A person's home – inside and out – is a reflection of their personality. Some are filled with art and surrounded with fancy shrubbery and stone walkways; others are cluttered and cozy, or sparse and simplistic.
In this home guide, we take a look at some of the most beautiful homes in Detroit in the upcoming LGBT home tour, explore how one's yard can add infinitely to your living space and learn about a few of Between The Lines readers' favorite things.
Whether it's your landscaping, your furniture, your decor or your flat screen TV, Between The Lines urges you this fall to make your home your own. If you love bright colors, paint your kitchen yellow. If you're feeling futuristic, bedeck your bedroom in stainless steel.
Gadget-filled or picture-adorned? Funky or old-fashioned? Modern or messy? It's your home – you decide.
These Are Some Of Your Favorite Things …
Julien Lanway
Ferndale
BOOK COLLECTION: "Stories take me to better places, put me in the shoes of way more exciting people."
Carrie E. V. Copeland
Ferndale
CEDAR CREEK DOG BED: "The possession of which our three dogs and three cats all fight (over). Seeing a dog pile all snuggled together makes life worth living."
Linda Baker
Pinckney
WOOD STOVE: "Even though I may be saying, 'Brrrrr….It's dddddaaang cccccooold here in Mmmichigan,' I'll keep it stoked and have some warm rum punch ready to warm my insides."
Torrena Dye
Southfield
WIFE'S PHOTOGRAPHS: "They are my favorite things because right now we are working on getting her U.S. citizenship."
Charles Pugh
Detroit
ARTWORK COLLECTION: "The art expresses who I am. One piece is a family heirloom – a 45-year-old painting by my uncle."
Heather R. Steenrod
Ann Arbor
WATER PRESSURE: "I love little more than being able to come home, start my dishwasher, throw a load of laundry in, and step into a hot shower before my lady comes home for the evening."
Chad Schoch
Owosso
BIG WINDOW: "I can look out and watch nature happen outside regardless of the weather inside."
Bobby Tenorio
Waterford
KITCHEN: "You have to use it to create wonderful meals for me and my partner – and also guests who come over."
Joe Fitrzyk
Pontiac
BED: "That's where the magic happens."
Cristy Cardinal
Ann Arbor
DAUGHTER'S LAUGHTER: "It reminds me that there is such a thing as pure joy, and her happiness is the most important thing in my life."
Amanda Badger
Detroit
BOOKSHELF: "It's all pretty and blue and houses all my reading material."
Julie Powers
Lansing
GRANDMOTHER'S HOPE CHEST: "When she married my grandfather during the depression it was really the only thing she had. I've moved that blessed thing in I don't know how many times, but I have to have it with me."
Kate Runyon
Ann Arbor
BAMBOO SHEETS: "Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource that does not need any pesticides; they are warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and drape like silk. Dreamy."
Adam Taylor
Kalamazoo
LCD MONITORS: "I like clear images that are high quality and large when I am watching them."
Joe Kort
Gross Pointe Woods
LAMP REMOTE: "I like it because when I want to dim the light or brighten it I don't have to get up from the bed or the couch or even move a muscle."
Drew Hinkle
Ypsilanti
AUTOMATIC SHOWER CLEANER: "I just push the button when I get out and it does its cute beeping noise and does its thing."
Gabe Javier
Ann Arbor
PILLOWS: "They are comforting and soft and fluffy – like me!"
