Featured Tour

Fashion consultant and merchandiser Jasmine Hart worked with interior designer and set decorator Kendra Cusic to decorate this Brooklyn rental apartment.

"Our home is a place for us to visually express ourselves. I like to think of it as one big canvas on which to design, taking inspiration from our lives together and telling little stories in different corners of our home."

"We were inspired by Australia and the American Southwest when designing and decorating. The area feels like a mix of Byron Bay and Tucson, so we wanted the home to reflect that.," explains designer Travis Wayne.

Lee Newman lives in a time capsule home built in 1974 that has been "maintained by the original architect and his family. It was one of his first builds, and has some quirks."

Photographer and interior designer Natalie Bird shares this 1000-square-foot, open-plan rental apartment in New York City's TriBeCa neighborhood with her husband.

Film, dance, and theater artist Brighid Greene has lived in this rental apartment in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood for five years, and her partner has rented here since 2012. They pay $1700 per month, and say their landlord has not raised the rent in over a decade.

Evelyne Klerx and her husband, Matthijs, have converted and renovated this old 969-square-foot barn into a home for themselves, their twin 20-year-old boys, two cats, and two pigs (that live outside in their own barn).

Rachael Harvey, Assistant Membership Director for a synagogue in Manhattan, moved to this 275-square-foot, $1,800-per-month Upper East Side studio apartment eight months ago.

Jenny and her husband hired plumbers and electricians, but did the rest of their home's renovation all on their own. "From demo, framing, drywall, installing tile, installing hardwood floors, painting, knocking down walls, and building out closets, we've done it all!"

Interior designer and E-designer Carissa Henderson is the founder and owner of A Bold New Hue, LLC., and has covered every inch of her home with her signature style of bold, patterned, maximalist style.

Before Selma bought their condo two years ago, it had been a plain rental with popcorn ceilings, old appliances, and a dark kitchen. But after renovating, the condo is now fresh and bright.

Alex Bass is more than just an art collector, she's the founder of Salon 21, an art advisory and design firm. And the small home she shares with her boyfriend not only shows off her art curating skills, but also plenty of renter-friendly ideas.

Jessica's rental house was built in the 1930s; she says it has a lot of "quirks, but also a lot of historic charm. It has original built-in cabinetry, windows, and tiling and a big backyard for us to all enjoy."

Emily Gershen and Dion Harris have owned this Detroit house — built in 1928 and featuring intricate plasterwork and original stained glass windows — for a year and a half. They share their home with their young son, Milo, and another baby on the way! (Along with two fur babies, Goose and Birdie.)

When Lindsey Kephart first arrived, the previous tenants (and friends) had painted the kitchen a color they loved: yellow. With a little paint and new hardware, Lindsey transformed the room — and the entire apartment — into a chic space more fitting to her personality.

This envy-inducing modern house remodel showcases indoor-outdoor living at its finest.

Artist Mauro Baiocco loves a bargain, so most of the furniture in this rental apartment has been found on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or the street.

Lily’s favorite thing about her apartment is all “the sunlight that comes in through the windows. The entire front wall is curved in a semicircle shape, so strong sun comes in from all sides. The plants have all really flourished, and I love watching them grow over.”

Bianca Tueretsky wrote a series of YA books called "The Time-Traveling Fashionista" about a girl who travels back in time through an enchanted vintage dress. Her small Prospect Heights apartment reflects her love of books, history, vintage pieces, and travel.

Aparna Jayaraman is Indian and has always been "inspired by the bold colors, patterns, and glitz of traditional saris." But while she says color is very important to her home, "neutrals provide it the foundation to really pop."

Musician Mathew V has moved five times in the last six years in “search of a home that felt like just that: home.” He’s found it here in this polished condo he shares with his partner, Justin.

Alexander and Jesse avoid newer luxury buildings, "preferring brownstones and buildings with more historical character. So when we were looking in Charleston we prioritized spaces in old, classic Charleston homes. Our building was built in 1840."

"The space had a modern aesthetic and we used the green kitchen as a jumping-off point for leaning into color and modern details," writes Mark Goldwell, the founding partner and executive creative director of Zero Studios.

Laura and Jason have designed the space to be like a "modern-day curiosity cabinet, and tried to evoke an overall style that blends mid-century, old British gentleman's club, and playful modernism to create a space that highlights all of our collections."

Nayeli Crossdale, a visual designer, and her husband, Nate, have transformed this dated Austin house into a colorful, eclectic, and lived-in home full of inspiration.

Artist John Neary worked with design firm Parini Design to restore this house, built in 1960 and designed by Michigan-based architect Paul Moffett. The structure was stabilized and the interior was fully modernized with a nod to its mid-century past.

The colors in Nityasya and her partner's home are bright "and there's a lot of texture and patterns to not just take us back to India (our homeland), but also to make the feel space vibrant and full of energy — on even the coldest winter day in NYC."

Lifestyle blogger Jessica Kirby and her partner, Craig Mackay, did all the renovations themselves on this house in Rhode Island, and they had a very small budget. But they maximized their efforts "by spending on materials instead of labor. Our house is small and it’s an open layout, but we managed to make it feel spacious and still cozy."

"We wanted everything to feel super fun and happy to look at," Victoria Buckley says of the home she shares with her partner and dog. "We both try to be really positive and I think our home helps a lot with that! When we’re relaxing at home or even working during the day, the whole atmosphere feels very positive and motivating."

"As soon as my husband and I got the keys, we began the hard work," begins Justine Guillermou, the founder of Rainbow Shaker, who specializes in "playful, offbeat," and "anti-gloom" designs. "We did everything ourselves from A to Z, except for the plumbing and electricity."

Elielle describes their home's style as "botanical, airy, eclectic, relaxed, traditional."

Designer Kim White has transformed her cozy Brooklyn rental apartment with smart DIY projects, like using banquette seating to build a custom sectional sofa, using mirrors to make the space feel larger, and more.

"We moved from a converted church to a converted school house," says Rachel Hill, who shares this home with her husband. "We both love the character that comes with an old building which is brought back to life and repurposed as a home."

Heather Davis is the Design Director of Concept, Print & Color at Urban Outfitters, and her home is a mish-mashed, cluttercore mix of textiles, cool chairs, and thrifted finds.

Bronwyn, who rents this 800-square-foot Nob Hill apartment, advises: "Let things evolve slowly. Invest in antiques with soul."

Ashley Martin’s inspiration comes from vintage aesthetics, from Hollywood Regency to charmingly kitsch honeymoon motels. ”I love incorporating modern art, eclectic furniture, and plenty of sparkly disco balls for a funky twist!” Ashley says. “It’s like if Barbie’s grandma had her own dream house.”

Kate makes an effort to avoid buying new things for her Chicago rental apartment, instead sourcing "items from thrift stores, antique shops, and second-hand marketplaces. About 80% of the things I buy come from these places, and I love incorporating historic designs into a very modern building."

Since this is Mindy’s first time owning a home, she was as involved as possible in the renovation, like knocking out the old kitchen and taking off the bathroom tiles, all to build the minimal and modern small home of her dreams.

Name: Donna Wilson and husbandLocation: Belfast, Northern IrelandType of home: TownhouseSize: 1000 square feetYears lived in: 10 years; rentingTell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: It’s a rental but I’ve made it my home, adding colour, texture, and layers to make it feel warm, cosy, and homely.I identify as a woman who loves life!

Amy and Jason sacrificed space so they could afford to buy something close to surfing and hiking trails. They did a gut reno on this 600-square-foot cottage, cladding it in warm wood from the ceiling to the walls and adding storage everywhere they could — under the couch, wall-to-wall cabinets in the tiny bedroom, and even vertical surfboard racks along the retaining wall outside." 

Dana and Andy first fell in love with this condo's vintage charm, and have appreciated all the work they did to make the space a comfortable home for their family, which now includes a young son. "Our condo has been a wonderful, cozy refuge," Dana writes.

After Shelby toured this 700-square-foot Chicago condo, she loved it so much she wrote the previous owner a handwritten letter. “I was like, ‘I’m ... begging you to let me live here.’” The letter worked. Now she and Collin reside in their small-but-mighty space, curating a sort of maximalist museum dedicated to the relationships that keep them afloat.

"Every piece on the wall contains a memory of either a place, a time, or an experience we don't want to forget," says Serene, of the apartment she shares with her husband, Jude, and daughter, Sophie.

Hilary Crawford's favorite thing about her four-bedroom semi-detached home she shares with her husband and three daughters is the open plan living space and "how it opens out to the garden particularly in the summer months!"

"I'm Italian American, lived in Rome for 10 years, and studied Humanities and Classics at university; these attributes reflect everywhere in my world," explains LeAnne Smith. "I love stone sculpture, architecture, pencil sketches, and gardens."

Because this mid-century modern house hadn't been looked after, Samantha and her husband Dave had the opportunity to update areas for their own needs and "not feel bad about tearing down a recently renovated kitchen or bathroom. It was truly a blank canvas."

Carole home's style is very colorful and eclectic. She's inherited centuries-old beautiful antiques from her family and added her own twist with some modernist furniture and great collectibles collected from travels across the world.

Shelby Vanhoy of Pretty in the Pines and her husband made their small Manhattan rental apartment a peaceful family haven by bringing in nature-inspired colors and timeless prints and patterns while highlighting 1930s architectural details.

"I've just always been attracted to a lot of color and I love it loud and colorful," describes Kimiya Justus, a Berlin-based artist and illustrator.

Model and body-positive influencer Kelvin Davis has over 50 plants in this 789-square-foot rental apartment.

Karie and Sean have been living in this 1922 bungalow in Norman, Oklahoma, for five years and "don't plan on moving as we love living small and are in an excellent neighborhood."

Christina Goldschmidt, Head of Product Design at Etsy, lives in an 859-square-foot condo in New York’s Battery Park City.

Julie and her fiancé fell in love with the original details of this house, like the original hardwood and arched doorways. And when it came to furnishing it, they got thrifty: "Our home is about 80% secondhand and 20% new items."

The colorful, retro tiles in Sidney and Brandon's rental apartment's bathroom were taken from a train station in Philadelphia during the '80s... and the vibrant tiles were even used for the baseboards around the main space, too!

New Zealand design editor Georgina McWhirter's Perth, Australia home is "modern-organic with an artsy twist."

Carrissa Leary is the founder of the Instagram-based vintage furniture company, Hendrix and Willow. She shares this large rental house with her two kids, her two dogs, and a ton of stunning vintage furniture and decor pieces.

As a Taurus, Reed's home is her castle and she spend a lot of time here, so she's made sure it's extremely cozy, has good lighting, and overall is a place that grounds her when she's in it.

Carolyn's style is inspired by color pop, Memphis design, '80s new wave, "Saved by the Bell," punk rock, and Goodwill thrift finds from the ‘60s to ‘90s.

"From DIY to beach finds, there are so many budget-friendly ways to make your space somewhere you're excited to be," explains Kelsey. Some of her favorite budget hacks in her rental apartment include: framing matchbooks for art, hacked IKEA console, custom desk, and more.

Inspired by the fashion of the '80s and '90s, mid-century designs, and cool movies, interior designer Serafima Gavrilenko took this two-bedroom apartment with no bathroom and turned it into a stylish two-level studio with an incredible walk-in closet.

"The stained glass that borders my three gigantic windows is a gem in and of itself, and combined with the decorative fireplace, exposed brick, and massive wood sliding doors, the room feels like a historical experience of living in Brooklyn," writes Karys Rhea.

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Knight’s husband, musician Judd Harris, used to say that she wants to live in an opium den and that he wants to live in a spaceship. “Eventually we settled on what we call ‘funky mid-century modern,’ which gives him a lot of clean lines and me the ability to accessorize with color and texture.”

Dorshelle Guillaume is a Haitian American fashion designer and says aesthetics, style, and ambiance are really important. "My home is very cozy, clean, and elevated and I love how everything works well together."

Lou, who runs the IG account @notaperioddrama, loves to respect and enhance the period style of their home but also likes to add a “sprinkle of something a little bit bold and unique.”

"Living in a studio means that I see everything all the time, so I really need to like everything that's there," explains Upper East Side studio apartment dweller Jamie Mandel.

Emily and Sean worked with designer Shelby Adamson at Little Black Fox to refresh their Georgia house that, at purchase, was clean and freshly painted but lacking in character. After a refresh, one room is now a deep monochromatic blue from floor to ceiling, and the rest of the house is full of personality.

Lisa and Eddie slowly transformed this space, layering textures of lush rugs and velvet, an antique mirror kitchen backsplash, and moody blue French wash walls to create this 516-square-foot retreat. "The space is small so we had to be thoughtful about the placement of absolutely everything."

Caity Birmingham, a production designer for movies and TV and a prop stylist for commercials and photoshoots, loves color and fits a TON of it into her 680-square-foot Brooklyn rental apartment.

Olivia's apartment's interior structure is Craftsman style, with built-in features including a slide Murphy bed, wall shelves surrounding the living room, a stained glass cabinet, antique push-button-style light switches, and a bathroom with a deep tub.

Laura Hartstein is the co-founder of Tola Home and a first-time homeowner DIYing her way through *wildly* decorating this new-build house. ”No major renovations are needed, so I've been able to go right into mural-ing walls, replacing light fixtures, wallpapering, hanging disco balls from the ceiling, and so on.”

Katharina fulfilled her dream of owning a home as a single woman. "I worked from finishing school until the day the papers were signed to give myself this security for retirement and to protect myself from rising rent costs," she writes.

Lisa’s rental home might only be 350 square feet, but the location is unbeatable and an “outdoor” space makes it feels much less smaller.