Tours

Name: Alee Ruggieri Location: Greenwich Village — New York City Size: Roughly 200 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years Alee Ruggieri is a film director, editor, writer and photographer living in New York City’s bustling Greenwich Village. The neighborhood is filled with things to see and do; coffee shops, restaurants, vintage clothing stores and more.

Sarah has executed the perfect mix of traditional, rustic, Chinoiserie, and mid-century styles in her family’s Massachusetts home. With easy-to-source furniture and decor you can shop Sarah’s style and achieve this bright mix of styles, too!

Name: Courtney Croxdale Location: Old Louisville — Louisville, KY Size: 330 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1.5 years Artist and writer Courtney Croxdale lives in a tiny studio apartment in historic Old Louisville. It’s the location, the neighbors and great landlords that Courtney describes as her home’s “best attributes.” But I think it’s how she has created a cozy, beautiful home in only 330 square feet.

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: Arden Bull Location: Port Colborne, Ontario Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned This bright and airy studio is so open and full of light it’s hard to believe it’s in a basement! Although it’s a small space by square footage standards, the apartment feels huge thanks to a light wall color, open windows and tall ceilings. Arden’s smart design sensibilities have kept furnishings to a minimum, creating a comfortable home that functions perfectly for her.

Name: Alexandra Sifferlin Location: Park Slope — Brooklyn, New York Size: 350 square feet Years lived in: Renting 9 months Having lived in New York neighborhoods like Hell’s Kitchen and Crown Heights, Alexandra Sifferlin recently settled into her first studio apartment, this time in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Her small space is above an acupuncturist, and is close to Prospect Park. “It seems like every time I move, I’m in a calmer location,” Alexandra reflects.

Name: Eli and Luis Location: El Borne — Barcelona, Spain Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Though Eli and Luis consider themselves modern nomads, they decided to settle down in one spot two years ago. That’s when they found this apartment in Barcelona’s El Borne neighborhood. Luis wasn’t initially sure it had any potential; the apartment wasn’t in great shape. But Eli fell for it from the moment she saw it and convinced Luis to give it a chance.

Elijah’s Boston apartment seamlessly combines inspiration sourced from New England, classic Americana, his world travels (to Scandinavia and beyond), and his German heritage. If you’re intrigued by his “Ralph Lauren’s son returns from study abroad in Stockholm” style, check out his resource lists below to shop his charming style!

Name: Mark Dye and Jeffrey Spivock Location: River North — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Jeffrey and Mark have lived all over the world. Jeffrey is from Montreal, Mark is from London, and the two met while they were both living in Toronto. They then moved to Japan where they lived for two years, and most recently they relocated to Chicago.

Name: Christine Alcalay, her teenager daughter and two-year-old son Location: Brooklyn, New York Size: 4,600 Square Feet Years lived in: 8 years, owned After emigrating from Vietnam with her family when she was just three years old, Christine Alcalay grew up in New York City. Her mother, who was a self-taught tailor and worked in factories in the Garment District, introduced her daughter to the art of sewing.

Name: Kat and Brett (pit bull Burger and corgi Fitz) Location: Cooper-Young District in Memphis, Tennessee Size: 1,970 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1.5 years Kat and Brett’s beautifully maintained 1920s bungalow in Memphis introduces itself with a beautiful wrap-around porch, a spacious living area, and two of the friendliest dogs on the planet, Fitz and Burger.

It’s often a good idea to trust the design instincts of a successful interior designer and Bethany’s Brooklyn apartment does not disappoint. If you’re looking for some colorful and easy-to-source inspiration, check out Bethany’s resource lists below to shop her style!

Name: Laleh and Matt Lewis Location: Medford, Massachusetts Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: Rented, 2.5 years Matt and Laleh’s home is full of collected items, inspiration from nature, and positive mantras to remember daily. With backgrounds in early childhood education and environmental science, the two are active members in their community.

Name: Eric Kunau Location: Beverly Hills, California Size: 1000 square feet Years lived in: Renting 2 years Eric’s sunny Beverly Hills apartment combines his love for art, mid-century modern style, and contemporary design to create a bright, welcoming space to call home in his adopted state of California. Originally from Minnesota, Eric now calls Beverly Hills home in this 1000 square foot apartment.

Name: Tucker Schreiber Location: Little Italy — Toronto, Ontario Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented Tucker, a product manager for Shopify, lives in this bright and open loft apartment in downtown Toronto, filled with a balance of passed down family heirlooms and IKEA essentials. The loft is found in a central location that’s within walking distance to all necessary amenities including his office, the subway, grocery stores, and of course, Starbucks.

Name: Adela Location: Valencia, Spain. Size: 6,458 square feet Years lived in: 16 years, owned Adela is an interior designer and the owner of a beautiful furniture store named Vilmupa in Valencia. You can choose your own fabulous furnishings or let her advise you how to design and decorate your own home. And seeing how beautifully she’s created her own home, it’s clear she’d give great advice.

Name: Karli Kane Hendrickson and pup Olive Location: West Side, Providence, Rhode Island Size: 659 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year Karli lives in a cozy apartment in a larger house inhabited entirely by female artists. On the first floor are two musicians in the Providence band Secret Circle, on the second floor is Muffy Brandt who runs a very successful Etsy shop.

Name: Delia Kenza, Júlio Leitão, and their two daughters Location: Clinton Hill — Brooklyn, New York Size: 3,500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Having already renovated and/or designed 10+ homes together over the past 15 years, Delia and Júlio were already well on their way to capitalizing on their experience. They had lived in four of these homes together, all in Manhattan, ranging from trendy Soho to soulful Harlem.

It was the interesting architecture of this place that drew Jeannine in when apartment searching. She scoured estate sales, garage sales and Craigslist to fill it on a budget.

Name: Laura, Marshall, Hotch (German Shepherd) & Sadie (Border Collie/Australian Shepherd) Location: Green Hills — Nashville, Tennessee Size: 2650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Laura and Marshall’s home in the classic Nashville neighborhood of Green Hills is a place of sanctuary in a bustling section of town. Their home sits at the end of a long driveway placed at the top of a lush green hill.

Name: Michelle Lopez, her partner Erlend and their cat Penny Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, rented Michelle and her partner Erlend recently relocated from Portland, Oregon to this sunny Brooklyn apartment. The couple moved to New York for Erlend to attend grad school at Columbia University. Michelle is a food blogger, specializing in desserts.

Name: Adrianne Hawthorne Location: Lower Pacific Heights, San Francisco Size: 400 square feet Years Lived In: Renting 1.5 Adrianne’s studio apartment, perched high up in a Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, is an oasis of color and unique details. The thoughtfulness of each item placed in her home isn’t surprising; Adrianne works as a visual designer by trade!

Name: Nacho, Irene and baby Ray Location: Gracia – Barcelona, Spain Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 10 years Nacho bought this 1930s attic apartment in rough, raw shape. The old kitchen is where the current kitchen is today. The beautiful mezzanine (that houses the master bedroom) didn’t even exist. After two years of remodeling it solo, he was ready to enjoy his loft “for one.” But then he met Irene, and a little later, a third resident arrived: baby Ray!

Elizabeth fell in love with Providence and, after renting for years, bought and renovated a 1900 Victorian. She lives on the top two floors and rents out a first floor apartment.

Name: Audrey and Kevin McGill, sons Aidan (12) and Evan (10), and Charlotte the Yellow Lab Location: Lake Forest Park — Seattle, Washington Size: 2,240 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned When Audrey and Kevin moved their family across the country two years ago, they knew they wanted to live in a mid-century home. They found what they were looking for in a quiet, forested neighborhood just north of Seattle.

Name: Ricardo Guisse and three roommates Location: Washington, DC Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: Renting 3 years Architectural charm fills this renovated row house, as do roommates! Four young professionals share this 850 square foot rental home (an affordable option in a big city). With so little space, the challenge was creating a comfortable home with enough room. Their smart storage solutions help the small space function and look stylish.

As modern as Mel and Austin's Chicago loft is, they've made sure it feels inviting and homey, thanks to filling it up with things they love.

Name: Sarah Steinberg Location: East Village, NYC Size: 425 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, rented After living in tiny apartments with more roommates than bedrooms, Sarah decided it was time to have a place of her own. It may not be big, but a studio apartment with a separate kitchen and space for her bed were successes in Sarah’s book.

Name: Alida and Alex Location: Gracia – Barcelona, Spain Size: 480 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Having a boyfriend who works at IKEA can make it difficult not to turn your entire home into an IKEA catalog, but as Alida and Alex’s small Spanish apartment shows, infusing your home with cute details can completely transform the personality of a place. Their apartment is best described as an adorable pastel nook, a rare style in Barcelona.

Name: Jon and Jessie Location: St. Catharines — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Jon and Jessie bought their home knowing they would be filling it with lots of DIY projects in every room. Jessie’s love for light and simple spaces is nicely complemented by Jon’s desire for modern, darker decor.

Jarod and Tim's home reflects a love of good design, an appreciation for quality, a willingness to go bold, and a sense of fun. In other words, there's a lot to love.

Name: Emily Eaton Location: South Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, renting Emily’s south Minneapolis space may be teeny, but it packs a one-of-a-kind punch, the likes of which you may have never seen. All small space dwellers are faced with the reality of their situation — some conquer and others fail.

Name: Suki Location: Queen Anne — Seattle, Washington Size: 677 square feet Years lived in: Owned 9 months Before she started decorating, Seattle homeowner Suki set out to create a space that felt like a vacation home, which worked out nicely for me since it was an especially gloomy day the afternoon I showed up to snap some pictures. I was desperately in need of a mini getaway and Suki’s condo totally delivered.

Name: Coco Cohn Location: Upper West Side — New York, New York Size: 430 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, rented Coco’s Upper West Side apartment in New York is an homage to her theatre career. Not only is the actor and drama teacher’s space filled with pieces highlighting her adventures, but the space itself is dramatic: The living room is dark gray, the bedroom walls are red, and the bathroom is primarily pink.

Name: Maria Raco, Founder of NewWall Location: Toronto, Ontario Size: 2,000 square feet Years Lived In: 9 years, owned The walls in Maria Raco’s downtown Toronto apartment do not disappoint. As the founder and director of NewWall, a wallpaper distributor of collections from Marimekko, Timorous Beasties and more, plenty of rooms in her home feature vibrant patterns.

Name: Molly Fitzpatrick and William Sill and Malachi (3) and Malala (two months old) Location: Cleveland, Ohio Size: 875 square feet Years Lived In: 6 years, owned What happens when a mason and a textile designer renovate a house together? In the case of Molly Fitzpatrick, the creative behind the colorful home wares of DittoHouse, and her husband William Sill, the result is a modern space with an attention to detail and a respect of natural materials.

Name: Maria Manrique Location: L’eixample — Valencia, Spain. Size: 1400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Maria studied Fashion Design in Barcelona, but has always had a good eye for mixing designs. The home she’s been renting in Valencia for three years wasn’t created overnight; instead, she slowly collected simple but special pieces to craft the minimal look this home has.

Name: Lucia and Jose Location: Valencia, Spain Size: 1291 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Natural light bounces off of the high ceilings, patterned tile floors and other dazzling architectural features of this Spanish apartment, which serves as both the home and workspace for a creative, world-traveling couple. Lucia and Jose run Anker Prod, where they create videos for advertising and weddings.

Name: Phyllis and Bill Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois Years lived in: Owned 25 Years This is a house I know intimately…because it’s the home I grew up in! My parents, Phyllis and Bill, bought this house over 25 years ago when it was filled with pink and teal decor from the ’80s. Once we moved in, they chose to decorate with neutral colors and vintage furniture that seemed more appropriate for a house built in 1902.

Name: Tom Chirico and Carolyn McMenemy-Chirico Location: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Renting 7 years The original architectural details of this apartment — located on the top floor of a 1912 row house in a quiet spot in Williamsburg — are to die for. We’re talking well-preserved marble fireplaces, stunning hardwood floors, and enviable crown moldings.

Name: Tim and Kelly Fischer Location: SE Portland, Oregon Size: 1,650 square feet Years lived in: Owned 4 years After making offers on six other houses in Portland’s competitive real estate market, Tim and Kelly and their nine-year-old twin daughters Isabelle and Olivia were thrilled to finally have a home to call their own.

Name: Roxy and Daniel Location: Kensington Market, Toronto, Canada Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned since August 2016 The architecture of this loft is impressive from the moment you step in. Extremely high ceilings partner with a wide open, airy interior. South-facing windows and a large balcony provide a stunning view of the CN Tower and give the home cool downtown vibes.

Name: Kendall Leigh Location: Echo Park — Los Angeles, California Years lived in: Renting 4 years Kendall’s collection of antique oddities and memorabilia from her childhood is the perfect mix of charming and alarming, giving her home-sweet-home a bitter twist.

Name: Mackenzie Kirk, Hannah Kirk, and Rachel Wyatt Location: Mount Washington — Los Angeles, California Years lived in: Rented, 1 year Sisters Hannah and Mackenzie seem to possess a quintessential sisterly bond that allows for creative exploration and unrestrained authenticity when decorating their hilltop home.

Name: Marianne Brown 
 Location: Denver, Colorado Size: 600 square feet Years Lived In: 1 year, renting “My apartment is a small one bedroom in downtown Denver. Not among the tall buildings of downtown, but just on the edge, in the Uptown neighborhood of Denver. A whopping 600 square feet. I’ve lived here for a year, after moving several times over the past few years.

Name: Puji Sherer Location: St. Johns neighborhood — Portland, Oregon Size: 864 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, owned Nine. That’s the number of different colors on display in the Portland house of Puji Sherer, President and “Chief Color Nerd” at Colorhouse Paint, an eco-conscious, low-odor paint company. But don’t think you’re in for a dizzying blend of too-bright hues in this tour.

Name: David Kean Location: Glendale, California Size: 2,600 Years Lived In: 4.5 years, owned We first got a peek at David’s mid-century ranch-style home after witnessing his ridiculously satisfying kitchen and bathroom makeovers. While David has made sure to keep the architecture in his home true to mid-century standards, his abundant collections of modern art and fine antiquities are somewhat counter to the minimalist movement of the mid-century era.

Name: Gosia, Anita and Josephine Location: Plumstead Common Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 11 years Gosia and Anita live on a pretty tree-lined road in the outskirts of London with their three-year-old daughter Josephine. Originally from Poland, the family has lived in this home for 11 years, slowly and lovingly renovating it bit by bit ever since. “Anita is the creative one with crazy ideas everyday.

Name: Mark Shapiro Location: Venice, California Years Lived In: 4 years, owned For podcaster Mark Shapiro, the house hunt was daunting — and long-lasting. It took 12 months of scouring the city for him to find this “tree house” in Venice in 2010. And..it was love at first sight. When Mark opened the front gate to the property, a majestic coral tree immediately caught his eye. Inside, a slanted wood ceiling and tall windows reminded him of the ski chateaus from his childhood.

Name: Louise, husband Brett and three kids Location: Camp Mountain, Australia Size: Approx 4413sqft Years Lived In: 3 years, owned Louise and her family have the best of both worlds: a lovely old home on a large block with gumtrees and only a 30-minute drive to the city. The old house suits Louise’s style perfectly, as her home is full of furniture from her grandparents, and finds from antique shops, thrift stores and local makers.

Name: Austin Young and Jeremy Rodgers Location: Jamaica Plain — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1 Year, renting Jeremy Rodgers and Austin Young’s apartment in a converted schoolhouse in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood feels much larger than its 800 square feet. Simultaneously sparse and personal, with soaring ceilings and an open layout, their place achieves the ultimate apartment goal: comfort without the clutter.

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: Holly Schnackenberg and Dylan Sylwester Location: Sullivan’s Gulch — NE Portland, Oregon Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, rented Holly and Dylan live in what was originally the foyer, living room, dining room and kitchen of a 1907 home in Portland’s Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhood.

Name: Pere and Marta Location: Gracia — Barcelona, Spain. Size: 970 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, rented Pere has been living in this Barcelona apartment for seven years; a long time for a rental. And even more impressive when you learn he’s been sharing it with one of his best friends. How has such a feat of rental roommate relations been achieved?

Name: Natasha Location: The Annex, Toronto Size: 190 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting A historic mansion in Toronto is a book and history lover’s dream and for Natasha, it’s also home. Well, one small bit of it is home: Natasha rents a 190-square-foot studio apartment in the building. And though teeny, she finds her living space less congested now than when she lived in a house full of roommates.

Name: Ryan and Teressa Location: Sumner, Washington Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, owned When I arrived at Teressa and Ryan’s sweet, light-filled house, it came as no surprise to see the couple does natural chic like the pros that I already knew they were. Teressa is the owner of a floral design company for both special events and everyday flower delights. Ryan is a teacher by day and quite the woodworker in his off hours.

Name: Adam LaGreca Location: Clinton Hill, Brooklyn Size: 475 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Adam’s apartment is located in a tall, all-glass high-rise building on a street that runs right through the heart of Brooklyn. His neighborhood is filled with tree-lined streets, long-time residents, college students from Pratt Institute and St. Joseph’s college, young professionals and aspiring every-things.

Name: Sara, her husband and their three children Location: Sant Gervasi — Barcelona, Spain Size: 7,000 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned Sara’s no fan of minimal design. Thankfully, she’s got plenty of room to get as ornate as she wants. Chandeliers from France, rugs from Russia — every object’s got a story. But the house does, too: It used to be an old school!

Name: Nicole and Dan Lucey Location: Park Slope — Brooklyn, NY Size: 2800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Nicole, her husband Dan and their two kids moved into their Park Slope brownstone just over a year ago. After a dramatic (and much debated) paint job and face lift, this four-story home is now one everyone slows down to admire. Nicole and Dan chose architects Wendy Cronk and Erin Cowhey Design and contractors Versatile Renovations NYC to help with the renovations.

Name: Andrea Castañeda, Chris Amirault and their two kids Location: Coventry, Rhode Island Size: 3,400 square feet of living area Years lived in: 6 years, owned Built in 1958, this house has only been home for two families in its 60 years. It had been well-maintained, but was in an aging condition when Andrea and Chris bought it; they were intent on restoring it to its former glory. Over six years, they shaped it into the beautiful relic of history it is.

Name: Michal Turner Location: Vicenza, Italy Size: 1,900 square feet Years lived in: Less than one year, renting Michal’s apartment is a testament to her personality. Whether you’ve just met her, or have only been able to see photographs of her apartment, you immediately know this is a woman you want to befriend.

Location: Manhattan, New York Size: 830 square feet Years lived in: 10 months, renting These are not living spaces designed after a single period style. Instead, these are rooms full of variety, filled with delights in the surprise achieved by pairing disparate design elements. (For example, a family heirloom seascape painting in a heavy baroque frame mounted above a mid-century-inspired couch topped with African mud-cloth pillows.

Name: Lindsay, Chris and cat Mooshy Location: Inglewood Neighborhood — Nashville, Tennessee Size: 960 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned When Lindsay and Chris moved to Nashville a few years ago from New York, they lucked out in finding this perfect-for-them home (complete with three outdoor cats from the previous owner).

This 100-year-old row home is full of charming original wood flooring, built-in bookshelves and natural light.

Name: Oliviero Fontana Location: NDG, Montreal Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting Oliviero is a former professional skateboarder and current stylist who has a passion for design and an appreciation for handmade craftsmanship. And he loves refurbishing vintage pieces he finds on the streets.

Name: Kristin, Nathan, and Addison (a schnauzer/poodle mix) Location: Ukrainian Village — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 10 months, owned Kristin and Nathan haven’t been in their loft for long, but it sure doesn’t show. Especially impressive when you learn how much work they had to do after purchasing the space. The chain smoking previous owner had been there for years and the loft was covered in (stinky) carpet.

Name: Jenee Yuen Location: San Francisco, California Size: 400 square feet (maybe a little larger?) Years Lived In: 8 years, renting One of the fun things about living in an old San Francisco apartment is that sometimes, depending on your particular landlord, you get a little bit of creative control to “adjust” your living space as you see fit. Jenee did just that when she took out the carpet in her living room and refinished the beautiful hardwood floors that were hiding underneath.

Name: Sarah Hughes and her two children Location: Lowry Hill Neighborhood — Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, renting Sarah and her kids occupy a spacious first floor apartment in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis — a perfect location within walking distance of coffee shops, delicious ice cream, an art museum and a handful of lakes and trails.

Name: Vicari Vollmar and Jordan Conley Location: Lansing, Michigan Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 4 months, renting Vicari is a senior designer for a public policy firm with an affinity for fitness, bold color, and a good gin fizz. She firmly believes in carbohydrates, horoscopes, and the power of love. Jordan is a state contract monitor, CrossFit coach, and bookworm. He enjoys binge-watching a series on Netflix, comic books, and snuggling his calico, Harley.

Name: Sarah Lyon Location: Georgetown, Washington, DC Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: Almost 1 year, renting You’d never guess by this rental’s chic, classic style, but Sarah purchased 95 percent of her furniture off of Craigslist. The only things she bought for full price (in other words, from a store) were her bed, headboard, couch, and front console table. Everything else has been the result of successful scavenger hunts! Sarah’s a Washington D.C.

Name: Abigail Hibbs and Henri Broyard Location: Crown Heights, Brooklyn Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years Walking into Abigail and Henri‘s Crown Heights apartment, it’s apparent they’ve got great style. Abbie is a gallery manager in Manhattan and Henri is a painter — their creative abilities have influenced a design aesthetic that’s a mix of mid-century furniture and Henri’s contemporary art.

Name: Terra Zosel Location: Kenwood Neighborhood, Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 months The story of Terra’s apartment is multi-fold. Her home occupies the attic of her grandparents’ house where she lives as caretaker to her grandmother. Her grandparents purchased the home in the 1960s from a couple who relocated from Minneapolis to the significantly warmer state of Florida.