Part One of the Jordan Whole-Home Renovation & Addition
This past fall, we completed an incredible whole-home renovation project (including all furniture, textiles, window treatments, and styling) in Jordan, Minnesota. No detail went unnoticed and we couldn’t love the final result more.
We’ll be sharing out different areas of the home as part of our project reveal series, so be sure to stay tuned for that. In the meantime, we’re kicking off our renovation reveal with the start of the home tour: the exterior and entryway. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in.
Exterior
As much as we all adore interior shots, the truth is that the exterior of a home matters just as much, and if we’re being honest, perhaps a bit more. First impressions of a property carry immense value, so striking the right visual balance on this gorgeous estate was essential.
Because this home had beautiful stone on the exterior, we opted to keep that feature as-is and use it as our base. We pulled out two shades of a richer stone grey to use as our primary colors, incorporating them into the all-new siding of the home. Additionally, the garage doors, front entry door, and porch columns were all replaced, and there was a landscaping revamp as well in order to spruce things up.
BEFORE
AFTER
Entryway
As you can see from the before photos below, despite having windows above and on either side of the front door, the entryway felt dark, unlit, and cramped. As the first thing guests see upon arriving inside, we knew this area had to feel bright and inviting. After all, an entryway can make or break the overall vibe of a home since it works to set the stage for what’s to come.
After opening up the wall that had previously closed off the adjoining room, it immediately opened up the space and brought far more light into the area. While we kept the original framed windows, the trim was updated to a bright white and the door received a full upgrade to a much more contemporary style. Because of the overwhelming amount of outdated wood trim in the house, we knew the banister needed a style change, too. We replaced the newel posts and handrail, staining them a dark brown tone to coordinate with the hardwood floor, and we replaced the ornamental iron balusters with a crisp white square baluster to achieve the clean look that our clients were after.
Our next challenge was the ceiling. We needed to ensure that the space felt open, yet defined. So, we created an added point of interest above the door. With a dark grass cloth wallpaper on the ceiling and millwork accent, it draws the eye upward and anchors the space. With the addition of a chic light fixture above, it keeps the focus on the door and windows while still allowing the space to feel cohesive and part of a larger picture. Additionally, we opted for a large-scale multi-light fixture above the steps to the lower level to replace the too-small recessed light from the original home. With the soft glow of light via an arrangement of clear bulbs, the path to the lower level feels purposeful, and the fixture balances out the now visually open dining room opposite it.
BEFORE
AFTER
The impact both the exterior and entryway had on the initial feeling of the home was twofold: it helped the home feel more connected and brought it into a much more contemporary sphere of design. As we venture into the other areas of this whole-home renovation, we’ve got a feeling that same sense of style and change will blow you away. Stay tuned – there’s more to come.
