Tours

Name: Chad Location: Cape Town, South Africa Size: 968 square feet (90 square metres) Years lived in: 6 years, owned A quirky sense of decor (and bold color scheme) instantly draws you in and makes you want to explore this playful Cape Town home. Chad, a young freelance designer, director and entertainment consultant cleverly transformed his parents’ basement into a gorgeous apartment.

Though Jordan and Ryan’s Nashville home is filled with lots of one-of-a-kind antiques (95% is vintage, in fact), it doesn’t follow one specific style. There are elements of bohemian, rustic-industrial, and traditional decor in every room that come together to create a charming refuge for the couple. To get this unique look in your home, check out the shoppable links below.

Chad’s Cape Town basement apartment is gorgeous and beautifully put together. But guests might not be quick to notice the quirk and playfulness in each room, and that’s exactly what makes his space so inviting. Check out the sources below to shop some of the bold items featured in his home.

Name: Caitlyn Murphy Location: Trinity Bellwoods — Toronto, Canada Size: 600-ish square feet Years lived in: Rented 6.5 years Caitlyn is a visual artist living and working in Toronto. She moved to the city nearly a decade ago, landing herself a one-bedroom apartment within a short distance from the art school she was attending.

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.

When two people with a background in architecture and design join to create a home, it’s no surprise that the outcome is clean, smart and functional. Check out the sources below to shop some of the items in Verónica and Pol’s Scandi-inspired Barcelona flat. Sofa — IKEA Pillows — IKEA Biker poster — Similar: Art.

Plants, flowers, and minimalism combine with pops of color and woodsy, cabin-inspired elements: welcome to Dave and Kelly’s Chicago home. Check out the shopping links below to get a similar cozy vibe in your home. charset="utf-8" src="https://d30bopbxapq94k.cloudfront.net/js/curalate-widget-client-all.prod.min.

Jamie and AJ’s family-ready home is eclectic, timeless and fit for their entertaining lifestyle. To shop some of the gorgeous pieces featured in their open, airy home, check out the sources below.

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: Jan-Nicolas and Vincent Location: Plateau Mont-Royal — Montréal, Canada Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years As soon as you enter, Jan-Nicolas and Vincent’s home can’t help but leave an impression. The staircase leading up to their third-story flat is painted a bright, happy yellow. This is the first of many elements that bring a warmth and vitality to their 1000 square foot home.

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: Adriana Sierra and Victor, plus their sun parakeet Fibi Location: El Monte Norte — San Juan, Puerto Rico Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2 years When your apartment is surrounded by the lush foliage of Puerto Rico, it’s only natural to bring the outdoors in. Adriana’s San Juan apartment does just that, showcasing thriving plants, natural wood elements, and even a parrot with bright and colorful plumage.

Name: Dora and Oliver Location: Eixample Quarter — Barcelona, Spain. Size: 1.291 square feet Years lived in: Rented for 5 years Dora and Oliver are like colorful, fascinating characters from a novel. They’ve filled their eclectic Spanish home with travel souvenirs, great design…and dancing! Dora is a fashion designer currently working for Uterqüe; Oliver is partner and design strategist at The Bold Studio.

Name: Kristy Degina Location: Hollywood, California Size: 550 square feet Years lived in: Renting 4 years Kristy is a merchandising manager at Crate & Barrel Beverly Hills who shares her Hollywood studio apartment with two cuddly canine roommates. She’s made the most of her small space by incorporating big, bold statement pieces into a minimal black-and-white color palette.

Mollie goes all out in her Halloween-ready home in Oakland, and she displays things that most people would find creepy or just plain odd, such as two vampire busts in her living room or ’80s horror films posters. If you’re preparing for a Halloween bash, or if you are inspired by vampires, horror films and all things dark as Mollie is, check out the sources below to add a little bit of spookiness to your home.

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: Juliana Ciccarelli Location: Toronto, Canada Size: 715 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Within moments of first entering her loft, Juliana knew this space would be her first home. Conveniently located within a part of the city where she works and plays, Juliana has spent the past two years slowly and consciously designing her home. Undoubtedly, its selling feature is the over-20-foot windows that pour light into the space and offer a view of the city.

Julie and David Holdsworth’s magical, French country-style home is filled with beautiful antiques and traditional furniture, but features unexpected accents in almost every room, such as Julie’s beautiful sculptures in the dining room. To get this beautiful style in your home, check out the sources below for inspiration.

Erin and Tobin’s condo in Rhode Island is a perfect blend of minimal decor and bright, bold colors. The bright yellow backsplash and colorful poster in the kitchen contrast the white, modern IKEA cabinets, and the beautiful yellow lounge chairs in the “record room” add a pop of color to the light and airy room. Check out the sources below to shop some of the items featured in their gorgeous Providence home.

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: Celine and Christian Coly (and their son Damase) Location: East Bay — Dublin, California Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years Celine and Christian’s East Bay apartment is bright, airy, chic. Most importantly, it’s cozy and comfortable for the couple, their 9-year-old son and guests.

Name: Rose Schreier Location: Rosehill—Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 years Six years ago, Rose was hunting for a cute and affordable vintage apartment in Chicago. When she drove by her current home with a “For Rent” sign outside, she jumped on the opportunity to check it out. She nearly flipped when she saw it: the owner of the property had left the interior virtually untouched since the 1960s.

Name: Mireya and Arnau Location: Collblanc — Barcelona, Spain Size: 753 square feet Years lived in: Rented for almost 2 years When a home’s door opens for the first time, it’s always a fantastic moment. When I came Mireya and Arnau’s home, the first to greet me effusively was Gustav, their white cat with one blue and one green eye. As soon as you arrive he either wants to give you kisses on your nose or gently bite your feet.

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.

Rose’s Chicago home is filled with all things vintage, particularly from the 1940s and ’50s. While it’s common to find furniture and decor inspired by those decades, Rose’s home goes all out and features pieces from that point in time. It may be difficult to find some of these unique items for your own home, but you can shop for similar pieces using the links below.

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.

Carlos’ Puerto Rico apartment is filled with bright, colorful furniture and playful accents, such as video game consoles from his childhood and mustache throw pillows. His sophisticated home—which is 23 stories high with gorgeous views of Puerto Rico’s beaches—doesn’t take itself too seriously. Check out the sources below to shop the style for your own home.

Dan and Yves’ Chelsea home is modern and artistic, with farmhouse accents, crafty DIYs, and unique art pieces in every room. Some may call it “eclectic” but we call it “farmhouse chic.” Find some of the beautiful pieces featured in their home (or something similar) using the links below.

As an artist, Antje wanted a home with bright natural light so she could create art. She found that in her open-plan studio, located in the historic Alfama district in Lisbon, Portugal. In the three years she’s been there, she’s filled her home with wonderful antiques and vintage accents, as well as her beautiful art. If you agree that “less is more,” check out some of the links below to shop for similar styles in your home.

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.

Name: Jesse and Cali Green Location: New Center — Detroit, Michigan Size: 980 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years Jesse and Cali’s apartment building is inspiring, not only because they’ve created a beautiful modern and minimal home without splurging, but because of its deep history in Detroit. The building opened in 1926 as a home to graphic artists working in all of the nearby industries, General Motors in particular.

Name: Jennifer Carolina Tredinnick Location: Piedmont Avenue — Oakland, California Size: 788 square feet Years lived in: Rented 7 years Jen loves all of the natural elements of her home: the plants, the original built-ins, the exposed wood, and the permanent golden hour the stained-glass window creates in the living room. She also lives just a couple of blocks from Oakland’s Piedmont Avenue, a commercial neighborhood where some of her favorite boutiques are located.

Jen says her Oakland home’s style is like a modern cabin with strong ’70’s vibe. If you love bold patterns, vintage furniture, and lots of plants, you might find the links below useful to incorporate a similar style in your home.

Name: Mark Andrew Hamilton and Bergþóra Jónsdóttir Location: Montreal, Canada Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: Rented This Montreal rental is shared by two artists with a great eye for design and finding wonderful treasures in random thrift stores and pop-up flea markets. As housemates, they created a cozy home despite the limitations of the apartment — you’ll notice there’s no living room!

Name: Cindy Zhang Location: Soma — San Francisco, California Size: 232 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Finding a nice, affordable apartment has become a challenge for anyone moving to San Francisco. When Cindy Zhang moved in 2016 from San Diego, she was super happy to find a cute little studio in the hip neighborhood of Soma.

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: Adam Kuhn Location: Little Italy — Toronto, Canada Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: Rented 3 years Finding an apartment in Toronto is no easy feat, so when Adam stumbled upon this gem in Little Italy he was ecstatic and relieved to have finally found a place to call home in the city. One of his favorite things about the neighborhood is the mix of dwellers from renters, owners and families — all folks that say hello to one another on the street.

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.

Matt and Amanda’s Pasadena home doesn’t have one specific style. But they think that if the Kennedys went camping, this is how it would look: craftsman elements, mid-century furniture mixed with rustic accents, and even a little bit of glam. Combined, those elements create a cozy home the couple can enjoy in their quiet, tree-lined neighborhood. Shop the style below!

Tiffany and Alan’s Austin bungalow is chic and playful, inspired by Tiffany’s background in fashion and the couple’s travels. Most impressive is that the couple has only been in the space for nine months. You can easily get this warm, beautiful look in your home using the links below. Shop the style!

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: Sandra Lobos, Juan Carlos Ferrer, and their cat Mimí Location: Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: Renting 4 months It’s a surprise that Sandra and Juan Carlos‘ apartment in Puerto Rico is so minimal, considering the two have such playful, exuberant personalities.

Name: Joe and Kim Klomes, plus their cats Laszlo & Eames Location: Logan Square — Chicago, Illinois Size: 690 square feet Years lived in: Rented 8 months Kim and Joe’s Chicago apartment is inspiring for many reasons, but most importantly, it shows both their personalities and illustrates the true potential of patience and collaboration when decorating a home.

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: Molly Trask and Trevor Price (plus dogs Eleanor Roosevelt and Martha Washington and cat Abigail Adams) Location: Durham, North Carolina Size: 1,040 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year Molly writes: “Our home is a 1,040 square foot converted warehouse apartment in the oldest standing building in Durham, NC, an old tobacco town currently undergoing a brilliant revival.

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.

Name: Rose and Dan Location: Red Hill — Brisbane, Australia Size: 2368 square feet Years lived in: 12 years This gorgeous worker’s cottage in Brisbane’s inner suburbs is owned by ceramicist and collector, Rose, and her musician husband, Dan. Having lived in this house now for a cozy 12 years, their home is well-loved and decorated with a beautiful and organically grown collection of furniture and decor.

Name: Kendra Gilbert Location: Tower District — Fresno, California Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year Kendra’s apartment is in Fresno’s historic Tower District neighborhood, which features some of the area’s most beautiful housing — preserved apartment buildings, craftsmen bungalows, and beautiful mansions.

Name: Helen Levi Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn Size: Less than 1000 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2.5 years Editor’s note: We’re re-running this tour because Helen Levi is launching a new dinnerware line on June 14th and we’re excited! Her work is beautiful, earthy and a favorite of mine, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for 2018.

Name: Anna Alfaro Location: Eixample — Barcelona, Spain Size: 807 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 1 year Anna greets me with a hug when I arrive to photograph her home, and the autumn sun fills her house with warm light. It’s such a lovely scene, the house itself seems to hug you. Anna has spoken about how pleased she is with the results of her apartment renovation, and now seeing it in person I can only feel envy!

Name: Carmen Chavarri and Tom Mills Location: Ottawa, Ontario Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented Carmen Chavarri is one of our fabulous photographers here at Apartment Therapy, and she toured her Ottawa apartment last summer before they moved to the Philippines! “This was our home for only one and a half years, and yet it became such a personal and comfortable space that we find ourselves reminiscing about it every day,” she writes.

This home matches Annie and Rush perfectly: artful, clever, and gracious. Their style is evolving, with nods to Swedish minimalism, MCM, and Norman Rockwell.

Name: Isabel Serna and Juan Franky Location: Hollywood, Florida Size: 1600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Isabel and Juan share this Florida home with a cute Frenchie dog named Charlie (who, as you’ll be able to tell from the photos, is very much the king of the house).

Name: Aine Donovan and Eloise Jones Location: East London Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: Owned for less than a year How much can happen in eight months? For this couple in London, Aine Donovan and Eloise Jones, turns out quite a lot. In this short period of time they have bought a house, gutted it, knocked down a few walls, painted every single surface, made beautiful furniture and even built a kitchen from scratch, all whilst being pregnant and preparing for a baby.

Name: Silvia Location: London Size: 710 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1 year For years, Silvia worked with a top minimalist-leaning Italian architect, so when she and her boyfriend bought this two-bedroom apartment in North London a year ago, she knew she “wanted to create a minimal and calm interior, without being too cold.

Name: Victoria, Nikolai and Maya Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 1,230 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 1 year Nikolai and Victoria met during their last year in university and moved around Amsterdam quite a bit until they settled down in this lovely two-floor apartment. After renting five apartments over the last 10 years they felt ready to buy their own place.

All the door and windows are painted gold!