Name: Tommy SmytheLocation: Rosedale — Toronto, CanadaSize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 3 — rented If you live in Canada and have the slightest interest in design, you know Tommy Smythe. Tommy is the sidekick to Sarah Richardson, one of the most high profile designers and television personalities up north. Besides working together at her eponymous firm, they star together on two of HGTV’s most successful programs: Sarah’s House and Sarah’s Cottage.
Name: BJ and Mae, and their family of rescued animalsLocation: Highland Square — Akron, OhioSize: 1,800 square feetYears lived in: 5 years — owned Mae and BJ’s dedication to living life to its fullest has resulted in a home that is welcoming to all and party-ready at a moment’s notice. Their ability to ballance their brood of rescued animals with a pleasing aesthetic has developed through years of trial and error.
Name: Lori and Greg LoomisLocation: Richmond, VirginiaSize: 1,950 square feetYears lived in: 4 — owned Many of us have loved seeing the country-farmhouse-inspired style in our favorite catalogs, but we doubt any of you have seen it implemented as well as in Lori and Greg Loomis’ Richmond, Virginia home. We first saw Lori’s home in a House Call, and we love what she’s done since.
Name: Alfred & Rachel Atlas VendittoLocation: College Hill — Providence, Rhode IslandSize: 3 bedrooms + mother-in-law in converted atticYears lived in: 10 — owned The home Rachel & Al share with their two children, ages 3 and 5, and their dog in a former church meeting house is cozy and whimsical — filled with unusual and inspiring collections of natural objects and artwork.
Name: Gene, Heidi and Baby WyethLocation: Downtown — Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 1,285 square feetYears Lived In: 2½ years Gene recently shared his home through a House Call Gene’s Graphics & Color: Geometric Art Collection — and I couldn’t wait to share more! A perfect kick-off to our Art, Craft & Collection month, this Brooklyn family’s loft is oozing with exciting art and Gene shared one of the most extensive resource lists (including all the art!
Name: Lauren Yarmuth Location: New York CitySize: 400 sq/ftYears lived in: 2.5, owned Lauren’s 400-square-foot apartment was classic New York real estate: a sliver of space in an old brick building, with little light and even less charm. But in just three weeks, she gave it a clean and natural makeover, putting every inch of space to use with clever storage solutions. When she bought it, Lauren explained, the building “was a dump.
Name: Rebecca Orlov Location: West Hollywood, California Size: Dining Room/Home Office – 120 square feet Years lived in: 6 weeks Rebecca Orlov is one busy woman. After a stint in San Francisco, she decided to return to Los Angeles, and in just 6 weeks created a home office that would make just about anyone envious. From this glamorous home office for one, Rebecca juggles an assortment of projects: her own design site, loving. living. small.
Name: Robin Luciano BeatyLocation: Byfield, MassachusettsSize: 800 square feetYears worked in: 1½ years It was love at first site when I parked my car across the street from Robin’s art studio in Byfield. Her barn — set on an angle 50 feet from the road — is loosely landscaped with natural rock and wild flowers. A vintage blue Vespa sits out front adding to the warm, countryside feel.
Name: Jennifer White Location: McGregor, IowaSize: 800 square feetYears lived in: 13, rented Jennifer White’s friends refer to her colorful, antique-filled loft as “the flamenco palace.” We’re pretty sure the “flamenco” has to do with the prodigious amounts of ball fringe, and the “palace” with the richness of retro-ocity in every corner.
Name: Michael Jon WattLocation: Traverse City, MichiganSize: 818 square feet, with a full basementYears lived in: 2 We first got a glimpse of Michael’s wonderful cottage in Traverse City (home of the Cherry Festival!) during Small Cool 2010. As illustrated by the hefty number of “thumbs up” on his entry, his style is clearly in line with the aesthetics of the Apartment Therapy readers. With that in mind, we’re thrilled to bring you a full tour of his home.
Name: Sarah and JoshLocation: Somerville, MassachusettsSize: 1800 square feetYears lived in: Only six months! I tend to be a bit Jamaica Plain-centric for my Apartment Therapy house tours. But I finally crossed the river to check out Josh and Sarah’s retro-inspired condo in Somerville. It was worth the trek! I knew it was going to be a fun afternoon when Josh greeted me on the front porch, offering me two delicious cherry tomatoes he’d just picked.
Name: Chris & Liz LankenauLocation: Fairmount — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 800 square feet — 2 bedrooms (one used as TV room)Years lived in: 10 Chris and Liz (who originally shared their Retro Rowhouse with us) have slowly but surely worked their way through renovations. Their patience and eye for design have helped them transform a once unbelievably outdated home into a design enthusiasts dream home.
Name: Naseem Alizadeh of The Bureau for Architecture and UrbanismLocation: Boston, MassachusettsSize: 600 square feetYears lived in: 2 Yet again, I experienced apartment envy when I arrived to take photos of Naseem’s Back Bay rental, a lovely home we first spotted in her Apartment Therapy House Call. It’s easy to imagine the two years Naseem has lived here morphing into ten. This is the kind of place that would be hard to leave.
Name: Julie ThompsonLocation: Portland, OregonSize: 410 square feetYears lived in: 4 You might remember Julie’s Cozy & Vibrant home from this year’s Small Cool contest. She was gracious enough to let us stop by and take more photos of her eye-catching place. This small space is teaming with personality, yet has a great balance of bold and calming attributes.
Name: Dave JohannesLocation: Austin, Texas Size: 392 square feetYears lived in: 1 You may remember Dave’s place from his Small Cool entry — we liked so many things about Dave’s apartment we knew we had to visit for a House Tour! Sure, Dave lives in a hip, urban apartment complex close to downtown Austin, but it’s not his location that makes this tiny studio so great.
Name: Julie & Richard RoseLocation: Pawtucket, Rhode IslandSize: 1,300 square feetYears lived in: 5½ Richard & Julie’s loft in a former Pawtucket, Rhode Island mill achieves the kind of tasteful sophistication that many of us can only aspire to and though each element is carefully selected and styled, the space never loses the warmth of a home or the personality of its owners.
Name: Beth Knox and Bill Hutchins Location: Takoma Park, Maryland (just over the District line) Size: 2,100 square feet — 4 bedrooms + basement apartment Years lived in: 4 years, owned Other occupants: Tenants in basement, 20-something children from time to time, a variety of guests (extended stay), currently a Congolese pastor seeking asylum.
Name: Jeff & Delia (marthastalwart.wordpress.com and marketstoreshoppe.com)Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 1,400 square feetTime lived in: 4 months Los Angeles transplants Jeff and Delia would not settle for a standard New York-sized apartment, so they had to think outside of the box in order to find the spread they craved. Instead of your typical third story walk-up, the couple rented an industrial garage previously used as studio space and turned it into home.
Name: LauraLocation: Brooklyn Heights, BrooklynSize: 600 square feet studioYears lived in: 7 In addition to maturing tastes, Laura had a practical impetus for taking steps to upgrade. She was about to start working from home and she wanted to feel good about spending a lot of time within the same four walls. The addition of a refined and beautiful small home office in the corner of her studio was the beginning of great things.
Name: Brad & Kendra — Small Cool 2009 Little Division WinnersLocation: South End, BostonSize: 820 square feetYears lived in: 5 years — owned Our memory of Brad & Kendra’s Small Cool entry last year was summed up in one word: WOW. Rarely does such a small space pack such a punch. Soaring ceilings, acres of custom-painted moldings, patterns and textures galore, delightfully aged wood floors, and layered lighting design create an epic impression upon entering.
Name: John GuthrieLocation: Jamaica Plain, MassachusettsSize: 1,350 square feetYears lived in: 13 years — rented Apartment Therapy first introduced you to the beautiful artwork of John Guthrie in 2008. Since that time, I’ve been so drawn to John’s work that I was more than delighted when mutual friends connected us for an Apartment Therapy House Tour. I thought that if John’s home bears any resemblance to his artwork, we’d all be in for a treat.
Name: Allison, Steve, and their sons, Ethan and JeremyLocation: Bethesda, MarylandSize: 4 bedrooms and guest houseYears lived in: 2 Today’s House Tour is a bit of a detour from the beloved small, homespun spaces that we often showcase. When interior architect, Miriam Dillon, introduced us to Allison and Steve’s magnificent home, we knew that we couldn’t help but share it with our readers.
Name: Ray and Patricia HammLocation: Llano, TexasSize: 2,100 square feetYears lived in: 12 years Money is no object when it comes to decorating Patricia’s house. That’s because it doesn’t matter if she has money or not, she will find a way to make her home fantastic. Living in the small town of Llano does not afford the luxury of big city shopping, but it does inspire creativity.
Name: Brod HartLocation: Finsbury Park, London Size: 2,000 square feetYears lived in: 4 years Brod’s ambition was to create a home that would fulfill his wheelchair accessibility requirements without compromising on style. But with the typical Victorian houses in London, it was going to be a challenge! The most conventional option for accessibility would have been a “new build” but Brod loathed the idea and as a creative soul and “fixer” at heart he persevered.
Name: Location: Size: Years lived in: It’s a family thing around Paul and Katharina’s house, as evidenced by the wooden blocks and sippy cups left strewn about by their three kids. It’s about a fun, relaxed lifestyle where friends can come over to watch movies in the sunken media room or strike up the band on the built-in stage. Their home is comfortable and easy to be in, but it’s also composed of concrete and steel and is all about modern efficiency.
Name: Chris & Hannah GarrisonLocation: Woonsocket, Rhode IslandSize: 1,900 square feetYears lived in: 9 months The entrance to Chris and Hannah Garrison’s loft is inauspiciously located between a wiener shop and a karate studio in downtown Woonsocket, Rhode Island — a former mill town about 20 minutes north of Providence that has seen its ups and downs. But inside and up the stairs is a breathtaking space, restored using reclaimed materials, many of which came from local sources.
Name: MeredithLocation: Cobble Hill, BrooklynSize: 600 sqft. 1 bdrm co-opYears lived in: 8.5 >> appreciated if and when she chose to sell the apt.> Meredith, of BlondeInBrooklyn House Call fame claims that almost everything in her house arrived by mail to her doorstep! Even though she lives in New York, she finds that shopping on the internet yields the best deals. Her colors and collections work together seamlessly and make for an immediately soothing yet scintillating home.
Name: Sharon Montrose and Spencer Starr Location: Los Angeles, CASize: 2,000 sq. ft. Years lived in: 3+ years >> When we found the photos of Los Angeles photographer Sharon Montrose, we knew we had to pester her for a house tour.
Name: Eve MartelLocation: Montreal, QuebecSize: 1,167 sq ftYears lived in: Just over a year, Eve is a proud first time owner!>> Eve moved into her Hochelaga, Montreal loft just over a year ago. Her loft is in the La Biscuiterie Viau building: it used to be a candy and cookie factory and was owned by a famous local family. Built in 1906, the factory was transformed into loft units in 2007.
If you’re familiar with our Instagram, you know we love to fill our feed with jaw-dropping spaces that aim to inspire—whether it’s regrammed from a follower or photographed in one of our House Tours. Since we feel that our audience truly have a great eye for design, we wanted give some of our top liked posts from February a little extra lovin’. To narrow it down, we decided to focus on living rooms that we’ve featured over the past 28 days.
Whether you have a tiny two-bedroom loft on the outskirts of town or a teeny studio apartment in the heart of your city (or something in between, even!), chances are you’ve got a piece of furniture in front of your sofa known as the coffee table. Great for putting your feet up, eating dinner on, or displaying books and trinkets, the coffee table can also have a downside: It’s a bulky object taking up precious space. But that’s why you want to choose one that will work for you.
Name: Joey, aka “Joey the Cat” Location: Mission District of San Francisco, CA Size: 747 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; owned Years hosting on Airbnb: Over 5 years The moment you walk into “Joey the Cat’s” Mission District loft, you feel like you were just granted access to a secret world where you’re allowed to have fun, even though you are a fully grown adult.
Name: Alex Location: Noe Valley, San Francisco Size: 1,738 square feet Years lived in: 17 years; owned Years hosting on Airbnb: 2 1/2 years Alex’s two-story home is situated on a quiet, tree-lined street in Noe Valley. From his upper balcony you can see a stunning view of the city, and on a clear day you can spy both the Bay Bridge and Twin Peaks.
Name: Christine Lolley, her husband and business partner Tom Knezic, and their two kids Location: Roncesvalles Village; Toronto, Ontario Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned Tom and Christine bought their 100-year-old house in July 2013 with the purpose of renovating it. As co-founders of sustainable design firm Solares Architecture, their goal was to create an ultra-energy efficient family home.
Name: Aubin Crowell of Rebuilt Inc., Florice Houde, and Monkey, Shy Girl, Lil’ Pi, and Ninja Location: Silver Lake – Los Angeles, California Size: 2,200 square feet Years lived in: 4 1/2 years Aubin and Florice’s modern loft is an interesting study of mixing elements to create a successful interior design.
Prize: $2,000 to spend on stylish furniture From: American Signature Furniture Value: $2,000 You’ve made it! You’ve decided to live together, merging your two households into one. But figuring out how all your stuff can live together, from your grandmother’s nesting tables to his battered but beloved recliner, well, that can be a tiny bit more challenging.
Name: Matt Rudkin Location: Hell’s Kitchen, New York, NY Size: 300 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; rented Matt’s apartment feels cool. It’s hard to tell if it’s the soothing grey of the walls or the pile of fluffy pillows placed carefully on the bed or the sunlight streaming in through an entire wall of windows, but the feeling you get immediately upon walking in the door is one of calm and relaxation. Matt moved to this diminutive space (300 square feet!
Name: Holley Simmons and Audrey Matthias Location: Mt. Pleasant; Washington, D.C. Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented In September of last year we introduced you to the beautiful decor and fashion sense of friends and roommates Holley Simmons and Audrey Matthias. The duo recently remodeled the dining room of their apartment in Mt. Pleasant, NW D.C, and we can’t help but admire the mix of modern textiles and vintage furniture.
Name: Fay Johnson Location: Grand Lake; Oakland, California Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years; Rented Looking at Fay’s gorgeous Oakland apartment, it’s hard to not feel envious. Situated on the top floor of the building, her apartment boasts features most people desire in a home: large windows that provide plentiful light all day, original hardwood flooring and a working fireplace.
Name: Alex Bronstad & Zack Suhadolnik Location: Cole Valley; San Francisco, California Size: 620 square feet Years lived in: 4.5 years; Rented Alex and Zack sit tucked against bright bay windows while I take photos of their place. They’re planning a summer road trip, a sort of wilderness sabbatical, and sketching floor plans of the camper they’ll call home.
Name: Phillip Stoup and Claire Bock Location: Clerkenwell; London, UK Size: 650 square feet Lived in: Six months; Rented My husband and I moved to a new flat this past October after our landlord sold our previous flat. I was in love with our old flat and it has taken a while to settle into the new one. Photographing the flat for this house tour proved to be a great exercise for making the house feel like our own.
Name: Jeffrey Toraichi Eyser (of Flip This Bitch) and Joseph F. Kuntz Jr Location: Silver Lake; Los Angeles, California Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: Less than 1 year; Own Every time Jeff Eyser shares a new project with me, I am always surprised and relieved, because his style remains clever, fun and yet some how extremely functional. Last time I visited he and his husband Joe’s home, it was their two bedroom apartment in West Hollywood.
Name: Rebecca Miller & George Revel Location: Glen Park; San Francisco, California Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years Influenced by their rural roots and a shared passion for the outdoors, Rebecca and George’s Montana retreat happens to be in the heart of San Francisco. Heirloom artwork, fly fishing antiques, and vintage photographs punctuate warm rooms filled with classic furnishings and plenty of natural light.
If you’re having trouble sleeping, it could be because of your crazy, busy, stressful life — or it could be because your bedroom just isn’t conducive to getting a good night’s rest. Here at Apartment Therapy, we’ve put a lot of thought into the elements that make for a restful sleeping space. This is a roundup of seven of the things that we think are most important — things that you can tweak in order to get some uninterrupted shut-eye.
Name: Vivian and Leonard Location: West Oakland; Oakland, California Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: Leonard since August 2010, Vivian since December 2011; Rented Though Leonard was living in their West Oakland loft before Vivian, the two have managed to successfully bring in both of their personalities to create a rustic and organic space.
Name: Scott Henderson & Carly Sciacqua Location: Central Richmond District; San Francisco, California Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented The newly engaged (congrats!) couple’s home is the perfect example of a successful collaboration. With Scott’s background working on architectural projects and Carly’s colorful sensibility, the space is well planned and perfectly accentuated with pops of color, quirk and personality.
Today’s tour is the second in a collaborative series curated by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason of Aphrochic for Apartment Therapy. They handpicked homes from around the world to share that capture the culture and style that they celebrate in their book, Remix: Decorating with Culture, Objects, and Soul.
Name: Kevin and Emily Location: Adam’s Point; Oakland, California Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; rented If Kevin and Emily had to describe their apartment in one word, they’d say it’s “thoughtful.” As soon as you step into their 650 square foot apartment—located just two blocks from Oakland’s beautiful Lake Merritt—you can see their careful cultivation of a unique decorative style.
Name: Ashley Jones, Co-owner & Co-founder of DimePiece LA Location: Downtown Fashion District, Los Angeles, California Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; rented The first House Tour I ever contributed to Apartment Therapy, four years ago, was Ashley’s 500 square foot studio in Miracle Mile. She had a budding new fashion company and was working hard to get her brand off the ground.
Name: Leslie Landis, Jake Martinez and dog Raincheck Landis-Martinez Location: MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, California Size: 800 square feet (We joke it’s our “mini mansion”) Years Lived In: 1 year; rented Last time we went home with Leslie, she was living in a teeny tiny studio apartment in Silver Lake. Since then her old landlord bought her out of her old place and she’s moved in with Jake into a two-story chateau-like apartment.
Name: Jamie Bayer Location: Avondale; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; rented If there’s one word to describe Jamie’s apartment, it’s fun. Bright colors, vintage glassware, crafts, collections, and quirk — Jamie knows what she loves, and she has no fear in building her home around it. When I saw Jamie’s recent house call, I was practically drooling, and I knew that I had to see her space in person.
Name: Ross Weiner Location: Greenwich Village, New York, New York Size: 700 Square Feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned With a love of the arts and a strong sense of style, Ross went about turning a bare studio apartment into a one bedroom home with charm to spare.
Name: Masha D’yans and Colin Mulligan Location: Highland Longwood — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,412 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned Masha, originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, and Colin, originally from St. Louis, have been married for just over one year, in which time they’ve created a beautiful and unique home full of international curiosities.
Name: Bernadette Location: Austin, Texas Size: 2100 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 10 1/2 years Filled with sleek modern furniture, bold wall paint colors and a fun collection of art gathered over the years, Bernadette’s style is cool, contemporary and inspiring. You feel a peaceful calm wash over you as you explore the colorful art on her walls or enjoy the natural light that pours in from ample windows.
Take a real long, careful look around your home. Does it look like “you”? Does it reflect your personality? If it doesn’t — if friends are often surprised when they visit your home — you might consider some of the advice from this week’s gorgeous house tours. “I always tell people to make sure their room has personality and reflects themselves. I’ve seen many homes where you get no sense of the people who live there.
Name: Michael James Schneider, author and creator of BLCKSMTH Location: Irvington Neighborhood; Portland, Oregon Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 3 months; Rented We met Mike back in August of 2012, when he was living in a stylish bachelor pad in Koreatown, Los Angeles. Fast forward a year and a half, and Mike has left sunny Los Angeles for the rainy Pacific Northwest, and now resides in Portland, Oregon.
Name: Meg Shackleton of Margaret Elizabeth Jewelry Location: Union Street; San Francisco, California Size: 750 square feet Years in business: 7 years When you step into the studio of Margaret Elizabeth Jewelry you are taken by the similarities in style between the jewelry line and the space where it is created. Metallics with pops of color and plenty of texture set the tone in this studio workspace and showroom.
Name: Krzysztof Palacz Location: Buena Vista, San Francisco Size: 880 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned House tour veteran Christopher Reynolds tipped me off about his friend Krzysztof’s San Francisco apartment. Since I trust Christopher’s eye, I didn’t ask for many details, and showed up site unseen with tripod in tow. Krzysztof first had me at the Cherner chairs, a modern classic I’ve been coveting since design school.
