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Dan Mauney

• Ashley Goodwin

• Dan Mauney proudly poses in his living room.

If you love shoes or you love going out, chances are, you know Dan Mauney. Better known as "Dan the Shoe Man," he's co-owner of Step By Sloan, a popular shoe boutique in Dilworth. When he's not adorning women with beautiful footwear, Mauney is entertaining. A couple of times a month, he helps organize Takeover Friday, a mobile party in which members of the LGBT community (and others) descend upon various venues throughout town -- like Therapy, Tutto Mondo, and most recently, Aria Tuscan Grille. But he has also created a space in which entertaining is feasible at home.

For the past few months, Mauney has lived in The Catalyst, a 27-story contemporary condominium in Uptown.

"One of the things that sold me on this place is the open floor plan," he says. "I like my friends to be around me and so we can see each other, so we've got this whole open entertainment area that merges into the lounge area."

When decorating, Mauney and his friends divided his apartment into three zones: a bright entry with a yellow accent wall; the kitchen/entertainment area, complete with a bar; and a lounge area, which can seat up to 12 people. In his living room you'll find a large painting of a ladies shoe -- his homage to Step.

Many of his pieces were found at The Furniture Connector (2905 Griffith St., www.thefurnitureconnector.com), including the ottomans in the living room that can also be used as a coffee table.

"I am more about living in the middle of everything right now than owning a house," he says. "I love the vibe of Uptown. Leasing is fashionable again. Plus, I am getting so much at The Catalyst."

Where do you live?

On the 13th floor of The Catalyst in Uptown Charlotte. I'm not superstitious at all.

How big is your condo?

My place is 753 square feet -- the perfect size for my wiener and me.

What inspired the décor of your place?

I like a little bit of flamboyant, a little bit of masculine. I don't like to waste things. Everything is useful; the ottomans are removable so that way you can entertain and they can be pieces of furniture or barstools for people. I love it pretty, but I want it useful.

What's your favorite thing about where you live?

My favorite thing is the view. The view changes from the morning to lunch to dinner. It changes all day long. Everything becomes alive.

How does your condo reflect your life?

It's fun, it's festive; it's mobile and functional.

Danielle Taylor

• Ashley Goodwin

• Danielle Taylor sits in her 'dressing room' in a chair she found on a curb and revamped.

Danielle Taylor is originally from New York, and that's why living in Tryon House Apartments suits her just fine. An account manager who only had one week to find a place when she moved to Charlotte a year and a half ago, Taylor discovered Tryon House to be "city living at its essence."

"These kinds of apartments are not for someone who's not into being creative," she says. "You have to be creative to live here, figuring out how to plan things into spaces."

Despite the small amount of space, and the lack of central air conditioning, Taylor and her boyfriend Justin McKim have literally made -- think "DIY" -- the place home. The foyer contains an old table she found in a dumpster, brought home and refinished. The living room reveals a nice mix of new (with a TV stand from IKEA found in the "As Is" section) and old, (as the stand doesn't quite fit against the wall because of an old-timey radiator that's in the way). A second bedroom functions as a dressing room or walk-in closet for Taylor. In it you'll find chairs she found on the side of the road, painted and revamped with new fabric, as well as a table that is actually a door she bought for $1 at Habitat For Humanity.

She and her boyfriend decided to rent because they're not ready to buy, and their location right now is really ideal. "It's a great location for the concerts, football games, basketball games. We can walk, so no DUIs," she says. "I couldn't afford to buy anything right here; there's no way. [Tryon House] being in front of a bus stop does bother me though; although the bums are nice, they are bums. But it's Uptown, and it's very inexpensive Uptown living."

Where do you live?

In Tryon House, Uptown.

Why did you decide to live here?

As soon as I walked in, I was like, "this is my kind of apartment." I'm not really a brand-new-carpet kind of person. And this was right in the middle of the city and has so much character -- and I can walk to work.