House

Nicolette and Michael built their very own tiny house in 2018 in just seven months. And they've fit a lot in to just 300 square feet!

In this new 6-part series, we meet the people redefining what home means today. Home is where YOU make it.

Before the remodel this house felt cramped. After the remodel, it feels as if it's gained 50 percent more square footage.

Name: Vivian Okwuagwu, Erik Solomonson, and cats Sugar, Neil and Lemon Location: East Flatbush — Brooklyn, New York Size: 1,900 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years (but owned for 3 years) Vivian Okwuagwu uses the word “survived” to describe the gut renovation of her and her husband Erik’s 119-year-old Brooklyn barrelfront limestone and brick rowhouse.

Melissa's apartment is full of subtle, tongue-in-cheek cultural references to movies and TV.

Name: Laura Gibson and family Location: Sharpsburg, Georgia Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned No matter whether you’re personally a fan of farmhouse chic style or not, you have to hand it to Laura Gibson: She’s a woman (and blogger) with a distinct style. And an attention to detail that customizes every inch of a plain home.

Co-Founder of Wolf + Friends Carissa Tozzi shares this home with husband Dino, their six-year-old son Wolf, and their rescue pup, Pepito.

Name: Coralie Hews Location: Northeast Portland, Oregon Size: 250 square feet, including loft Years Lived In: 7 months; renting Though she was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Coralie Hews has always possessed a Southwestern sensibility, especially when it comes to matters of interior design.

Name: Adrien Rabago and Jon Schmidt Location: Leimert Park — Los Angeles, CA Size: 1,900 square feet Years lived in: 8 months; Owned Situated on a quiet tree-lined street in the up-and-coming Los Angeles neighborhood of Leimert Park, Adrien and Jon’s home cheerfully welcomes you with its mint green exterior—and what’s inside is no less affable and bright.

Name: Melissa and Sonny Location: Trent Hills; Ontario, Canada Size: 1,700 square feet on 5 acres Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Melissa never imagined that she’d trade in the bustling city life of Toronto for a homestead in the countryside. However, a few years ago the desire for more space and a slower pace of life crept in, so Melissa and her husband Sonny moved their lives 1.5 hours east of Toronto to the rolling hills of Trent Hills, Ontario.

And they were able to salvage some of the elements of the renovation in the new design.

Name: Michael Shaikin, Gaelyn Eyre and baby Wolf Location: Chelsea, Quebec Size: 2,450 square feet Years lived in: 7 months; Owned With its towering, glass-fronted facade and the Gatineau river as a backdrop, Michael and Gaelyn’s house is the stuff modern dreams are made of. Having recently welcomed their son Wolf into their family, they are convinced that buying this beautiful property only a 20-minute drive from downtown Ottawa, where they work, has been a great decision.

Name: Madeleine and Karl Stamer Location: Caulfield; Melbourne, Australia Size: 110 square metres (1,184 square feet) Years lived in: 2 years; Owned for 10 years The minute you walk into this wonderful family home- filled with color and beautiful artwork, much of it created by Madeleine- you wish it was your own. The mixture of vintage, new, and handmade/handcrafted has been collected over time and is well thought-out and displayed so effortlessly.

Name: Roger and Chris Stout-Hazard and dog Buck Location: Sharon Springs, New York Size: 1800 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2.5 years Roger and Chris’ style is the kind of laid-back, eclectic look that would look great anywhere. But combine it with the great architectural bones of an 160-year-old Italianate Victorian in the overwhelmingly charming small town of Sharon Springs, New York, and you’ve got a bold and modern mix that makes for one seriously enviable home.

Name: Clara of Banner Day & Sam (and their dog Morgan) Location: Rockridge; Oakland, California Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; Owned Clara and Sam live in a 1930s cottage just a short walk from Oakland’s charming Rockridge neighborhood. After leaving a career in corporate law to start her interior design business Banner Day Consulting, Clara has been constantly pursuing her passion for design in their home, as well as for her numerous clients.

Name: Dani, Dave & Freddy (4 years old) Valentine Location: Coquitlam, British Columbia Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; owned The Valentines live in Coquitlam, British Columbia which is about 25 minutes outside of Vancouver. You may remember from awhile back Dani’s House Call of their Scandinavian, minimalist inspired home. I had to get the chance to see this home for myself and trekked out for a visit to explore this family’s beautiful, clutter-free space.

Name: Broderick St. Location: Cow Hollow; San Francisco, California Size: Approximately 7580 square feet About: Remodeled in 2013. 7 bed, 7 full baths/2 half baths. My interior design firm just completed a project that I am practically drooling over. Our client gave me the ok to photograph the completed project and share it with you, so we can all drool together! The property is going for a cool $11.

Name: Colman Riddell Location: Georgetown; Washington, DC Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Colman’s house first appeared on Apartment Therapy last December. Having made several changes in the past year, she invited us to revisit the converted stable — which dates back to the 1850s — for a full tour. Colman, a nurse-turned-decorator, shares the home with her husband, two children, and their Boston Terrier, Pim.

The homes of avid Do-It-Yourselfers have a charm and artistry all their own; they are often places that represent their owners more clearly than any space filled with off-the-shelf

Name: Lindsay Nakashima and son Hugo Location: Hyde Park — Austin, TexasSize: 1400 square feetYears lived in: Owned, 10 years Beauty permeates every inch of the Austin home of Lindsay Nakashima, the grandniece of famed Mid-Century Modern furniture maker George Nakashima. His modern and warm wood furniture designs mix with Lindsay’s refreshingly simple and honest approach to design, to create a home that’s entirely welcoming.

Name: Sarah RedshawLocation: Wimbledon, London, United KingdomSize: 905 square feetYears lived in: 13 years; owned For most of its life, Sarah’s South London terraced home had a traditional two-up, two-down layout. But after 12 years of ownership, Sarah decided that the arrangement wasn’t working for her anymore. She craved more space, more light, and a more contemporary feel.

Name: Holly & JoeLocation: Portland, ORSize: 2,000 square feetYears lived in: 8 months; Owned Three cross country moves in three years is enough to test even the most solid of relationships, but newlyweds Holly and Joe are convinced it just made theirs stronger. They recently decided to put down roots in Portland and plan to let those roots go deep before they consider another move any time soon.

Name: Christopher Smith & Merete Mueller Location: Hartsel, Colorado Size: 127 square feet Years lived in: 3 months; Own Christopher and Merete own a tiny house on some of the most beautiful land in Colorado. One hundred miles southwest of Denver, fifteen minutes down a gravel road just outside Hartsel, sits a 127 square foot home. It’s cozy, efficient and costs hardly anything to power, but most importantly: it’s theirs.

Name: Raina Kattleson of A Stylist’s Life & Robert Butscher, an architectLocation: Hudson Valley — New York, NYSize: 1200 square feetYears lived in: Bought 1 ½ years ago — spent 15 months renovating and now rent it out. The popularity of makeover shows, before and afters, and rags-to-riches stories points to our continued fascination with those who have the gift to see the potential in something. It’s not a gift everyone has.

Name: Suzy UltmanLocation: Old Worthington — Worthington, OhioSize: 1,700 square feetYears lived in: 2 — ownedIf you’re familiar with Suzy Ultman’s work, you know her for her playful designs depicting a world populated by grinning apples, thick-eyelashed owls and rosy-cheeked matryoshka dolls, figures rendered with simple details that pack a mega punch of personality.

Name: Jake and Angela Fleet, three kids and a mini golden-doodle named ChillyLocation: Phinney Ridge — Seattle, WashingtonSize: 2100 square feetYears lived in: 9 years — owned I was delighted to be able to photograph Jake and Angela’s modern Craftsman home on one of the sunniest days that Seattle had seen in months. The sunny rays through each of the huge, gorgeous windows scattered all around the home highlighted details like the boxed beam ceilings and rich hardwood floors.

Name: Jonya and Bradley Streeper (and son Julian Grey)Location: Beaverton — Portland, ORSize: 2,400 square feetYears lived in: 3 — owned Jonya, Brad and their two–year–old son Julian live in one of the most thoughtfully decorated, wonderfully airy homes I’ve had the pleasure of photographing. An open floor plan and tall ceilings allow for a steady stream of unbelievable natural light to flood the entire space.

Name: WillLocation: Cabbagetown; Toronto, OntarioSize: 1,300 sq. feetYears lived in: 4.5 years owned We last visited Will’s English Gentry in Cabbagetown in the summer of 2010. While there wasn’t much to improve on since then, Will has moved around furniture, acquired some new accessories and renovated his furnace room. So this tour shows details missed in the first tour and focuses on the small changes that alter the feel of the space.

Name: Rachel Craven & Jonathan CravenLocation: Angelino Heights – Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1700 square feetYears lived in: 1 year Rachel invited me over to her beautiful home in Angelino Heights. I was so excited because Angelino Heights is the second oldest district in Los Angeles; therefore, there are so many stunning old homes with a lot character. Another treat was the Echo Park Craft Fair that was being held at her home later in the day.

Name: Alon and Betsy KashaLocation: Normandy, FranceSize: 2200 square feetYears lived in: 5 years We got a first look at Alon & Betsy’s Beautiful Normandy Home last month and now we’re back to see the rest of this stunning home. Alon and Betsy have a clean and classic style and, in renovating this classic French home, they brought that perspective to the space. Alon and Betsy are the clever and creative forces behind a+b kasha.

Name: Sue Nixon Location: Seattle — Washington Size: 1000 square feet Years lived in: 10 years on the dock; 6 months in this home; Own A few months back I posted about Seattle’s dreamy houseboat culture in Hello Houseboats! Life On Seattle’s Shores, and to my incredible delight I had the opportunity to do a tour of one of these amazing homes. Is the idea of living in a houseboat what you imagine it to be? The answer is a resounding ‘YES’ and much, much more.

Name: Trent and Carly Shepherd, our 4.5 month-old baby, Gray, our 14-year-old golden retriever, Levi and our 8-year-old cat, Phoenix. Not listed in order of preference.

Name: Hallie & Mark BurrierLocation: Frederick, Maryland’s historic districtSize: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath, built in 1890Years lived in: owned, 1 yearEven from the street, Mark and Hallie’s three story row house is a stunner. And perhaps even more stunning is the amount of work that the young couple has poured into restoring the turn of the century row home in just a year. While Hallie claims that there is still tons to be done, you would never guess it.

Name: Andrew Schultz & John TylerLocation: Berwyn, IllinoisSize: 900 square feetYears lived in: 1 — owned I’ve seen the way Andrew and John can create an amazing display of furniture and accessories, like the one we saw at The Vintage Bazaar. If they can do that in a big space in just an hour’s time, I reasoned, imagine what their home must look like! Andrew and John are the stylish fellows behind Study, a color and design service.

Name: Kristin SalazarLocation: San Diego, CaliforniaSize: 3,000 square feetYears lived in: 10 — owned We’ve seen Kristin’s ingenious concealment of her garage door opener and we turned to her when we needed a tutorial on installing glass in solid cabinet doors. Now we finally get a chance to see Kristin’s entire house.Kristin’s home is what I picture as my ideal California dream home.

Name: Crystal & Gavin GregoryLocation: Parkwood — Shoreline (Seattle) WASize: 920 square feetYears lived in: 2 — owned The owner and creator of Modernist Cat (featured on AT back in January) recently opened up her newly renovated home for us. Vintage feline ledges and custom-built catwalks compliment Crystal’s handmade modernist cat furniture, which blends seamlessly with the home’s MCM pieces.

Name: Alexis Karpf and her fiance Nick Location: Silverlake — Los Angeles, CASize: 1200 square feet, 2 bedroom, 1 bathYears lived in: 2 — rent I met Alexis through her business partner Jeff Eyser, who you may remember from his house tour last year. Alexis and her fiance share this single level duplex home in the hills of Silverlake. They have a wonderful little yard and plenty of organic goodness ripening in their garden.

Name: Doub Hanshaw and John David MahaffeyLocation: Fishtown — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 4,500 square feet — 1 bedroom Years lived in: 2 — own Doub transformed her once run-of-the-mill garage in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia into a free-spirited space that screams fun, resourcefulness and a serious sense of style. The unassuming exterior and the raw interiror is what attracted her to the space and she was able to see a diamond in the rough.

Name: Kirsten + Josh Krason and son JettLocation: South Jordan, UtahSize: 1,500 square feet — owned After I saw House Call: Kirsten’s Colorful Family Home and Kirsten’s Jazzed Up TV Credenza, I couldn’t wait to see the rest of her house. Just as I expected, her home is equal parts colorful, classic, a little dramatic, and utterly fabulous! As a frequent reader of Kirsten’s blog, 6th Street Design School, I already knew that she has a fabulous sense of style.

Name:Jesi & Ryan Haack, with their two sons Jonah & MaverickLocation: Costa Mesa, CaliforniaSize: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom (approx 750 square feet)Years lived in: 1 ½ years — rent Jesi and Ryan Haack are a dynamic duo of creativity, sharing a loving home with their two sons Jonah and Maverick. Each room has a DIY charm, with great thrift store finds and handmade decorations.

Name: Roy and Liane Burns, their baby Walt, and dog Zee Location: Bluff Park — Birmingham, Alabama Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 2 — owned When graphic designers Roy and Liane Burns set out to buy their first house, they sought modern, affordable, and sustainable living. After an unavailing search, they met co-founders Matthew Finley (of Matthew & Mikel’s DIY Water+Works Remodel) and Will Brothers from the design-build practice Green Bottle Workshop.

Name: Steve Halterman and Glen SteigelmanLocation: Joshua Tree, CaliforniaSize: 1,800 square feet on 5 acresYears lived in: 4 The jealousy is kicking in! Steve and Glen’s incredible Joshua Tree home, surrounding environment and pool make for a relaxed weekend getaway, just a few hours from the city. Steve is a set designer, underground filmmaker and stained glass artist and I am fairly certain this remarkable desert location plays a role in his daily inspirations.

Name: Matthew Hofmann Location: Coyote Canyon — Montecito, California Size Approx 160 square feet Years lived in: 6 months — owns the Airstream, rents the land After seeing Matthew Hofmann’s Before and After makeover of his retro Airstream trailer, I jumped at the opportunity to photograph it for a full tour. A licensed architect, founder of HofArc, he was able to reconfigure the original bones of this space while refurbishing it, and restoring some of the original charm.

Name: Angelique Hoffman & Dan, + 3 young daughters + fluffy dogLocation: Myersville, MarylandSize: 2,500 square feet —4 bedrooms, 2½ bathsYears lived in: almost 4 Some homes are lessons in compromise — Angelique’s is a lesson in harmony.

Name: Author Mary Roach & Graphic Designer/Illustrator Ed RachlesLocation: Glenview — Oakland, CaliforniaSize: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 7 — owned Mary Roach’s best-selling books, like Stiff and Packing for Mars, invite readers to unusual places such as morgues, labs, and outer space. In her books, Mary reveals the science (and humor) behind dead bodies, sex, and errr…other funky stuff.

Name: Matthew, Mikel and Peri the dogLocation: Vestavia — Birmingham, AlabamaSize: 2,300 square feetYears lived in: 8 months — owned To Mikel’s relief, this wasn’t the first time Matthew had decided to take on a sizeable DIY project.

Name: Tommy SmytheLocation: Rosedale — Toronto, CanadaSize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 3 — rented If you live in Canada and have the slightest interest in design, you know Tommy Smythe. Tommy is the sidekick to Sarah Richardson, one of the most high profile designers and television personalities up north. Besides working together at her eponymous firm, they star together on two of HGTV’s most successful programs: Sarah’s House and Sarah’s Cottage.

Name: Alfred & Rachel Atlas VendittoLocation: College Hill — Providence, Rhode IslandSize: 3 bedrooms + mother-in-law in converted atticYears lived in: 10 — owned The home Rachel & Al share with their two children, ages 3 and 5, and their dog in a former church meeting house is cozy and whimsical — filled with unusual and inspiring collections of natural objects and artwork.

Name: Michael Jon WattLocation: Traverse City, MichiganSize: 818 square feet, with a full basementYears lived in: 2 We first got a glimpse of Michael’s wonderful cottage in Traverse City (home of the Cherry Festival!) during Small Cool 2010. As illustrated by the hefty number of “thumbs up” on his entry, his style is clearly in line with the aesthetics of the Apartment Therapy readers. With that in mind, we’re thrilled to bring you a full tour of his home.

Name: Sarah and JoshLocation: Somerville, MassachusettsSize: 1800 square feetYears lived in: Only six months! I tend to be a bit Jamaica Plain-centric for my Apartment Therapy house tours. But I finally crossed the river to check out Josh and Sarah’s retro-inspired condo in Somerville. It was worth the trek! I knew it was going to be a fun afternoon when Josh greeted me on the front porch, offering me two delicious cherry tomatoes he’d just picked.

This former garage was turned into a gorgeous guesthouse... and it's full of inspiration for making a small space feel larger.

This renovated house is a dreamy showcase of vintage finds, Scandinavian-inspired decor, and budget-friendly ideas.

Designer Kay Prestney and her family celebrated the festive season in their cozy country home.

Name: Christine Lolley, her husband and business partner Tom Knezic, and their two kids Location: Roncesvalles Village; Toronto, Ontario Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned Tom and Christine bought their 100-year-old house in July 2013 with the purpose of renovating it. As co-founders of sustainable design firm Solares Architecture, their goal was to create an ultra-energy efficient family home.

Name: Jeffrey Toraichi Eyser (of Flip This Bitch) and Joseph F. Kuntz Jr Location: Silver Lake; Los Angeles, California Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: Less than 1 year; Own Every time Jeff Eyser shares a new project with me, I am always surprised and relieved, because his style remains clever, fun and yet some how extremely functional. Last time I visited he and his husband Joe’s home, it was their two bedroom apartment in West Hollywood.

Name: Leslie Landis, Jake Martinez and dog Raincheck Landis-Martinez Location: MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, California Size: 800 square feet (We joke it’s our “mini mansion”) Years Lived In: 1 year; rented Last time we went home with Leslie, she was living in a teeny tiny studio apartment in Silver Lake. Since then her old landlord bought her out of her old place and she’s moved in with Jake into a two-story chateau-like apartment.

Name: Masha D’yans and Colin Mulligan Location: Highland Longwood — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,412 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned Masha, originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, and Colin, originally from St. Louis, have been married for just over one year, in which time they’ve created a beautiful and unique home full of international curiosities.

Name: Bernadette Location: Austin, Texas Size: 2100 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 10 1/2 years Filled with sleek modern furniture, bold wall paint colors and a fun collection of art gathered over the years, Bernadette’s style is cool, contemporary and inspiring. You feel a peaceful calm wash over you as you explore the colorful art on her walls or enjoy the natural light that pours in from ample windows.

Name: Emily and Alex Champagne Location: Hamilton; Baltimore, Maryland Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 15 months; Owned This young newlywed couple’s craftsman home radiates with endearing energy, even before stepping through the front door. Emily, an artist and educator, and Alex, a musician and co-founder of Scenic Route Records, have painted their home with small bits of themselves.

It's a DIY that looks MUCH more expensive than it is!