House

Name: Kirsty and Noel Shorten Location: Hilton, Western Australia Size: 150 square meters (1614 square feet) Years lived in: 3 years Fremantle is well known for being a little quirky. People from all over Perth flock there, especially on the weekends, attracted to its laid back vibe and inviting atmosphere. Kirsty and Noel’s little home perched just above all the action, in the neighboring suburb of Hilton, fits right in.

Name: Alice and Lucy Oehr & Otto the cat Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Size: 75 square metres (807 square feet) Years lived in: 5 years When sisters Alice and Lucy Oehr first took possession of their single-fronted brick cottage in the inner north of Melbourne it was an absolute “renovator’s delight.” Bought in 2011, Alice and Lucy set to work on a three-month summer holiday building project.

Name: Lynn Pike Location: Cape Town, South Africa Size: 937 square feet Years lived in: 7 years; Owned With her signature red lips and red glasses, Lynn is charismatic and has a strong sense of style. Lynn is the owner of a clothing boutique, Tallulah’s, and has been for almost 40 years. Her keen eye for design and understanding of color has flourished with many years of buying for her boutique. Both her boutique and her home reflect her vibrant personality and her eclectic style.

Name: Saskia Ericson, Tony Ericson, and their sons Louis and Sidney Location: Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia Size: 145 square meters (1560 square feet) Years lived in: 14 years, owned Saskia and Tony are graphic designers and run Hatch Creative in St Kilda in Melbourne. Saskia is also a food fanatic in the kitchen and online—she somehow finds the time to run her food blog 1=2. Tony loves to paint. They have two young boys, Louis and Sidney.

Name: Ashley Drost, pups Lazer + Leroy Location: Silver Lake; Los Angeles, California Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; owned Enter Ashley’s sunny and revamped 1914 Craftsman home and it’s immediately clear that the saying is true, home is what you make of it. After years of renting on the West side and an exhaustive real estate search, she stumbled on this home in Silver Lake.

Name: Su Pang Location: Highland Terrace; Oakland, California Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Owned After spending some time in Sweden, Su fell in love not just with Swedish culture, but with the architecture. “I fell in love with the red wooden Swedish country homes,” she said. “Being a designer, I always wanted to design my own home.” So when she had an opportunity to build in her very own backyard, she jumped on it.

Name: Nacho and Lorena Location: Alicante, Spain Size: 2152 square feet (200 square meters) Years lived in: Owned 9 months Husband and wife Nacho and Lorena not only have a beautiful home, they also have a big heart. They’re both founders of Aprenent, a center that helps kids with autism, where they create training courses and use psychology as a resource to improve relationships.

Name: Lei and Dijon and their children, Lola and Harrison Location: Cape Town, South Africa Size: +- 500 square meters (property size: 700 square meters) Years lived in: Owned 1 year Lei and Dijon had been house hunting for awhile when they came across this place; they knew it was the one at first sight. Lei is an interior designer and retail consultant and instantly saw the potential. They signed the deal within 24 hours!

Name: Stone Dow, Julia Goldstein, and their cat, Kiki Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 5 months; Rented Stone and Julia happened upon their 1960s duplex via Craigslist — it’s an unbelievable find that would make anyone want to start looking around in the off-season of the Boston rental market.

Name: Ashley, Dara, and their two daughters, Sage and Sophie; dog, Dylan, and cat, Luna. Location: Topanga Canyon, California Size: 3500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Nestled in the hills of Topanga Canyon, Ashley and Dara have created a home that honors their creative spirit and inspires their collaborative jewelry line, Alkemie Jewelry.

Name: Ashley, Dara, and their two daughters, Sage and Sophie; dog, Dylan, and cat, Luna. Location: Topanga Canyon, California Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years You may remember Dara and Ashley’s bohemian Topanga home tour, and if that wasn’t inspiring enough, check out their Moroccan-inspired guest home dubbed The Topanga Gypsy Hideaway. The guest home is freestanding with peaceful views of the Topanga mountains.

Name: Esther, Álvaro and Aníbal Location: Ruzafa — Valencia, Spain Size: 840 square feet (78 square meters) Years lived in: Owned 3 years Esther and Álvaro met seven years ago in London when Esther was working as a journalist. Soon after, they opened Gnomo, a hip retail store in the fashionable neighborhood of Ruzafa.

Name: Florence and Julien Location: Plateau Mt-Royal — Montreal Size: 980 square feet Years lived in: 8 months Florence is the founder of Me Myself & Montreal, a blog that provides the best spots in Montreal to visit. She also organizes “discovery” events for its readers. The Montreal apartment she shares with Julien is bright and radiant and the large windows provide the best views of the city, like the Mount-Royal, the city center and the Olympic Stadium.

Name: Edmund Lam, Heidi Donnelly and Arthur (2 years old) Location: Montreal-West; Canada Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Sometimes it can be difficult to make the transition from downtown living to the suburbs, but when you luck out on a space to call home that screams your name (and meets your budget) you leave running! This is essentially what happened to Edmund and Heidi a little over two years ago.

Name: Abi James Location: Bo Kaap — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 130 square meters (1399 square feet) Years lived in: Owned 2 years Abi’s home is a treasure trove of unique finds collected on travels abroad and sourced lovingly over time. As soon as you step inside, you’re welcomed into a charming haven full of warmth and personality. Abi is an interior designer who works mainly with safari lodges and travels regularly for her work.

Name: Chris and Neil Bellamy Location: Bayside Melbourne — Victoria, Australia Years lived in: Owned 15 years Chris and Neil Bellamy with their two children Denie and Rhys live in a quiet bayside suburb of Melbourne. Chris is a full time artist who also dabbles in interior design and styling. Neil works in building and finance. They designed and built this house together—living in the home while they renovated, with small children in tow. A challenge in itself!

Name: Meghna Davé and Jake Williams and Lemmy (our pup!) Location: East Atlanta, Georgia Size: 1000 sq ft Years lived in: Owned 1 year Dive into a world of brilliant colors displayed through the ancient form of block printing by Maelu Designs, a sustainable textile company by local Atlanta entrepreneur, Meghna Davé. The bold patterns in the home she shares with Jake are highlighted by a minimal and natural aesthetic, making this space modern with a sense of familiarity.

Name: Sandra Eterovic Location: Inner-city Melbourne, Australia Size: 861 square feet Years lived in: Owned 20 years Sandra Eterovic is a talented visual artist whose work encompasses painting, illustration, textiles, knitting and all-round making of amazing things—as seen throughout her colourful and creative inner-city Melbourne home. Her home is situated in a narrow street and is an old single-fronted Victorian worker’s cottage that she bought 20 years ago.

Name: Lian and Fabien Location: Cape Town, South Africa Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years The fresh white floors and puddled curtains were the first thing that made me sigh when I stepped into Lian and Fabien’s beautiful home in the City Bowl. Along with its high ceilings and lovely light, this home immediately draws you in. Lian is a brand strategist and personal style consultant and so creativity is definitely one of her fortes.

Name: Michelle, James, and their son Triston Location: Santa Fe — Oakland, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years When a family of creatives lives in one open space, creating nooks where each person can work and relax is challenging. But Michelle, James and their son Triston have successfully completed the difficult task of creating a functional live-work space utilizing pieces that are well-designed and beautiful.

Name: Kirsten and Brandon Dickerson, plus their son and daughter Location: Our homestead know as Green Acres Retreat, just east of Austin in Elgin, Texas Size: 25 acres that includes our personal dwellings: a 1955 Spartan Mansion just under 350 square feet and a 1967 Overlander Airstream just under 180 square feet, as well as an open air vintage barn and Lotus Belle yurts for guests. Years lived in: Full time living in both of the vintage trailers for 1.5 years Green Acres update!

Name: Jennifer Emerling Location: Pasadena, California Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 months Jenn is a visual storyteller specializing in travel, editorial, and wedding photography. She considers herself a modern day explorer, particularly enchanted by her muse of the American West for its exaggerated folklore and whimsy. Jenn’s home base is a quiet back house in Pasadena, California that started as the perfect blank canvas for her to drench it color and effervescence.

Name: Genevieve Wearne Location: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia Size: 70 square metres Years lived in: Owned 5.5 years Genevieve and her husband Sonny made the move from Melbourne to Kyneton, in country Victoria (approx 1.15 hours from Melbourne), almost six years ago.

Name: Mike and Rachel Graves / owners of Summer Camp + Road Trip Location: Meiner’s Oaks — Ojai, California Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 8 months, rented Summer Camp owners and husband and wife team Michael and Rachel Graves live in an adorable three-bedroom home with their daughter Maude. It’s such a perfect mix of vintage classics, bohemian charm, and that fun California vibe.

Name: Jamee Jones (and his six housemates) Location: Oak Tree — Oakland, California Size: 1,691 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2 years When Jamee greeted me at his doorstep before his Apartment Therapy photoshoot, he had just finished his daily commute from San Francisco, where he works at Urban Outfitters as a social media manager.

Name: Leesa Cowan, Darren, Ella-Rose 12, Edward 10, Jock the dog, Puss the cat and Rio the rabbit Location: Ceres, near Geelong in Country Victoria (Southwest of Melbourne) Size: 2368 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2.5 years Leesa and Darren were both born and raised in the country, Leesa from a wheat and sheep property in country Victoria and Darren from the outskirts of Sydney.

Name: Andrew Deming and Rachel Gant and Dog, Clover Location: Davis Shores, Anastasia Island, St. Augustine, Florida Size: 1550 square feet Years lived in: 11 Months Rachel and Andrew of YIELD Design Co. open their doors to their beautifully renovated mid-century home in St. Augustine, Florida. What was once an outdated 1950s house is now a peaceful, tropical retreat. Nestled in the tropical flora and fauna of the old city of St.

Name: Georgina, Gideon, Hunter and Case Location: Cape Town, South Africa Size: 2583 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Situated in the bohemian and arty suburb of Observatory, Gideon and Georgina’s home is filled with warmth and creativity. This young family home has many personal touches and custom-designed elements thanks to Gideon. Although Gideon specialized in landscape architecture, he likes to call himself a design generalist.

Name: Hannah and Jean Puechmarin Location: Brisbane, Australia Size: Two bedroom house Years lived in: Rented for one year If a passer-by looked at this home, all they would see is a house with peeling paint. But don’t we always say that it is what’s on the inside that counts? My husband Jean and I (along with our puppy, Arthur) were on the hunt for a home with character.

Name: Teresa Robinson Location: Portland, Oregon Size: 1,150 square feet Years lived in: Owned 8.5 For Teresa Robinson, maker of the gorgeous jewelry line, Tiro Tiro, a home of one’s own is best filled with things that bring a feeling of warmth. With an eclectic mix of vintage and modern furniture, as well as a healthy dose of DIY, Teresa’s home of nearly nine years captures that feeling in every room.

Name: Jonny and Aimée Mendez Location: Albany Park — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Rented for 1.5 years Jonny and I were married in May of 2015. One of our deepest joys over the past year has been creating our home together. Soon after we were married, we really considered the questions, “How do we want to feel in our home?” and “How do we want others to feel when they enter our home?

A 19th Century Chicago home and studio to two artists.

Name: Rian, Zeanne and their son Christo Location: Newlands Village — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 250 square meters Years lived in: Owned almost 3 years What was once a dark house with low ceilings has been transformed into a light and airy home with an understated elegance. Zeanne and Rian bought this 1970s house almost three years ago and had to gut it to create the beautiful space you see today.

Name: Sienna and Javod Location: Willow Glen — San Jose, California Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2.5 years Sienna and Javod are inspired by vintage pieces, whether it’s while window shopping at local antique markets, shopping for vintage treasures online, or inheriting family heirlooms. When paired with a penchant for DIY, crafting and art, the result is a beautiful home filled with geometric patterns, textiles and mid-century furniture.

Name: Lisette van de Graaf Location: Gothic quarter — Barcelona, Spain Size: 968 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 7 years I met Lisette at a magazine opening party and she immediately caught my attention because she seemed like a well-traveled person with plenty of stories to tell. Born in Dutch Antilles and raised in Madrid, she hasn’t stopped traveling and exploring since.

Name: Caryn, Edward, and their two sons Kai and Beckett (plus their two pitbulls Dexter and Nuggett) Location: Santa Cruz, California Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned 11 years Caryn and Edward bought their beach cottage on the west side of Santa Cruz, California 11 years ago to raise their growing family. The family is happy to call the quiet street with beach views their home, though the inside isn’t quite as hushed as the street scene outside.

Name: Lauren and Alex Chapin Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned 4 years Lauren, of Circle G Designs, shares this Pittsburgh home with her husband Alex. Though their tastes tend toward a more modern feel, Lauren believes in respecting the architecture of a house, so their home is a blend of their style and classic elements, the result of which is a simple, classic yet contemporary space.

Name: Dana Leviston, Mahlie (9) Leon (8) Location: Yarraville, Melbourne, Australia Size: Approximately 700 square metres Years lived in: 11 Years, Rental This house was built in the 1950s and renovated in the ’70s. It came to Dana’s family through her father first; he bought the house in 1992 . (There was only one previous owner before their family.

Name: Marta Garrido Location: Terrassa — Barcelona, Spain Size: 807 square feet Years lived in: Rented for two and a half years Marta lives in Terrassa (a little city near Barcelona) with her two cats, Mandarino and Valentina, and her husband Jules. I met her through her Instagram account @undiagris (it means “a grey day”) but that’s just the opposite of the spirit she radiates.

Name: Alison Gilbert, Jon Polikowski (+ kids Ruby and Noah and dog Baxter St. James) Location: Mount Washington — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,456 square feet Years lived in: Owned 4 years With two 5-year-old twins and a peppy pupster (Mr. Baxter St. James, if you please), it’s a wonder how Alison and Jon flawlessly renovated their Los Angeles post & beam home in just two years.

Name: Jordan and Ryan (Flower, Bowser, Pony & Rocket) Location: Nashville, Tennesee Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Jordan and Ryan bought their Nashville home a couple of years ago. After extensive renovations, their sweet 1905 bungalow is now a charming refuge for them and their four pets. Jordan started her own creative agency, Rare Assembly, and deals rugs and antiques under the web moniker of Hot Child Studio.

Name: Adrienne Moran Location: West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Size: 968 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Adrienne’s sweet apartment is in an old biscuit/cookie warehouse in the inner suburb of West Melbourne, not far from the city. While many warehouse developments lose a sense of history when sliced up in the design process — this block of apartments thankfully retained the beautiful original wooden floors and beams.

Name: Kristen Coates and Michael Paddon Location: Historic Downtown — Newport, Rhode Island Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: Rented 3 years Kristen Coates wears many creative hats: gallery and store owner, artist and curator. When she is at work, her mind is focused on bringing art and beauty into the homes of her customers and clients. When she returns home to the apartment she shares with her boyfriend Michael, she isn’t interested in spending time decorating.

Name: Dave and Kelly Marie Thompson, and cats Bootleg and Tippie Location: Kilbourn Park — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Kelly is the owner of Fleur, one of Chicago’s hippest flower shops, and Dave is a manager at the incomparable Chicago Athletic Association. Each of them are passionate about their work, and are dedicated to making their home a personal sanctuary where they can relax after their long days in the city.

Name: Dawn Tan and Darren Lee Location: Yarraville — Melbourne, Australia Size: 2647 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2.5 years Dawn Tan is a Melbourne-based artist and school teacher who draws inspiration in art from her love of food and travel. Darren is a mostly desk-bound policy wonk but also photographer who is very fascinated by his travels with Dawn.

Name: Mollie Gilbert Location: Oakland, California Size: 1,325 square feet Years lived in: 11 years, owned It isn’t difficult to find Mollie’s house on her quiet street: Just look for the home with the jack-o-lantern on the porch year-round. If the pumpkin or the “Haunted Mansion” sign at the doorway aren’t an indication of what’s inside, then you’re in for a spooky treat.

Location: Inner North of Melbourne, Australia Size: 190 square meters internally Years lived in: Owned, almost 3 years Dan and Bianca bought their home almost three years ago when it was a completely different house. I used to live next door — so I have watched them tirelessly transform their home over the last two and a half years, with not one but then two small children in tow! Their perseverance deserves a serious round of applause.

Name: Tami Hills Location: Central City — New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 1,266 square feet Years lived in: Owned 6 years Tami Hills never imagined she would buy a move-in ready home. The professional organizer and DIYer dreamed of buying an old New Orleans house she could fully renovate. But after looking at nearly a hundred properties in a fiercely competitive market, she was exhausted. “I would fall in love and be outbid. It happened over and over again,” she explained.

Name: Heidi and Erik Salo of Salo Design and their daughter Frankie Location: Lakewood — Cleveland, Ohio Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Homeowners Heidi and Erik Salo mix periods, styles, textures and colors to get the best possible match, blending retail trends (like a Sputnik dining room chandelier) with personal trends (like thrifted destination plates) and travel items (like from their honeymoon in Thailand).

Name: Steve and Sarah Carter, Emerson, Mercy June and their pup Biscuit Location: Hoffman Estates, Illinois Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Steve and Sarah Carter have created a space that breathes freedom, imagination, whimsy and truth. The spirit of this home is playful. The walls are adorned with beautiful and curated art collected by Sarah, an artist herself who uses creative work, primarily painting, to advocate for vulnerable women and children globally.

Name: Megan and Wayne Smith, sons Luca and Sebastian Location: Newlands — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 440 square meters Years lived in: Owned, 10 years Megan and Wayne purchased this house 10 years ago because of its location and good bones — but it was horribly outdated (the bathroom, for example, originally had a floor-to-ceiling porcelain tiled jungle mural complete with colorful parrots). They had to tackle a few decor disasters right away.

Name: Timothy Sheehan Location: Treme-Lafitte — New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 2,300 square feet (second floor living space) Years lived in: Owned 6.5 years When Tim Sheehan first entered his home in 2010, a hand-scrawled sign that read “KEEP OUT” was taped to the front door. The house, used as a rectory for the church next door, had been abandoned since the congregation held its last service in August 2004, a year before Hurricane Katrina.

Name: Sally Morgan-Flower Location: East London Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 and a half years This beautifully-restored apartment, brimming with unique historic details, occupies one floor of a converted 1850s pub in the heart of London’s East End. Its renovation is an ongoing labour of love for owners Sally and David, who set out to stay true to the apartment’s original aesthetic yet at the same time create a lived-in home that feels comfortable and not too precious.

Name: Letitia Walker and Whitney Shroyer, two dogs, and about 250 sock monkeys! Location: West Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,386 square feet Years lived in: Owned 16 This idiosyncratic, hip, little home in West Asheville is owned by Letitia and Whitney — a couple of collectors who love found objects, abstract expressionism art, and music.

Name: Matt Gourley and Amanda Lund Location: Pasadena, California Size: 1340 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1 year Amanda and Matt live in a 1947 bungalow in the San Rafael hills of Pasadena. Although most people think of Los Angeles being more like a concrete jungle, Amanda and Matt found a place to call home on a gorgeous, quiet, tree-lined street with no sidewalks that ends at a lake. Wildlife roams their backyard.

Mimi and Harper’s Nashville home is calm, comfortable, vibrant and eclectic all at once. They achieve this look by mixing traditional pieces with eclectic, rustic accents and art. Use the links below for inspiration to get a similar cozy look in your home.

James loves antiques and family heirlooms, while Kristen is drawn towards modern styles. The end result of their combined tastes in their Charleston home is “historic meets modern” — vintage accents mixed with items from modern brands like Anthropologie (spot the beautiful leather sofa in the living room). Shop the links below to incorporate a similar style in your home.

Kathryn and Emilio’s North Carolina home doesn’t feature one specific style. It showcases a harmonious blend of traditional, contemporary and modern styles that provides the family and their guests with a breath of fresh air. Guests are also delighted to find surprises in every corner if they look close enough, such as the Art Deco floor lamp in the living room or geometric lamps in the bedroom. You can now shop the style using the links below!

Name: Maria Rusafova and Jakub Markulis Location: Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 11 years, own Though Maria and Jakub’s house is situated in a dense neighborhood, it often goes undetected — a mark of success for the architects who designed the house with the goal of integrating the structure as peacefully as possible into the urban forest. In fact, not a single tree on the property was disturbed.

Name: Brittany, Christian, and (pup) Ted Location: Hill East — Washington, DC Size: 2,200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Brittany, Christian, and their much-adored German Shepard mix, Ted, live in a classic row house in Washington, DC, just east of the U.S. Capitol. They’ve built an elegant and sophisticated home, lovingly filled with details collected over time.

Name: Tiffany and Alan Goldstein Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1064 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 9 Months Natural light pours in through large windows, warming Tiffany and Alan’s Austin bungalow. Tiffany’s background in fashion and the couple’s traveling adventures have inspired chic yet playful interior design. In just nine months, they have creatively remodeled the home to make their space feel open and airy.

Name: The Dreamcatcher Guesthouse, owned by Sylvia and Stephan Location: Ocean Park — San Juan, Puerto Rico Size: 4,000 square feet Years open: 4 years When my partner and I drove into the gated Ocean Park community, we had to circle the block a couple of times before we found The Dreamcatcher guesthouse, where we were staying during our trip to Puerto Rico. Aside from a bold red fence, its plant-covered facade is non-descript, showcasing only small black letters on a white wall.

Name: Vicki Sleet and Justin Spreckley, with four children aged 17 to 2 months. Location: Muizenberg — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 250 square metres Years lived in: Owned 6 years Interior stylist, journalist and blogger Vicki Sleet is known for her love of DIYs and finding a good bargain. She even has a series on her blog, aptly named Bargain Betty. Naturally, you’ll find evidence of her handiwork and upcycled projects throughout their home.

Hannah and Marc’s vibrant and textured Nashville home showcases modern accents and bold paint colors, and infuses them with traditional elements. The end result is a style they call “Modernized Traditional” — a successful way of mixing contemporary pieces in a traditional space. Check out the links below to shop the style for your home.

Name: Tasha (Granny Tash) and Travis Schultz, Cheeto (Fur child) Location: Falcon Heights, Minnesota Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years Formerly known as “that house” on the block, the one looming there behind an overgrown lawn. Now, Tasha and Travis welcome us into their 1942 home in Falcon Heights, full of vintage charm and its reworked quirks.

Kate and Jennifer’s shared space is equal parts modern and cool, but also classic and romantic. In their 1,000 square foot condo, you’ll find bold colors and clean lines mixed with traditional furniture and accents. Shop the style below to get this sophisticated yet edgy look in your home.

When Pamela, Michael, and their son Max moved into their 1906 historic Portland home, the floors were layered with soot and grime, the ceilings had water damage and rot, and there were literally holes in the floors. The couple did a major renovation, and now, the home shows off beautiful original features plus finishes of their choice. It’s also filled with gorgeous furniture, accents, and art the family loves. Check out the links below to shop some of those pieces.

Name: Vicky and Ross Smith, and daughters Olivia & Florence Location: Guildford, UK Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 3 1/2 years With its pared-back yet warm feel, understated color palette and abundant natural light, this family home in the Southern-English county of Surrey is inspired by many elements of contemporary Scandinavian style.

Name: Joana Santamans Location: Eixample — Barcelona, Spain Size: 2,152 square feet Years lived in: Renting for 3 years Church bells ring nearby as I stand in front of Joana’s front door — her home seems like it’s in some small village rather than in the center of Barcelona. An illustrator and painter, Joana established her atelier inside her Barcelona home so she could spend more time with her family while creating her art.

Name: Katia, Chad and their daughter, Milla Location: Observatory — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 1291 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Katia, Chad and their daughter Milla live in a charming Victorian cottage in the heart of Observatory, Cape Town. A wild, overgrown garden greeted me and as I stepped inside, I felt as though I may just be in a French apartment.

Name: Phoebe, Dylan and Memphis Location: Wye River, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia Size: 753 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Phoebe, Dylan and their one-year-old son Memphis love escaping city life in Melbourne and driving down the Great Ocean Road to Wye River, relaxing at their Australiana fibro shack they’ve named Ipanema. Wye River is a small coastal town a scenic two and a half hour drive from Melbourne.