Renovating our 1910 Victorian farmhouse has never been about chasing trends, it’s always been about alignment. About honoring home in the truest Minnesota sense of the word: a place rooted in care, resilience and showing up for the life right in front of you. Especially here, where home isn’t just where you live, it’s how you gather, how you weather seasons (literal and otherwise) and how you create warmth for the people you love.

This most recent three-room renovation was rooted in one clear goal: to re-design and re-style our parlor, back living room and dining room so each space reflects where we are in our life right now – how we gather, entertain, rest and live day to day.

(Me (left) – with Leah (right), Owner and Principal Designer of 13th Avenue Interiors)

Working with 13th Avenue Interiors, we approached each room with respect for the home’s history while allowing ourselves permission to evolve. The guiding principle throughout the project was simple but powerful: everything should feel collected, intentional and as if it had always belonged.

The Parlor Room: A Refined Entertaining Space With Quiet Drama

The parlor room sits right at the heart of our 1910 farmhouse – it’s the middle room and the one guests naturally gravitate toward when they walk in. While the furniture itself was relatively new and still something we loved, the room no longer reflected our style or how we wanted it to feel.

Rather than replacing everything, we focused on a full re-style.

We kept the existing furniture but completely transformed the room through layered details: new pillows, cozy blankets, updated coffee table styling, bar accessories and thoughtful mantel decor. These smaller elements made a huge impact, proving that sometimes it’s not about more furniture but better styling.

Architecturally, we added a vintage ceiling medallion and scraped the ceilings for a cleaner, more polished look. We also removed the existing wallpaper and replaced it with a neutral paint color, allowing the furniture, art and accessories to bring in the mood and depth. This shift was intentional: instead of pattern on the walls, we let texture, wood tones and rich accents do the talking.

One of my favorite upgrades is the new fireplace surround. It’s one of those changes people don’t immediately notice which is exactly the point. It looks like it has always been there, seamlessly woven into the story of the house. To me, that’s the mark of great design!

The result is a space that feels warm, elevated and perfect for entertaining – quietly dramatic without trying too hard.

The Back Living Room: Bold, Cozy and a Nod to Ralph Lauren

This room started with a vision. I had my eye on a very specific velvet sectional from Interior Define and everything flowed from there. Once that anchor piece was in place, 13th Avenue Interiors helped us stretch – pushing us outside our comfort zone in the best way.

We told her one thing: We want big, bold design for this room.

We leaned into the character of the home by keeping the existing plaid wallpaper (which thankfully is very on trend right now). It adds so much charm and feels perfectly suited to an old 1910 farmhouse like ours.

One of the biggest layout challenges was establishing a new location for the TV. The solution ended up being one of my favorite features in the entire renovation: an old-world inspired gallery wall paired with a Frame TV. It blends seamlessly into the space and feels intentional rather than intrusive.

We also updated all the pillows, added a skinnier antique console table for additional blanket storage, refreshed the decor and scraped the ceilings here as well to keep everything feeling clean and cohesive.

Then came the boldest move of all: color drenching the entire room in a deep, dark olive green. It completely transformed the space. The room now feels cozy, moody and layered, very much a nod to Ralph Lauren style: classic, masculine, timeless and rich with texture.

An architectural piece in the room that needed some love was the original stain glass window. We had it re-done to fix some big cracks and restore it to its natural beauty. It looks like it has always belonged now against the dark green paint color. And two new scones framing the window really added in extra character, charm while bringing more light into the space.

This space feels like a true retreat – one that invites you to sink in, stay awhile and live fully. Spoiler alert, this is my favorite room of the 3-room reno!

The Dining Room: A Blank Slate Turned Collected and Whimsical

The dining room was, without question, the most challenging and the most rewarding room of the renovation.

We started with a near blank slate. We knew we wanted to remove the existing red wallpaper, the existing table and chairs and the carpet. But once everything was stripped back, the big question became: How do we add character back in without forcing it?

This room was a true partnership. We went back and forth on many details and I truly believe that collaborative process is what made the final result so special.

The addition of chair rail molding around the room was the real game-changer. It instantly brought architectural interest and old-world charm – something the room desperately needed. We also added a ceiling medallion and a gorgeous vintage-inspired chandelier that feels perfectly scaled for the space.

From there, the layers came together:

• A new dining table and chairs
• Thoughtful tabletop decor
• A family photo gallery wall
• A tall Victorian plant stand
• Ivory linen curtains that soften the space

But the heart of the room is the mural wallpaper. It has a textured, grass-cloth-like effect that adds depth without overwhelming the room. We wanted the space to feel like you’re dining in the middle of a forest – whimsical yet classic. I personally love willow trees and the wallpaper captures that feeling beautifully.

This room surprised me the most. It feels magical, grounded and full of story. This room seems to be the fan favorite of the 3-room reno project.

A Home That Feels Collected, Not Renovated

Across all three rooms, our shared goal remained the same: to re-style our 1910 Victorian farmhouse in a way that feels layered, lived-in and timeless – never shiny or overdone. We wanted each space to reflect not just our personal style but who we are becoming in this season of life.

Thanks to 13th Avenue Interiors, each room now tells a style story – one that honors the past while embracing the present. And perhaps the greatest compliment of all? Everything looks like it has always been here.

Be sure to check out the before and afters along with full walk throughs of each space coming soon over on my Instagram (@imnatalieellis).

-Natalie, xo

Photo Credit: Chelsie Lopez – White Label Visuals – (thank you for capturing the spaces so beautifully!)

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