Apartment

Name: Alison Hotchkiss Location: Mission; San Francisco, California Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented Event Planner Alison‘s home is a reflection of her finely honed aesthetic, cultivated both by years in the wedding and event industry and her travels throughout the world. When quizzed on her resources she was as likely to drop the name of an exotic locale as a big box store.

Name: Zoie Kingsbery Coe, founder of Kid & Coe Location: Marylebone, London Size: 1000 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; owned The location of Zoie Kingsbery Coe’s central London home is hard to beat. Situated in a tranquil and beautiful old mansion block, the apartment is tucked away, yet right in the heart of Marylebone with all the buzz of the city just moments away. The flat is the London home of Zoie, her husband and their two kids.

Name: Jesica Ryzenberg Location: Alamo Square, San Francisco, California Size: Studio, 450 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented When the door to Jesica’s apartment swings open, you are greeted enthusiastically and welcomed in wholeheartedly (even when you happen to show up on the wrong day).

Name: Amy Desmond of Victory Market Vintage & Handmade Location: Andersonville, Chicago, Illinois Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 4 There are charming apartments and then there’s Amy’s apartment, which is so charming it should come in locket form.

Name: Kim Knoll and Kyle Eertmoed, graphic designers at Knoed Creative Location: Ravenswood Manor; Chicago, Illinois Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 7 years; Owned Kim and Kyle know a thing or two about space. As graphic designers who started their own company, Knoed Creative, they spend endless hours thinking about how forms and language communicate across visual dimension.

Name: Oliver (graphic designer), Sherrie, and Cookie (a four-year-old Pekingese) Location: Bronx, New York Size: 525 square feet Years lived in: Under 2 years; Rented After living and volunteering abroad, Oliver and Sherrie had to start their home from scratch. Their experience in a third world country had a big influence on the way they approached furnishing their apartment.

Name: Andrew Samuel and Anne Greenwald Location: Ukranian Village; Chicago, IL Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 3 months, rented I visited Drew and Annie’s apartment on the first snowy day of the season, when everything outside was still and white. Annie was out of town, but Drew, who used to work at several independent record labels and who now works at Intelligentsia Coffee, played the perfect wintertime host, serving up warmth, conversation, and great music.

Name: Mike Rugnetta & Molly Templeton Location: Bed Stuy, Brooklyn NY Size: 1,350 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; rented Molly Templeton is better known as her internet personality Mememolly, and Mike Rugnetta is a composer, programmer and performer who hosts PBS’s web series Idea Channel. This ultra media-savvy duo are often busy at work (so busy that Mike had to miss the portrait shot), so when they retreat back home they want their place to feel playful and fun.

Name: Elena and Judd Location: Amsterdam Oost (East) Size: 83 square meters (about 893 square feet) Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Elena’s Italian heritage and Judd’s Wisconsin roots combine with their love of architecture, vintage street finds, and mid-century details to create a fantastic masterpiece of a home. Welcome to Elena and Judd’s beautiful Amsterdam space!

Name: Michelle, Juliette & Nicolas Sauzier Location: SOMA; San Francisco, CA Size: 1,266 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Michelle and Nico are one of my favorite couples in San Francisco. They met in a very kismet-type of way: Michelle spotted Nico, a French expat with his own interior architecture and design business (Design By Nico), in a friend’s photo and was instantly smitten.

Name: Tim Naus Location: Albany Park, Chicago, Illinois Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; Rented Tim had to rescue the model building from being demolished, so he found his way into the abandoned school and grabbed the plastered to-scale model of Independence Hall. A similar one rests in the Smithsonian American History Museum, but this one was completely original, a true treasure.

Name: Jesse Leake, Photographer Location: Lower Pacific Heights; San Francisco, California Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 10 years; Rented The antithesis of the proverbial bachelor pad, photographer Jesse Leake’s well-considered space is evidence that stereotypes are meant to be broken. A reflection of his globetrotting, artistic endeavors and eye for the offbeat, the space hits all of the right notes.

Name: Adi Edlen Location: South Waterfront; Portland, Oregon Size: 1,597 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Adi’s condo, located high above South Waterfront in Portland, Oregon, is as chic and glamorous as it gets. It combines soft, beautiful colors, a killer view, an ever expanding collection of artwork, and good old fashioned DIY projects. One moment Adi’s hosting a small, sophisticated party, and the next she’s chasing a toddler who’s running out of the nursery.

Name: Evan Pohl Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan Size: 295 square feet Years lived in: 18 months; rented It’s not always easy to edit your life down to under 300 square feet, but Evan Pohl makes it look effortless. Not only is he faced with the challenge of small space living; landlord restrictions keep things limited with a strict no-paint rule.

Names: Bianca Sotelo, Blogger at A Fabulous Challenge and Editorial Manager for Apartment 34 & Craig King, Assistant District Manager, G-Star Location: Alameda, California Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented I love interiors that set a certain mood and turn the innate quirks of the space to their advantage. The style mix in Bianca and Craig’s place does just that. Bianca and Craig live in a garden level unit and their design embraces the naturally dim interior.

Name: Esthera & Gus Preda-Engle, along with cat Lotlita Location: Fossambault-sur-le-Lac; Quebec, Canada Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Esthera, a videographer at Boat People Vintage, and Gus, a professional snowboarder, are quite the talented couple. Esthera and Gus’s home truly embodies their style and heritage: Esthera is a first generation Romanian-French-Canadian, and Gus is half Native American.

A truly bittersweet tour for me – walking around Megan and Mike’s lovely home knowing that boxes waited in the other room ready to pack up everything and officially close their Amsterdam chapter – made this a sad day, but a happy one knowing we shared some nice memories in this canal-side flat.

Name: Jessie and Jon Location: Brooklyn Heights; New York, New York Size: 710 square feet Years lived in: 7 months; rented Within every couple-cohabited space there is a love story: the how, when, and why a house adapts to contain the spirit of the two people who have worked together to share it and create for themselves a home.

Name: Sarah Becker, of Sarah Becker Skincare Location: Pacific Heights; San Francisco, California Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Rented Upon stepping into Sarah’s apartment, your eye is immediately drawn around the room, resting on carefully arranged collections of found objects and curiosities, colorfully patterned textiles, and a collection of paintings culled from the local flea market.

Name: Sarah & David Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York Size: 1 bedroom + outdoor patio Years lived in: 10 months; rented Sarah and David’s apartment is the perfect example of a great tenant/landlord relationship. Their apartment had great bones to begin with, with exposed brick, a beautiful chandelier, and lots of lovely traditional moldings that provide a nice contrast to the soon-to-be married pair’s modern taste.

Name: Sarah Glicken of Develop Agency Location: Potrero Hill; San Francisco, California Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; Owned Sarah’s loft is open and expansive without losing a sense of warmth, and keeps the relaxed sensibility of a space that feels truly lived in while still maintaining a strong point of view and style.

Name: Ekaterina Yaschuk of Meystyle Location: Waterloo; London, UK Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; owned Tucked away at the top of a flight of narrow and twisting stairs, over one of the best tapas restaurants in South London, is the glamorous and glossy apartment of the equally lovely Ekaterina, a wallpaper designer with a difference — she makes bespoke papers and fabrics studded with LEDs and crystals. I admit, I was hoping for floor to ceiling shimmering opulence.

Name: Mimi Shim Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn Size: 720 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned Mimi shares this colorful, light-filled Brooklyn apartment with her husband and two cats. The space manages to feel comfortable and welcoming and yet chic and well edited. The lack of clutter and well designed living space are a testament to this couple’s attention to detail, and the results are nothing short of charming.

Name: Candice and Jason Rose Location: Mission, San Francisco, California Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 6 weeks; Rented Candice and Jason moved into their current apartment six weeks ago — yes, six weeks. But you would never know it when you walk through the front door. The space feels warm, collected, and well organized.

Name: Heather Frank Location: Alamo Square Park, San Francisco Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented Film, fashion, and French culture are just a few of Heather Frank’s favorite things. The video producer turned turned this classic San Francisco apartment, which sits right above Alamo Square Park, into a space that reflects all of her passions. It’s an eclectic mix of Japanese art, movie posters, vintage furniture, and travel mementos.

Name: Tim Speicher, Director of Marketing and Communications at Victory Gardens Theater in Lincoln Park, and Ellenkate Finley Location: Lincoln Square — Chicago, Illinois Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: almost 9 months; Rented You know a tour is going to be different when you’re warmly invited to check out a cozy crawlspace/adult fort underneath a completely DIY lofted bed!

Name: Lauren Spain Location: San Francisco, California Size: 450 square Feet Years lived in: 1 year 8 months; Rented I don’t meet a lot of people my age that really have their shit together, but Lauren is the exception that obliterates the rule. You wouldn’t know it now, but Lauren has had to redecorate her apartment TWICE. Yes, twice. Two months after moving in, her oven caught fire and ruined many of her belongings.

Name: Thayer Allyson Gowdy and Scott Paterson Location: Bernal Hill, San Francisco, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 7 years; Owned Photographer Thayer Gowdy’s carefree style comes together with a mix of clean-lined Danish designs, eclectic accessories, and pieces sourced from her travels around the world. → Re-edited from a tour originally published in 2014 The result is collected without feeling too busy, and modern without losing its sense of warmth.

Name: Jaclyn Simpson, of Jaclyn Simpson Photography Location: Lincoln Square; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Jaclyn is exactly the kind of wedding photographer you want with you all day during your big celebration: warm, generous, funny, and absolutely genuine. Her live/work space is filled with personal pieces and DIY projects galore, creating an earthy/quirky combination that is distinctly her own.

Name: Adam Lopez, Owner of vintage clothing shop October 18th Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles California Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented Adam is one of the Angelenos lucky enough to have landed a rent controlled bungalow in the heart of the city. Centrally located in Echo Park, his home is a cozy one bedroom with plenty of space to house his art and vintage treasures.

Name: Rachel Yacapraro, blogger at Taffeta and Cedar, and Brian Willard, Visual Effects Artist at Radar Studios Location: West Town; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 9 years; Owned Warmly considered and lovingly maintained, Rachel and Brian’s flat has the broad, open feel of a loft, while retaining the flow and privacy of a traditional apartment. Luckily for this couple, Rachel and Brian share a similar clean, modern aesthetic with a vintage twist.

Name: Jacqueline Clair Location: Upper East Side, New York City Size: Approximately 400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented If you take a peek at New York City blogger Jacqueline Clair’s Instagram account you’ll see plenty of images that are well-composed, colorful, chic, and fun. The same could be said of her Upper East Side studio. Her taste reads clean and polished, with touches of whimsy and romanticism.

Name: Mikola Accuardi, photographer and blogger at Portland Supply Co., Randall Garcia, designer at Wieden + Kennedy, and baby Valentino Location: Southeast Clinton; Portland, Oregon Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, 5 months ; Rented Mikola and Randall’s apartment is one of those spaces I swooned over, but never actually get to visit, until today.

Name: Isaac Larose and Florence Provencher Proulx Location: Le Plateau; Montreal, Canada Years lived in: 9 months; Rented If everything you wore looked just like your home, I’d be wearing a kilim rug and antlers on my head — doesn’t sound so cool, right? It’s rare to find a home designed in such an authentic manner that becomes a true reflection of the resident’s personal style, but Isaac and Florence’s home is the exception.

Name: Mandy and Matt Location: Amsterdam, Centrum Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Rented Before packing up their belongings and moving back to the United States, Mandy and Matt wanted to share their lovely Amsterdam canalside home.

Name: Lisa and Richard Location: Museumplein, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 1,150 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Lisa, from the States, and Richard, from the Netherlands, bought their first home in Amsterdam in 2012. Their vision was to create “a space that had character but was still minimal and not overloaded with artifacts.” They also wanted a home with a cozy feel, or as the Dutch would say, “Gezellig”.

Name: Amanda Bullock & Justin Taylor Location: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, New York Size: 1.5 bedroom; 600 square feet (estimated) Years lived in: 11 months; rented Amanda Bullock and Justin Taylor like books. Amanda came from the book publishing world and is now the Director of Public Programming at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe; Justin is an acclaimed author and teaches creative writing at a number of universities in the city.

Name: Sibylle Location: Berlin, Germany Size: 1,076 square feet Years lived in: 8 months; rented Sibylle is at it again but this time in a different part of the map. We saw the first tour of her home in Montreal that was filled with her funky DIY style. Now that she has moved across the world to get back to her roots in Berlin, we are getting another peek into her fun and eclectic decor world.

Name: Erin of Apartment 34 Location: Mission/Potrero Hill , San Francisco CA Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years Anyone who follows Erin’s lifestyle blog Apartment 34 will know that her style is synonymous with clean lines and tasteful restraint, with a touch of glam and global influence. Her loft follows suit with beautiful bones, and airy style and refined textures, with perfectly styled accessories bringing things up a notch or two.

Name: Jose Campos and Oliver Herbert, co-owners of SUPERMERCADO SHOP (plus pet finches Selena and Harry) Location: Converted Victorian Tram depot, Southeast London Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Jose and Oliver can attest to the fact that finding a flat in London isn’t easy.

Name: Micah Clasper-Torch, designer and artist Location: Bed-Stuy — Brooklyn, New York Size: 260 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Tours photographed on rainy days always have a way of making me extra aware of the true coziness of a place. Micah’s space contains within in it such a wonderful sense of who she is and the things that make her happy and productive.

Name: Will, Rebekah, & Liam Hasting Location: Paris, France Size: 1,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms Years lived in: 8 Months In Paris’ 14th arrondissement, not far from the Place Denfert-Rochereau, is a little family home with a lovely view.

Name: Irma Zandl and Brad Kahlhamer Location: Lower East Side, Manhattan; New York, New York Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 20 years; Owned Light, open and airy, Irma’s Manhattan loft feels like an oasis in the heart of downtown. Upon entering, it is immediately clear that the art that fills this home has all been chosen with a strong eye for talent and a great love of the work. To spend time in this gorgeous space is at once calming and inspiring.

Name: Carlos E. Fernández-Dieppa Location: Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York Size: 670 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; rented Carlos Fernández takes the expression “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” to a whole other level. Carlos is a resourceful and highly intelligent designer who never lets a single item go to waste. His custom pieces are thoughtful and functional, with a playful flair.

Name: Myka + Georges Haddad Location: Laurel Heights — San Francisco, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, rented Myka of the blog Modern Sequins shows us how great style can translate from fashion to the home. With pieces collected from years of event styling and her signature sparkle throughout, the apartment that she calls home with her husband George is only out-shined by one thing… …Her wardrobe!

Name: Laurence Guilloud & Fabrice Le Dantec, photographer and journalist for the blog L’Instant Parisien Location: Paris, 9ème Size: 755 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; Rented One minute you’re in a busy shopping district, and then you turn into a quiet side street and find yourself in front of Laurence and Fabrice’s building.

Name: Sophia Hansjacob Location: 11th arrondissement, Paris, France Size: 355 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Sophia Hansjacob lives in what might be the perfect Paris apartment. This little flat has it all: beautiful details, huge casement windows, wood floors (in the bedroom), and the very best part: a balcony with a view over the rooftops of Paris.

Name: Kelly Furman Location: Graceland West; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; owned Kelly is a colorful person, vibrant in personality and exuberant in spirit. Her home, which she affectionately calls the “tree house,” captures the poise, humor, and grace with which she approaches the world, but it does so with an understated elegance.

Name: Jeff and Erin Mooney, and Hank the dog Location: Rice University Area, Houston, Texas Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Erin and Jeff’s apartment, which occupies the second floor of a duplex in a neighborhood not far from Rice University, has all the spaciousness you would expect from a much larger home. They’ve judiciously filled their home with just enough furniture to make things cozy, while still leaving the space room to breathe.

Name: Zainab Ahmed and husband Farhan Ahmed (and for six months of the year, Farhan’s mom who divides her time between Pakistan and here) Location: Business Bay, Dubai Years lived in: Renting 3 years The rental apartment Zainab shares with her husband (and an occasional visiting mother-in-law) is considered large by local Dubai standards.

Name: Chris Corrado and Jenny Kaplan Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: Chris 7 years / Jenny 10 months It’s not often that I walk into someone’s home and feel instantly inspired. To begin, the combination of their two separate styles merge effortlessly. Their home is filled with bold and unique pieces that are beautiful yet practical for everyday use.

Name: Katie and Matt with their cats, Fritz & Pepper Location: Washington Heights, New York City Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Katie 2.5 years, Matt 6 years; Rented When Katie moved into her two bedroom home in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, she had her work cut out for her. At the time it was occupied by her fiancé and two roommates—the living room doing double duty as common space and as a bedroom.

Name: Robyn and Drew Location: Logan Square; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: 5 months Robyn and Drew’s vintage graystone apartment is filled with more than just cool-looking pieces, it’s filled with original vintage finds and soul for days. They choose their belongings thoughtfully and they take their time; they scour Craigslist and local vintage stores—they celebrate secondhand furniture for its craftsmanship and unique style.

Name: Lauren & Mikko Location: Punavuori; Helsinki, Finland Size: 473 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; owned When Lauren and Mikko bought their 473 square foot apartment two years ago, they completely renovated the entire space to create the most efficient layout possible. So despite the small footprint, this bright Helsinki apartment feels spacious, and is chock-full of personal touches.

Name: Holley, Dining Editor for the Washington Post Express, and Audrey Location: Mt. Pleasant, Washington DC Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; renting One can only imagine the stream of fun ideas and shared secrets that two cool, creative women who are equally inspired by the Anthropologie-meets-Kinfolk aesthetic must dream up.

Name: Saara Helkala Location: Helsinki, Finland Size: 430 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; rented Just beyond the small, shadowy entryway to Saara’s loft-style apartment, daylight beckons through two grand windows on the main wall of the living space. While the natural light in Saara’s apartment—during the months that the sun actually shines in Helsinki—is really remarkable, it’s just one of the many inviting things about her space.

Name: Lauren Svenstrup of Studio Sven Location: Andersonville; Chicago, Illinois Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 2 years When Lauren’s House Call was featured this summer, readers were intrigued by her wonderful mix of vintage and modern, so I was thrilled when Lauren gave an enthusiastic “yes” for a full tour. On my recent visit to Lauren’s home, I was inspired by the distinct yet harmonious moods and tones she’s achieved in one relatively small space.

Name: Erin and Chris Location: Heritage Hill; Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; rented Erin and Chris like to keep things simple and neat. Upon entering their home, I was impressed by the lack of clutter. No piles of mail, no stacks of books, no leaning towers of magazines. That’s because the couple is wise about storage. They purchased iconic IKEA furniture pieces with clean, simple lines and lots of storage.

Name: Kim Laidlaw Location: Paris, France Size: 40 square meters (approx. 430 square feet) Years lived in: 5 years Kim, a freelance writer and the author of Unlock Paris, an insider’s guide to the City of Light, may be an import from London, but her home feels quintessentially Parisian. It’s small by American standards — only 430 square feet — but blessed with floor-to-ceiling french doors that open onto a balcony which overlooks the city.

Name: Kaisa and Otto Location: Käpylä; Helsinki, Finland Size: 441 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned There are a few things that one expects when stepping into a Finnish apartment—a row of shoes by the door, labeled towels racks in the bathroom, and at least a few Finnish design staples. Kaisa and Otto’s home certainly ticks all of those boxes, but when it comes to showcasing Finnish design staples, they have gone above and beyond.

Name: Nick and Lizzie Johnson Location: Meatpacking District / Chelsea, New York City Size: 1 Bedroom Years lived in: 18 months Nick and Lizzie relocated from London to New York during a rough week; Hurricane Sandy had just hit and they were about to face some apartment-seeking challenges. Narrowing their search to areas unaffected by the storm, they fell in love with Chelsea and the West Village.

Name: Emily Moore, founder of Moore Design Works, and Xia, Loyal Yellow Lab Location: Museum District, Houston, Texas Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented The first thing you’ll notice about Emily’s Houston apartment is probably the boldly painted blue walls in the living room.

Location: Paris, France Size: 452 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned. Amaury and Amandine’s Paris apartment is proof that it’s possible to have it all, even in a tiny footprint. Their 452 square foot space has a cozy bedroom, a beautiful kitchen, and plenty of space for eating and lounging. And, thanks to tall ceilings and generous windows, it still feels incredibly spacious.

Name: Yana Puaca of NoMad Luxuries and Petar Location: Lakeview; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,385 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Owned The name of Yana’s lifestyle blog, NoMad Luxuries, also accurately describes the style of the home that she and her husband Petar share.

Name: Lisa Vanin Location: Parkdale; Toronto, Canada Size: 390 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, Rented Take away the laptop and tattoos and it would be easy to mistake twenty-something illustrator Lisa Vanin’s tiny, old-fashioned apartment for a knitting granny’s cozy den. Her homey digs are reminiscent of a previous generation’s warmth and slow pace, thanks to her nostalgic collection of old-soul treasures.

Name: Dani and Will Location: Heritage Hill; Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 3 years for Will, 1 month for Dani; Rented Dani and Will live on the third floor of an old Victorian house in Heritage Hill, the historic neighborhood just east of Downtown Grand Rapids. Will grew up in Michigan while girlfriend Dani moved to Grand Rapids from London, England one year ago.

Name: Darren Elms and Preston Ames Location: Castro; San Francisco, CA Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented Los Angeles natives Darren and Preston consider themselves fortunate to have found a beautiful apartment with breathtaking views in the Bay Area’s competitive rental market.

Name: Ben Erickson Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant; Brooklyn, New York Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Renovated and Rented Homes like this one are what neighborhood legends are made of. Tourists walk by them and ponder their historical significance. School children imagine what fairytale or superhero character might be living inside. And adults dream the wildest dreams of ever calling a place like this home.

Name: Jynne Dilling Martin & Louie Saletan Location: Park Slope; Brooklyn, New York Size: 500 square foot split-level duplex + 400 square foot backyard Years lived in: 2 years; Rent Jynne Dilling Martin is the Associate Publisher of Riverhead Books (and author of We Mammals in Hospitable Times, a book of poetry). A Texas transplant, Louie Saletan taught Russian language to the first crew of NASA astronauts to fly on a joint Space Shuttle flight with their Russian cosmonaut counterparts.

Name: Rachel Shipp Location: Cow Hollow; San Francisco, California Size: 1,009 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned After turning 30 last year, Rachel decided to pull the trigger and buy her first place—a one bedroom apartment in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood, just minutes away from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Name: Jordan Weinstein Location: Sunnyside; Denver, Colorado Size: 670 square feet Years lived in: less than one year; Rented Ask Jordan what he does for a living and he’ll tell you, “peddling male vanity.” It’s an unusual cause, but one we can get behind. The owner of Denver’s now iconic Proper Barbershop has a strong sense of manly style that evokes both the dapperness of the 1920s and the dark corners of ’80s punk rock.

Name: Krysia and Tomek Location: Ealing; London, United Kingdom Size: 443 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; owned by Krysia (Tomek moved in one year ago) Like many young couples in London, Krysia and Tomek are making do in a small space, but almost anyone who steps foot in their West London flat would admit that these two are doing so more stylishly than most.