Minnesota

This family has updated paint colors and sourced antique and vintage items to make their older house a home.

Kate transformed an absolutely ancient garage at her dad’s house into a light and bright 520-square-foot, one-bedroom, full-time home.

Carrie Kline has transformed this space one project at a time.

This apartment is packed with historic details — including the original ice box.

Alexandra Bennett, who was previously the owner of the Minneapolis-based contemporary quilt studio, Louise Gray, hired Victoria Sass, founder of the interiors firm Prospect Refuge Studio, to update their single-family house in Minneapolis.

Stephanie Lalley, who is the Design Director at Lucy Interior Design, turned this unloved, nearly tear-down cabin into a stunning and bright retreat for her family of four.

Thanks to a lot of creams, natural stone, natural wood, indoor plants, and organized spaces, Michele Vig's tidy home has an overall feel of being calm, cozy, and peaceful.

This house had sturdy bones, unique character, a fun neighborhood, and great potential, and Amina beautifully transformed the home through a six-month renovation.

Rachele's living room doesn't get a lot of natural light, but she embraced the darkness and chose a dark blue to make it even cozier.

Model, actor, and musician Athereal Rose lives in this tiny 2014 Dodge Ram Promaster high-roof camper van with her cat Mystic.

If you're in the market for DIY colorful shape painting inspiration, this house is for you!

Name: Tasha (Granny Tash) and Travis Schultz, Cheeto (Fur child) Location: Falcon Heights, Minnesota Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years Formerly known as “that house” on the block, the one looming there behind an overgrown lawn. Now, Tasha and Travis welcome us into their 1942 home in Falcon Heights, full of vintage charm and its reworked quirks.

Name: Pelin Binnet, Tim Kimball and their three cats Jiggy, Catherine Deneuve, and Henry Kittinger Location: Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Pelin (creator of the design, retail and beauty blog The Dapper Post) and Tim have a history with the building they currently live in. After arriving from Turkey, it was in this building that Pelin first lived.

Name: Leah and Thom Adair Location: Powderhorn Park — Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: Own Leah and Thom inhabit the first floor of a duplex they own in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood of Minneapolis. Duplexes like theirs dot the streets in almost every neighborhood of Minneapolis, but from the moment you step into the entryway of Leah and Thom’s home, it quickly becomes apparent that this one is a little bit different.

Name: Sarah Schwie Location: South Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Though Sarah has lived in her south Minneapolis rental for two years, she’s taken her time to fill the space. Just the perfect size for her and her cat — and filled with lots of natural light — it has plenty of whimsical vintage features to keep you peering around the corners the entire time you’re there.

Name: Jennifer Biswas, husband, son (2 years), daughter (8 months), dog Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 3,600 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned When my now-husband, Rishi, and I got engaged we started looking for a home to purchase. Since he’s a California kid living in Minnesota, he was dead set on getting a new construction home so we didn’t have to deal with frozen pipes and all the joys of older homes.

Name: Jennifer Jorgensen and two pups Location: Kingfield — Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: I purchased it in 2012, so 7-ish years… I had no idea until I just looked up when I bought it—that’s a long time! Jennifer is one half of the Minneapolis-based, custom hand-painted and printed wallpaper and furnishings company, She She. (Kate Worum is the other half of She She, and we toured her home, too!

Name: Kate Worum Location: East Isles — Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, renting Not all Minneapolis brownstones are created equal. The moment you step into Kate‘s spacious apartment, you forget where you are. Kate, one half of the Minneapolis-based custom hand-painted and printed wallpaper and furnishings company She She, lucked out when she nabbed this spacious, bright, and beautiful upper floor apartment.

Name: Victoria Kirchhoff Location: Downtown St. Paul, Minnesota Size: 780 square feet Years lived in: Rent, 8 months Young professional, Victoria Kirchhoff, carves out her own piece of Texas in a downtown Saint Paul apartment. Although an unlikely spot for a Southern girl, her cozy rustic design successfully brings her roots to the Midwest.

Name: Julie Carroll and Frances, the cat Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: approximately 700 square feet Years lived in: 9 months While visiting my sister in Minneapolis, I recalled a certain House Call that begged for a follow-up. After making arrangements with Julie, I was thrilled to see inside a preserved Art Deco-era building. Minneapolis is rich in its beautifully maintained and functioning historical architecture, and Julie’s place is no exception!

Name: Thomas Wegner Location: Longfellow — Minneapolis, MN Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 20 months; Owned Longfellow, one of south Minneapolis’ tight-knit neighborhoods, is full of row after row of early 1900s gems. The exteriors of these houses—which are found throughout the Twin Cities—share many similarities, so walking into a unique interior like Thomas’ is a special treat.

Name: Brooke Voss and Jerrid Voss and their two dogs Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; Owned Five years ago, Brooke and her husband downsized and moved themselves from the suburbs to Minneapolis’ booming warehouse district, the North Loop. Those five years have brought changes and improvements to the surrounding area, while Brooke has used her expertise as an interior designer to carefully design an intriguing loft space.

Name: Noah Hollander Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 958 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned When a friend suggested I check out Noah’s space, all I had to hear was “historic Cream of Wheat factory,” “huge vinyl collection on display,” and “striped wall” and I was sold! Noah’s apartment in an industrial area of northeast Minneapolis certainly didn’t disappoint.

Name: Alison and Jeff Allen (and sons Finn & Gus) Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 2,200 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Owned I stumbled upon Alison’s home via Instagram and knew right away that I found a gem. A bold teal living room is always a good sign! As I got to know Alison through her blog (Deuce Cities Henhouse), which features her home improvement projects, my excitement grew to see it in person.

Name: Amy Gustafson, Stephanie Ingold and their dogs, Lenny and Marvel Location: Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 4 years owned for Amy; 2 years rented for Stephanie Amy and Steph have been friends for over a decade.

Name: Nic and Andrew Location: North Loop — Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented In a recent addition to the North Loop of Minneapolis, you’ll find uniquely shaped apartments completed with different finishes and materials. On the level that boasts concrete floors, in a unit with a balcony overlooking the street, you’ll find Nic, Andrew, their dog, and not much else!

Name: Jaimee and David Morse, their twin sons, and Lana the dog Location: Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented When Jaimee and David moved to the Midwest from the East Coast, they didn’t expect to come to Minneapolis—and they certainly didn’t expect to stay. They have since fallen in love with the city, their neighborhood, and their home.

Name: Ryan (a landscape designer) and Joanna Herm, and dog, Dori Location: Minnetonka, Minnesota Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned Immediately after purchasing your first home it is temping to jump feet first into a project or two. It is fairly common for a new homeowner to walk in the door for the first time and rip up all of the old dingy carpet to expose the natural wood underneath. But not Ryan and Joanna.

Name: Matthew Hodgman and his dog, Brinkley Location: Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented Have you ever walked into a rummage sale, antique shop, or flea market and spent hours admiring every little piece that evokes a bit of nostalgia? Have you ever wondered what it might be like to live inside an antique shop? Wonder no longer—Matt’s historic loft is your answer.

Name: Katherine Harris Location: Highland Park; St. Paul, Minnesota Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: 9 months rented As a professional photographer, Katie has a keen eye for design, finding inspiration in vintage kitchens and old farmhouses. Most of all, Katie leans heavily on the philosophy that decor need not be expensive. To Katie, meaningfulness trumps all else, with the majority of her furniture being gifts, hand-me-downs, and local purchases.

Name: Tavia Tindall Location: North Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1,496 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1 year Tavia is one of the lucky few who have been blessed by a full and complete home after only a year of home ownership and barely spending a thing. Friends and family, thrift stores, and garage sales have allowed her to fill her space with unique, original, and rare decor from numerous eras and styles.

Name: Ashley Mary Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year It’s no surprise that abstract artist Ashley Mary‘s home is a blend of textures, styles and materials. Her art features soft color palettes melding with gentle shapes with the occasional pop of black drama…just like her Minneapolis rental apartment.

Name: Kathy Marquardt Location: Dayton’s Bluff — St. Paul, Minnesota Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 11 Years Owned It doesn’t take long after stepping into Kathy’s St. Paul home to come to the conclusion that she must be an artist. Her eclectic and bright mix of furniture and decor speaks of her personality and demeanor, with personal and one-of-a-kind treasures filling every room.

Name: Athena Pelton Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned After moving her family from an older home (often in need of repairs and attention as so many are) into their brand new digs, Athena began to decorate. Soon after the move, however, Athena and her husband realized that they didn’t exactly account for furniture and decor in the budget for building their new home.

Name: Colie Location: North Loop, Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 781 square feet Years lived in: Renting 8 months Colie and her husband recently made the move from Fargo, North Dakota to Minneapolis. On a recommendation from a friend, they found their new home in the North Loop of Minneapolis, an area that has seen a major housing boom over the past few years. While they looked into old rehabbed warehouse living, they eventually settled on this new one bedroom in a building full of neat amenities.

Furnishing a brand new home can be a challenge when you’ve recently exhausted your budget on building it. As many of us do, Athena has an IKEA nearby that helped her get off on the right foot. If you’re looking for some ideas to maximize affordable IKEA style and add DIY features while keeping your space looking unique and inviting, check out Athena’s resource lists!

Name: Francesca Sifferlin Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 380 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Francesca’s tiny natural-light-filled Minneapolis studio is the perfect size for her first place away from home. Just big enough to fit everything she needs, yet small enough to not gather too many odds and ends (or dust bunnies). With limited space, Francesca has included only the things that bring the most inspiration and fond memories to her tiny apartment near a lake.

Colie and her husband have only lived in their 781 square foot North Loop Minneapolis apartment for a few months, but it doesn’t show. As the daughter of an interior decorator, Colie has great design instincts and an eye for a deal. Take a page from Colie’s book and shop her style for a modern eclectic look of your own!

Name: Emily Eaton Location: South Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, renting Emily’s south Minneapolis space may be teeny, but it packs a one-of-a-kind punch, the likes of which you may have never seen. All small space dwellers are faced with the reality of their situation — some conquer and others fail.

Name: Sarah Hughes and her two children Location: Lowry Hill Neighborhood — Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, renting Sarah and her kids occupy a spacious first floor apartment in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis — a perfect location within walking distance of coffee shops, delicious ice cream, an art museum and a handful of lakes and trails.

Name: Terra Zosel Location: Kenwood Neighborhood, Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 months The story of Terra’s apartment is multi-fold. Her home occupies the attic of her grandparents’ house where she lives as caretaker to her grandmother. Her grandparents purchased the home in the 1960s from a couple who relocated from Minneapolis to the significantly warmer state of Florida.

Name: Daci, Yoni, Dalia and Ike Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned When Daci and her husband moved across the country to Minnesota, they found themselves in a small house in a neighborhood of other small houses in south Minneapolis. As their family has grown, they’ve managed to keep their 900-square-foot home both functional and fun, even with the usual challenges that accompany small spaces. Daci is a rearranger.

Name: Nora McInerny, her husband, four kids, and dog Stacy Location: Golden Valley, Minnesota Size: 3,500 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned There’s no lack of information on the internet about writer, speaker, wife, and mom Nora McInerny‘s life and work. The obituary she and her first husband Aaron wrote before he died went viral, and she’s since written a book, “It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too),” as well as beautiful articles.

Name: Adam and Jessica Location: Lynhurst, Minneapolis Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 10 years, owned Nestled along a popular creek that snakes its way through Minneapolis is a two-story stucco house that resembles many of the houses in this stucco-rich city. Once inside, however, you’re greeted with a colorful array of art, furniture and knick-knacks that just feels, well, cool. Jessica, Adam, their daughter and cat live and play here.

Project by: Victoria Sass and Sarah Swanson Location: Kingfield — Minneapolis, Minnesota This stunning Kingfield neighborhood home will be celebrating its 100th birthday this year. It wowed us with unique arts and crafts details like stained glass, wood ceiling beams, and a bronze banister statue. The homeowners, Ben and Emily (they’ll let you call them Bemily, because they are adorable like that!) impressed us with their great taste and welcoming vibes.

Name: Alexander & Carla Zidarevich and their dogs, Sadie and Rocco Location: Willard-Homewood; North Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1600 square feet Years lived in: 6.5 years; Owned After moving to Minneapolis from Michigan, Alex and Carla lived downtown in a modern space that they quickly outgrew. The couple discussed their home aspirations and agreed their ideal would be something historic with tons of personality. Not long after, they found it: a 1924 Dutch Colonial in need of some love.