Tours

Name: Victoria Bartlett, designer and stylist Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant — Brooklyn, New York Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: 1 year When I first spotted Victoria Bartlett‘s Brooklyn loft in a posting on Dezeen, I knew that it was a very beautiful space—and that I wanted to photograph it for Apartment Therapy. But I still wasn’t prepared for what I saw when I arrived.

Name: Jory Sutton and Alex Simon Location: Washington Heights, NYC Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Jory and Alex’s 650-square-foot NYC apartment is a feast for the eyes. So much so, the small sneak peek we shared with their house call last year just wasn’t a long enough look. With hand-me-downs from family members, vintage pieces purchased at thrift shops, DIY artwork, and different periods and styles of decor, every room has a conversation starter.

Name: Tracy Bunkoczy Location: Koreatown — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,170 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned A massive leak in her last home—a beautiful Silver Lake rental apartment— forced design executive Tracy Bunkoczy to move a year ago.

Name: Shawna Smith, her husband and two sons Location: Downers Grove, Illinois Size: 1,350 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, owned “Myself, my husband, and our two little boys lived in Chicago for years before deciding to take the leap and move to the ‘burbs,” writes interior stylist Shawna Smith. “We chose Downers Grove for its small-town appeal and outstanding schools.

Name: Jasmine Waheed and cat Barney Location: Garment District — Montreal Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, 8 months, owned After traveling across—and falling in love with—Canada, Jasmine Waheed decided to move from London to Montreal 15 years ago. Her background is in graphic design, but upon arriving in Montreal, she decided to make the switch to photography.

Name: Emily Zirimis and Jesus Antoshka Location: Bushwick — Brooklyn, New York Size: Honestly unsure! Years lived in: Almost 2 years, renting Emily and her boyfriend Jesus must have felt like they won the lottery when they landed their Bushwick apartment. Their place has a lot going for it: It’s in an increasingly hip area, features original architectural details, and boasts a dressing room for Emily and a pottery room for Jesus. Oh, and the rent is reasonable.

Name: Shilpa Rajahamsa and Aditya Srivathsan Location: St-Henri — Montreal Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Shilpa and Aditya both grew up in India and moved to North America in their early twenties. Their taste is a mix of both worlds and their home’s style could be described as eclectic and contemporary… with a touch of Indian. Creativity and an appreciation for craftsmanship run deep for this couple.

Name: Rachael Bennett and cute puppy, Kuma Location: Crown Heights — Brooklyn, NY Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Architect Rachael Bennett doesn’t think you should be scared of designing without color. “I find many people think that ‘neutrals’ or ‘black and white’ is either going to be boring (beige on beige on beige, or worse, sterile and cold),” she writes.

This home needed a ton of cosmetic changes when Matt and Anne bought it. Now they've given it a gorgeous facelift!

Name: Samantha and Brendan Binger; 3 dogs (Archie, Max, Luna), and 2 cats (Anna and Elsa) Location: Anywhere we park Size: 304 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned “When we first had the idea to hit the road in a motorhome, we saw our home as a means to an end,” confesses Samantha Binger, who along with her husband and their five pets travel around the country in their 2007 Fleetwood Bounder 35E.

Cindy is a jewelry designer and fiber artist and shares this bright North Hollywood home with her husband Matt.

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: Niraya and Humberto Location: Miami, Florida Size: 943 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned We are an architect (Niraya) and a civil engineer (Humberto) and yes, we discuss design a lot. And ever since we lived in Brooklyn, we’ve always dreamed of owning a loft. Living in Miami we knew this was not possible, especially if we wanted to stay in our neighborhood of Coconut Grove. So we looked and looked for a townhouse that we could convert into a “loft.

Name: Maeve Stier (and dog Weaver) Location: Back Bay — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 515 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year When Maeve and her dog Weaver moved to Boston last July, the first apartment they looked at fit the bill just perfectly. It was in the ideal location, had tall ceilings with intricate molding, lots of natural light, wooden floors, and was dog-friendly! Maeve signed on the spot and became a resident of the hip Back Bay neighborhood.

Name: Donna Henes Location: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Size: 3,150 square feet Years lived in: 29 years, owned Donna Henes is an internationally-renowned urban shaman, contemporary ceremonialist, spiritual teacher, eco-artist, author, speaker, and workshop leader.

Name: Tove Fogelström, husband and two kids (3 and 5 years old) Location: Årsta — Stockholm, Sweden Size: 1000 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned “The first thing that struck me as I walked into the apartment were the large windows and the big trees just outside; it is a very peaceful place,” explains architect Tove Fogelström.

Name: Kate Pearce, husband, and kids, Eva and Jo Location: Long Island, New York Size: 2,300 square feet Years lived in: 10 months, owned Having studied Art History, Kate Pearce spent many years immersed in the art world, interning at places like the Guggenheim, the Whitney Museum, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, and more. But it wasn’t just art that fascinated her; she also fell in love with antiques.

Name: Kimothy Joy, her partner Gregory and their brand new baby girl, Luca Joy Location: Park Hill, Denver Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned “I love the original wood paneling, glass block, built-in shelves, and architectural ceiling tiles that make it unique to the era,” explains Denver-based artist and illustrator Kimothy Joy, of the 1940s-era home she’s owned for a year and shares with her partner (and the baby girl they welcomed just last month!).

Name: Jonnie Andersen and dogs Alice Cooper, Winston Churchill, and the Dude Location: Superior, Nebraska Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned This is the best kind of home: Deeply personal, DIY, and steeped in history. Jonnie Andersen is a photographer living in Superior, Nebraska, and she took on the monumental task of reviving this former school plus old church and turning it into a home for herself and her business.

Name: Kristine Claghorn and Mark Harrison and SETI the cat (stands for “Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence”, of course) Location: Silver Lake — Los Angeles, California Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Kristine and Mark knew they were meant to be together when they both bonded over their separate rock collections. She’s a creative producer and artist, he’s a documentary editor, and their cat, SETI, is an expert at being adorable.

Name: Brittany Shields, husband Brett, brown lab, Bear, and little tabby cat, Gus Location: Midtown — Atlanta, Georgia Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting From a creative family, Brittany started her interior design company, Penny Shields, in 2010. It’s named after her “quirky and edgy grandmother,” and she offers her design services on residential and commercial projects.

Name: Cassidy and Todd Wellons (and Lyle the six-year-old Weimaraner) Location: Cleveland Park — East Nashville, Tenneesee Size: 2700 square feet Years lived in: Own, lived in for 2.5 years and renovated for 1.5 years This historic East Nashville house was completely gutted when Cassidy and Todd purchased it in April 2014—even the baseboards were gone—but they saw the potential in the structure.

Name: Erica A. Jacobs and cat Luci Location: Uptown — New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Erica Jacobs runs a nature-based, holistic home design company called Between Red & Violet, where she offers services ranging from space planning to landscaping. She defines holistic home design as an “intuitive and perceptual process rooted in physiology, sociology, and psychology designed to enhance well-being.

Erin Hung, the founder behind the London-based stationery company BerinMade, remodeled this small Hong Kong apartment with her husband Ben.

Name: Kit Warchol Location: Eagle Rock — Los Angeles, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: Rent control baby! It’s no surprise Kit Warchol is a writer/Head of Content for the female-focused website Career Contessa. Citing Joan Didion’s Slouching Towards Bethlehem as an inspiring force behind her home’s overall aesthetic, her sophisticated ’70s-style bohemian home is lined with books and peppered with meaningful mementos.

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: Hilary Padget and Anthony Harrington Location: The Heights — Jersey City, New Jersey Size: 1050 square feet interior (plus 230 square foot garage) Years lived in: 2 years, owned This isn’t the first time Hilary and Anthony’s home has appeared on Apartment Therapy. Way back in 2008, they were the winners of our fourth Small Cool Contest, with this 460 square foot Brooklyn studio featuring a very stylish and smart lofted bed.

Name: Sadatu, Kareem, and their pup Llave Location: La Condesa — Mexico City, Mexico Size: 1300 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Though Sadatu and her husband Kareem moved back to the U.S. a few weeks ago, they spent the last three years living in Mexico City for his job. “Mexico City will forever be an important place for us. This is the first home we shared together and where we spent our newlywed years!” And what a first shared home this is.

Name: Daniel and Diego Location: Palermo — Buenos Aires, Argentina Size: 590 square feet Years lived in: Owned, 12 years After living in Spain for 15 years, Daniel wanted to move back to Argentina. During a visit he found this apartment, fell in love with it, and began a long-distance restoration relationship that would last almost a year. Luckily, Daniel’s experience as an interior designer helped him sail through the process with ease.

Name: Steve and Beth Parnell Location: Manchester, UK Years lived in: 2 years, owned “Our home incorporates our love of pattern and color and also retro style—I like to call our interior style Eclectic Modern Retro!” describes Beth Parnell, founder of Dotty Dishes. “When we moved from London to Manchester two years ago, this was the only house we viewed.

Name: Adam and Jessica Location: Lynhurst, Minneapolis Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 10 years, owned Nestled along a popular creek that snakes its way through Minneapolis is a two-story stucco house that resembles many of the houses in this stucco-rich city. Once inside, however, you’re greeted with a colorful array of art, furniture and knick-knacks that just feels, well, cool. Jessica, Adam, their daughter and cat live and play here.

While maintaining the integrity of the building's original architecture, Jim and Molly gave a modern face to areas like the kitchen and bathrooms.

Architect Talia Braude went all out with her home's color scheme.

Name: Krista and Daniel Location: Little Italy — San Diego, California Size: 1400 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Krista runs Hand Meets Sky, “an online boutique specializing in authentic turquoise jewelry and jewels for the modern, boheme bride.” She’s an Apartment Therapy reader who submitted the home she shares with her partner Daniel. In her own words: Daniel had been living in the building for over eight years or so.

Name: Rasmus Warnke Nørregaard, his wife Maria and four children (Alberte, Viggo, Vega and Arthur) Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Size: 1614 square feet Years lived in: 10 years, owned This is the home of serious furniture collectors. Rasmus Warnke Nørregaard is the CEO and founder of Everclassic, an “online marketplace for beautiful Scandinavian vintage furniture, ceramics, art and other design objects.

Name: Ellen Macomber, Kevin Fannon, and their son Donald Location: Central City — New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Ellen Macomber had given up on the idea of becoming a homeowner in New Orleans. The mixed-media artist, born in New Orleans and raised in a small Cajun town in South Louisiana, was discouraged by a housing market that had skyrocketed after Hurricane Katrina. “I figured we’d just rent forever,” she said.

Name: Samantha Nobles and husband Daniel Location: Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting The Nobles’ Nest is our first home as a married couple, for this reason alone we have a special adoration for this basement apartment. The couple who lived in the space before us are coincidentally our friends, and when they were moving out we conveniently slid right in to fill their spot! The best part of living here?

Name: Peggy Wang Location: Ridgewood, Queens Size: 1100 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned A few years ago, I kinda just woke up one day and decided that I didn’t want to live in a tiny apartment anymore. It was like a weird sudden existential outburst in my usual lazy put-everything-off-forever mindset. My boyfriend’s friend happened to be looking to buy a two-family house, which is what planted the idea in my head.

Name: Kristin Nicholas. I live here with my husband Mark and teenage daughter Julia Location: Western Massachusetts Size: 3500 square feet Years lived in: 20 years, owned Our home was built in 1751 in western Massachusetts on a south facing knoll. It sits alongside an abandoned apple orchard that backs up to a small mountain populated with all kinds of wildlife. In the orchard during the growing season, our flock of sheep and lambs graze and rest, graze and sleep.

Name: Kate Reynolds with her husband Rem and their two sons Bobby and Oscar Location: Windsor Terrace — Brooklyn, NYC Size: 3,150 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Kate Reynolds really loves textiles. As one of the founding partners of Studio Four NYC, she—along with the rest of the company—”shine a light on the stories behind textile, wallpaper and rug design.

Name: Bailey Li of Bailey Li Interiors Location: The Valley Arts District — Orange, New Jersey Size: 670 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting I love the idea of residing in a restored firehouse that is now used as a live/work art gallery that houses a group of creatives from different mediums! It’s like living in a piece of history that is birthing a new story.

Name: Tavi Gevinson Location: 300 Ashland — Fort Greene, Brooklyn Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Almost everything in Tavi Gevinson’s one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment has a story. “That’s really special,” the 21-year-old repeats often as I point something out or pick it up. I ask, for instance, about the fleece blanket splayed across her bed. Here’s how its story goes: she printed a customizable blanket from Walmart.

Name: Adam J. Kurtz and Mitchell Kuga Location: South Williamsburg — Brooklyn, NY Size: Literally not sure I think around 650 square feet ????

Name: Peter and Jana Deeble and their four kids Location: Long Beach, California Years lived in: 7 years, rent to own For 14 years, Long Beach resident Peter Deeble was a math teacher who had a side hobby of designing and building furniture. In the beginning the work was just meant as a way to furnish his and his wife’s (to whom he’s been married for 15 years!) home.

If you were (like me) delighted by the dark and dramatic UK home of Nicola Broughton we toured last spring, prepare to be doubly delighted. Because while the home we got a look at in her house tour certainly came close to decor perfection, Nicola has recently revamped some of the rooms—making her vintage-filled home even moodier and lovelier than before.

Name: Elizabeth Sutton and her kids Miro and Nora Location: Upper East Side — New York, NY Size: 1,370 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting For New York-based artist Elizabeth Sutton, leaving the first home she ever owned was the most difficult part of her divorce. “My ex and I purchased it together a year after we got married and we lived there for five years. It was the first home to both my children.

Nothing is really worse than a too stiff and stuffy home. When a home feels more like a museum and less like a place you doing your living in, it’s hard for you — or your guests — to relax. But these homes below are the very opposite of stiff; they’re beautiful spaces that are also casual and comfy, with an energy that feels vibrant and motivating.

Project by: Lilian Weinreich of Lilian H Weinreich Architects Location: New York, New York The scramble for space is never ending in New York City and occasionally you have to get creative. Lilian Weinreich did exactly that when she combined two small studios to create one open and modern apartment. From the Lilian Weinreich Team: In New York, where real estate it at a premium, flexible space planning can help make minimal living a reality in a small space.

Name: Seana Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: Own. I am a first-time home owner! Seana does not claim to be a design expert, but she could have fooled us. As a corporate professional she spends her days in a more formal atmosphere, so her first house provides a unique canvas to express her creativity.

The house was a shell when they bought it, and they applied for a special first time home-buyer loan to allow them to rehab the existing structure.

Name: Zoe Peters Location: Mill Valley — California Size: 231 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years Nestled under trees on the far edge of family property in Mill Valley is a charming cottage Zoe calls home. Near Mount Tamalpais, it’s the perfect home base for a nature lover. And it’s got a history packed with artistic spirit; the space used to be her brother-in-law’s grandmother’s art studio.

Name: Lee Tilghman Location: Koreatown, Los Angeles Years lived in: 8 months, renting When Lee Tilghman moved from New York City to Los Angeles a little over two years ago, she initially rented another apartment. But the building this Koreatown apartment is located in had great bones, Art Deco details, “amazing light and was central to everything I wanted to get to in LA,” says Lee. So she made the move to where she lives now!

Name: Mary Lee, her partner Jacob and her sweet chihuahua Kyley Location: Seattle, Washington Size: 366 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned The amount of blood, sweat and tears in any home remodel is substantial. But can you imagine the amount while making over a 366 square foot studio when you’re still living in it? A space that you share with your partner and a dog? It’s extraordinary, chaotic, and in Mary Lee’s case, ultimately worth it.

Suyin’s bathroom was very, very ’70s. While the pampas/avocado fixtures, combined with the pine wood, gave the space a dated look, Suyin’s design acumen (plus some sanding and oiling) helped the pine jump into present day to help create a warm and modern space. From Suyin: When we bought our fixer-upper house in South West London, we knew that the bathroom would need to be the first room we tackled.

It seems like a constant challenge to find space for art supplies, music equipment, books and records, but this couple loves using their home to showcase their passions.

Bold, colorful, and vintage — if that’s your goal, take a peek at Allison’s resource lists from her unforgettable Austin apartment to shop her style and instantly fill your space with colorful kitschy decor! charset="utf-8" src="https://d30bopbxapq94k.cloudfront.net/js/curalate-widget-client-all.prod.min.

Name: Megan Workman & Sam Peake, Delia the dog, and Eliot the cat Location: Central City; New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 1,439 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Real estate agent Megan Workman was searching for a house for a client two years ago, when something unexpected happened. When she entered the side door of a small Central City Victorian and stepped into a bright, beautiful hallway, she thought, “I must make this hallway mine.

Name: Sam E., Stephanie Libanati and Lorena Jimenez Location: Lower Bottoms — Oakland, California Size: 1,610 square feet Years lived in: 8 months; Rented When Sam E. was looking for an apartment earlier this year, she felt so lucky when she hit it off with Stephanie and Lorena on the day they met.

When we toured Liz and Josh’s Bohemian Santa Clarita house, it seemed they knew a thing or two about maintaining a balanced life. The energetic couple has built a flourishing family home and successful well-being business while remaining totally chill in the process (seriously, you just want to be friends with them). Their local shop Mascot Aesthetic shares that spiritual-Bohemian ambiance that their house wears so well.

Name: The Dylan Hotel Location: Canal Center; Amsterdam, Netherlands Never intending for its design to fit into a box, the cheeky hotel’s aesthetic gives a playful wink at anyone who stays because each room offers a one-of-a-kind experience. This 5-star hotel tows a wonderful balance of shirking tradition and delivering a funky design model of its own that puts a focus on sharp style and individuality.

If anyone has any insight into sharing a small space with another person (and pets), it’s got to be Julie and Andrew, who have been (successfully) living together in a Blue Bird school bus for a year. They graciously let us share their incredibly tiny yet stylish home in a house tour, and they’ve also shared some of their secrets to living harmoniously in a shared small space.

Name: Ben and Viv Yapp, and their two little sons Covey and Arlo Location: Bristol, UK Size: 1,450 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1.5 years Having been in London for over 10 years, my husband and I finally decided to leave our little flat and moved to the countryside in Bristol.

Minimal, modern style, a stunning must-see green kitchen, beautiful patterned tile and one cute kid.

Sticking to a limited color palette isn’t the only way to design a home that looks inviting and pulled together. Caroline and Jayden are the colorful couple who live in the cozy Atwater Village home shown here an they saw absolutely no hue limitations when they designed their place.

Name: R (1.5 years) Location: Denver, Colorado So I’m not a decorator…like at all. But before the birth of my first child, I wanted to do a nursery. We didn’t know the gender so the room needed to be neutral. I got a lot of ideas & inspiration from Apartment Therapy including all the IKEA hacks: shelves, bookshelves & cart. But I got most of my inspiration from this post.

When Jill and Charlie Bent bought their Cambridge home, the kitchen hadn’t been updated since 1920. Cosmetic changes made the space function aesthetically for the family, but the space had its fair share of structural issues, leaking ceilings, and ant infestations every spring. After compromising their comfort for half a decade, the couple decided to hire a contractor, Monarch Carpentry, to renovate it.

Name: Ujjaini and Adit Location: Los Angeles, California This is such a great example of thoughtful and practical design. Ujianai and Adit built a great backyard that is not only inspired by their enviornment, but designed to help it. From Ujjaini and Adit: When we bought our house two and a half years ago, we knew the backyard needed work. We were lucky to make a large enough outdoor space and good weather to enjoy it all year around.

What is it about Paris homes that feel so chic and elegant? This apartment in a classic Haussmannian building in Paris is both those things. But it’s also a beautiful example of mixing traditional architectural elements with modern designs. Anna Piwonska of Atelier Anna Piwonska designed the remodel of this 1,150 square foot home. Tall ceilings, natural light and charming architectural features make this apartment a classic space, but Anna faced design challenges.

Name: Thomas and Amy Fitzpatrick, Aislinn, Sean and cairn terrier Jack Location: Highlands; North Carolina Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: less than a year; owned The Fitzpatricks live at 4,000 feet in the quaint mountain town of Highlands, North Carolina, a vacation respite for some 15,000 visitors each summer. But for Thomas and Amy, they enjoy the surrounding natural beauty year-round in their 1950s home which they’ve been transforming since they moved in last year.

Felicity’s Brooklyn Heights home went through a complete shift in identity: from a dark, 1960s-style apartment with a sleeping loft to a modern-yet-historically-respectful and bright two-level studio. Felicity was particularly inspired by the work of Carlo Scarpa, an Italian architect. Just prior to closing on the apartment, a trip to Italy with her aunt provided many in-person experiences of Scarpa’s projects, including Castelvecchio and the Brion Sanctuary.