Vancouver

Every inch of Brian’s Vancouver rental was designed by Jennifer Bassett, cofounder of Twobytwo Architecture Studio, to have tons of personality with an all-blue bedroom, floral wallpaper, and killer built-ins holding a vintage record collection.

The bedroom is giving serious magazine vibes, thanks to green limewashed walls and a six-foot-tall DIY mirror. And the owners made a design choice that everyone (even the painters!) was skeptical about at first.

La Carmina is a blogger about “Japan cute culture, travel and design” and her small apartment’s design puts a “personal kawaii (cute Japan) spin on Mid-Century Modern.”

Rhea knows a thing or two about living in a small space; she’s made a stylish but functional home in this 420-square-foot studio apartment.

Grace loves her sofa. ”The end tables can become stools and there's a secret compartment in the corner.”

Including wood floors with a patterned inlay, antique glass doors with brass hardware, arched doorways, intricate moldings, cast iron radiators, and a mauve-tiled fireplace.

At first glance, this home might appear to be maximalist, but the style is actually more of a reflection of the family. There’s a fry-themed room, a skateboard bedroom, and plenty of other personal touches.

See inside this full-of-life Vancouver rental apartment that brings in character with thrifted furniture.

“It is the perfect size for living alone and is my happy place — I love coming home to the space,” Melissa Verdicchio writes of her home.

See inside a Vancouver rental apartment that’s a neutral, calming, organic, and eclectic mix and match of old and new.

See behind the cabinet doors to learn valuable, small-space organizing tips.

Tessa started Tessa Ariane Design, which focuses on affordable design work, in "response to how out of touch the interior design industry can be with what most folks actually need. We are all impacted by our environments, and I really believe we need to prioritize providing solutions for renters, folks in small spaces, and within realistic budgets that don’t leave anyone behind," she says.

The listing ad described the house as "needs a lot of TLC," but Erin and Ryan saw the property's potential.

Just across the river from Portland, Rebekah and Larry found a warm and woodsy mid-century modern gem they now call home.

Name: Jamie Lundstrom Location: North Vancouver, BC, Canada Size: 2500 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, owned “My love of French Vintage decor has always been something I loved since I was young, writes Jaime on her website, So Much Better With Age. “I have taken my two loves (vintage items and French decor) and combined them to make it something that is truly me.

Name: Fiona Morrison, owner of Wolf Circus Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Size: 850 square feet Years Lived In: 1 year, owned While she was still at British Columbia’s University of Victoria, entrepreneur Fiona Morrison founded Wolf Circus, “a line of demi-fine jewelry thoughtfully designed and hand fabricated in Vancouver, BC.

Name: Gillian and Mark Location: Vancouver, BC Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 6 Months; Rented Mark, an electrical engineer, and Gillian Stepping into Mark and Gillian’s apartment felt like stepping into a quiet country home. Their home is just tucked away enough to escape the busy city life most people in Vancouver are used to. The building has an amazing view of the ocean and mountains, and their home is often filled with a wonderful sea breeze.

Name: Laura and Tyler Location: Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, British Columbia Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented This artists’ dwelling is filled to the brim with light that pours through the windows at every turn. It conjures a sense of space through dramatic restraint, a play on traditional minimalism.

Name: Dan, resident engineer at Vancouver’s The Space Studios; Tegan, co-creator of Treasures and Travels Location: Mount Pleasant; Vancouver, British Columbia Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Located in the heart of Mount Pleasant, Tegan and Dan stumbled upon this tucked away corner unit in one of Vancouver’s finest heritage buildings.