House

Name: Alan Gonzalez Garcia, owner of new East Austin restaurant Papi Tino’s and Taco (the dog). Location: East — Austin, TexasSize: 2,500 square feetYears lived in: Owned 3 years Two things hit you first when you walk into Alan Gonzalez’s hip-looking East Austin home. One: Whoa! A black ceiling! And two: The realization that this is going to be one awesome house.

Name: Jesse Kamm (fashion designer) & Lucas Brower (founder of AP Academics) Location: Mt. Washington – Los Angeles, California Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: 1 1/2 years Jesse and Lucas’ home represents both their love of great design and a rather minimalist lifestyle.

Name: Peter and Blair Stocker, their two kids, and a kitty named Gracie.Location: North Seattle, WashingtonSize: 2500 square feetYears lived in: 10 years, owned Peter and Blair live in a sweet (and deceptively large) house, tucked away amongst giant, shady trees in the Greenwood area of Northern Seattle. The self-employed duo have been cultivating the home’s modern twist on traditional decor over the past ten years.

Name: Tammy, John, Sam, Will, and Dobbs Location: Gulf Islands, British Columbia Size: 180 square feetYears lived in: One (mostly on weekends) Before I get started with this tour, I cannot emphasize this enough: My husband and I are not rich and we are not particularly handy. Heck, we’re not even all that smart. This latter fact was probably the driver behind why two people with little money and even fewer skills would even attempt to build a cabin on an isolated island with no amenities.

Name: Sandra Location: Brentwood — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 2,400 square feetYears lived in: 8 months — Own Months ago I was visiting interior designer Craig Olsen at his showroom on La Brea. In the corner window, he had a gorgeous black and white striped couch on display. He told me how he had custom upholstered it for his client Sandra’s new home. After almost a year of residence, Sandra welcomes us to her new Brentwood abode.

Name: Beatrice Valenzuela (shoe designer and hairdresser) & Ramsey Conder (clay modeler for Tesla Motors) Location: Echo Park – Los Angeles, California Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year A good friend, Kathryn Bentley, suggested I tour Beatrice and Ramsey’s unique and well decorated Echo Park home. From the moment I walked through the door I knew their place was very special. There were no barriers between the indoor and outdoor areas.

Name: Harper and Caleb Carnes with Piper the PomeranianLocation: Dalton, GeorgiaSize: 2000 square feetYears lived in: Own — 9 months Sure, we used the word “sophisticated” in the title because it pairs so cheerfully with the word “Southern,” but make no mistake; the Georgia home of cute couple Harper and Caleb might be grown-up and good-looking, but it’s also bold, bright, adventurous, fun and full of inspiring ideas and enviable thrift store finds.

Name: Amy & Greg Strunk, their brand new baby, Graham, and their two kittens, Pips and Fawkes Location: Penderbrook (Fairfax, VA)Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 ½ baths on 4 floorsYears lived in: owned 4 years I didn’t even have to look at the house number to find Amy and Greg’s home on photo shoot day— as soon as I saw the flowers and foliage cascading down the front steps I knew I had arrived. Knowing that Amy is a landscape designer, that part was a giveaway.

Name: Cody, Kamie & Sophia RasmussenLocation: North Beach — Seattle, WashingtonSize: 2240 square feetYears lived in: 5 — rown Cody, a graphic designer and owner of the custom furniture shop Modgrain, his realtor wife, Kamie, and their daughter, Sophia, have settled into one of the hidden gem neighborhoods of Seattle.

Name: Noa Azoulay-Sclater & Stuart SclaterLocation: Spring Valley — San Diego, CASize: Home: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. 1100 sq ft, built in 1951. Studio: about 300 sq ft. Shed-to-studio remodel in 2010.Years lived in: 2 yrs — owned A suburban corner of San Diego’s Spring Valley neighborhood feels more like Laurel Canyon in its bohemian heyday, at least at the midcentury house owned by Noa Azoulay-Sclater, a photographer, and her husband Stuart Sclater, a musician.

Name: Shannon KayeLocation: San Mateo — just south of San Francisco, CaliforniaSize: 1,000 square feetYears lived in: 6 years — rent Shannon Kaye, a Bay Area interior designer is “making room for more”. With years of experience in the design industry and host on the DIY Network, she opens up her personal home to share her ideas with us. She has used a rich palette of textures and color to bring out the charm of her DIY home.

Name: Jennifer DyerLocation: Hollywood Hills, CaliforniaSize: 2960 square feetYears lived in: 1 1/2 years Jennifer has a designer’s eye for confidently pulling together different styles across a mixture of unique furnishings. She loves scavenger finds — her leather dining room side chair was found on the side of the road. She is not afraid to shop at high and low sources to create a personal and unique home. At the end of the day, it comes down to the design and not the price tag.

Name: Sabrina Ward HarrisonLocation:Silver Lake — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: Approximately 1100 Square FeetYears lived in: 5 months — rent Sabrina Ward Harrison, a prolific Los Angeles based artist, has shared her entire life in print for over a decade. Mixing medias such as photography and painting in with her text, she has this sentimental way of bringing out the rawest of emotions through everything she writes about.

Name: Samantha, Lindsay and UshaLocation: Downtown — Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSize: 1,500 square feetYears lived in: 2 Samantha, Lindsey and their housemate, Usha, have made a sunshine–drenched home of their own with a few coats of paint, some great DIYs and a whole lot of art work made by family members. Their laid back style is both accessible and inspiring.

Name:: Elizabeth Low and David Cash and their 2 year old daughter VioletLocation: Mar Vista — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 903 Square FeetYears lived in: 2 — Own Elizabeth Low and her husband David Cash have created a lush and happy home. With no shortage of good weather, this small family enjoys the perks of rich landscaping and plenty of open space. Their daughter Violet has the best of both worlds; a cozy little bedroom to call her own and huge backyard to play in.

Name: Sean and Mandi EhmanLocation: West VirginiaSize: 1,977 square feetYears lived in: 4 This contemporary-style home in West Virginia is a unique example of how to customize a modular home and make it beautiful, but more than the aesthetic result, it’s the fruit of living intentionally that shines.

Name: Craig Olsen & Richard KoningsburgLocation: Hancock Park — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 3000 square feet Years lived in: 10 years An interior designer’s own home represents his or her personal style, but is also a representation of their skill set as a designer. I had heard that designer Craig Olsen’s home was very special. I patiently waited months for this tour because he wanted his space to be just perfect before he shared it with us.

Name: Isabelle Dahlin and Brandon BoudetLocation: Echo Park, CaliforniaSize: 1,250 square feetYears lived in: 5 years — Own What do you get when you mix an interior designer and chef under one roof? A lovely one bedroom English style cottage with incredible landscaping, an organic vegetable garden and a chicken coop! Isabelle Dahlin, owner of deKor, and her boyfriend Brandon Boudet, of Little Dom’s, have created the ideal getaway right at home in the hills of Echo Park.

Name: Zoe Feldman and Trey Location: Georgetown — Washington, DCSize: 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, 2 half baths. Approx: 1200 sq ftYears lived in: almost 2 years — owned Seeing what tricks designers use in their own homes is always a treat, but getting to peek into the home of an interior designer as unique as Zoe Feldman is a total thrill, especially since she was so open about sharing tips and resources.

Name: Maryam and MaxLocation: Beachwood Canyon – Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1,900 square feetYears lived in: 10 years Living in the Hollywood Hills with an unobstructed city view is one of the ultimate LA fantasies. Maryam and Max’s home is beautifully designed with modern furniture and a collection of Maryam’s pottery scattered throughout the house. My favorite room is definitely the sitting room, where they often enjoy breakfast while taking in the view.

Name: Penny, Petra and Sydney CortrightLocation: The Mesa — Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSize: 2,600 square feet (including a 600 square foot attached studio rental)Years lived in: 20 — owned Never have I turned a corner to face a staircase that literally reads, painted on the stairs, “And I’ll Buy You a Stairway to Heaven.” This detail leads to many more creative twists and turns, as I toured this unique home on the top of a hill in Santa Barbara.

Name: Jeff and Mary LaCosteLocation: Crown Hill — Seattle, WashingtonSize: 2100 square feetYears lived in: 4 — 3BR, owned Behold! It’s the folks behind ModKnobs, which we featured back in 2009 (custom modern doorknobs made from hockey pucks). Rehabbing their home from the the ground up, Jeff and Mary left no detail untouched.

Name: Deron and Marye Miller, Son Conner – 15; Daughter Macee – 12; Boston Terriers Sparky, Slinger and Murphy and Chihuahua Wilbur Location: Rollingwood — Austin, TXSize: 4000 square feetYears lived in: Owned 1 year You know the state saying: “Everything’s bigger in Texas.” Because we have a little more room to stretch out here, our houses are sometimes larger than the norm.

Name: Sam Spencer and Dominic WilliamsonLocation: Phinney Ridge — Seattle, WashingtonSize: 2000 sq feetYears lived in: 8.5 years Sam, Dominic and their two little girls live on a sunny hill in the neighborhood of Phinney Ridge in Seattle. The house stands out on the street as a sweet, contemporary haven with subtle storybook details. Their bright, red, front door and modern, silver house numbers are just a preview of the chic decor inside.

Name: Anne Ingman, photographer and blogger, and Jake Ingman, along with dog Judy Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota Size: 842 square feet Years lived in: Owned 4 years The Minnesota home of married couple Anne and Jake Ingman absolutely exudes friendliness, warmth and style. Simply decorated to maximize space, the result is a bright and airy home that fits the personalities of two young, stay-at-home, creative people. Dog Judy also makes an excellent visual accessory for any room!

Name: Shannan Martin, along with her husband Cory and 3 kidsLocation: Wakarusa, IndianaSize: 2300 square feetYears lived in: 4 — owned We see a lot of urban spaces in house tours around here so Shannan and Cory’s farmhouse is something a little different. Nestled in the lush green fields of Amish country, the couple have created a dreamy little haven that is stylish in its simplicity.

Name: Minh and Ted Location: Miracle Mile — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 8 years When Minh and Ted received an unexpected offer on their West Hollywood place, within days they were on the hunt for a new place to call home. Their realtor found them a distressed house that required a lot of work – you never really know the scope of what you are getting into until you are deep in renovation.

Name: Paul Location: San Luis Obispo, California Size: 1,800 square feet (house) and 325 square feet (guest house) Years lived in: 49 years Paul’s home is filled with many classic MCM furniture pieces — such as the Eames lounge, Eames rocker, Eero Saarinen’s tulip chair and the Bertoia wire chair — which is mixed in with a great selection of modern art.

Name: Haley and Ted, + their dog RupertLocation: Summerland, California (a little coastal town just a few miles south of Santa Barbara)Size: 950 square feetYears lived in: About 1 year — rent Haley and Ted live in one of those idyllic, adorable bright cottages with a traditional porch that face the coast of a sleepy beach town. Nestled in between some of the best wineries and vintage shops, their three bedroom home presents a wonderful palette of textiles and colors.

Name: Jen Ramos Location: Henderson, Nevada Size: 2,800 square feet Years lived in: 8 months At the end of last year, Jen started the process of remodeling her kitchen. She posted a few inspirational photos and a photo of her kitchen on her design blog, Made By Girl. I was so excited to see the transformation that I kept checking in and waiting to see the final result of her new kitchen. Jen gave me a peek at the rest of her house and I couldn’t resist a full house tour.

Name: Alexis, George, Eva (5), Theo (2), and Xander (2 months) Location: Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 2,500 square feetYears lived in: 3 years — owned The Stathoulis home makes everyone who enters it feel transported. It feels as if the air is fresher, the food richer, and the light is…Mediterranean? When I first visited this gem of a home I didn’t pick up on it right away.

Name: Chancie, Dan, and Clark Meehan Location: Mt. Washington — Los AngelesSize: 2,000 square feetYears lived in: 9 — owned Chancie and Dan have worked hard to update and expand their tiny hillside starter home and the result of their efforts is a surprisingly harmonious mix of modern, traditional, rustic, and quirky — a combination that aptly reflects the home’s inhabitants and its setting.

Name: Clay Ferguson (aka FERG), vinyl toy designer and owner of toy companies Playge and Jamungo, his wife, artist Sarah Ferguson, their daughter, Georgia and delightful dog, Blackie.Location: Hyde Park — Austin, TexasSize: 1200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years We love a sleek, modern-looking home, but don’t love a space that seems too serious to be enjoyed.

Name: Donna WilliamsLocation: British Columbia, CanadaSize: 1800 square feetYears lived in: 5 — owned If you compare DIY to karate (stay with me now), then Donna Williams would be a 10th degree black belt. This single mom is a “Pallet Princess” from the North who isn’t afraid of power tools or realistic timelines for home improvement projects.

Name: Chris SavoyLocation: Hollywood — Los Angeles, CASize: 2,450 square feet- 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathYears lived in: 6 months- own Chris Savoy’s home is a half a year old, stunning in design and custom built to enjoy the warm Los Angeles climate. The open floor plan that seamlessly joins the back yard to the center of the home offers a bohemian feel, while the decor and fixtures are simplistic and minimal.

Name: Jo-Anne Bichard & Howard PotterLocation: Deptford — SE LondonSize: 800 square feetYears lived in: 9 — rented/owned: a bit of both — UK program of shared ownership This design anthropologist (Jo-Anne) and oncology nurse (Howard) have long lived in southeast London — from several years renting in New Cross to taking great advantage of shared ownership with this new build terrace house/millennium design in Deptford.

Name: Alex & Debra Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,406 square feet Years lived in: 4½ Living on the East Coast offers residents a choice in housing stock of homes built before the 1900s. Finding fluted columns on the exterior of a Greek revival home is commonplace, but finding the columns on the inside of the house was a surprise for Alex and Debra.

Name: Nana Kim, her husband, their 2-year-old daughter and 2 catsLocation: Bouldin Neighborhood — Austin, TexasSize: 2,300 square feetYears lived in: 4 The home designed by Nana Kim, of 9 square studio, is a dream for anyone who loves modern design and nature.

Name: John Schoenfeld & Sophie Schoenfeld Location: Joshua Tree, CaliforniaSize: 1,450 square feetYears lived in: 7 Desert living is quite different than living in the city. Many Angelenos make the trip to Joshua Tree to relax and bask in the hot and dry climate. John and Sophie wanted to create the best of both worlds when designing their home. They wanted the local desert environment reflected in their decor, but with modern elements incorporated.

Name: Cory Buckner & Nick RobertsLocation: Malibu, CaliforniaSize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 2 Years Cory and Nick’s place is about an hour outside of the city. After driving miles and miles up the winding streets to the summit, we finally reached their home. The expansive view, which includes the ocean on clear days, was well worth the drive. I counted just five other homes in sight and the only noise was that of birds.

Name: ThomasLocation: VirginiaSize: 11,000 square feetYears lived in: 56 — owned When Thomas first started planning his home, he brought his high sense of standards and strong opinions to the project. Not content to hand it over to others to complete, he believed one’s home should ultimately represent individual sensibilities. This meant that nothing was too small to be involved with – from the overall architecture, down to the smallest interior detail.

Name: Saule & Chris and their three young childrenLocation: Frederick, MarylandSize: 2,800 square feet — 4 bedroomsYears lived in: 9 — owned (and still changing it every day) My first thought on walking through Saule’s door was, “how on earth does this stylish woman keep her house looking this perfect with three young kids and a busy career?” She and Chris have mastered the art of balancing interesting and unique accents with durable, practical materials.

Name: Marlous Snijder & Pim Van de VisLocation: Veenendaal, The NetherlandsSize: 1,600 square feetYears lived in: 6 months — owned Apartment Therapy is in dire need of some more international house tours and I’m determined to change that. What better home to start with than a bright, sunny dwelling in The Netherlands? Marlous & Pim have styled their home with perfection. This Dutch couple’s home needs to be shared with the world!

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.