Before After

Lauren and Dustin say this house, built in 1902, hadn't been updated since the '70s and '80s. The couple spent just over a year on interior renovations, modernizing the outdated space but preserving and honoring much of the historic home's charming architectural features.

Josie says that limitations breed creativity, and that certainly applies in the home she shares with her partner, Alec. "I have never gotten more ideas for a space than for this tiny apartment."

This 1970s Bauhaus-Inspired Munich apartment — which is completely round shaped, by the way — was transformed into a pastel-colored, Memphis-inspired home filled with vintage gems, modern finds, and custom-made furniture designed by the homeowner.

"If you asked me two years ago if I could refinish hardwood floors, tile a backsplash, or repair holes in the wall, I would’ve laughed," Jessica Youngquist says.

Interior designer Nicole Arruda's whole rental studio apartment is proof of how much architectural interest and beauty you can add to a space with just a few details.

Tessa started Tessa Ariane Design, which focuses on affordable design work, in "response to how out of touch the interior design industry can be with what most folks actually need. We are all impacted by our environments, and I really believe we need to prioritize providing solutions for renters, folks in small spaces, and within realistic budgets that don’t leave anyone behind," she says.