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Before & After: A 1920s Minneapolis Craftsman, Moody Makeover Edition

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House TourIssue 48 — Simple Is Best

Before & After: A 1920s Minneapolis Craftsman, Moody Makeover Edition

Taylor Hall O'Brien November 27, 2023

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Anne McDonald is the interior designer to call for refreshing old homes. She spent nearly a decade working with her father on the building side of the industry, so she pays special attention to the architectural details that need to be maintained or restored—and she knows what colors and materials to introduce that will make the historical features sing.

Anne recently worked her magic on a 1920s Craftsman bungalow that was lackluster and cluttered, using its original dark-stained red oak trim and millwork as the inspiration for a moody palette of rich browns and ambers. Then she balanced the warmth with dusty blues and deep greens that highlight the leafy views through the windows.

Botanical motifs and earthy textures can be found throughout, nodding to the homeowner’s affinity for nature. “They have this beautiful cabin where they spend a lot of time in the woods in Wisconsin, so they really wanted to have this connection to something natural and grounded in their city home, too,” says Anne.

Let’s take a tour (and scroll down for a look at the place before).

Photography by Taylor Hall O’Brien.

After

the front porch was once overflowing with sports equipment and other odds and e 17
Above: The front porch was once overflowing with sports equipment and other odds and ends. Anne transformed it into a functional sitting room that links outside and in with natural pieces like vintage wicker chairs, bamboo shades, and a modern travertine coffee table. “To the left of the sofa, there’s a big dresser to put mittens and hats, so it does serve as a mud room, too,” Anne says. “But the homeowners really wanted to be able to play board games on summer nights or have their coffee and read the paper during the winter.”
anne upgraded the porch by ripping out the old vinyl tiles and replacing them w 18
Above: Anne upgraded the porch by ripping out the old vinyl tiles and replacing them with wood planks that she painted a muted turquoise.
in the living room, anne played up the original molding and brick fireplace wit 19
Above: In the living room, Anne played up the original molding and brick fireplace with a structured, tufted sofa and offset the sharp angles with a pair of rounded Nickey Kehoe chairs and linen Rose Tarlow Otello Ferro drapes. “Having more curves and softer silhouettes allows those things to almost recede into the architecture so the ‘masculine’ part of the room can be the focal point,” Anne says.
an antique rug mingles with an embroidered footstool and a glass topped magazin 20
Above: An antique rug mingles with an embroidered footstool and a glass-topped magazine rack.
behind a federico leather wingback chair from cisco home, anne fitted built in 21
Above: Behind a Federico leather wingback chair from Cisco Home, Anne fitted built-in bookshelves with glass doors that are meant to look original. “I was really particular with exactly how those doors were made,” she says. “They have the prairie grid to match the window grids elsewhere in the house, and we matched the stain.”
the adjacent dining room is papered in cole & son&#8\2\17;s royal ferne 22
Above: The adjacent dining room is papered in Cole & Son’s Royal Fernery wallpaper for a lush, verdant effect. “I liked that it had a little bit of a William Morris lean to it with the leaves, but it wasn’t William Morris—that felt too expected,” says Anne. “I wanted it to feel a little more fresh than a vintage print, but I definitely couldn’t go jungle-y. And I think that this wallpaper nailed it.”
the homeowners wanted to keep their oak pedestal table, so anne paired it with 23
Above: The homeowners wanted to keep their oak pedestal table, so Anne paired it with mid-century teak dining chairs and reupholstered the seats in charcoal bouclé. A copper pendant hangs above.
since the house has small proportions, anne made the hallway into a moment with 24
Above: Since the house has small proportions, Anne made the hallway into a moment with pale green walls, dark teal trim, a vintage runner, and sisal carpet on the stairs.
the bathroom has a new dark wood vanity, a recessed medicine cabinet, and gloss 25
Above: The bathroom has a new dark wood vanity, a recessed medicine cabinet, and glossy sage tile from Fireclay with Carrara marble piping. “It was really important to me that this bathroom looked really pretty when the door was open, because when you’re sitting at the dining room table, you can literally stare straight in,” Anne says.
in a kid&#8\2\17;s room, anne kept the original wood door and added subtly 26
Above: In a kid’s room, Anne kept the original wood door and added subtly geometric wallpaper and an upholstered gray bed from Blu Dot.
at the top of the stairs, anne created an immersive office with a jacobean insp 27
Above: At the top of the stairs, Anne created an immersive office with a Jacobean-inspired floral wallpaper (it’s the Artemis Wallpaper from House of Hackney). “As you turn the corner, you have this flower bomb,” she says. “I wanted this to feel like you had entered a different zone. And I thought we could be a little more playful with it and wallpaper the ceiling as well.”
anne designed the built in desk to fit into the compact space. the rolling chai 28
Above: Anne designed the built-in desk to fit into the compact space. The rolling chair is a family heirloom.

Before

&#8\2\20;the porch was basically used as a landing zone for all sorts of th 29
Above: “The porch was basically used as a landing zone for all sorts of things,” says Anne. “It was a hodgepodge, and the homeowners had never really put furniture out there at all, but they knew they wanted to really use that room.”
all the furniture was too small for the living room, so no one ever wanted to s 30
Above: All the furniture was too small for the living room, so no one ever wanted to sit there.
the old bathroom was devoid of personality, but the original hexagonal tile and 31
Above: The old bathroom was devoid of personality, but the original hexagonal tile and cast iron tub were worth saving.

More satisfying before-and-afters:

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Frequently asked questions

What is the source of the article?

The source of the article is Remodelista.com.

What type of house is featured in the article?

The article features a 1920s Minneapolis Craftsman house.

What changes were made to the house during the makeover?

The house underwent a moody makeover with changes to the interior design, paint colors, and furniture.

What style was chosen for the interior design of the house?

The interior design of the house was designed in a moody style, incorporating darker tones and rich textures.

What is the objective of the makeover?

The objective of the makeover was to transform the house into a moody and welcoming space with a unique aesthetic.

Where can I find more before and after photos of the house?

You can find more before and after photos of the house on the Remodelista.com website.

Who is the designer or firm responsible for the makeover?

The designer or firm responsible for the makeover is not specified in the article.

Are there any specific details or features highlighted in the article?

Yes, the article highlights specific details like the new fireplace, the kitchen update, and the painted wood paneling.

Can I get information about the article author?

The article author's information is not provided in the article.

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