House

Name: Carrie Miller KerwinOccupation: Interior Designer with Massucco Warner Miller Interior DesignLocation: San Anselmo, CaliforniaSize: 1,100 square feetYears lived in: 5 — owned Carrie’s bungalow may be a mere 1,100 square feet, but it feels palatial. Her style is refined, yet playful —mirroring her own personality. An interior designer by trade, Carrie’s home is edited to perfection which in turn makes each room feel spacious and grand.

Name: Joi and David SveziaLocation: Highland, IllinoisSize: 1073 square feetYears lived in: 5.5 — owned Hollywood and Palm Springs, meet Highland, Illinois. All courtesy of Joi “David Hicks” Svezia. Behind an unassuming door in the small town about an hour outside St. Louis, teachers Joi (that’s pronounced Joey by the way, not Joy) and David live a glamorous existence.

Name: Stephen Eichhorn and Jessica PaulsonPets: 2 toy poodles, Francis and Lulu; 2 cats, Poncho and KevinLocation: Ukrainian Village; Chicago, IllinoisSize: Roughly 2,000 sq ft (1,200 living space & 800 studio space); Single family home built in 1895Years lived in: 6 months, rented It’s no surprise that Stephen and Jessica listed the phrase “Always be Knolling” as a source of inspiration.

Name: Katherine & AlbertLocation: Prospect Heights — Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 4-story limestone building. Phase 1: one-floor, 938 square feet. Phase 2: 2-floor, 3-bedroom, 1,876 square feet (tenants live on the other two of the floors)Years Lived In: 3 Katherine, a stylist, is very particular about, and sensitive to, her immediate environment.

Name: Steven ShortridgeLocation: Venice, CaliforniaSize: 800 Square FeetYears lived in: 14 Steven Shortridge’s home was part of a larger house, which was relocated to Venice in 1937. He kept many of the original architectural details and built-ins and also added modern elements to fit his lifestyle. Choosing a bright bright orange for his dining room and kitchen was definitely a bold move, but Steven felt it was just the right color for the space.

Name: Sherry Joniff-Solomon and Dana Solomon — Owners of 22 Bond St.Location: West Hollywood, CaliforniaSize: 1,300 square feet (main house) + 300 square feet (pool house)Years lived in: 10 Months My favorite interior design inspirations are homes that have creative solutions for limited space. With under 1,500 square feet and a baby on the way, Sherry and Dana were on the fast track to renovate their new home.

Name: Marie Muscardini & Nick Silberman + Siena & Rocco Location: El Cerrito, CaliforniaSize: 1,300 square feetYears lived in: 2 — owned Who said that lightning can’t strike twice? Welcome back to El Cerrito, California! Nestled in the hills of the East Bay, El Cerrito sits northwest of Berkeley and is an increasingly favored destination for young families. Marie and Nick were no exception, moving into this 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch to make space for their growing brood.

Name: Edyta Czajkowska + fiancé + 2 adopted lovable pit bullsLocation: Des Plaines, IllinoisSize: 1,100 square feetYears lived in: 5 — owned It’s always fun to see the homes of interior designers. I had been checking out Edyta’s professional projects on her website and flickr photostream for a while and I’ve always been impressed by her amazing style.

Name: Aaron and Shannon Hase, owners of Yuppie Decor, and their spoiled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, PepperLocation: Arlington, Virginia (Douglas Park)Size: 1450 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Years lived in: owned 2 years Part preppy coastal, part old boys club, and part fresh traditional, Shannon and Aaron’s home is a lighthearted interpretation of yuppie East Coast style.

Name: Kathleen White-Almanza – former set decorator, designer, and co-owner of Eccola and Maurizio Almanza – co-owner of Eccola Location: Miracle Mile — Los Angeles, California Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 2½ Kathleen and Maurizio’s home is my absolute dream house. When you enter through the front door into a courtyard with an outdoor fireplace and even a scooter in the driveway, how can you not feel like you are in a rural town in Italy?

Name: A project by Sally Breer Interior Design Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1700 square feet Designer Sally Breer was tasked with taking an older South Austin bungalow and turning it into a hip, inviting and cool home for a young bachelor. The house, like a lot of older homes, had great bones (namely beautiful wood floors and a neat layout) but lacked a lot (okay any) style. Full of vintage details and lots of bright light, we love the cool, accessible look of this home she’s created.

Name: Ingrid & SjaakLocation: Driewegen , The NetherlandsSize: 2,421 square feetYears lived in: 2½ — owned An incredibly crafty and creative gal, Ingrid has filled her historic eclectic home with lovingly-made blankets, edited furniture, and textile art. What could easily have become a visually chaotic space is actually a soothing environment with just the right amount of color, texture, and vintage details.

Name: Warren Techentin and Mimi Techentin Location: Los Feliz, CaliforniaSize: 3600 Square FeetYears lived in: 4 years When I visit an architect’s home, I sometimes find it to be an untouchable piece of art. However, Warren and Mimi’s lovely home was very welcoming and showed signs of life and children really enjoying the space. I asked Warren how he kept the twin babies from not pulling all the books off the shelves or trying to climb the library ladder.

Who lives here: Kristen James and Mike Dunn and their dogs Gaudi and ConanLocation: Lakewood, CASize: 3 bedrooms 2 bathroom house (1,305 Square Feet)Years lived in: 6 years — own Kristen and Mike bought their home 6 years ago, with a keen sense of inspiration and design savvy that has flourished into fruition with their complete renovation and addition this past year.

Name: Liv and Jeff McMillan Location: Long Beach, California Size: 1644 Square Feet Years lived in: 8 Months Liv and Jeff are as fun and carefree as their artistic and handmade home. While Jeff finishes his painting in his studio, Liv is in her crafts room writing for her blog and hanging out with Friendly Yeti. Early this summer there will be a new little addition to the family and it isn’t a baby yeti.

Name: Kate and Mark ShawLocation: The Mission — San Fransisco, CaliforniaSize: 1,200 square feetYears owned: 6 Kate and Mark’s decor mission is simple: to steadily curate their space by adding and rearranging pieces in a way that ensures everything serves a purpose — even if only to celebrate favorite memories. Their collection is largely comprised of natural curiosities, handmade items, and found objects.

Name: Jason, Denise, & OwenLocation: Midway Hollow — Dallas, TexasSize: 1,200 square feetYears lived in: 4 years — owned Denise and Jason’s 1952 ranch style home is an excellent testament to resisting the tear-down movement now common in the surrounding areas of Dallas. Rather than remodeling, they used basic design aesthetics to complement the 1950’s charm: clean white walls, pops of color, and no clutter.

Name: Family of Three plus one adorable service dogLocation: Providence, Rhode IslandSize: 3000 square feetYears lived in: 3 — owned You get to see plenty of streamlined, minimalist spaces on Apartment Therapy. This isn’t one of them. This is a home that feels more like a delightful, giant cabinet of curiosity. This place isn’t shy about reflecting the stories, experiences and history of those who are lucky enough to live here.

Name: Dana & Steve Miller along with sons Layne & Everett Location: Cincinnati, OhioSize: 2500 sq ft – 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath homeYears lived in: 2.5 — owned When Dana and her husband Steve bought their new construction home a few years ago, they were certain they could bring their own casual style to this boring builder’s home. And have they ever succeeded!

Name: Lisa & Dan and their 2 childrenLocation: Bedford, New HampshireSize: 6,200 square feet (including a small in-law apartment not pictured)Years lived in: 10 — owned Lisa and Dan moved into this outstanding farmhouse 10 years ago after living in a modern home made mostly of glass. It is clear from the first few steps inside that there is no shortage of modern amenities here — but when Lisa re-designed and re-structured this home, she did so with a reverence for the past.

Name: Bruce and Melanie RosenbaumLocation: Sharon, MassachusettsSize: 4 bedrooms, 5000 square feetYears lived in: 10 — owned Steampunk means different things to different people, but to Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum whose home is a perfect whimsical ode to the style, it means fusing a modern sensibility with industrial antiques from the Victorian period to create a space that showcases the couple’s passion for antiquing, history, art, and technology.

Name: Ryan and Susan HayesLocation: Williston, VermontSize: Approximately 1550 sq. feet plus finished basementYears lived in: less than one On a quiet dirt road not far from Burlington, Vermont, Ryan and Susan Hayes have put a spin on farmhouse living. Inspired by Ryan’s own great grandparent’s home, they built a traditional Vermont-style house tweaked with their own modern aesthetic. This included some of the latest technologies in green building.

Name: Shanan and ChrisLocation: West Queen West — Toronto, CanadaSize: 2000 square feet + 400 square foot studio (building behind the house)Years lived in: 3 — owned Take one newly renovated, 3 bedroom semi-detached home up for sale in Toronto’s West Queen West neighborhood. Add Shanan, a graphic designer who recently returned to Toronto in search of a home and workspace for her company, Linseed Projects. Wait a few months.

Name: Alison and JoeLocation: Plainfield, IllinoisSize: 1,800 square feetYears lived in: 3 months Alison and Joe have only lived in their house for about three months but you wouldn’t know by looking at it. The way their suburban home is so completely and tastefully decorated it looks like they’ve lived in their house for three years.

Name: Mary & Eric Martineau (and Bogart the dog) Location: Harrison West — Columbus, OhioSize: 1,620 square feetYears lived in: 2 owned for 3½ Creative reuse is nothing new to Mary Martineau. As owner of Short North gallery Transformations, she used decoupage and paint to rework ordinary pieces of used furniture into functional works of art.

Name: Dan & Sarah Herchenroether Location: Newport, Rhode Island Size: 1,176 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years Dan used all his experience as an architect and whole lot of elbow grease to transform a small cottage on a quiet street away from the tourist hustle and bustle of Newport, Rhode Island from drab and dated (think tons of wood paneling) into a sweet and contemporary family home.

Name: Jonas Location: Brookside, Kansas City, MissouriStyle: Dutch Colonial Years lived in: 4 On the drive to photograph Jonas’ home, I had geared myself up for the “nice but non-creative” that is usually found in neighborhoods of this age. His home resides just south of Kansas City in an area that’s trying to make a shift from old money to new young blood.

Name: Nathan & Hannah (Foxy, our long-haired Chihuahua)Location: St. Louis, MissouriSize: 1362 square feetYears lived in: 5 Eero Saarinen’s Gateway Arch is the tip of the mid-century iceburg in the Saint Louis area. Case in point: Tucked in among more expected suburban homes, is the gem of Ridgewood, a time capsule of a subdivision, peppered with modern ranch homes built as affordable and efficient homes in the the 50s.

Names: Jen, Michael, Eva & Esme Location: Lexington, MassachusettsSize: 3,000 square feetYears lived in: 2 Remember the story of the city mouse and the country mouse? The country mouse envies her sister’s riches, but eventually chooses a life of safety and ease in the country over the wealth and danger of the city. The fable aptly describes artist Jen’s search for the ideal home.

Name: A Very Modest Cottage Location: Elkhorn, Wisconsin, on the grounds of Tereasa and David’s summer camp Size: 10 x 10 square feet Type: Half-sawn log cabin from a prohibition-era motor cabin court Years lived in: Guest cottage on our summer camp for 3 years Tereasa Surratt advises people to “look for the abandoned souls,” and once you know the story of this cottage, you’ll understand exactly what she means.

Name: Jenn SkiLocation: Bedford, New HampshireSize: 2,400 square feetYears lived in: 2½ years — ownedWho else lives there: My husband Al and cat FloydThe mid-century modern aesthetic gets lots of air play here on Apartment Therapy and seems to be the coveted style among hipsters. This interior design style which often includes sparse furnishings and straight lines is often austere.

Name: Jennifer (of The Little Things), James, Laine and Harley Johner (plus 2 dogs, a cat and a bunny)Location: Acreage (30 minutes north of Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada)Size: 1,544 square feet (main floor)Years lived in: almost 4 years You might remember Jennifer’s lovely turquoise and yellow kitchen we posted a couple of months ago. After seeing this room in the house, we couldn’t wait to see more and Jen was happy to oblige.

Name: Rene & JerryLocation: Jamaica Plain, MassachusettsSize: 3200 square feetYears lived in: Almost 4 If a house can have good karma, this Victorian Mansard’s got it. Before the current owners, Rene and Jerry, bought this beautiful Jamaica Plain home, the previous owners made a bold and rare move. They skillfully returned this glorious single family home, which had been chopped into three units over years, back into the cohesive single family home that it longed to be.

Name: Sebastian & SarahLocation: Noordhoek — Cape Town, South AfricaSize: 2,360 square feet homeYears lived in: 2 (unrenovated) and 1 (as you see it) Meeting Sarah and Sebastian in their wonderfully colorful home was a breath of fresh air — a home where you instantly fall in love with the building and its inhabitants. It’s inviting and interesting without overwhelming your senses — casual chic at its best!

Name: Jay & MelissaLocation: Manchester, New HampshireSize: 1,250 square feetYears lived in: Owned – 6 yearsWho else lives there: Dogs Brady and Cali and Cats Mama, Tony, and Pepper Jay and Melissa made an offer on this two family on Manchester’s South side six years ago only to find out through Melissa’s mom that the home had been built by her grandfather in 1950.

Name: Alison & Jeff AllenLocation: Minneapolis, MinnesotaSize: Rental House, 1,200 Square FeetYears lived in: 1 year, 4 months We’ve seen a great number of homes over the years. Some big, some small, some round and some without walls. This home nestled in the northern nook of the Midwest is one that instantly feels like home and oozes family and comfort while still feeling fresh in their retro, Mid-Century stylings.

(Welcome to Elizabeth from Milwaukee, one of the bloggers trying out for a place on the Apartment Therapy editorial team as a House Tour Contributor. Enjoy her work!)Name: Michael & DanijelaLocation: Milwaukee, WisconsinSize: 1300 square feetYears lived in: 2.5 Newlyweds Michael and Danijela still seem a little surprised by their home and location. Young, design-loving, tech-savvy, Eurocentric professionals, they might seem more at home in a hip, downtown warehouse convert.

(Welcome to Abby from Toronto, one of the bloggers trying out for a place on the Apartment Therapy editorial team as a House Tour Contributor. Enjoy her work – comments welcome!

Name: Chris & HeatherLocation: Acton, MassachusettsSize: 2,700 square feetYears lived in: 4 I first met Heather and Chris when they contacted me for a fresh eye to help them pull together their playful family room. The moment I entered their house I had two thoughts: This is absolutely a future Apartment Therapy House Tour, AND this woman is so talented at design, I can’t imagine how I’m going to be a value added here.

Name: Kristie and familyLocation: Nashville, TennesseeSize/Type: 3000 square foot 1939 4 bedroom Cape CodYears lived in: 8 You may recognize a few of the views of Kristie’s Nashville home from this House Call post that we published last September. The comment thread was filled with requests to see more of this unique, true-to-its-roots house, so we are kicking off the 2010 house tours with a just that – enjoy the longer look!

Name: Acido DoradoLocation: Joshua Tree, CaliforniaSize: 1,350 square feet About a year ago, we were contacted by architect Robert Stone about a project he had just completed out in Joshua Tree, an unique ebony washed pavilion specifically designed as a vacation destination with a “new desert aesthetic”. He called it Rosa Muerta. But we just remember it as possibly the most unique place we’ve ever stayed in.