Apartment

Name: Christine Gasparich and her husband Location: Beacon Hill neighborhood — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 1100 square feet Years lived in: Renting 2 years In 2014, Christine’s husband was accepted to graduate school in Boston, so they sold their D.C. house, sold or stored most of their furniture, and moved to Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood for two years. “I am an interior designer.

Name: Gabriela Goff and Jeffrey Goff Jr. Location: Rochester, New York Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 5 years This unique apartment is the home of Gabriella Goff and her brother Jeffrey Goff Jr. It’s located in the basement of the sculpture studio of Paul and Christine Knoblauch, who designed and refurbished the space five years ago. It’s a home full of original art — from the sofa to the tables to the walls.

Name: Ana and Mansour (and Molly) Location: NoDa — Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5 years Ana and Mansour have a home filled with pieces that each tell a story. Ana is a talented writer, originally from Dominican Republic, and travels often. Mansour is a Harvard graduate from Washington DC who enjoys biking in his free time. They are both intelligent and hilarious…and the corner garden in their living room is a dream.

Name: Mylène Location: Villeray, Montreal Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: Rented, 2 years It’s not surprising to learn that Mylène works as a visual merchandiser for a decor boutique; her apartment reflects someone who’s both interested in and really talented at design and home decor. Lots of stylish second-hand furniture and a variety of small elements and objects animate a space where a soft color palette mixes well with natural wood tones.

Name: Nicole and Dave and dog Remy Location: Baltimore, Maryland Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year Inspiring artists with an equally inspiring nest, Nicole and Dave have designed their apartment with true artistic vision. They’ve built their quietly brilliant, thoughtfully executed home in an old box factory in Baltimore, where it doubles as both a living space and a studio.

Name: Colie Location: North Loop, Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 781 square feet Years lived in: Renting 8 months Colie and her husband recently made the move from Fargo, North Dakota to Minneapolis. On a recommendation from a friend, they found their new home in the North Loop of Minneapolis, an area that has seen a major housing boom over the past few years. While they looked into old rehabbed warehouse living, they eventually settled on this new one bedroom in a building full of neat amenities.

Name: Lauryn Evarts and Michael Bosstick Location: West Hollywood, California Size: 1100 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years You may recognize Lauryn Evarts; she’s the founder of The Skinny Confidential and a best-selling author. To say Lauryn’s endeavor has been successful is an understatement: Since launching, she’s also branched out into a fitness & nutrition eBook, podcast, YouTube channel, and more.

Name: Dan Koday, Yves Yakoubyan Location: Chelsea — Manhattan, New York City Size: Approx 750 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 Years This modern and artistic apartment is full of farmhouse accents, crafty DIY, and unique art pieces collected during travels. Renters Dan and Yves have created a magical home that is both inviting and artful with lively green plants that conjure notions of secret gardens and relaxing lush metropolitan parks.

Name: Kevin Barrett Kane and Emma Christine Hall Location: Volker Neighborhood — Kansas City, Missouri Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year Kevin and Emma, book designers behind the company The Frontispiece, share a warm, comfy home in Kansas City. “Literarian Treehouse Nouveau” is how they describe their style, and they’re also self-proclaimed collectors. You’ll find furniture, desks, vinyl, cats and of course, books.

Name: Marni Epstein-Mervis and Laine Mervis (and Fitz the corgi) Location: Highland Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 570 square feet Years lived in: Rented, 1 year Marni and Laine’s mini one-bedroom apartment is the physical manifestation of their perfectly complementary marriage. Marni is eclectic and Laine is minimal. Marni runs a creative agency (STRUKTR), while Laine practices law in the city. Marni tends to collect, while Laine is really good at, well, not collecting.

Name: Emily Graff Location: Greenwich Village, New York Size: 550 square feet Years lived in: 3 years This home in Greenwich Village is full of energy thanks to bold and colorful patterns. But it also feels quite larger than its small size. The owner Emily has done an amazing job with maximizing space by utilizing a Murphy bed, smart furniture layout planning and wallpaper as a means of visually dividing the space. And her eclectic decor makes for a cozy, comfy home.

Name: Robyn and Sam, plus their two Dachshunds Carl and Prune Location: The Junction — Toronto, Canada Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years There is much debate when it comes to minimal design and living. It seems to be a lifestyle that draws polarizing views — you either love it or you really don’t!

Name: Eva Morell Location: Raval Quarter — Barcelona, Spain. Size: 538 square feet Years lived in: Rented since February 2016 Eva’s aesthetic is a fast indicator that she works in art direction. Her current home isn’t very big, but it’s full of good design and lovely things. Having lived in Madrid, Gijon, Mallorca and Barcelona, her home also reflects her free-spirit.

Name: Brett Leigh Location: Providence, Rhode Island Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 months I drove up to an old factory in an industrial part of town, just outside of Providence, Rhode Island. This is the kind of building that’s been re-purposed and converted into loft-style apartments, so I figured I could expect some creativity. But there was nothing that could have prepared me for the magic that is Brett Leigh’s home.

Name: Bethany Chase Location: Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 5.5 years Bethany Chase is a woman of many talents. Besides being an interior designer, she’s also the author of two novels, including Results May Vary, which was just published this fall. Her Brooklyn apartment reflects her love for both literature and design, and her understanding of the deep importance of the places we call home.

Name: Danny and Zac Location: Rome, Italy Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Owned. Lived in since April, but it’s been in the family for over 60 years! Danny writes: “This apartment used to belong to my grandparents, and then my parents took over the rent, and now my husband and I are living in it with our mini dachshund. Three generations (and counting)! It’s a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment on the third floor of a residential building in the center of Rome.

Name: Carlee and family Location: San Luis Obispo, California Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: Renting 6 years Carlee writes: “My husband and I rented a granny unit studio that was 400 square feet. We were just teenagers when we first moved in and couldn’t afford much, which is why we decided to rent it. The perk was that while it was hideous as all get out, our landlord was willing to let us do whatever we wanted to the place.

Name: Ashley, Matt, and Zucca (the cat) Spinelli Location: Central Haight — San Francisco, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: Renting 2.5 years Ashley and Matt moved to San Francisco from NYC, and wanted to live within biking distance of their jobs, while also having the ability to walk everywhere. Fortunately, the Lower Haight is centrally located within easy access to public transportation and urban thoroughfares and surrounded by four of the city’s best parks.

Name: Karie Leonardo Location: Pilsen — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5 years All around Chicago, there seems to be a residential rehabilitation of once-commercial spaces on a massive scale. But rarely does a single person attempt it with a sole commercial property.

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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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!

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.

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: 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: 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.

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.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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!

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.

As modern as Mel and Austin's Chicago loft is, they've made sure it feels inviting and homey, thanks to filling it up with things they love.

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.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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).

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.

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: Adam LaGreca Location: Clinton Hill, Brooklyn Size: 475 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Adam’s apartment is located in a tall, all-glass high-rise building on a street that runs right through the heart of Brooklyn. His neighborhood is filled with tree-lined streets, long-time residents, college students from Pratt Institute and St. Joseph’s college, young professionals and aspiring every-things.

Name: Nicole and Dan Lucey Location: Park Slope — Brooklyn, NY Size: 2800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Nicole, her husband Dan and their two kids moved into their Park Slope brownstone just over a year ago. After a dramatic (and much debated) paint job and face lift, this four-story home is now one everyone slows down to admire. Nicole and Dan chose architects Wendy Cronk and Erin Cowhey Design and contractors Versatile Renovations NYC to help with the renovations.

Name: Michal Turner Location: Vicenza, Italy Size: 1,900 square feet Years lived in: Less than one year, renting Michal’s apartment is a testament to her personality. Whether you’ve just met her, or have only been able to see photographs of her apartment, you immediately know this is a woman you want to befriend.