Home Insider Look: Jon & Katie's 1924 Traditional Gets a Modern Mix Update

If you caught my sneak peek yesterday then you already know that I have a VERY special treat for you today!

My very stylish friend Katie and her husband Jon had a housewarming party over the weekend and I was blown away by their stunning home, so much so that I begged her to let me come back and take photos for the blog.  Their home is too gorgeous not to share, I even have some before and after action for you too (squeal of renovation delight!)   Let's get to it!

Jon and Katie decided on their home after realizing they had outgrown their smaller loft in downtown Minneapolis and knew it was time to say goodbye to the city and hello to a bigger space-  still nearby the city though (Alex & I relate to that for sure!). 

They moved into their lovely 1924 traditional colonial style home back in September and transformed the space to fit their style-  and I gotta say after seeing the before & afters, they made some BIG changes rather quickly!

Katie said their style used to be more modern but after moving into their 1924 traditional space they've shifted to a more eclectic look mixing old with new.  Now it's time to take a look!  So I'll stop yammering on and let you ogle all the pics, then be sure to check out the little Q&A with Katie about their house and projects, enjoy!

PS- Since we're in their kitchen, I have to mention Katie's Whole Lovely Life Instagram which features great healthy living recipes including vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, Paleo, dairy-free, grain-free, and I believe more healthy option recipe types!  Click the link to check out all the info, healthy never looked so tasty I tell ya!  If you dig it too, let her know in the comments!

Katie had the same old house small closet solution that I did- turn a small room into a closet!  

Couldn't resist throwing in a few pics of this cutie :) 

What would you say your home decor style is?

Katie: "It used to be more modern but now that I own an older home my style has shifted slightly more eclectic.  I loved the challenge of taking an older home and putting a bit of a modern swing on it while mixing in older pieces and accessories.  I like to mix high and low to a degree as well or do what I can to make a less special pieces seem more special either by altering them or in how I place or display them.  I also love to make things myself.  Especially art.  For me I want my art to either be created by me or someone I know.  We do have a few purchased pieces which all have a story behind them."

Do you and Jon agree when it comes to decorating? 

Katie: "YES!  Thankfully.  Decor is one thing we don't ever argue about.  He really let's me run with things and offers his ideas along the way.  The ghost chairs outside were his idea!"

What challenges did you run into when it came to decorating once you got into your home?  

Katie: "The biggest challenge for us was working around the spaces and all the windows.  In a loft you have much larger walls with less windows so can put things pretty much anywhere.  With this house we took lots of measurements and had to really plan thoughtfully for our large furniture purchases.  Once we had the pieces the fun part was decorating around them. Another challenge was knowing we wanted everything white with dark floors so we had to be patient while waiting three months just to paint!"

What challenges do you experience living in an older 1924 home?  

Katie: "There is always something to do or replace or a 'next' project.  We took the approach of working like crazy to for a few months to get it completed to where it is today but we still have a list of to-do's both big and small that we want to accomplish in the short and long term.  Also, yard maintenance!  Jon does pretty much does all of it and it's time consuming!  I really miss him when he is outside for hours on end :). You also have to be okay with your husband literally running to Home Depot nightly and sometimes two to three times on a weekend!  Jon is amazing at figuring out how to do things.  I am blown away by all the things he learned to do in such a short period of time.  Some of his projects saved us a ton of money so I will say if you are not adventurous and don't like taking a jump into a ton of different projects it could be challenging to budget everything in."

What advice would you give people when it comes to home decor/ home decor strategy?  
Katie: "I think it's important to find inspiration for your vision whether you look on blogs, Pinterest, retail stores etc.  When you have an idea it's important to find an image of what that may look like in a space especially for your large purchases.  It's also important to think about your budget and what you want to invest in.  Be okay mixing high and low.  There are great pieces that can be found on Craigslist, at Target and Ikea.  For example- the majority of our window panels are from Target and Ikea while the rods are from West Elm.  Also think about what items you have that are special.  So many people store their family heirlooms in their attic or basement.  I love mixing them in because not only are they special and probably have a story but they bring a uniqueness to your space that will be all your own."  

Thank you again Katie & Jon for sharing a look at your wonderful home!

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I know I loved everything but the couple things that stood out to me the most were all the unique light fixtures and their artwork collection- and Katie made a lot of it!  Crazy awesome right?!?  And how fantastic does their wood look with the dark/almost black stain?  Love the fresh take for a black and white look!

Who's feeling inspired to decorate/redecorate now?

What was your favorite part of their home?