Houzz Tours
The Most Popular Houzz Tours of 2021
Visit a black dogtrot house in North Carolina, a 1970s glam-inspired lake house and other attention-getting homes
While the geographic locations of the most popular Houzz Tours of 2021 vary widely, they share a common thread in inspiring design details that transform a house into a home. Browse the countdown, then click on the full article to see more photos of each home and read about how design and building pros helped make these spaces come to life.
9. A Modern Cottage Treads Lightly in the Forest
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A Chicago couple
Location: Near Three Rivers, Michigan
Size: 2,300 square feet (214 square meters); two bedrooms, three bathrooms
Architects: Pamela Lamaster-Millett and Gregory Howe of Searl Lamaster Howe Architects
Builder: Estkowski Construction
This modern cabin in the Michigan woods is another escape from urban life. The Chicago homeowners hired architects Pamela Lamaster-Millett and Gregory Howe to make the most of the leafy views. Knotty cedar walls and ceilings, shou sugi ban wall cladding, slate flooring and expansive windows blur the lines between the interiors and the surrounding forest.
See more of this home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A Chicago couple
Location: Near Three Rivers, Michigan
Size: 2,300 square feet (214 square meters); two bedrooms, three bathrooms
Architects: Pamela Lamaster-Millett and Gregory Howe of Searl Lamaster Howe Architects
Builder: Estkowski Construction
This modern cabin in the Michigan woods is another escape from urban life. The Chicago homeowners hired architects Pamela Lamaster-Millett and Gregory Howe to make the most of the leafy views. Knotty cedar walls and ceilings, shou sugi ban wall cladding, slate flooring and expansive windows blur the lines between the interiors and the surrounding forest.
See more of this home
8. 1960s Home Remodel Marries Old and New
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their four young children
Location: Outside Chicago
Size: 2,500 square feet (232 square meters); four bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Designer: Alessia Loffredo of reDesign home
Contractor: David Ligman of Ligman Construction Group
This Chicago family needed design help after moving into the husband’s childhood home. Interior designer Alessia Loffredo helped them design an addition to accommodate their growing family while refreshing the whole house to marry old and new. Special design elements include hand-glazed tile, striking wallpapers and new lighting.
See more of this home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their four young children
Location: Outside Chicago
Size: 2,500 square feet (232 square meters); four bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Designer: Alessia Loffredo of reDesign home
Contractor: David Ligman of Ligman Construction Group
This Chicago family needed design help after moving into the husband’s childhood home. Interior designer Alessia Loffredo helped them design an addition to accommodate their growing family while refreshing the whole house to marry old and new. Special design elements include hand-glazed tile, striking wallpapers and new lighting.
See more of this home
Need a pro for your home remodeling project?
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
7. New Home With Vintage Touches
House at a Glance
Who lives here: This home was designed, built and decorated on spec.
Location: Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Size: 3,506 square feet (326 square meters); four bedrooms plus study, 4½ bathrooms
Designers: Danielle Palm and Rocci Chandler of Rose Rock Properties and Pinnacle Home Design (architecture)
Contractor: Monroe Design
Danielle Palm and Rocci Chandler applied their experience renovating historic homes to their first new construction project. They borrowed some of their favorite architectural features from local historic homes to add charm. These include a dentile molding-like brick pattern on the exterior, wood beams on the great room ceiling and ogee arches on doorway openings.
See more of this home
Shop for living room furniture and decor
House at a Glance
Who lives here: This home was designed, built and decorated on spec.
Location: Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Size: 3,506 square feet (326 square meters); four bedrooms plus study, 4½ bathrooms
Designers: Danielle Palm and Rocci Chandler of Rose Rock Properties and Pinnacle Home Design (architecture)
Contractor: Monroe Design
Danielle Palm and Rocci Chandler applied their experience renovating historic homes to their first new construction project. They borrowed some of their favorite architectural features from local historic homes to add charm. These include a dentile molding-like brick pattern on the exterior, wood beams on the great room ceiling and ogee arches on doorway openings.
See more of this home
Shop for living room furniture and decor
6. Architect Digs Down to Expand a Compact Home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two kids
Location: Lower Haight neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 2,623 square feet (244 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designers: John Lum Architecture (architecture), Mansfield + O’Neil (interior design) and Beth Mullins of Growsgreen Landscape Design (landscape architecture)
Builder: Christopher Gate Construction
Architect John Lum determined that the best way to add on to this historic San Francisco row house was to dig beneath an unfinished lower level and garage to make room for bedrooms and bathrooms with 9-foot ceilings. He also reconfigured the chopped-up main floor to restore the original Victorian-era central corridor floor plan, providing an easy flow for the young family that lives here. Making the backyard and deck more inviting and usable also expanded the living space.
See more of this home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two kids
Location: Lower Haight neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 2,623 square feet (244 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designers: John Lum Architecture (architecture), Mansfield + O’Neil (interior design) and Beth Mullins of Growsgreen Landscape Design (landscape architecture)
Builder: Christopher Gate Construction
Architect John Lum determined that the best way to add on to this historic San Francisco row house was to dig beneath an unfinished lower level and garage to make room for bedrooms and bathrooms with 9-foot ceilings. He also reconfigured the chopped-up main floor to restore the original Victorian-era central corridor floor plan, providing an easy flow for the young family that lives here. Making the backyard and deck more inviting and usable also expanded the living space.
See more of this home
5. Fresh White Update Makes a Bright Family Home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their three young children and their dog
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Size: 2,600 square feet (242 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designer: Kate Van Sluyter of Kimball Modern Design + Interiors
Builder: Boulder Valley Builders
This Boulder, Colorado, home hadn’t been updated since it was built in 1966. The new homeowners tasked interior designer Kate Van Sluyter with renovating in a way they dubbed “modern grandma.” This meant preserving the spirit of the era while updating it with modern materials. Improvements include a fully renovated kitchen and bathrooms, new light-toned engineered oak floors and a midcentury-modern-inspired chicken coop in the backyard.
See more of this home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their three young children and their dog
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Size: 2,600 square feet (242 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designer: Kate Van Sluyter of Kimball Modern Design + Interiors
Builder: Boulder Valley Builders
This Boulder, Colorado, home hadn’t been updated since it was built in 1966. The new homeowners tasked interior designer Kate Van Sluyter with renovating in a way they dubbed “modern grandma.” This meant preserving the spirit of the era while updating it with modern materials. Improvements include a fully renovated kitchen and bathrooms, new light-toned engineered oak floors and a midcentury-modern-inspired chicken coop in the backyard.
See more of this home
4. 1970s Style Influences a Lakefront Home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Lorie and John Fitzgibbon, their two teenagers and their two dogs
Location: Glenview, Illinois
Size: 4,800 square feet (446 square meters); four bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Designers: Rebekah Zaveloff of KitchenLab Interiors (interior design) and GTH Architects (architecture)
Interior designer Rebekah Zaveloff had the unique experience of decorating this lakeside house in Glenview, Illinois, for one of her childhood style idols. She and her former babysitter, homeowner Lorie Fitzgibbon, had a shared love for earthy-boho-glam looks from the 1970s and ’80s. She added patina and personality to the new build by furnishing it with lots of vintage pieces and incorporating Lorie’s amazing art collection into the design.
See more of this home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Lorie and John Fitzgibbon, their two teenagers and their two dogs
Location: Glenview, Illinois
Size: 4,800 square feet (446 square meters); four bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Designers: Rebekah Zaveloff of KitchenLab Interiors (interior design) and GTH Architects (architecture)
Interior designer Rebekah Zaveloff had the unique experience of decorating this lakeside house in Glenview, Illinois, for one of her childhood style idols. She and her former babysitter, homeowner Lorie Fitzgibbon, had a shared love for earthy-boho-glam looks from the 1970s and ’80s. She added patina and personality to the new build by furnishing it with lots of vintage pieces and incorporating Lorie’s amazing art collection into the design.
See more of this home
3. See a Landscape Designer’s Mountain Cabin
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Landscape designer Jay Sifford
Location: Near West Jefferson, North Carolina
Size: 1,659 square feet (154 square meters); two bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Architect: Jim Owen of DIGSdesign
Landscape designer Jay Sifford collaborated with architect Jim Owen on the design and siting of his North Carolina mountain home. Nestled above a steep slope full of giant rhododendrons, the black dogtrot house causes many passersby to stop their cars to get a better look. The “dogtrot” is an open porch between two sides of the house. Every room enjoys views of the beautiful landscape Sifford created around the house.
See more of this home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Landscape designer Jay Sifford
Location: Near West Jefferson, North Carolina
Size: 1,659 square feet (154 square meters); two bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Architect: Jim Owen of DIGSdesign
Landscape designer Jay Sifford collaborated with architect Jim Owen on the design and siting of his North Carolina mountain home. Nestled above a steep slope full of giant rhododendrons, the black dogtrot house causes many passersby to stop their cars to get a better look. The “dogtrot” is an open porch between two sides of the house. Every room enjoys views of the beautiful landscape Sifford created around the house.
See more of this home
2. Family-Friendly With a Home School Suite
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their four children
Location: Dallas
Interior design: Urbanology Designs
This couple needed to change up their Dallas home to work well for their family of six. They searched Houzz and knew that Ginger Curtis would be the right designer for them. Keeping the couple’s four young children at the forefront of her thinking, Curtis made the home comfortable and functional for the whole family. At the same time, the mix of textures, balance of black and white and the contrast of sharp lines and big curves she created give the house sophisticated and personalized style.
See more of this home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their four children
Location: Dallas
Interior design: Urbanology Designs
This couple needed to change up their Dallas home to work well for their family of six. They searched Houzz and knew that Ginger Curtis would be the right designer for them. Keeping the couple’s four young children at the forefront of her thinking, Curtis made the home comfortable and functional for the whole family. At the same time, the mix of textures, balance of black and white and the contrast of sharp lines and big curves she created give the house sophisticated and personalized style.
See more of this home
1. Family Home Refreshed for a New Lifestyle
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their teenage son. Their two adult daughters come home for extended stays.
Location: Atlanta
Size: 3,381 square feet (314 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
Designer: Laura Freeman of Merits Design Group
Houzz readers were impressed with the way interior designer Laura Freeman gave this Atlanta home a cosmetic refresh. She kept in mind the way the homeowners’ lifestyle was changing as their kids left home, as well as their plans to sell in about five years. She saved them money by refacing the kitchen cabinets and repurposing a lot of what they already had in new ways. She also lightened up heavy elements like window treatments and gave them the proper lighting to show off the new look.
See more of this home
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Browse photos
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their teenage son. Their two adult daughters come home for extended stays.
Location: Atlanta
Size: 3,381 square feet (314 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
Designer: Laura Freeman of Merits Design Group
Houzz readers were impressed with the way interior designer Laura Freeman gave this Atlanta home a cosmetic refresh. She kept in mind the way the homeowners’ lifestyle was changing as their kids left home, as well as their plans to sell in about five years. She saved them money by refacing the kitchen cabinets and repurposing a lot of what they already had in new ways. She also lightened up heavy elements like window treatments and gave them the proper lighting to show off the new look.
See more of this home
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Browse photos
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Kelly Kole, her husband, Mike, and their two daughters
Location: Robbinsville, North Carolina
Size: About 2,400 square feet (223 square meters); three bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designer: Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs
Designer Kelly Kole and her family use this house on North Carolina’s Lake Santeetlah as a relaxing escape from their busy lives in Atlanta. Shiplap accents, walnut details, vintage furniture and Indian textiles are just a few of the elements she used to cozy up the vacation home for her family.
See more of this home
Find a home remodeler or designer in your area