Small apartment therapy

There are no doors or walls separating the living room, dining room, playroom, and kid's room, but each area of this one-bedroom feels like a separate zone.

This home was an entry in the 2023 Small/Cool Contest!

Nora is a 31-year-old writer who recently moved back to Boston after spending around six years in New York.

Name: Terra Gillespie and cat, PyewacketLocation: Toronto, OntarioType of home: ApartmentSize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 4 years, renting Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: So I actually have been on Apartment Therapy before. It has changed in the three-plus years since, most of which in the last eight months with the pandemic and transition to working from home.

Architect Samantha Stein and her fiancé moved from a studio apartment to a slightly larger apartment in the middle of a pandemic (and while on a budget) but the result is quite dreamy despite the challenges.

Linda Miles had to design her small home on an extreme budget, so almost everything was bought from neighbors on OfferUp or at Swedish secondhand stores.

The renter describes her style as "Books, books, books, plants, books."

Name: Stephanie and my cat, MinaLocation: West Village — New York, New YorkType of home: ApartmentSize: 350ish square feetYears lived in: 2 years, renting Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Elegant, classic, warm, witty.What is your favorite room and why? The “living room”—I love the fireplace, the built-in bookcases, and the perfect nook for my couch, and the fact that it fits my massive marble coffee table (which I found for $50 on Craigslist!).

Apartment Therapy on Instagram: “@adnananwardesign's 380-square-foot NYC rental is stuffed with smart and stylish decor tricks—like replacing a standard light fixture with…”

Name: Alexandra HeideLocation: Los Angeles, CaliforniaType of home: Studio ApartmentSize: 500 square feetYears lived in: Almost 2 years, renting Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I moved into this studio so I could walk to work (I’m a strategist at an agency in Culver City) and I loved that it had the old California motel vibe with the front door opening to the pool, while being new on the inside.