Featured Tour

Elizabeth fell in love with Providence and, after renting for years, bought and renovated a 1900 Victorian. She lives on the top two floors and rents out a first floor apartment.

Name: Audrey and Kevin McGill, sons Aidan (12) and Evan (10), and Charlotte the Yellow Lab Location: Lake Forest Park — Seattle, Washington Size: 2,240 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned When Audrey and Kevin moved their family across the country two years ago, they knew they wanted to live in a mid-century home. They found what they were looking for in a quiet, forested neighborhood just north of Seattle.

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.

Name: Jon and Jessie Location: St. Catharines — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Jon and Jessie bought their home knowing they would be filling it with lots of DIY projects in every room. Jessie’s love for light and simple spaces is nicely complemented by Jon’s desire for modern, darker decor.

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: Emily Eaton Location: South Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, renting Emily’s south Minneapolis space may be teeny, but it packs a one-of-a-kind punch, the likes of which you may have never seen. All small space dwellers are faced with the reality of their situation — some conquer and others fail.

Name: Suki Location: Queen Anne — Seattle, Washington Size: 677 square feet Years lived in: Owned 9 months Before she started decorating, Seattle homeowner Suki set out to create a space that felt like a vacation home, which worked out nicely for me since it was an especially gloomy day the afternoon I showed up to snap some pictures. I was desperately in need of a mini getaway and Suki’s condo totally delivered.

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: Molly Fitzpatrick and William Sill and Malachi (3) and Malala (two months old) Location: Cleveland, Ohio Size: 875 square feet Years Lived In: 6 years, owned What happens when a mason and a textile designer renovate a house together? In the case of Molly Fitzpatrick, the creative behind the colorful home wares of DittoHouse, and her husband William Sill, the result is a modern space with an attention to detail and a respect of natural materials.

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: Phyllis and Bill Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois Years lived in: Owned 25 Years This is a house I know intimately…because it’s the home I grew up in! My parents, Phyllis and Bill, bought this house over 25 years ago when it was filled with pink and teal decor from the ’80s. Once we moved in, they chose to decorate with neutral colors and vintage furniture that seemed more appropriate for a house built in 1902.

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: Tim and Kelly Fischer Location: SE Portland, Oregon Size: 1,650 square feet Years lived in: Owned 4 years After making offers on six other houses in Portland’s competitive real estate market, Tim and Kelly and their nine-year-old twin daughters Isabelle and Olivia were thrilled to finally have a home to call their own.

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: Puji Sherer Location: St. Johns neighborhood — Portland, Oregon Size: 864 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, owned Nine. That’s the number of different colors on display in the Portland house of Puji Sherer, President and “Chief Color Nerd” at Colorhouse Paint, an eco-conscious, low-odor paint company. But don’t think you’re in for a dizzying blend of too-bright hues in this tour.

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: Gosia, Anita and Josephine Location: Plumstead Common Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 11 years Gosia and Anita live on a pretty tree-lined road in the outskirts of London with their three-year-old daughter Josephine. Originally from Poland, the family has lived in this home for 11 years, slowly and lovingly renovating it bit by bit ever since. “Anita is the creative one with crazy ideas everyday.

Name: Mark Shapiro Location: Venice, California Years Lived In: 4 years, owned For podcaster Mark Shapiro, the house hunt was daunting — and long-lasting. It took 12 months of scouring the city for him to find this “tree house” in Venice in 2010. And..it was love at first sight. When Mark opened the front gate to the property, a majestic coral tree immediately caught his eye. Inside, a slanted wood ceiling and tall windows reminded him of the ski chateaus from his childhood.

Name: Louise, husband Brett and three kids Location: Camp Mountain, Australia Size: Approx 4413sqft Years Lived In: 3 years, owned Louise and her family have the best of both worlds: a lovely old home on a large block with gumtrees and only a 30-minute drive to the city. The old house suits Louise’s style perfectly, as her home is full of furniture from her grandparents, and finds from antique shops, thrift stores and local makers.

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: Danika and family Location: Fort Worth, Texas Size: 3400 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting When you’re outnumbered by kids, it can sometimes be hard to craft a home that both fits your style personality and theirs. Particularly if you’re renting. But as this young family proves, you can get creative — and colorful — even in a rental. Danika’s advice for making a home is simple, but universal: “Make your home yours. Unapologetically.

Name: Holly Schnackenberg and Dylan Sylwester Location: Sullivan’s Gulch — NE Portland, Oregon Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, rented Holly and Dylan live in what was originally the foyer, living room, dining room and kitchen of a 1907 home in Portland’s Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhood.

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: Natasha Location: The Annex, Toronto Size: 190 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting A historic mansion in Toronto is a book and history lover’s dream and for Natasha, it’s also home. Well, one small bit of it is home: Natasha rents a 190-square-foot studio apartment in the building. And though teeny, she finds her living space less congested now than when she lived in a house full of roommates.

Name: Ryan and Teressa Location: Sumner, Washington Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, owned When I arrived at Teressa and Ryan’s sweet, light-filled house, it came as no surprise to see the couple does natural chic like the pros that I already knew they were. Teressa is the owner of a floral design company for both special events and everyday flower delights. Ryan is a teacher by day and quite the woodworker in his off hours.

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: Sara, her husband and their three children Location: Sant Gervasi — Barcelona, Spain Size: 7,000 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned Sara’s no fan of minimal design. Thankfully, she’s got plenty of room to get as ornate as she wants. Chandeliers from France, rugs from Russia — every object’s got a story. But the house does, too: It used to be an old school!

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: Andrea Castañeda, Chris Amirault and their two kids Location: Coventry, Rhode Island Size: 3,400 square feet of living area Years lived in: 6 years, owned Built in 1958, this house has only been home for two families in its 60 years. It had been well-maintained, but was in an aging condition when Andrea and Chris bought it; they were intent on restoring it to its former glory. Over six years, they shaped it into the beautiful relic of history it is.

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.

Location: Manhattan, New York Size: 830 square feet Years lived in: 10 months, renting These are not living spaces designed after a single period style. Instead, these are rooms full of variety, filled with delights in the surprise achieved by pairing disparate design elements. (For example, a family heirloom seascape painting in a heavy baroque frame mounted above a mid-century-inspired couch topped with African mud-cloth pillows.

Name: Lindsay, Chris and cat Mooshy Location: Inglewood Neighborhood — Nashville, Tennessee Size: 960 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned When Lindsay and Chris moved to Nashville a few years ago from New York, they lucked out in finding this perfect-for-them home (complete with three outdoor cats from the previous owner).

This 100-year-old row home is full of charming original wood flooring, built-in bookshelves and natural light.

Name: Oliviero Fontana Location: NDG, Montreal Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting Oliviero is a former professional skateboarder and current stylist who has a passion for design and an appreciation for handmade craftsmanship. And he loves refurbishing vintage pieces he finds on the streets.

Name: Kristin, Nathan, and Addison (a schnauzer/poodle mix) Location: Ukrainian Village — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 10 months, owned Kristin and Nathan haven’t been in their loft for long, but it sure doesn’t show. Especially impressive when you learn how much work they had to do after purchasing the space. The chain smoking previous owner had been there for years and the loft was covered in (stinky) carpet.

Name: Jenee Yuen Location: San Francisco, California Size: 400 square feet (maybe a little larger?) Years Lived In: 8 years, renting One of the fun things about living in an old San Francisco apartment is that sometimes, depending on your particular landlord, you get a little bit of creative control to “adjust” your living space as you see fit. Jenee did just that when she took out the carpet in her living room and refinished the beautiful hardwood floors that were hiding underneath.

Name: Sarah Hughes and her two children Location: Lowry Hill Neighborhood — Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, renting Sarah and her kids occupy a spacious first floor apartment in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis — a perfect location within walking distance of coffee shops, delicious ice cream, an art museum and a handful of lakes and trails.

Name: Vicari Vollmar and Jordan Conley Location: Lansing, Michigan Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 4 months, renting Vicari is a senior designer for a public policy firm with an affinity for fitness, bold color, and a good gin fizz. She firmly believes in carbohydrates, horoscopes, and the power of love. Jordan is a state contract monitor, CrossFit coach, and bookworm. He enjoys binge-watching a series on Netflix, comic books, and snuggling his calico, Harley.

Name: Sarah Lyon Location: Georgetown, Washington, DC Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: Almost 1 year, renting You’d never guess by this rental’s chic, classic style, but Sarah purchased 95 percent of her furniture off of Craigslist. The only things she bought for full price (in other words, from a store) were her bed, headboard, couch, and front console table. Everything else has been the result of successful scavenger hunts! Sarah’s a Washington D.C.

Name: Abigail Hibbs and Henri Broyard Location: Crown Heights, Brooklyn Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years Walking into Abigail and Henri‘s Crown Heights apartment, it’s apparent they’ve got great style. Abbie is a gallery manager in Manhattan and Henri is a painter — their creative abilities have influenced a design aesthetic that’s a mix of mid-century furniture and Henri’s contemporary art.

Name: Terra Zosel Location: Kenwood Neighborhood, Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 months The story of Terra’s apartment is multi-fold. Her home occupies the attic of her grandparents’ house where she lives as caretaker to her grandmother. Her grandparents purchased the home in the 1960s from a couple who relocated from Minneapolis to the significantly warmer state of Florida.

Name: Linda Derschang, and Jack the Westie Location: Belltown — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,523 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Linda is a Seattle powerhouse. She is the force behind many of the city’s hippest bars and restaurants, and has designed her latest home, a modern condo in Belltown, with vintage finds, designer pieces, eclectic artwork, and a solid dose of ’70s glam.

Name: Carol and Lee Estes Location: Rancho Bernardo — San Diego, California Size: 1900 Square Feet Years Lived In: 20 years, owned Carol Estes is an interior designer who recently built a substantial Instagram following simply by sharing photos of her own home’s eclectic interior.

Name: Melissa Frankenfield, her husband, Jason, and their three children Location: Vicenza, Italy Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting When Melissa first found out she would be moving to Italy, she had fantasies of grandeur about her future home — how it might sit on a vineyard, overlooking a quaint Italian farm, with a vine-covered barn and rustic wood ceilings inside.

Name: Daci, Yoni, Dalia and Ike Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned When Daci and her husband moved across the country to Minnesota, they found themselves in a small house in a neighborhood of other small houses in south Minneapolis. As their family has grown, they’ve managed to keep their 900-square-foot home both functional and fun, even with the usual challenges that accompany small spaces. Daci is a rearranger.

Name: Katie O’Connor Location: West Village, New York City Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Katie and her husband have lived in their West Village one-bedroom for the past two years. With an enviable corner unit, the living room is wall-to-wall windows, giving them incredible views of the city and sunsets. Situated right next to the southern entrance to the High Line, they also have a great people-watching spot.

Name: Ceci Gervaso Location: Barcelona — Spain Size: 860 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, renting Originally from Uruguay, famed photographer Ceci Gervaso has called Barcelona home for several years. She misses her home town but this beautiful house she’s been renting for almost four years has a special place in her heart. Gorgeous antique floor tiles and vintage furnishings are the perfect mix for this space.

Name: Eva Medoff, branded content editor at Well+Good, Delaney Rohan, and Scout (the cat) Location: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York Size: 450 square feet Years lived in: 6.5 years, renting When Eva moved into her Brooklyn studio apartment seven years ago, the space suited her needs: It’s centrally located in the trendy Williamsburg neighborhood and she has a great landlord. Despite the pros, “It didn’t feel like a real home,” Eva said.

Name: Rob & Evelyn Stewart Location: Washago — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,100 square feet (plus a 350-square-foot bunkie) Years lived in: 9 years, owned Thirty years ago, Rob and Evelyn decided to move from the city to Muskoka, a desirable cottage town in Ontario to raise their kids. Now, they’re semi-retired and their kids are grown up, so they’ve taken advantage of “slower living” in their quiet town.

Name: George Morgan Location: West Loop — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,150 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned George Morgan saw a lot of homes before he finally found his perfect Chicago bachelor pad.

Project by: Filipe Battazza and Raoni Mariano of Fábrica Arquitetos Location: São Paulo, Brazil This professional project is one of those amazing examples of how you can do so much with so little when you harness the power of design. Engineered by architects, using a lot of sleek materials, this exact renovation might be out of reach for some, but it’s still filled with tons of ideas you can steal to make a small home work (and look) so much better.

Name: Rachael, Rob and Frankie Wetherington + Liza Minnelli the Cat Location: East Kensington — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Size: 1,600 square feet Years Lived In: 5 years, owned Rachael and Rob’s first house wasn’t their “dream home” when they bought it five years ago, right before their wedding. But with a giant yard in the city and an open floor plan on a corner in a neighborhood they loved, it had enough potential to be pretty darn close.

Name: Sarah, Will, baby Romilly and Ramsey the bulldog Location: Haddonfield, New Jersey Size: 3,795 square feet Years Lived In: 3 years, owned Sarah and Will live in a beautiful 19th Century Haddonfield Manor House, designed and built by notable architect, Clement Remington. Remington was also involved in the construction of Philadelphia’s City Hall, the Curtis Building, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Name: Franz and Patsy Knapp with kids Felix (6) and Betty (4) and dog Ludo Location: Dunsborough, Western Australia Size: 1,615 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Franz, a stonemason, and Patsy live in a home they built together from the ground up. Their beautiful home is located on seven and a half acres in the coastal town of Dunsborough, well-known for its white sandy beaches and holiday atmosphere.

Name: Lezli Clendening Location: Vicenza, Italy Size: 1,614 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, renting Walking into Lezli’s second floor Italian apartment is like walking straight into a museum. With artifacts from all around the world, beautiful canvases from artists (some of whom she is related to) and even bones, insect display cases and taxidermy pieces, it certainly could be mistaken for one of the coziest exhibits ever.

Name: David and Katy Kippen, and dogs Violet and Wally Location: Laurelhurst — NE Portland, Oregon Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 12 years, owned When Katy and David bought their 1922 Craftsman bungalow in Portland a dozen years ago, they visualized a place where they could enjoy privacy and calm, despite their home’s very urban location. With time and patience they have created their ideal space: modern, minimal and inspired by “nature, open spaces, and contrast.

Name: Angel and Ben Location: Fremont — Seattle, Washington Size: 580 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting The first thing you notice when walking into Angel and Ben’s Fremont studio is the huge floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the space, letting light pour into their living area.

Name: Holly Location: The Mission — San Francisco, California Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting The first thing you notice when you open the door to Holly’s apartment in San Francisco’s popular Mission neighborhood is the light in the hallway that runs two-thirds of the length of the space. Windows all along the right side — some stained glass — make it feel very airy and ethereal.

Name: Matt and Ali Murray, daughter Tennyson, 2, and Lucky, the Mini Aussie Location: Newberg, Oregon Size: 3,000 square feet Years lived in: Owned, 5.5 years Six years ago, Matt told Ali that he found their dream home in Newberg, a small town in Oregon’s wine country about an hour from Portland. They had previously lived together in downtown Portland, and later owned a house in a southwest suburb of the city…and weren’t actually in the market for a new home.

Name: George Marrone Location: Wilmington, Delaware Size: 4,300 square feet Years Lived In: 7 years, owned George discovered this stunning house — just outside of Philadelphia — while helping a friend look for properties online. He works in healthcare, but has always had an affinity for architecture and design. Today, this artist-built 1959 gem is set along a creek among gardens in a setting that’s utterly captivating. But the house itself was near ruin when George found it.

Name: Kirsten Schofield and Eric Ng Location: Vicenza, Italy Size: 3,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Some apartments have good bones, and some apartments feature inhabitants who know good design. Amazingly, Kirsten and Eric’s apartment in downtown Vicenza features both! With thoughtfully chosen items from estate sales and antique stores around Europe and the U.S., this couple has quite the collection of beautiful things from their travels around the world.

Name: Fabiola, Javier, Claudia (5) and Guillermo (2) Location: Barcelona, Spain Size: 1,720 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned When Javi and Fabi first saw this space on the top floor of a beautiful duplex in the family-friendly neighborhood of Eixample, it was completely different. All of the fixtures were outdated and the layout needed to be reconfigured. Undeterred, they saw the potential of the space and decided to do a complete overhaul.

Name: Lucia and Paige Location: Highland Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, rented Roommates Lucia and Paige have a decorating motto when it comes to treasures from thrift stores: If you want it, you get it! That’s how they were able to create a pretty home even though they don’t have a big budget. The roommates say they complement each other perfectly: Paige is good at solving problems and Lucia is the handy one.

Amanda and Courtney DIYed this cabin from uninhabitable to livable in eight months.