Home Tour: Inside the Platwood Remodel

Friends, I’m so thrilled to be sharing this gorgeous full-home remodel with you today. Our client (let’s call him David) was ready for a fresh style upgrade to his primary residence in Minnetonka. With his two adult children out of the nest, he imagined spaces that would fit his new work-from-home, empty-nester lifestyle, along with supporting his variety of interests. 

From a soothing kitchen to the cozy, woodsy living room to the dramatic dining room, this home is the perfect blend of warm meets cool and cozy meets modern. But before I take you on the tour, let’s see how this home began

Before: Dated & Dark Yet Cozy

I’ll be honest, when I walked into David’s home for the first time, my first thought was “not bad.” I see a lot of homes built in the ‘60s-‘90s, and some of them require major reconfiguring. In this case, the layout of the home was actually quite functional and the wood elements, though too dark, did capture the sense of coziness David wanted from the space. It just needed a bit of contemporary tweaking for his sense of style and his lifestyle. 

We left the footprint alone, upgrading the fixtures and finishes in each space—which created a more than noticeable transformation! So sit back and join me as we walk from space to space, and prepare yourself for some swoonable moments…

A Light, Colorful Kitchen

Ahhh, so much better! We refinished the cabinets in teal blue to give this room a fresh feeling and the cheeriness it needed. Meanwhile, pops of white and grey in the countertop stone, pendants, and barstools create a lovely light and airy feel. We rounded out the palette with brass accents on the pendants and hardware, upping the overall warmth and polished feel.

We were able to maintain the cozy feel that David wanted to keep by adding in very intentional wooden elements, like the walnut range hood and open shelving. These are now stunning focal points in this kitchen and add a modernized feel that brings the whole space into this decade. 

Also, what a difference a backsplash can make, am I right? SO simple and gorgeous. Taking backsplash up to the ceiling is a design move not often considered when renovating, but it can have major impact. The texture here brings in a contemporary, updated feel, while also serving as the perfect backdrop for displaying items and servingware on the open shelves. Refined, practical, and nature-inspired—all things David loves.

Right beside the kitchen, we have this charming dinette. Can’t you just imagine sitting here on a wintery morning, cup of coffee in hand, soaking up the calm before beginning a busy workday? (I can!) We brightened this area with a new wall color and added another touch of warm gold with this timeless light fixture framed in brass. A piece of art from David’s collection tops off the space with a touch of energy to start the day right.

Bold Yet Comfortable Dining Room

It’s amazing what fresh paint can do for a space. In the dining room, we continued with the same palette of teal, gold, and neutrals, but played up color in a big way. Because David works from home and wanted to feel good about being able to take his meetings from any room in the house, we made sure this space felt polished and professional, yet brimming with bright, almost playful energy. Be it a Zoom meeting, dinner with the family, or a gathering of friends…this room can accommodate it all.

A Soothing, Nature-Inspired Living Room

Are you ready for all the cozy feels? Although we used David’s love of the outdoors (and his cabin up north) as inspiration for the whole home, this motif is especially evident in the living room. In addition to these stand-out beams, we chose a moody neutral for the walls and refinished the original cherry cabinets in this dark grey color. 

I’ll admit, painting the cherry cabinets in dark gray took a bit of convincing, but it enhanced the space by bringing in a high-contrast element. I particularly love how the blue undertones in the dark grey mantel draws out the warmth in the fireplace stone. Stunning!

Here’s another view of this beautiful gathering space, where we repeated natural wood elements in the shelving and coffee table and carried in similar tones of white and grey to help it feel cohesive with the kitchen. We also layered in soft texture with new furniture, window treatments, and carpet. Now, this living room lends itself to both a quiet independent space, as well as a functional gathering area for his children (who occasionally visit from out of state), his friends, and above all, himself.

Modernized Powder Room

Before & After

The original powder room boasted a slightly jarring shock of red paint that matched the original dining room but didn’t have a place in David’s future home. Fortunately, a few strategic upgrades gave the powder room a new lease on life. We swapped the dated crimson for a fun, patterned wallpaper and added a new mirror and more up-to-date lighting. The result is a simple yet soothing space that reflects the character of the home.

Relaxed and Conversational Den

In his spare time, David enjoys kicking back with his band, and they frequently get together at his home to practice. We wanted to keep the den casual and comfortable, yet still continue some of the moody elements from our overall design. The dark trim and windows create that touch of drama we were looking for, while the wall color, carpet, and mix of blue elements help make the space feel light, cozy, and relaxed.

The Final Word

And there it is! A major style overhaul with minimal renovations. The result is a home that feels more up to date and in line with our client’s lifestyle, interests, and passions. Though he hasn’t been in this new space long, he’s already told us that his favorite room is the kitchen, and his friends love it, too.

In fact, David said that several of his friends have even gone on to use some of our design elements in their own homes. As a designer, this is the ultimate compliment! (I know you can’t see, but I’m smiling realllllly BIG.)

I hope that this full-home remodel is equally inspiring to you, and if you are at the point where you’re ready to make a design change, I’m here for you. Reach out to me here, and let’s chat about your own big, beautiful goals.