{"id":2265,"date":"2025-11-24T09:14:57","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T14:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/my-1920s-mansion-underwent-a-hideous-modern-makeover-now-im-restoring-it-to-its-original-glory\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:29:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T14:29:16","slug":"my-1920s-mansion-underwent-a-hideous-modern-makeover-now-im-restoring-it-to-its-original-glory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/my-1920s-mansion-underwent-a-hideous-modern-makeover-now-im-restoring-it-to-its-original-glory\/","title":{"rendered":"My 1920s Mansion Underwent: 7 Proven Restoring My 1920s Mansion to Its Original Glory: A Journey of Love and"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/my-1920s-mansion-underwent-a-hideous-modern-makeover-now-im-restoring-it-to-its-original-glory\/#From_Modern_to_Vintage_Nikis_Renovation_Journey\" >From Modern to Vintage: Niki&#039;s Renovation Journey<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/my-1920s-mansion-underwent-a-hideous-modern-makeover-now-im-restoring-it-to-its-original-glory\/#Miami_market_relevance\" >Miami market relevance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/my-1920s-mansion-underwent-a-hideous-modern-makeover-now-im-restoring-it-to-its-original-glory\/#FAQ_My_1920s_Mansion_Underwent\" >FAQ: My 1920s Mansion Underwent<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/my-1920s-mansion-underwent-a-hideous-modern-makeover-now-im-restoring-it-to-its-original-glory\/#What_should_be_planned_first\" >What should be planned first?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_Modern_to_Vintage_Nikis_Renovation_Journey\"><\/span>From Modern to Vintage: Niki&#039;s Renovation Journey<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Niki Marie&#8217;s 102-year-old modernized home was a far cry from the charming 1920s mansion she fell in love with at first sight. But with determination and a passion for restoration, she transformed it into a unique blend of vintage and modern elements.<\/p>\n<p><strong>My 1920s Mansion Underwent<\/strong> helps improve planning, consistency, and publishing quality when teams follow a repeatable workflow.<\/p>\n<p>A woman who purchased a 102-year-old modernized home and restored its 1920s vintage charm has lifted the lid on the transformation process.<\/p>\n<p>Michigan native <strong>Niki Marie<\/strong> and her husband, <strong>Brad<\/strong>, weren&#8217;t on the hunt to find a new home, however, when they toured a four-bedroom, three-bathroom property in a &#8220;historic neighborhood&#8221; of Detroit, they were sold. But, they wanted to make some major changes.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to Realtor.com<strong>\u00ae<\/strong>, Niki\u2014who recently went viral on TikTok after revealing the stunning changes she has made in her home\u2014revealed that the minute she saw the property, she knew they had to have it, despite the modern makeover it had been given. <\/p>\n<p>Looking past the cold marble accents and stark white walls, Niki saw the incredible potential in the dwelling\u2014and felt a strong desire to return it to its original glory. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As soon as we pulled up, almost instantly, I was like, &#8216;This is my house.&#8217; I know that sounds so dumb, but  everyone kind of tells you, &#8216;You just kind of know,&#8217; and that&#8217;s how it was with this house,&#8221; she said. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A woman who purchased a 102-year-old modernized home and restored its 1920s vintage charm has lifted the lid on the transformation process.  <span class=\"image-credit\">(nikimariephoto\/Instagram)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/00d7380e3c42561582486ebe85780fc3w-c2653136519srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Interior of A modernized 1920s mansion being restored to its original glory\" class=\"wp-image-1093592\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Niki Marie and her husband, Brad, weren&#8217;t on the hunt to find a home, however, when they toured a four-bedroom property (seen before the renovations) in a &#8220;historic neighborhood&#8221; of Detroit, they were sold. But, they wanted to make major changes.  <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/98f74e0e86cd65781b28c6d4129f0315w-c1664180907srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"A modernized 1920s mansion being restored to its original glory\" class=\"wp-image-1093613\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">While speaking to Realtor.com, Niki revealed that the minute she saw her now home, she knew they had to have it, but also noticed that she wanted to restore the property (seen after renovations) to its original charm. <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/e48cddb743f64aa312774e1d5791e0d3w-c2644082426srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Modernized 1920s home\" class=\"wp-image-1094222\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Niki has been documenting the restoration process on her social media accounts.  <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/32a4c38fc75831d060bd547cc341e9dbw-c872739716srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Modernized 1920s home\" class=\"wp-image-1094223\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">She carefully restored the vintage feel in the home, without sacrificing modern comforts. <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Though they say you should never judge a book by its cover, Niki confessed that she fell in love with the home before ever setting foot inside the front door, calling attention to the picturesque brick facade and vintage feel.<\/p>\n<p>When she did make it inside, however, she was stunned by what she found. Instead of a vintage paradise, the home had been turned into an ultramodern shell, complete with white-washed aesthetic and very minimalist feel. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Sometimes I look back at those photos and I&#8217;m just like, &#8216;What did I see?&#8217; I think my&nbsp;husband&nbsp;and I both thought it just felt right. Sometimes you just kind of have to go with your gut on things, and trust the process,&#8221; she added. <\/p>\n<p>Before the transformation, the home boasted marble flooring, a marble mantled fireplace, and a muted color theme.<\/p>\n<p>Since the couple began working on the home, they have added several much more eye-catching details including a checkerboard floor, vintage fireplace, colorful walls, and a charming library.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking about her decision to go from modern to vintage, she explained, &#8220;I grew up in a classic Colonial home, and my mom has a really great eye for decorating. None of us do this professionally but we have an eye for it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Growing up with her and my dad, they always really loved homes that had a lot of that charm and that character, so that&#8217;s something I always really loved too because it just felt like home to me, because that&#8217;s what I grew up in. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/7969b0dd686b7714c2f78185e9352952w-c1341235100srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Library in A modernized 1920s mansion being restored to its original glory\" class=\"wp-image-1093606\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;As soon as we pulled up, almost instantly, I was like, &#8216;This is my house.&#8217; I know that sounds so dumb, but  everyone kind of tells you, &#8216;You just kind of know,&#8217; and that&#8217;s how it was with this house,&#8221; she said.  (seen after) <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/f9012eacb311b33b9c029e3218dd574cw-c3366727401srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Wallpaper in A modernized 1920s mansion being restored to its original glory\" class=\"wp-image-1093594\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">She noted that her love for the property came as soon as she spotted the exterior, noting that the inside was nothing like what she wanted her future pad to look like. (seen after) <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/f71202189e1462cd9937ec33aa464319w-c2520232471srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Before kitchen in A modernized 1920s mansion being restored to its original glory\" class=\"wp-image-1093604\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Before her transformation, the home boasted marble flooring, a marble mantled fireplace, and a muted color theme. <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/473adccb6af9a1f796cce612cd78c4f5w-c581040076srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Fireplace in a modernized 1920s mansion being restored to its original glory\" class=\"wp-image-1093612\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">After she revamped the property, it featured a checkerboard floor, vintage fireplace, colorful walls, and a charming library. <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;And my\u00a0husband\u00a0and I were actually destination wedding photographers, so there is artistry in that,&#8221; she explained.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Even with my own photo work, it&#8217;s very classic, and it&#8217;s very timeless, and it&#8217;s very true to who we are as artists, so there&#8217;s a lot of correlation of what my work is for my clients, my personal style, and what I like to create for my own home.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The photographer noted that she knew she wanted to change several things about her home &#8220;within the first five minutes&#8221; of stepping foot into the abode.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think within the first five minutes of walking in the house with the staircase, I turned to my&nbsp;husband, and my parents, and I was like, &#8216;I need a black and white checkered floor.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Thankfully, my\u00a0husband\u00a0and my dad are really great and handy and, I&#8217;m kind of the chief creative officer, and then they&#8217;re the ones who are good with their hands and everything, and a few other family friends that have helped us to help implement that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And same with the fireplace, too, which was a big transformation, I instantly thought we needed to add a bit of character,&#8221; Niki said. <\/p>\n<p>The photographer noted that she and her family went &#8220;room by room&#8221; and restored everything, with the transformation taking a total of two years. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/b30b0d02cb87e5dbdad6828616149325w-c1248867860srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"A modernized 1920s mansion being restored to its original glory\" class=\"wp-image-1093590\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">She noted that she &#8220;feels lucky&#8221; because they didn&#8217;t have to hire any outside help, saying that her husband, father, and other family members completed the construction. (seen during the construction process) <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/79678e7029e9b27ec7ab4ba4e204837aw-c2542532017srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Dining room in a modernized 1920s mansion being restored to its original glory\" class=\"wp-image-1093611\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Speaking about her decision to go from modern to vintage, she explained, &#8220;I grew up in a classic Colonial home, and my mom has a really great eye for decorating. None of us do this professionally but we have an eye for it. <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/af9008f493263cbeb2a4342611b76cd8w-c433473721srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Kitchen in A modernized 1920s mansion being restored to its original glory\" class=\"wp-image-1093602\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The photographer noted that she knew she wanted to change several things about her home &#8220;within the first five minutes&#8221; of stepping foot into the abode. (seen after) <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/1fad6cecc49e57d76ba460caa170dbd8w-c224779024srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs in a modernized 1920s mansion being restored to its original glory\" class=\"wp-image-1093605\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Niki noted that she &#8220;loves to host,&#8221; and is looking forward to having her family over for Christmas. (seen before) <span class=\"image-credit\">(Courtesy of Niki Marie)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>She noted that she &#8220;feels lucky&#8221; because they didn&#8217;t have to hire any outside help, saying that her husband, father, and other family members completed the construction.<\/p>\n<p>And, her family even helped them make the abode more colorful, with her aunt completing a hand-painted mural on the ceiling. <\/p>\n<p>Niki noted that she &#8220;loves to host,&#8221; and is looking forward to having her family over for Christmas.<\/p>\n<p>However, beyond her family members, the TikTok star&#8217;s renovations have been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people on social media, where she has been regularly documenting the changes made to the property. <\/p>\n<p>One particularly popular post on her TikTok account, which featured multiple before and after photos of different spaces in the house, earned more than 819,000 views and was flooded with comments from impressed fans. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You breathed life back into this home!!! Hate hate hate the sterile modern look,&#8221; one person wrote. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My soul was unsettled. Thank you for bringing her back to life,&#8221; another wrote. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Miami_market_relevance\"><\/span>Miami market relevance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If this topic impacts buyers or sellers, the most useful context is what is happening locally. Track current pricing, inventory, and days on market in Miami, and compare active listings by building or neighborhood before making decisions.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/brickell-miami-fl-real-estate\">Browse current Miami listings<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/brickellsold.com\/en\/tools\/book-call\">request a tailored report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Niki&#8217;s journey began when she fell in love with the home&#8217;s exterior, but was shocked by its modern interior. With her husband&#8217;s support, she embarked on a renovation project that combined vintage and modern elements.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ_My_1920s_Mansion_Underwent\"><\/span>FAQ: My 1920s Mansion Underwent<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_be_planned_first\"><\/span>What should be planned first?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Start with the goal, audience, and deliverables so the final content and media support the same outcome.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Journey of Love and: From Modern to Vintage: Niki&#039;s Renovation Journey Niki Marie&#8217;s 102-year-old modernized home was a far cry from the charming 1920s&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2266,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"7 Proven My 1920s Mansion Underwent Mistakes to Avoid","rank_math_description":"From Modern to Vintage: Niki&#039;s Renovation Journey Niki Marie's 102-year-old modernized home was a far cry from the charming 1920s mansion she fell in love","rank_math_focus_keyword":"My 1920s Mansion Underwent","rank_math_canonical_url":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/my-1920s-mansion-underwent-a-hideous-modern-makeover-now-im-restoring-it-to-its-original-glory\/","rank_math_robots":"index,follow","footnotes":""},"categories":[1719],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miami-real-estate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2265"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4010,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2265\/revisions\/4010"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}