Warm Industrial

Taylor is an interior designer and indoor plant shop owner living in Seattle, and her biggest challenge with her rental space was a small budget. But she did nearly everything on her own, from decorating, painting, and more.

Thanks to how open this space is to the outdoors, you can't tell that it's small at all!

Estefania's home in Lima, Peru features tons of different textures, like exposed concrete, bricks, adobe, mosaics, wood, laminates, and lots of rugs, a bold mix that gives every room a strong identity.

Architecture and landscape architecture graduate student Caleb Brackney bought a 36’ 1995 Thomas International school bus on Facebook Marketplace in February 2020 for $3K. The rest of his only 10k budget he spent on turning the bus to a tiny house one wheels.

Author and New York Times journalist Jessica Bennett explains that while it's useless in terms of noise or light, her loft's open wall/bookshelf makes for a lovely zoom background.

A fully off-grid home sleeps six comfortably, has a full kitchen, a custom six-foot foldable dining table, an office space, a bathroom with a shower, and more.

Sandra and Carlos made this home their own by tearing down walls to create an open concept space, updating the floors and windows, and blending personal touches throughout.

Amazingly, Tim bought nothing new for his condo remodel, opting to visit local secondhand shops and estate sales as well as scouring Craigslist.

Prop stylist and cookbook author Annette Joseph lives in one of the DREAMIEST homes in Atlanta.

The small house is also proof that minimalism doesn't have to mean boring.

Shilpa and her husband rent and can't do much changing of fixtures, but they've added plants and cute accents to warm this industrial apartment up!

When Manuel and Javier first bought this small Bueno Aires condo, it DID NOT look like the lovely and airy space that it is today.

The open layout and concrete floors make it easy to clean.

To offset the large amount of negative space that the high ceilings created, these renters played with bold accent walls and doors and took advantage of the space for art and storage.

The kitchen also features a $5 DIY "backsplash" idea that totally transformed the space.

This wedding planner and her husband, a photographer, live in this open-plan Seattle loft home that they laid out brilliantly.

John and Maryana transformed their rental apartment by creating abstract, modern murals using affordable Washi tape!

Rana Argenio is the founder of direct-to-consumer linens brand 10 Grove and lives in this industrial Tribeca apartment with her husband.

Looking for a kitchen design style that's affordable, fresh, and easy to cook in?

Erin didn't have a color scheme in mind when she first began renting this apartment, she just kind of let everything flow in.

Amanda Wolters shares this 380-square-foot tiny house called "Ladybird" with her two pups, Barb and Vera.

The unit is one of nine residences in a converted former refrigeration factory and features a large open-plan living area with original wall-to-wall factory windows.

Adorable in style, this house is full of small-space lessons anyone could use for a size-challenged home, from a DIY Murphy bed (using hardware found on Amazon), to sliding doors, and even the use of color in a compact space.

Photographer Josh Olson says creating a home you love is all about communication. "Your pieces should be in constant communication with each other, be it through their palette, geometry, or narrative."

Victor's small bungalow features a lot of dramatic black hues, yet it manages to still feel light and airy.

“We did everything; rewiring, plumbing, plastering, we even replaced the staircase,” says Claire. They then redecorated, bit by bit, over the next five years,

Built in 1899, this Brooklyn brownstone is a mix of '70s vintage-inspired pieces with a classic twist.

It's packed with great ideas for small spaces!

This apartment used to be the building's laundry room, and there are still the original, handwritten instructions for the washing machines and the electrical system framed on the walls.

Gorgeous views, cool architecture, modern furniture and more... yes this hip Barcelona loft has it all!

This loft-like apartment in an old historic building is a rental and full of stylish ideas.

This warm, industrial modern Chicago loft is beautiful any day of the year, but decorated for the holidays it's even lovelier.

Natural wood, toned-down whites, and neutrals in all shades make this small studio apartment feel good.

Collaborating on redecorating this home was the biggest—and most rewarding—challenge they’ve had to overcome as a couple.

It's got a lot of character and a very industrial vibe.

Historic industrial elements like an 1800s oven, original masonry, and porcelain subway bricks blend with this residential contractor's modern decor tastes.

Almost everything in this interior designer and vintage furniture dealer's home is from a vintage or thrift store.

This old wool factory building converted into artist lofts is full of earth tones, textures, and pops of acid green/yellow.

Digital and experiential brand designer Melissa Alam lives in an 1800-square-foot loft, where she also hosts events like the annual conference for women called FearlessCon.

Not only did this couple do much of the house's renovation work themselves, the entire neighborhood pitched in. Their style? Reverent and resourceful!

The apartment is in a converted 19th-century mansion and has high ceilings, beautiful wood floors, and original crown molding.

Name: Brigid Andrews Location: Clinton Hill — Brooklyn, NY Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 4.5 years, renting Brigid Andrews, a merchandising director, has been a part of the fashion world for 15+ years. And her Brooklyn apartment reflects this experience… as well as her love for eye-catching visuals. Stacks of fashion magazines cover the top of the credenza in the bedroom, transforming it into a show-stopping feature.

Architectural and interior designer Francis Dominguez has designed a 305-square-foot studio apartment beautifully.

Apartment Therapy's Lifestyle Editor calls her style: Rock ‘n Roll Bohemian Goth!

Name: Kate Keesee, Robert, Gracie , and our doggy Guinevere Location: Orange County, California Size: 1,375 square feet Years lived in: Grew up in this home! I was gifted this home that I grew up in by my mother who adopted me when I was 12 years old. I have over the years taken the unwanted and discarded to create a space that tells the story of how I found myself within these walls.

Tami was going for warm, trendy, hipster cafe vibes in her small rental garage apartment.

When it was time for Dana and Dan Asadorian to renovate, they had a secret weapon: Dana's mother is a wizard when it comes to maximizing space and storage.

Name: Julian Thomas Location: Bushwick — Brooklyn, New York Size: 700 square feet Years Lived In: Less than a year, renting “Who needs TV when you have Bushwick? This is live entertainment at its finest,” remarks 28-year-old self-proclaimed bachelor Julian Thomas as he looks out of a window of his Brooklyn loft in this video tour he posted on YouTube. His 1,000-square-foot home might be right next to a train—but that’s part of the city-life charm the space has.

Much of the items in this industrial Brooklyn loft were found on the side of the road, the Craiglist free section, or this building's "freeshelf."

Name: Katherine, one roommate, and a three-legged cat, Baby Location: Austin, Texas Size: 800 square feet Years Lived In: 3 years, renting My apartment occupies a single unit in a quaint four-plex on a gorgeous residential street just west of downtown Austin. I was lucky enough to discover it on Craigslist, and rushed to see the rental and to meet the tight-knit community of residents who’ve lived there for years. Needless to say, I was sold, and I rented it that very same day.

Name: Aaron Morris and Vincent Uribe Location: East Garfield Park — Chicago, Illinois Size: 2,375 square feet Years Lived In: 1.5 years, owned Aaron and Vincent, both Chicago transplants, recently bought a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in East Garfield Park. “This was actually one of the first places we came across when we started searching for a home.

Name: Rachana Pathak Location: Gowanus, Brooklyn Size: 960 square feet Years Lived In: 8 years, owned Rachana (@plantistan on Instagram) calls herself a “Brooklyn-based plant junkie,” and her large loft-like space in Brooklyn sports over 300 plants in under 1000 square feet. In the eight years she’s owned this large apartment, she’s filled it with not just greenery, but also warm colors and rich textures.

Name: Giana Shorthouse Location: FLATS at Ponce City Market — Atlanta, Georgia. Size: 655 square feet Years Lived In: 2 years, renting I’m a designer and prop stylist living at Ponce City Market; the building is a historic, mixed-use community hub and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. My apartment is an extension of me and what I do.

Name: Lysa Jordan, Sergio Castano and dog Walter Location: Montreal, Quebec Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Artist Lysa Jordan and architect Sergio Castano live with their dog Walter in a working and living loft nestled in the Saint Henri neighborhood. Quite unconventional from typical Montreal apartments, their pad is a modern, minimal, and creative space for both of them. “It’s a stimulating and inspiring place.

Jon O'Shaughnessy is inspired by the things that make him happy—travel, the outdoors, and forests.

Sruthi and Gautam sought to create a cozy home with "come sit here and chill" vibes, something that would fit their family's personality.

Amanda runs her business Baguette & Butter out of their home, and Guillermo is Chef de Cuisine at the popular Logan Square restaurant, Mi Tocaya.

Name: Shannon Buckley; husband, Nick Huertas; and 3 cats Location: Andersonville — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, rented Looking at their apartment, it’s hard to believe Shannon and Nick only moved to Chicago one year ago. Leaving Boston, the East Coast, and a number of dark, dreary apartments behind, they were determined to find a home with outdoor space and lots of natural light.

Name: Gregory Alan Isakov Location: Boulder County, Colorado Size: 2,250 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned On three and a half acres just outside of Boulder, Colorado sits a working farm where vegetables grow on their vines, flowers sway gently in the breeze, and sheep graze. And, depending on the day, music may float along the wind.

Name: Sarah Lyon and a roommate Location: The Dupont Circle/Logan Circle neighborhoods of Washington, D.C. Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 11 months, renting I absolutely love my current apartment. It took awhile for my roommate and me to find this space, but without sounding too cliché, it was truly worth the wait.