My thoughts were to make the studios into extended stay for blue collar folk with a modern vibe w/some common area amenities (laundry, vending, & business center) .

One of the ladies died from health complications a couple weeks ago and so the other lady moved out already as she informed me she wouldn't be able to afford the rent by herself. 

In my opinion, panel blinds can add a touch of modernity and might be more attractive than traditional verticals.

@Kenneth Hynes LVP looks more modern and will help the apartment stand out.

We have one breaking ground in Newark, OH in Licking County, a submarket of Columbus and it's ultra modern no garage testing the market for affordable housing. 

My window had a film over it for privacy- bt I nejoyed it more than modern day bathrooms with the fans

I plan on gutting the rest of the bathrooms and making them more modern than what's currently there. 

Hello BiggerPockets Community,I'm embarking on an exciting journey to acquire and renovate a duplex from 1900, aiming to tackle the inherent challenges of outdated insulation and the lack of modern vapor and air barriers.

So a lady calls me asking for a refund, I refuse, and then she proceeds to tell me she represents "Lorrie Morgan."

About your concerns on rents: you'll be hard pressed to find an example in modern history where rents declined in a meaningful way, not even 2008.