Before and After: A Big Minnesota Home with the Hygge of a Small Swedish Space

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After a rather nomadic period of their lives, a high-powered couple was ready to put down roots in North Oaks, Minnesota. They wanted a large, cozy space to raise their young son and entertain their nearby family, so they purchased a 10,000-square-foot, well-built 1990s home and hired Julia Miller of Yond Interiors to freshen it up.

“Everything was done nicely,” explains Julia. “It just wasn’t up to date anymore and didn’t really reflect the clients’ style. So they brought us in to quiet down some of the existing elements and brighten a lot of the dark colors. They wanted to make it super inviting for people.”

Since the couple loved the bones of the house, from the functional layout to the view of the backyard, Julia focused on simplifying and lightening the finishes. She peeled back textured wallpaper and ripped out a huge UFO-like fixture in the dining room. Then she painted nearly all the walls white with a warm gray trim and added a thin layer of plaster to the stone columns for a calmer look.

When it came to furnishings, Julia channeled a Nordic hygge aesthetic as a nod to the clients’ time spent in Scandinavia, pairing blonde woods with clean lines, earth tones, and woven textiles. Most importantly, every item is durable enough to withstand kids and parties. “What they liked about living in Sweden was how approachable homes felt,” says Julia. “So while they bought a very big home, their goal was to make it comfortable and simple and not have it be this ostentatious statement.”

Let’s take a tour.

After

for such a grand house, the entryway is rather compact. julia maximized the tig 17 — Above: For such a grand house, the entryway is rather compact. Julia maximized the tight area by designing a custom white oak console that nestles snuggly between two stone columns. “This is where they receive packages and mail, so they wanted some closed storage but also some open storage for shoes,” she shares. “It felt like the perfect fit.”

julia was intentional with her seating selections for the living room, where tw 18 — Above: Julia was intentional with her seating selections for the living room, where two fog-hued Amber Interiors sofas face each other. “The clients were pretty clear that they wanted casual, so linen is perfect because it shows a little bit of life, has a great texture, and is really soft,” Julia says. “Since this serves as a TV area, we wanted the arm to be high enough that you could rest your back on it comfortably but also not so tall that it would block the view when you walked in.”

the camel leather lawson fenning chairs were chosen for their comfort, their ab 19 — Above: The camel leather Lawson-Fenning chairs were chosen for their comfort, their ability to gracefully patina over time, and their 360-degree charm. “This room is awkwardly large, so you actually can walk around the entire furniture arrangement,” describes Julia. “There are really not walls keeping it in, so it was important to us that the backs of the furniture were almost as beautiful as the fronts. You see the back of the chairs from the kitchen.”

the couple was overwhelmed by the original giant stone fireplace, so julia comp 20 — Above: The couple was overwhelmed by the original giant stone fireplace, so Julia completely demolished it in favor of a minimalist soapstone frame and a limewash wall flanked by custom white oak built-ins.

julia curated a reading nook with a modern side table, a gubi grasshopper floor 21 — Above: Julia curated a reading nook with a modern side table, a Gubi Grasshopper Floor Lamp, and a statement two-toned contemporary chair. “We did a contrast wool cushion and then this brighter blue velvet on the base of it, so that gave it a little bit of interest, made it a little bit of a destination,” she says.

the veined marble coffee table is styled with interior design books, an incense 22 — Above: The veined marble coffee table is styled with interior design books, an incense tray, candlestick holders, and tapers. “A house doesn’t feel like a home until it’s styled,” Julia says. “Luckily, these clients let us finish every space. We allow clients to shop their houses. We invest on the front end in accessories that we find over time—most of them are vintage pieces, some of them are new. We really want clients to see the full vision. Then they get to keep what they want to keep, and we take back what they don’t.”

in the breakfast corner, six nickey kehoe swiss back chairs in artichoke by ben 23 — Above: In the breakfast corner, six Nickey Kehoe Swiss Back chairs in Artichoke by Benjamin Moore are pulled up to a custom round table by local artisan Rovan. A gauzy banana fiber pendant from Pinch hangs above. “It gives off this really glowy, soft, sculptural effect,” says Julia. “It’s really beautiful.”

rovan is also responsible for the long white oak table in the formal dining roo 24 — Above: Rovan is also responsible for the long white oak table in the formal dining room, where oiled walnut &Tradition chairs, a faded vintage rug, and floor-to-ceiling olive green linen curtains offer a moody elegance.

julia also tackled a lower level bedroom, where the aging mother of one of the 25 — Above: Julia also tackled a lower-level bedroom, where the aging mother of one of the clients often stays overnight. She equipped it with a custom rounded linen bed, a muted floral Nickey Kehoe quilt, shaded Triple Seven Home sconces, and vintage oil landscape paintings. “They wanted to just make the space really quiet, so not a lot of color or patterns or anything that would be overstimulating,” she shares.

original wall paneling already lent statelyness to the office, so julia played 26 — Above: Original wall paneling already lent statelyness to the office, so Julia played off that vibe with a caramel velvet barrel chair and a low-pile cream-colored Armadillo rug.

Before

the drab former dining room was complete with the ceiling monstrosity that juli 27 — Above: The drab former dining room was complete with the ceiling monstrosity that Julia eliminated. “This house was really more of a study in pulling back and toning down,” she explains.

julia also tore out the old squat built ins in favor of taller storage and swap 28 — Above: Julia also tore out the old squat built-ins in favor of taller storage and swapped the chunky stone fireplace for a more contemporary version. “The massive stone fireplace just felt really, really out of place once we started brushing things up,” she says. “So we actually demoed that, but kept the gas insert.”

the dark shades of brown may have deterred some prospective buyers, but the cur 29 — Above: The dark shades of brown may have deterred some prospective buyers, but the current homeowners saw through the muddy color palette and knew the place had potential.

For more Midwest house tours, might we suggest:

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Frequently asked questions

What was the main goal of the Minnesota renovation done by Yond Interiors?

The main goal of the renovation was to update the home's interior to make it more functional, efficient, and modern.

What were some of the design considerations made by Yond Interiors?

Yond Interiors made sure to incorporate the client's personal style and preferences, as well as focus on maximizing natural light, optimizing storage space, and creating a seamless flow between rooms.

What changes were made to the kitchen during the renovation?

The kitchen was completely transformed, with new cabinetry, appliances, countertops, and lighting. An island was also added for increased functionality.

What updates were made to the master bathroom?

The master bathroom was updated with new tile, fixtures, and a larger shower. The vanity was also redesigned to better suit the client's needs.

Did Yond Interiors update any of the home's existing features?

Yes, Yond Interiors updated the existing fireplace with new tile and a custom mantel. They also incorporated the existing hardwood floors into the design.

What was the timeline for the renovation?

The renovation took approximately four months to complete, from design to installation.

What was the budget for the renovation?

The budget for the renovation was not disclosed.

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Frequently asked questions

What was the main goal of the Minnesota renovation done by Yond Interiors?

What were some of the design considerations made by Yond Interiors?

What changes were made to the kitchen during the renovation?

What updates were made to the master bathroom?

Did Yond Interiors update any of the home's existing features?

What was the timeline for the renovation?

What was the budget for the renovation?

Product summary

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