a small town just above Dallas, the theme is airy, minimal and cool. What sets this space apart from other minimally decorated homes is how warm and inviting it is—despite not having a lot of “stuff.” You can get this look in your home (no matter its size)—Drew provided the exact shopping resources for nearly every item in his Texas home!
Living in a small space isn’t easy. Sharing that small space with another person and making it look good? That’s an incredible feat, but it’s one that Will and Kate tackled without a sweat in their small studio apartment in Hell’s Kitchen. Find shopping resources to replicate their smart mix of affordable mid-century style buys and vintage finds.
It’s hard to imagine a more fabulous, fun, fantasy-fueling space than Rory’s Vibrant Urban Jungle Paradise in Downtown Los Angeles. It’s full of bold bursts of color, neon lights, quirky accessories, natural materials and a whole lot of pink! Below, find the shopping resources to recreate some of this decor magic in your home.
Name: Angie Cooper and Matt Johnson Location: Midlothian, Virginia (just outside Richmond) Size: 1,807 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years Nestled on two acres of land and surrounded by tall trees, Angie and Matt’s home is a mix of styles. Rustic elements pay homage to the natural setting just outside, while modern pieces reflect their personalities. Add in antiques and vintage finds (as well as a motorcycle!
These kids’ rooms are packed with daring, colorful inspiration that you can use for the rest of your home (whether you live with kids or not!). Full of playful energy, these rooms and their decor styles prove that for big style statements, you don’t always have to take design so seriously. You don’t have to splurge on fancy wallpaper to add energy to a space.
When trying to decide what colors to use to decorate your home, you can’t go wrong with warm colors found in nature. Painted on the walls, colors like reds, oranges, browns, golden yellows and even some greens add intensity to a room, wrapping it in warmth. Boldly painted walls increase the passion in a home, creating rooms that almost glow. Here are seven rooms fully embracing earthy colors to inspire your own nature-colored palettes.
Reclaimed wood walls, lots of plants, colorful textiles and a master bedroom mountain mural—all these elements come together in Lulu and Justin’s Los Angeles home. The result is a cozy space that has California cabin vibes.
Name: Manfung and Angel Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Size: 1237 square feet Years lived in: Owned 6 years Minimalism can be a peaceful, calming design style that can create a relaxed home. In Manfung and Angel’s home in Rotterdam, they combined minimal sensibilities with repurposed building materials and charming vintage finds. The result is a welcoming home.
In Jaya, Maggie, and Steph’s household of artists in Silver Lake, nearly every piece is handmade or upcycled by friends, family, or one of the talented roommates themselves. They’ve rounded out their decor with accessible modern pieces, beautiful books, and lush plants—and now you can get the look! → Love the stuff in this house so much that you literally want to buy it?
Bold patterns, bright colors and a daring sense of style—Lauren and Jason’s West Seattle home is an inspiring mix of elements. But it’s also proof that taking design chances can pay off big! Inside: the shopping resources to get the look.
Sandra’s Melbourne home is chock-full of art, both her own and that of countless other artists. It’s also cozy and welcoming, thanks to plentiful textiles, ceramics, accessories, and fascinating curiosities—and now you can get the look!
Name: Eliza Clark and Tim Trojian Location: Foxfire Mountain House — Mt Tremper, New York Size: 7200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years A historic inn in the heart of New York’s Catskill Mountains has been recently restored—much of it on a tight budget and by hand—by the creative couple of Eliza Clark and Tim Trojian.
Name: Eliza Clark and Tim Trojian Location: Foxfire Mountain House — Mt Tremper, New York Size: 7200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years The Foxfire Mountain House is a recently restored 100-year-old vintage inn in the Catskill Mountains of New York that has been a labor of love for Eliza Clark and Tim Trojian, a creative married couple (and passionate DIYers) who tackled many of the renovation projects themselves.
Morgan’s sweet Asheville home is decorated with “a curated mix of functional, simple wares—vintage, found and new pieces.” Her particular mix is personal and eclectic—and now you can shop the style! Chair — Similar: Overstock.com Planter — Similar: Amazon Curtains — Similar: IKEA Mirror — Similar: Overstock.
Name: Vanessa Matsalla Location: Carlsbad, California You had a look at designer Vanessa Matsalla’s California home earlier this week; it’s got cool Cali vibes, earthy textures and a lot of natural light. Her showroom in Carlsbad, California also serves as the office of her full-service interior design practice. Though a small space, it complements the look of her home, while giving off its own specific style vibes.
Inspired by the ‘50s, ’60s and a touch of ’70s, Chris and Neil’s Melbourne home is a colorful, textured, patterned delight. You can get their look, too, thanks to these shopping resources.
Kirsten and Brandon’s Austin Home consists of a Spartan Mansion trailer, an Overlander Airstream, a yurt, and a barn, all decorated in a style the couple refers to as “Mid-century Moroccan.” The dwellings are full of handmade, vintage and new mid-century modern-inspired pieces—and now you can get the look! Chairs — Table Legs — Similar: Hairpinlegs.com Table Top — Similar: IKEA Lantern — Similar: Overstock.
Annie and Jamie’s have filled their Melbourne home with treasures from garage sales, op shops, and eBay. You might not have their thrifting luck—who does?—but now you can shop the style!
Summer’s indoor garden is lush, full-of-life, and delicious, because not only is this home filled with glorious green, its closet was converted into a kitchen garden. The “Bedouin wanderer meets rooted gardener” style can now be yours—plants not included. Daybed with Drawers — Similar: Walmart Fabric — Similar: Fabric.
Name: Mary MacGill Location: Block Island, Rhode Island Years lived in: Owned 12 years Mary MacGill’s jewelry is ethereal—semi-precious stones in subtle colors mix with structured metal like gold. It’s hard not to see that aesthetic mirrored in the studio she creates her work in, in Block Island, Rhode Island. Elegant minimalism, bright white, natural textures and rich materials make this a calming and creative space.
Sam and Heidi’s Spanish Colonial in Georgia was a crumbling “Taco Bell” house when they bought it less than two years ago, but now it’s a bright, “comfortably spare” home for the couple and their two young children. They’ve filled it with modern design classics and works of art by Sam and their friends—and now you can shop the style!
This spacious and comfortable house is filled with family treasures, vintage finds and a very cute dog. Justin’s East Austin home is a great example of mid-century modern, industrial style, but with a lot of warmth, humor and personality. Find the shopping sources below.
Vanessa’s California home is furnished with her husband’s Mid-century modern collection and handmade pieces from her company, Studio Matsalla, rounded out by practical pieces from retailers like West Elm and Crate & Barrel—and now you can get the look! Grey Throw — Similar: Pottery Barn Armchair — Similar: West Elm Colorful Throw Pillow — Similar: Overstock.
Artist Ana Elena Garuz’s Panama City home is minimally decorated—carefully chosen furnishings are of a high quality. Her home exudes a lot of drama and moodiness, though, thanks to some dark colors and her own art. Get a similar minimal, moody look with this list of shopping resources.
This family of four’s California bungalow boasts enviable Craftsman features, but is also full of colorful, cheerful charm, with a laid-back beachy vibe that’s very kid-friendly. And now you can get the look (original 1920s built-ins not included)!
Lauren has filled her Chicago home—and her shop, Maven Collection—with handmade textiles and treasures from around the world, especially Morocco. Now you can shop the style, no plane ticket required!
Yancey and Carter have decorated their historic Nashville home in a style Carter refers to as, “like an old-money Moroccan cowboy, riding through Tennessee in 1957.” If there’s not a Mid-century Moroccan wealthy cowboy emporium near you, use this guide to shop the style!
This fascinating loft in an old Edison Electric building has everything: secret tunnels, built-in nooks, a Mezcal lounge, a speakeasy, a Moroccan tea lounge, and even a possible Banksy. Don’t worry if your home is slightly more… standard, because now you can shop the style!
Jorie and Trevor’s cozy Portland apartment is full of treasures—some handmade, some Mid-century modern classics found at thrift stores, and many gorgeous pieces from Jorie’s employer, Schoolhouse Electric. The resulting look is beautifully curated yet approachable, and now you can shop the style!
