Texas

Name: Des Ellis Location: Houston, Texas Size: 1,440 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented and owned Some people have an effortless style, amazing taste and the gift of knowing how to put all the pieces of their life together perfectly. Des is one of those people. She’s the buyer and general manager at Manready Mercantile, a “one-stop shop” that sells American-made goods for the home and closet.

Name: Ruth Snell Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: Owned 6 years Ruth Snell and her family have lived in their bright, 1300 square foot home for almost six years. As you enter her organized entryway, you wouldn’t guess that controlling family clutter is her biggest challenge. Ruth’s best advice for a tidy home? Practice picking up daily, have a place for everything, and keep baskets around to collect items that need to go back to their homes.

Name: Kelly and Colton Jarisch, baby Silas, and Shiner. Location: Tarrytown — Austin, Texas Size: 1,530 square feet Years lived in: Owned a little over 2.5 years Kelly and Colton’s small cottage home just west of downtown Austin is a case study for renovations done right. Their reno began as a series of DIY projects to remove the previous owner’s design decisions, but Kelly and Colton soon found themselves in the midst of a whole house renovation — for the first time.

Name: Shauna Glenn and Jeff Jones Location: Fort Worth, Texas Size: 4,111 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned If Alice (of Wonderland) had a house in the 21st century, this is what it would look like. With each room drenched in bright colors and bold patterns, you can’t help but feel happy walking around this home. Shauna and Jeff have picked up items from their travels around the world, adding statement pieces to each room to give them character.

Name: Joel and Jessica Nickerson and their two daughters Location: Denton, Texas Size: 2,000 square feet Years Lived In: 8 years, owned Jessica has filled each room of her home with unique finds, DIY elements, and vintage pieces to create a warm and welcoming environment. On her blog, House Homemade, she shares her passion for creating a cozy home and demonstrates how to recreate her favorite DIY pieces.

Name: Todd Location: Montrose — Houston, Texas Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 3 1/2 years, renting As someone who works at an architecture firm, it makes complete sense that Todd would choose to live in the lively and hip Montrose area in Houston, Texas. Living in a neighborhood that has access to art, culture, amazing food and nightlife was more important to Todd than space.

Name: Alexis Sassard, husband Walt and children Felix, Luella Location: The Woodlands, (right outside of Houston) Texas Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Alexis and her husband Walt moved to his hometown of Houston from NYC almost five years ago to start a family. Walt, a former professional photographer, fulfilled a dream of his to become a fireman. Alexis, an interior designer, was nervous but excited about rooting down in The Woodlands, a large suburb outside of Houston.

Name: Caroline Harper Knapp, her husband, and their sons, Knox and Andrew Location: Briargrove — Houston, Texas Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned When Caroline Harper Knapp moved back to her home state of Texas a few years ago from New York, she knew she would have more space to design a home for her and her family.

Retro Halloween masks, handmade spooky DIYs, glitter, pom-poms, tassels and a ton of faux trees — crafter and blogger Jen Perkins doesn’t just set a few fake tombstones out on the lawn and call it a day. When it comes to Halloween decorating, every inch of her home (inside and out) is splashed with spooky decor. This is the third year in a row we’re showing off what her home looks like in October.

Name: Jeff and Sara Jones and their two dogs Location: Waco, Texas Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned You may recognize this couple from season three of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. After living in their Fixer Upper home for over a year, Sara decided to go back to school for nutrition…and it forced the couple to get creative with their finances.

Name: Hannah Wilson Location: Dallas, Texas Size: 1,300 square feet Years Lived In: 5 months, owned My husband and I own a home remodeling/design company called Blank Slate Renovations. He is a licensed contractor and I’ve recently graduated with a degree in interior design. We flip houses full time and are always looking for the next project or creative outlet. We found our current abode here in Dallas through an investor that had previously sold us a project a few years back.

Name: Keely Mann Location: The Woodlands — just outside of Houston, Texas Size: 3,500 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Keely Mann, her husband, and small children moved to Houston from California over a decade ago. After adding two more kids to the mix (for a total of four!), The Manns were in need of a larger home. They settled in The Woodlands, Texas, a large suburb outside of the Houston City Limits, which gets its name from its sprawling forests.

This home aims for sustainability in small but impactful ways.

Name: Greg and Becky Simpson Location: East Austin Size: 1,500 square feet Years Lived In: Owned 2 years Greg and Becky don’t have any particular favorite time period of design. Nor do they hold any allegiances to any brands or designers. Truthfully? They just buy what they like. Influenced heavily by their “groovy friends” and the lively city of Austin, their home is a playful, unique reflection of their two fun personalities.

Name: Amanda and Chris Covo Location: East Austin, Texas Size: 967 square feet Years lived in: 7 months owned, after an 8 month renovation Amanda and Chris live in Austin, Texas — East Austin, to be specific. They are right down the street from Franklin BBQ and East Side Pies, local favorites. The house isn’t just cool because of its proximity to the hippest restaurants, though; it’s also a historic landmark.

Name: Chad Palmatier and Anthony Sobotik Location: North Austin, Texas Size: 1,850 square feet Years Lived In: 1.5 years, owned In their business—Lick Honest Ice Creams—as well as their home, Chad and Anthony focus on bringing an appreciation of simple things into the world. When it comes to decorating their North Austin house, they only brought in items they really love. The kind of items that bring them joy every day. For the couple, that means color, pattern and family heirlooms.

Name: September Scott Location: Austin, Texas Size: 740 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, renting Designer September Scott is all about the hunt—for treasures, one-of-a-kind finds and absolutely any found object she can reinvigorate. “Almost all the pieces in my space are reclaimed from an estate sale, flea market, Goodwill or on the side of the road. My passion is bringing new life into found objects,” she writes.

Name: Lara and Adam Location: South Austin, Texas Size: 930 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, owned Not counting the couches and chairs, nearly all the furniture in this home was built by its owners! Pallets, old fences…any reclaimed wood Lara and Adam found around their neighborhood became building material for their home’s contents. And they saved a lot of money by salvaging fencing they took down during the renovation and other wood scraps.

Name: Ginger Griffice and Chick Rabourn Location: Marfa, Texas Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned If you ask people what the town of Marfa, Texas is all about, you’ll hear a variety of different narratives describing this small, rural cultural curiosity: It’s an old place that is having new life breathed into it; It’s a dying town that’s being reborn as a cultural center. It’s hip…it’s dried up.

Name: Melanie and Dalton Tarver Location: Dallas, Texas Size: 1088 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Melanie writes: “My home is a mid-century traditional built in 1950. I have lived here for three years with my husband Dalton and two pups, Addie and Mr. Cooper. It’s in East Dallas which has a bit of an eclectic vibe and really feels like an escape from the city without being too far.

Name: Jeff and Jenni Swedlund and their son, Decker Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1,497 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Jenni and Jeff come from different parts of the country—Seattle and Chicago—but met on common ground when they were both living in California. Six weeks after Jenni moved to their beach town, they met in a sequence of events involving tequila shots, mistaken advances toward a waitress, a whispered coaxing from a friend, and an ocean swim.

Name & Location: Kari in Dallas, Texas My Favorite Room: Family Room Specs: 275 Square Feet My husband Ryan and I moved into our home two months ago. We always talked about buying a fixer-upper and making it our own. Then, something crazy happened. We had kids. Between the toddler tantrums and an angelic newborn, a fixer-upper no longer seemed fun. Priorities, y’all. So instead we found a move-in ready home and fell in love instantly!

Name: Kayla and Amir Farhang and their dogs, Rusty “Pants” and Bo Jackson Location: Austin, Texas Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 8 months; Owned Kayla and Amir live in Austin with their two dogs, Rusty “Pants” and Bo Jackson. To make a long story short, they basically left their long-time home in Los Angeles for Austin because they fell in love with a house, a city, and its people. Kayla is a life stylist, host, and speaker in LA, NYC, and Austin.

Name: Heather and Daniel Mount Location: Denton, Texas Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, owned When Heather and Daniel started looking for their first home, they had been nervously watching the intense Denton market for a year. The first few houses they saw were supposed to give them an idea of what they could get in their budget, but when they walked into the first house of the day, they felt a connection.

Name: Drew Location: Platinum Corridor — Addison, Texas Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1.5 years Though Drew works in the medical device industry, he has a deep love for interior design, and his loft studio in Addison, Texas (north of Dallas) showcases that love.

Name: Justin Cox and Blue Jean the pup Location: East Austin — Austin, Texas Size: 2/2 + Office Years lived in: 1 years Justin Cox’s home is located in the heart of Austin. The rich, warm wood ceiling in the living room might catch your eye first. A modern kitchen is visible from the front door, and the first impression is of an airy, light-filled space, beautifully layered from floor to (wood) ceiling.

Name: Allison Crawford and pup Pierre Location: Downtown — Austin, Texas Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 month Interior designer Allison Crawford hasn’t been living in this downtown Austin apartment very long, but her style (and the skills to put together so many eclectic pieces) is evident from the very first glimpse of her colorful, vintage-filled home. My Style: My style is vintage eclectic.

Name: Jennifer Perkins and husband Chris Boehk along with daughter Tallulah and son Baxter Location: Shady Hollow Neighborhood — Austin, Texas Size: 2,900 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Crafter, blogger and extremely cool mom Jennifer Perkins excels at many things — and transforming her Austin home into a Halloween land of enchantment every year is definitely high on the list.

Name: Taylor and Alisha Murphy Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1,300 Square Feet Years lived in: 2 years, rented Taylor and Alisha Murphy have lived in Austin since they both graduated from the University of Texas. It was a happy medium for being close to family, but also being in the middle of all the exciting things a city can offer, such as outdoor activities — hiking, swimming, camping, music — and a great design and restaurant scene.

Name: Spencer Huddleston Location: Austin, Texas Size: 780 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented Spencer is a graphic designer and world traveler living in Austin, Texas. When I arrived at his home, his packed climbing gear was immediately noticeable. He was headed that day to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (!). “My friend and I try to climb one mountain a year. This year, it’s Mount Kilimanjaro.

Name: Natalie, Bobby, Arlo the boy, and Lucy the dog Location: Texas Hill Country Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 1 year Natalie and Bobby met in college and married about 11 years ago. Moving from Portland, Oregon (where Natalie studied to become an art therapist) to Austin, Texas in 2013 was a huge adjustment. “I had found out I was pregnant the day we packed up and said goodbye to all of our friends and our lovely Portland neighborhood.

Name: Allen, Clara and Henry Hah Location: Austin, Texas Size: 2100 sq ft Years lived in: Owned almost 2 years. Purchased Jan 2014; moved in Nov 2014 due to renovations Allen and Clara met through a mutual friend years ago and became long distance pen pals, between San Francisco and Houston. Texas has always been home for Clara, so she was itching to move back. Allen got a job opportunity that he couldn’t pass up, so they packed up and moved to Austin in 2012.

Name: Emily Waldmann Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Austin is known for its music scene and amazing barbecue. But Austin also boasts some diverse, singular design. Deep down in East Austin is where you’ll find Seattle native Emily Waldmann and her incredible modern-meets-bohemian style. This 1967 renovated charmer features welcoming common areas, ample outdoor space, and a private master bathroom ensuite.

Name: Katie Taylor Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1,400 square feet Years Lived In: Owned 7 years When you first walk into Katie’s home, you just can’t help but want to move right in. Each room is drenched in cheery, loud, earthy California-vibe colors, and decorated with hilariously sassy signs, brass pineapples of all sizes, and an abundance of sweet, little details. It’s the kind of place you want to skip work and stay in to host a girls-only hangout day.

Emily has mastered the art of tastefully combining modern and bohemian decor and furniture while keeping it refreshingly minimal in her 1967 renovated Austin charmer. Take a peek at her resource lists below to shop her delightful style!

Name: Micaela Clouse and June Carter Cash the Pug Location: South Central Austin, Texas Size: 630 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Drawing inspiration from her family’s collective design styles, Micaela brings together ’70s charm with Southwestern flavor in this mid-century apartment in Austin, Texas. Tucked away in an apartment complex in South Central Austin is an oasis of macrame and greenery. Micaela has effortlessly made this 630 square foot space a home.

Name: Danika and family Location: Fort Worth, Texas Size: 3400 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting When you’re outnumbered by kids, it can sometimes be hard to craft a home that both fits your style personality and theirs. Particularly if you’re renting. But as this young family proves, you can get creative — and colorful — even in a rental. Danika’s advice for making a home is simple, but universal: “Make your home yours. Unapologetically.

Name: Max and Tamera Walters Location: Austin, Texas Size: 843 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, renting Tamera and her family live in South Austin with their daughter (with a second child on the way!). South Austin, an expanding part of the city, has become increasingly expensive, so Tamera and her family chose to live in a complex where they would have security, convenience to work, and be within their budget. The apartment is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom on the ground floor.

Name: Maria Branco, Bruno Sabino, and their puppy Kilo Location: Lindale Park — Houston, Texas Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Maria Branco is an interior designer, jewelry maker, and artist living in Houston, Texas with her husband Bruno. After moving to the U.S. from their native home of Lisbon, Portugal, they are renting an 800-square-foot garage apartment in an up-and-coming neighborhood just miles north of downtown Houston.

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: Nikou and Travis McCarra, their sons, Kian and Zayn, and WIFI the Dog Location: Houston, Texas Size: 1,550 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned Nikou and Travis met in architecture school at the University of Houston many years ago—first came love of design, then came marriage. Now they co-own McCarra Creative, a “multi-disciplinary design studio focused on branding, web, print, and 3D.

Name: David Jameson (with Treasure Hance) Location: Downtown — Houston, Texas Size: 817 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Working with 817 square feet of space can be a challenge, especially if you are a collector. David, however, manages to pull off the seemingly impossible by arranging years worth of procurements in an ingenious way, making every inch of his apartment interesting and beautiful.

Name: Jen & Dave Figueroa and their two rescue greyhounds, Ike and Louise Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned A little over a year ago, Jen and Dave bought a house that was in desperate need of some love. The house sits on a cul-de-sac in a neighborhood in South Austin, and when they bought it, it had old carpet, beige walls, and all the hallmarks of a fixer-upper.

Name: Woodworker and craftsman Mark Maček, his lovely wife Pamela Peltz and three adorable cats Location: Gullet Gardens — East Austin, Texas Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: 7 1/2 years — owned Mark Maček’s first impression upon seeing a tiny photo of the exterior of this house in the MLS listing was that this looked like a “house.” An archetypal structure, with a gable roof and a homey feeling. Like what you think of when you think of “home.

Name: Michelle and Stephen Taussig Location: Garden Oaks; Houston, Texas Size: 2,632 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned Michelle’s home is big, warm, and very beautiful, but it also tells a story — or rather, several. With its mixture of heirlooms, thrifted items, impressive art, and smart design, Michelle’s home is elegant, cozy, and endlessly interesting.

This 100-year-old Craftsman-style home and opened up the living room, dining room, and kitchen to create one comfortable, communal space.

Name: Christina Clark Location: South Austin, TX Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: Almost 1 year; Rented While definitely qualifying as a small space, this newly-renovated apartment makes great use of its natural light and nice flow, making it seem much larger than it is. Tried and true elements including large windows, white walls, dark wood floors, and rich cabinet colors allow for a modern, yet classic appeal. Christina grew up in Vermont and spent some time studying abroad in London.