House

Name: Thalita Murray, her husband, and twin boys Location: Cobourg — Ontario, Canada Size: 2,100 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Thalita is an interior design professional who believes in keeping it real. She owns Thalita Murray Design and runs the design and lifestyle blog, The Learner Observer, and if that wasn’t enough, she is also a wife and mother of twin 2-year-old boys.

Name: Amy Ilias, Jim Denney (and kitties McCabe, Billie Pilgrim, and 3) Location: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Size: 3,200 square feet Years lived in: 21 years, owned As the Executive Vice President of Art & Design for ABC Carpet & Home, you could definitely say Amy Ilias knows design. And the Carroll Gardens house she’s owned for over two decades is a beautiful display of her elegant and design-forward style.

Name: Joe Gast and Willow the Weimaraner Location: Leschi — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,690 square feet Years lived in: 25 years, owned My 1908 Leschi cottage was a victim of several ill-conceived remodels and plenty of deferred maintenance. A transplant from Ohio, with an Ohioan’s modest budget, I purchased the house because it was in my price range and it was located on a magical stairway, steps above Lake Washington.

Ty and Lynne are the owners of the award-winning furniture store An Orange Moon, located in the West of Western district of Chicago.

Name: Michelle Grayson and family Location: Brisbane, Queensland Size: 2,874 square feet Years lived in: 10 years, owned Atop one of the highest residential streets of Brisbane grows a huge fig tree, and beneath its leaves is a nearly 100-year-old home. Inside this house, behind its stained glass front door, is the cozy and inviting home of Michelle Grayson, one half of the genius behind Sprout Gallery.

Name: Emily V Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani, and cat, Bagel Location: Los Angeles, California Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned When the writer, podcast host, and all-around talented Emily V. Gordon posted on Instagram about the newly remodeled house she shares with her husband—equally talented actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani—I knew I needed to see more.

Name: Nora McInerny, her husband, four kids, and dog Stacy Location: Golden Valley, Minnesota Size: 3,500 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned There’s no lack of information on the internet about writer, speaker, wife, and mom Nora McInerny‘s life and work. The obituary she and her first husband Aaron wrote before he died went viral, and she’s since written a book, “It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too),” as well as beautiful articles.

Name: Janet Varney, her boyfriend Brandon, and dogs Scott and Whitley. Location: Hollywood Hills — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 14 years, owned Colorful with patterns and textures, actress Janet Varney‘s home is also airy and relaxing…surely a much-needed respite from her busy career. She was the voice of Korra in the animated television series “The Legend of Korra.

Name: Marianne Tolosa and my husband, Jamie, and our two cats, Pickles and Suki. Location: Falls Church, Virginia Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 4 years owned, but we just created the co-working space 3 months ago When looking to buy our home one of our most important criteria was finding a house with a cozy entertaining space.

Name: Genevieve Danger Berrick Location: Echo Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 900(ish) square feet Years Lived In: 1 year, renting Family legend has it that when Genevieve was 3 years old she firmly informed her mother that she would no longer be wearing pink. And she stood by her word until she rediscovered the color and its place in her east side home. “I decided to really lean into my enjoyment of it.

Name: Michaela Grut and family Location: Lidingö — Stockholm, Sweden Size: 1,936 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Michaela Grut comes from a creative family—there have been artists in several generations of her history. So it comes as no surprise that she’s found herself in a career that stretches her artistic muscles.

Name: Christie Grotheim (and my husband, Niklas Andersson) Location: New York, New York Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned My husband and I found this fixer upper in Harlem, sold “as is,” which in this case, was pretty atrocious. But we saw past the filth and peeling paint and realized the potential in the place right away. A corner unit on the third floor, it was flooded with light, and as a four-bedroom (converted to three) we would each have our own office.

The creative practices and collective styles of artist Benn Colker and garden designer Aimee Kirby make for a whimsical and eclectic row home in Philadelphia.

This modern-inspired California house draws inspiration from an effortlessly laid-back style.

Name: Bitsie Tulloch and David Giuntoli Location: Hollywood Hills — Los Angeles, California Size: 3,600 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Actors Bitsie and David have spent the bulk of the past few years filming the television show Grimm and living most of the year in woodsy, sometimes-foggy Portland, Oregon. With Grimm finished, the pair are happy to have a new sunny Hollywood Hills home to spend time in.

Name: Maca Atencio, husband Esteban, and kids Nico and Oli Location: Montreal, Quebec Size: 1,120 square feet Years lived in: 11 months, owned Living in Montreal can be fun, artsy, and beautiful, and that’s completely on display in lifestyle blogger Maca Atencio’s home. She and her husband Esteban had waited a couple of years to buy the perfect house for their little family, and this one had every single detail they wanted!

Name: Winkie Visser and my husband Edgar Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands Size: 1,184 square feet Years lived in: 15 years, owned Edgar’s grandpa had worked at Dutch technology company Philips for 43 years when he finally retired. It felt like a whimsical coincidence for him to be living in one of the so-called “Austrian (Philips) houses” some time later. These houses were bought by Philips back in the 1950s to accommodate their employees in an era of housing shortage.

Name: Tina Bousu and family (including four kids and four dogs!) Location: North Colorado Size: 4,500 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, owned This house is essentially our dream home! We have a large family and had quickly outgrown our starter home and this neighborhood and home were so far out of anything we ever thought we could have. I was half seriously looking at homes in the area for sale and this one came up.

Name: Roel Marius Brouwer, Remy, and their dog Stewie Location: Laren (North Holland province), the Netherlands Size: 861 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting Roel might be a legal adviser by day, but his true passion is interiors. His mom sparked this love at a young age by regularly changing things up in his childhood home; through tiny adjustments their interior looked different each season.

Name: Andrew Cohen and family Location: Woodstock, New York Size: 2,100 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned This four-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a finished basement and two-car garage on 1.3 acres in New York belongs to Parts and Labor Design co-founder, Andrew Cohen. And it just might be the best mix of modern meet cabin vibes that you’ll ever see.

Name: Jellina Detmar, her husband Jan, their children Déjan and Melin Location: Kollum, the Netherlands Size: 2,422 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned It’s hard to believe Jellina and her family moved to this old farmhouse a mere one and a half years ago. The former residents had created a drywall box within the house, concealing many of the home’s beautiful elements like the big wooden beams.

Meritxell Ribé and Josep Puigdomènech are the designers behind Barcelona-based firm The Room Studio.

Name: Marcella, Justin, and their dogs Buddy Holly and Pete Location: Fonthill — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Just two years ago Marce of Hey Modest Marce decided to leave her hectic job in the Toronto financial district and uproot her life to live a slower pace. She and boyfriend Justin found a 1920s traditional craftsman home in Fonthill, a small town in the heart of Ontario’s wine country.

Name: Nancy, Ken, and their little canine, Monty Location: Berkeley, California Size: 670 square feet Years lived in: 22 years; Owned Nancy says her home is a haven—it’s colorful, cozy, bright, and full of memories. Though the bright green walls help, it’s her collection of meaningful pieces that truly makes her Berkeley condo a home.

Name: Jaclyn Madar Location: Griffintown — Montreal, QC Size: 1,019 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Jaclyn Madar is an obstetrician and surgeon who just purchased her first real “grown-up” bachelorette apartment. A space with industrial, modern architecture, she decorated it with an eclectic vintage flair… while still having it look pulled together. She’s spunky, stylish and extremely smart, and that shows through beautifully in her home decor.

Name: Ashley Miles and Sam Miles and their two daughters Location: West Village, New York Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, renting Ashley’s 1800s carriage house in the West Village is as steeped in history as it is style; photographer Diane Arbus and her two daughters were once residents. Now, Ashley—the Executive Vice President of Sales & Brand Partnerships at Refinery29—and her husband Sam (college sweethearts from Ole Miss!

After years of living life at a busy pace in San Diego, Liz and Andy were ready to slow down, both for themselves and for their two young daughters.

Name: Lita Lee, Mike Martin and their four children Location: Edmonton, Alberta Size: 2,550 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Lita Lee claims to be “just a girl who decided to go for it.” And the it she went for was taking a large spec home from a blank slate to a bold, bright home that’s the perfect fit for her family. And in the process, she discovered her passion and talent with interior design, launching Crave Interiors.

Name: Troy Solomon and Ian Mofford Location: West Hollywood, California Size: 800 square feet Years Lived In: 3 years for Troy, 2 years for Ian, renting I first learned of Troy Solomon (aka ABearNamedTroy) from his Instagram, where his brazen feed strikes a colorful balance between fierce and playful, a strong aesthetic that is reflected in the apartment he shares with fiance Ian Mofford.

Name: Sunny Shokrae, Ryan Eugene Kelley and Leo Arya Kelley Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant — Brooklyn, NY Size: 1,183 square feet Years lived in: Less than 1 year, owned Sunny and her husband Ryan became homeowners just shy of a year ago. The longtime Williamsburg, Brooklyn, residents needed a change in anticipation of birth of their son Leo. And moving a few miles south to Bedford Stuyvesant offered the growing family more space and freedom in how they style their home.

Name: Jewel Marlowe and family Location: Jamestown, Rhode Island Size: 3,000 square feet Years Lived In: 10 months, renting “As a military family, we have learned that even short-term rentals can have high style. This 10-month rental home is a prime example,” shares Jewel Marlowe, blogger, interior stylist, and frequent customizer of rental homes.

Name: Vanessa Sicotte, Jonathan Plourde and three kids Location: Montreal West — Quebec, Canada Size: 2,800 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned Vanessa and Jonathan were able to see the vast potential beyond the yellow walls (in every room!) of their home when they purchased it in 2014. As an interior design writer, blogger and TV personality, Vanessa put her expertise to use in designing a home that reflects the personalities of her family both as a unit and individually.

Name: Alle Fister and Don Popkes Location: Playa Del Rey, California Size: 4,500 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Alle Fister—owner of Bollare, a communications firm that works with well-known beauty and fashion brands—met Don Popkes 10 years ago. Six and a half years ago the couple got married and bought this house, their first home and a total fixer upper.

Name: Amanda Holland, Mike Brunel, daughters Millicent and Eva Location: Wellington, New Zealand Size: 230 square metres (approximately 2,476 square feet) Years Lived In: 11 years, owned Interior stylist and design/lifestyle store owner Amanda Holland (of Small Acorns) lives in Wellington with her husband and their two daughters Milly and Eva. The couple bought this home 11 years ago when it was really run down and had no one living in it for two years.

Name: Gaby Dalkin Location: Lower Queen Anne — Seattle, Washington Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, owned “I love the Seattle house!” I had just wrapped up shooting food blogger Gaby Dalkin’s lower Queen Anne townhome when she let out that statement with a serene smile.

A 1,600-square-foot former house of worship was respectfully remodeled and transformed into a personal sanctuary on a budget.

Name: Joey Meyers, Mark Baehser, and Bridget (Cat) Location: Lincoln Park Neighborhood of Jersey City Size: 3,200 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned It comes as no surprise that the owners of this home, Joey Meyers and Mark Baehser of Ball & Claw Vintage fame, are part of Brooklyn’s chicest co-op, Dobbin St. While scouting for vintage finds for their stores in Bushwick and Williamsburg, the couple makes sure to keep the most precious items for their own home improvements.

Name: Abeer and Aetesam, with their two sons, Hamza and Azaan Location: Donvale — Melbourne, Victoria Size: 1,600 square feet Years Lived In: 1 year, renting Having moved from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia and most recently Melbourne, this is a family on the go. Abeer, a photographer/blogger and her engineer husband, Aetesam, started renting this bungalow in the suburbs of Melbourne a year ago, and have lovingly turned it into a home for them and their two little boys since.

Name: Helen Bayley and husband Chris Bayley. Daughters Charlotte (9), Annabelle (7), and Imogen (6). Location: Queensland, Australia Years lived in: 11 years, owned Helen Bayley knows how to create happiness with color. In 2013 she launched Lovestar, a company that vibrantly re-imagines the old-fashioned ceramic wall vase out of modern materials like Lucite. Helen and her husband handcraft their products in their studio in Brisbane, and the vases have been a huge hit since day one.

Name: Lorraine Loots and Mark De Menezes and their two-year-old son, Felix Location: Observatory — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 2,153 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Photographed next to small objects to show their scale—matchsticks, earbuds, jelly beans—Lorraine‘s teeny art pieces are detailed delights.

This warm, organic Tudor-style house will make you want to move to New Zealand immediately.

Name: Emily Billings, Max Shay, and cat, Lorelei Location: Woodside, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: Seven months, renting I can’t help but read real estate and rental listings the way the rest of the world reads the daily news. I have a knack for finding homes my partner, Max, and I could only afford if we subsisted solely on rice and beans.

Name: Kate Richards, her husband, and 13 feathered or furry animals Location: Los Angeles, California Size: 1,500 square feet Years Lived In: 10 years, owned Sure, Kate Richards of Drinking with Chickens may like to occasionally imbibe with poultry, but behind the scenes this self-taught cocktail blogger, color-embracing artist, self-proclaimed professional drinker, and insanely hilarious Instagrammer works hard to maintain her charming life.

Name: Tracy Bunkoczy Location: Koreatown — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,170 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned A massive leak in her last home—a beautiful Silver Lake rental apartment— forced design executive Tracy Bunkoczy to move a year ago.

Name: Shawna Smith, her husband and two sons Location: Downers Grove, Illinois Size: 1,350 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, owned “Myself, my husband, and our two little boys lived in Chicago for years before deciding to take the leap and move to the ‘burbs,” writes interior stylist Shawna Smith. “We chose Downers Grove for its small-town appeal and outstanding schools.

This home needed a ton of cosmetic changes when Matt and Anne bought it. Now they've given it a gorgeous facelift!

Name: Samantha and Brendan Binger; 3 dogs (Archie, Max, Luna), and 2 cats (Anna and Elsa) Location: Anywhere we park Size: 304 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned “When we first had the idea to hit the road in a motorhome, we saw our home as a means to an end,” confesses Samantha Binger, who along with her husband and their five pets travel around the country in their 2007 Fleetwood Bounder 35E.

Cindy is a jewelry designer and fiber artist and shares this bright North Hollywood home with her husband Matt.

Name: Niraya and Humberto Location: Miami, Florida Size: 943 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned We are an architect (Niraya) and a civil engineer (Humberto) and yes, we discuss design a lot. And ever since we lived in Brooklyn, we’ve always dreamed of owning a loft. Living in Miami we knew this was not possible, especially if we wanted to stay in our neighborhood of Coconut Grove. So we looked and looked for a townhouse that we could convert into a “loft.

Name: Kate Pearce, husband, and kids, Eva and Jo Location: Long Island, New York Size: 2,300 square feet Years lived in: 10 months, owned Having studied Art History, Kate Pearce spent many years immersed in the art world, interning at places like the Guggenheim, the Whitney Museum, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, and more. But it wasn’t just art that fascinated her; she also fell in love with antiques.

Name: Kimothy Joy, her partner Gregory and their brand new baby girl, Luca Joy Location: Park Hill, Denver Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned “I love the original wood paneling, glass block, built-in shelves, and architectural ceiling tiles that make it unique to the era,” explains Denver-based artist and illustrator Kimothy Joy, of the 1940s-era home she’s owned for a year and shares with her partner (and the baby girl they welcomed just last month!).

Name: Jonnie Andersen and dogs Alice Cooper, Winston Churchill, and the Dude Location: Superior, Nebraska Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned This is the best kind of home: Deeply personal, DIY, and steeped in history. Jonnie Andersen is a photographer living in Superior, Nebraska, and she took on the monumental task of reviving this former school plus old church and turning it into a home for herself and her business.

Name: Kristine Claghorn and Mark Harrison and SETI the cat (stands for “Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence”, of course) Location: Silver Lake — Los Angeles, California Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Kristine and Mark knew they were meant to be together when they both bonded over their separate rock collections. She’s a creative producer and artist, he’s a documentary editor, and their cat, SETI, is an expert at being adorable.

Name: Cassidy and Todd Wellons (and Lyle the six-year-old Weimaraner) Location: Cleveland Park — East Nashville, Tenneesee Size: 2700 square feet Years lived in: Own, lived in for 2.5 years and renovated for 1.5 years This historic East Nashville house was completely gutted when Cassidy and Todd purchased it in April 2014—even the baseboards were gone—but they saw the potential in the structure.

Erin Hung, the founder behind the London-based stationery company BerinMade, remodeled this small Hong Kong apartment with her husband Ben.

Name: Kit Warchol Location: Eagle Rock — Los Angeles, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: Rent control baby! It’s no surprise Kit Warchol is a writer/Head of Content for the female-focused website Career Contessa. Citing Joan Didion’s Slouching Towards Bethlehem as an inspiring force behind her home’s overall aesthetic, her sophisticated ’70s-style bohemian home is lined with books and peppered with meaningful mementos.

Name: Jaclyn and Jeff King Location: Dallas, Texas Size: 264 square feet Jaclyn’s earliest memories of design and appreciation for all things eclectic began with her grandmother and memories of tagging along with her to antique shops and trade shows where she and her aunt worked as vendors under the name “Two Dumb Dames.” Even at 80, her grandmother’s sense of style reflected her personality—bold, beautiful, and an uncompromising flair for independence.

Name: Hilary Padget and Anthony Harrington Location: The Heights — Jersey City, New Jersey Size: 1050 square feet interior (plus 230 square foot garage) Years lived in: 2 years, owned This isn’t the first time Hilary and Anthony’s home has appeared on Apartment Therapy. Way back in 2008, they were the winners of our fourth Small Cool Contest, with this 460 square foot Brooklyn studio featuring a very stylish and smart lofted bed.

Name: Steve and Beth Parnell Location: Manchester, UK Years lived in: 2 years, owned “Our home incorporates our love of pattern and color and also retro style—I like to call our interior style Eclectic Modern Retro!” describes Beth Parnell, founder of Dotty Dishes. “When we moved from London to Manchester two years ago, this was the only house we viewed.

Name: Adam and Jessica Location: Lynhurst, Minneapolis Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 10 years, owned Nestled along a popular creek that snakes its way through Minneapolis is a two-story stucco house that resembles many of the houses in this stucco-rich city. Once inside, however, you’re greeted with a colorful array of art, furniture and knick-knacks that just feels, well, cool. Jessica, Adam, their daughter and cat live and play here.

While maintaining the integrity of the building's original architecture, Jim and Molly gave a modern face to areas like the kitchen and bathrooms.

Name: Ellen Macomber, Kevin Fannon, and their son Donald Location: Central City — New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Ellen Macomber had given up on the idea of becoming a homeowner in New Orleans. The mixed-media artist, born in New Orleans and raised in a small Cajun town in South Louisiana, was discouraged by a housing market that had skyrocketed after Hurricane Katrina. “I figured we’d just rent forever,” she said.

Name: Kristin Nicholas. I live here with my husband Mark and teenage daughter Julia Location: Western Massachusetts Size: 3500 square feet Years lived in: 20 years, owned Our home was built in 1751 in western Massachusetts on a south facing knoll. It sits alongside an abandoned apple orchard that backs up to a small mountain populated with all kinds of wildlife. In the orchard during the growing season, our flock of sheep and lambs graze and rest, graze and sleep.

Name: Kate Reynolds with her husband Rem and their two sons Bobby and Oscar Location: Windsor Terrace — Brooklyn, NYC Size: 3,150 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Kate Reynolds really loves textiles. As one of the founding partners of Studio Four NYC, she—along with the rest of the company—”shine a light on the stories behind textile, wallpaper and rug design.

Name: Peter and Jana Deeble and their four kids Location: Long Beach, California Years lived in: 7 years, rent to own For 14 years, Long Beach resident Peter Deeble was a math teacher who had a side hobby of designing and building furniture. In the beginning the work was just meant as a way to furnish his and his wife’s (to whom he’s been married for 15 years!) home.

If you were (like me) delighted by the dark and dramatic UK home of Nicola Broughton we toured last spring, prepare to be doubly delighted. Because while the home we got a look at in her house tour certainly came close to decor perfection, Nicola has recently revamped some of the rooms—making her vintage-filled home even moodier and lovelier than before.

Name: Seana Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: Own. I am a first-time home owner! Seana does not claim to be a design expert, but she could have fooled us. As a corporate professional she spends her days in a more formal atmosphere, so her first house provides a unique canvas to express her creativity.

The house was a shell when they bought it, and they applied for a special first time home-buyer loan to allow them to rehab the existing structure.

Name: Megan Workman & Sam Peake, Delia the dog, and Eliot the cat Location: Central City; New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 1,439 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Real estate agent Megan Workman was searching for a house for a client two years ago, when something unexpected happened. When she entered the side door of a small Central City Victorian and stepped into a bright, beautiful hallway, she thought, “I must make this hallway mine.

Name: Ben and Viv Yapp, and their two little sons Covey and Arlo Location: Bristol, UK Size: 1,450 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1.5 years Having been in London for over 10 years, my husband and I finally decided to leave our little flat and moved to the countryside in Bristol.

When Jill and Charlie Bent bought their Cambridge home, the kitchen hadn’t been updated since 1920. Cosmetic changes made the space function aesthetically for the family, but the space had its fair share of structural issues, leaking ceilings, and ant infestations every spring. After compromising their comfort for half a decade, the couple decided to hire a contractor, Monarch Carpentry, to renovate it.

Name: Thomas and Amy Fitzpatrick, Aislinn, Sean and cairn terrier Jack Location: Highlands; North Carolina Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: less than a year; owned The Fitzpatricks live at 4,000 feet in the quaint mountain town of Highlands, North Carolina, a vacation respite for some 15,000 visitors each summer. But for Thomas and Amy, they enjoy the surrounding natural beauty year-round in their 1950s home which they’ve been transforming since they moved in last year.