Featured Tour

When interior designer Natasha Landers bought this house 24 years ago, it was dated and had had a lot of the “original features stripped out.” But now it’s full of bold color and hints of quirkiness.

It was also a pepper factory!

The main feature of this 700-square-foot apartment is a "huge brick wall with a hand-painted advertisement for an old market that used to be in our neighborhood," writes renter Brandon Corcione.

Once a “dark, dusty heap,” every room in this house now bursts with thrifted and family-made furniture and hidden art tucked into the crevices of the pecky cedar walls.

“I have been working hard in finding my style. My home is intentional in showcasing who I am as a Black Latina immigrant from the Dominican Republic,” Anne Hernandez begins. “I collect original art, and it is primarily the art of BIPOC artists. I want to pay homage to my African roots at every corner of my home.”Anne says that when she first moved in, the place needed a total renovation. “It is a place I was fortunate to purchase after renting the apartment below.

The fountain also serves as a water bowl for the cats!

Plus, 90% of the furniture is secondhand.

Tracie Moore is on a "mission to transform this space into a home that feels just as warm and inviting as the one we had back in Georgia."

"I am NOT a relaxed person and need to be stimulated or doing something with my hands at all times, so this house perfectly fits how my brain feels," admits fashion designer Haley Boyko.

Jillian Elliott is an artist and florist. She transformed her 650-square-foot Brooklyn rental apartment with cozy vintage finds, storied objects, and lots and lots of pretty floral patterns.

“My space is slightly cluttered, but also intentional. Everything has a place. Nothing matches perfectly, but goes together. It’s my little urban cottage,” writes Claudia.

Katherine repainted all of the downstairs rooms, added peel-and-stick wallpaper, installed peel-and-stick tiles in the kitchen (to cover up a beige backsplash,) and used fabric on unfinished walls to create a style she describes as "moody, exuberant, colorful, often messy."

Cylia had only known white walls in previous rental apartments, so this unique unit's stunning exposed brick walls were one of the first things she noticed about this small-but-stylish space.

Justin Hollinger describes this 1939 Cape Cod house before purchasing it as "[t]ired, run-down, layers of questionable DIY, unfinished projects, cheap fixes."

“Making a small space work efficiently, and not being afraid of color, is definitely a result of my having embraced New York culture, which allows for any type of style experimentation,” writes Kim Narby.

"My home is a blend of Japandi and mid-century modern, with a touch of wabi-sabi," describes Abhishek Dekate.

Laura Bindloss, founder of Nylon Consulting, renovated this modern coastal cottage, using white walls to keep it bright and colored trim around the windows and fun wallpaper “to give it a punch.”

This rental was sad when Jillian moved in. “It was dark, cold, many things were broken, the vibe was off … ” Jillian put a lot of TLC, love, and effort to turn this dingy rental into an oasis.

When Louise first entered this house, it felt like stepping back in time. "The house was in its original state, with all the 17th century walls and floors, and books were piled high in every room," she writes.

"The apartment was rented as-is, meaning it needed a really good scrub, a lick of paint, and an updated kitchen and bathroom," explains artist and native New Yorker Kellie Rogers.

This empty loft was brimming with so much potential, and photographer Averie Cole added bold colors and whimsical details. “Painting and designing this space was more than just decorating — it was therapy,” Averie explains.

This Victorian turned rental apartment has classic traditional London townhome elements like a cornice, wainscoting, tall baseboards, and reclaimed wood flooring, but also has been “blessed with a modern kitchen and bathroom."

Before Danielle moved in, she described this Brooklyn loft as "drab, industrial, and soul-less." But now it's "bohemian, colorful (but not aggressive), layered, artsy, and autobiographic."

When Jim was ready to buy, he found this character-packed space in the Hague. “I love the high ceilings and also the natural light which floods the space in the mornings and afternoons.” And he fell in love with the stained glass windows immediately.

Abby didn’t realize quite how bad this Brooklyn apartment was when she first moved in: “ There were broken tiles, missing pipes, and it was filthy.” But after a huge transformation, Abby’s rental is now cheerful, colorful, and fun.

Some people live in New York City for a while, and then, when they start a family or grow tired of the hustle and bustle, they retreat to the suburbs or smaller cities. While it might not be the most common storyline for a family of four to trade their spacious home in Texas for a small apartment in New York City, that’s exactly what Tim and Liz Everett (and their children Ethan and Harper) did.

This home stuns with crimson details like a red marble kitchen countertop, terrazzo floor with red hues, and tall ceilings with visible red air conditioning tubes.

See inside an Arizona home “packed with fun, nostalgic items in a space full of color.”

Alexa Priego is a full-time content creator and mom of three, and for the past 10 years has rented this 525-square-foot, one-bedroom NYC apartment.

This Chicago apartment went from “dusty humid roly-poly graveyard” to “dreamy plant-filled bohemian artist’s sanctuary.”

It’s no wonder the renter signed the lease immediately after touring.

As soon as Camille walked into this Pasadena rental apartment in a building built in 1929, it was love. “The stained glass bay window, large bedrooms, in-unit laundry room, and, of course, the original tile bathroom are what sealed the deal for me."

The backyard oasis perfectly complements the deep green kitchen cabinets.

One hundred-plus years of history was erased by cheap paint and $10 boob lights, but now this rental apartment feels like being transported to the South of France.

This is the first home where artist Susan Jessop has gotten to choose all the colors and furnishings, and she went bold with her picks!

For 20-plus years, Shannon has covered her home's walls with sparkly silver tinsel to create an incredibly cheery holiday display, and she spills all her secrets on decorating for the holidays!

Living downtown in a high-rise has always been a dream of designer Lauren Ashley. Before she moved in, this apartment was dated and dull — but now it’s inviting and full of color and personality, and tells a story.

See inside a Brooklyn apartment that’s industrial, but joyful and relatable — and where every piece of furniture was deliberately and carefully designed to meet a specific function.

It was so good that the family bought the home without seeing it in real life.

But after a complete renovation and redesign, there’s gorgeous parquet wood floors, a custom-built storage wall, and a whole lot of classic, contemporary style.

When Anna moved in, her apartment had no oven, fridge, or washing machine; the sink wasn’t usable; and the kitchen cabinets were totally broken. “But the ceilings, French doors, and floors were so beautiful — I knew it had potential!”

Minetta Archer has been renting this 725-square-foot Harlem apartment for 15 years, adding tons of color, pattern, and glam to each room.

Johnny LaZebnik painted each room of his North Hollywood home, as well as refinished a dresser, nightstands, and kitchen table. He built shelving, cleaned things found off the street, and repaired vintage furniture. “Several of the old lamps I've rewired myself, and I taught myself how to gild things with metal leaf.”

Carrie Boyd has added so much holiday spirit to her renovated house in the UK, including festive garlands, throw pillows, bows, and more.

Jessica and Jason have enjoyed adding "texture, vibrant pops of color, and warmth" to this cool rental house they share with their three sons.

Lauren Crawford said she broke the design rule about not changing too much in a rental apartment.

Once lacking warmth or personality, after 17 years this West Village apartment now has both — plus lots of color and pattern.

After the passing of Troy's father last summer, she "needed a change of scenery and a fresh start in a place that would foster an environment of creativity, newness, and exploration as I navigated my grief."

The renter even teaches yoga classes in the living room.

Tour an elegant yet cozy studio apartment located in Toronto that rents for $1,560 a month.

Zach and Taylor have filled their rental apartment with quite the collection, turning it into a “pop art paradise” with “eclectic energy.”

See inside this MCM gem filled with retro holiday decor, including a collection of vintage ceramic Christmas trees.

Professional skateboarder Nicole Hause and her girlfriend have made a gorgeous home in their 1950-era rental apartment.

See inside an Amsterdam rental apartment with Scandinavian-inspired decor and incredible views of the Rijksmuseum.

The studio’s in an almost 100-year-old building in the heart of Hollywood and while only 485-square-feet big, is a "total dream: exposed brick, stunning windows that swing open, the original built-in 1920s vanity.”

The original apartment was also described as “cramped” and as having a “musty odor lingering in the air.”

Rachel has been renting this small Portland for three years and has DIYed quite a bit in the space. She refinished furniture, made a pendant light, and even created mirrors, too.

After home flippers “made literally everything gray” in Mary and her husband’s quintessential 1959 mid-century modern home, they brought it back to life with color, retro-patterned wallpaper, and cheerful vintage pieces.

Kalin Stovall “could talk about curtains all day,” and each room of the three-bedroom apartment she shares with her family “has a different combination of curtain length, fabric, and header.”

Writer Elisabeth Edelman bought this 750-square-foot condo in Richmond, Virginia five years ago, and she shaped the space to “highlight the century-old charm while creating a luxe feel.”

“I am often torn between maximalism and minimalism, and my apartment definitely straddles the two,” writes Lake Buckley, who describes her home’s style as “California New Wave or Brooklyn Beach House.”

This 675-square-foot Barcelona apartment is filled with secondhand gems and a great IKEA hacked coffee table.

Hannah Deau’s rental apartment has envy-inducing architectural features like a brick wall, high ceilings, French doors, Spanish tiles, and around 20 plants.

Manon found this tiny boat on Dutch eBay. “I figured it's better than renting an expensive apartment, and it would be a great adventure!”

When Sin Ying Tracy Leung first bought this small apartment, it was “old, dull, and lifeless,” but three years later it’s now a colorful, playful, eclectic, and warm home.

This Seattle apartment was once a "builder-grade blank canvas" until this couple made their mark on the space.

It’s even on the balcony.

"It may seem a bit cluttered to some, but I love it!" exclaims Melanie, who shares this tiny studio with her cute cat. "Maximalism isn't for everyone, but I keep it clean!"

Rhea knows a thing or two about living in a small space; she’s made a stylish but functional home in this 420-square-foot studio apartment.

This cinematographer’s 700-square-foot apartment stuns with brick details, warm paint colors, and a double drenched pink bedroom.

Rosalind and her family undertook a “tip to toe renovation, reconfiguring many of the rooms and adding a kitchen/diner extension” in this London house.

It's the mix that makes this apartment so interesting, like a vintage sideboard, vinyl records, and eclectic art pieces.