Reader OMG! – My Brother’s City Condo


I’m back with another Reader OMG! post! You guys gave me such great feedback on the first post in this series (my mom’s gorgeous condo) and I’m excited to showcase even more spaces to you every month.

What is Reader OMG!?Reader OMG blog series

Reader OMG! is a series showcasing home tours from my favorite people…The DIY Playbook readers! Every month or so, I’ll highlight the home of someone with some serious design style. I’m hopeful that these swoon-worthy spaces will make you say “OMG”…hence the name! It also gives me a chance to feature home styles outside of my own, so you can take away some fresh ideas for your space.

You’re already familiar with the home I’m showcasing today (although there are a few rooms I’ve never shown!), but starting next month I’m revealing brand new spaces from readers. We already shot one earlier this month here in Chicago and it’s soooooo good. Can’t wait to reveal it in July. I’ve also received some amazing submissions from you guys and I’m hard at work organizing photo shoots for your gorgeous homes. So stay tuned for lots of eye candy coming your way.

So far weโ€™ve featured these amazing homes in the seriesโ€ฆ

Ryan & Sarah’s Contemporary Condo

Ryan and Sarah
  • Homeowner: Ryan (my brother) and Sarah (my soon to be sister-in-law)
  • Location: Chicago, IL – Wicker Park
  • Home Type: Condo Building, 4 bedrooms & 3 bathrooms
  • Year Built: 2001 (but unit renovated in 2017)
  • Describe your Home Style: Modern and neutral with pops of color.
  • Favorite Spot in your House: The kitchen because it’s full of natural light and open so that we can see what’s going on in the living room and out on our deck. Plus, it’s a great place to gather when we have people over!

I’ve helped Ryan and Sarah with a few rooms in their contemporary condo and it has been a blast. Their space was already amazing to begin with, though. It’s the top floor of a building in Wicker Park and it was remodeled right before they moved in. The modern touches and neutral base created the perfect jumping off point for some fun with furniture and decor.

Let’s dive into this contemporary condo in Chicago, room-by-room.

Master Bedroom

Ryan's master bedroom in his Chicago condo
Mirror and dresser in bedroom
Master bedroom pillows

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Ozark Shadows”

This was the first room I helped them with and it really set the tone for the rest of the house. It’s such a spacious and gorgeous room to begin with…I mean that window and the natural light?! C’mon, it’s breathtaking! But add in the four-post bed from Restoration Hardware and some pretty accessories and this space is on fire. You can see the full reveal of this space in this blog post and get all of the scoop there.

Master BathroomMaster bathroom modern in a contemporary condo

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Iceberg”

Here’s a space I’ve never shown on the blog before…their master bathroom! It’s huge, modern, and full of pretty marble details. I love that walk-in shower with the built-in shower bench. So dreamy.

Guest Bedroom

dark green guest room reveal
Accessories on a nightstand
Dark green guest room reveal

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Essex Green”

We all know about my intense love for this room. It’s so drop dead gorgeous and it’s making me want to paint every single room super dark. It’s just so damn cozy in here! It’s neutral with a bit of pattern, texture, and boho flair and I think it’s my favorite room that I’ve ever designed. You can see the full reveal of this space right here.

Guest Bathroom

Neutral guest bathroom in a contemporary condo

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Iceberg”

This bathroom is right off the guest bedroom and it’s small, but packed with style. I love the herringbone floors, the modern toilet, and the gray washed vanity. A contemporary bathroom that is so fresh and so clean!

Kitchen

Stair runner in a contemporary condo

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Gray Owl”

Ryan and Sarah’s kitchen is huge and we actually host our annual Christmas Cookie Day here because it can hold so many guests. They have so many cabinets and so much storage…it’s a chef’s dream! Off the kitchen are stairs that go up to the second floor where my brother has his office and they have a media room with a big comfy couch (both rooms are works in progress, so they didn’t want me to show them!). But I love the open concept kitchen because it’s ideal for entertaining (which they both love to do!).

Living RoomRyan's living room space

Art over a sectional
Gray sectional with art in this contemporary condo

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Gray Owl”

This living room is another stunner. I first shared it back in this blog post and it still looks amazing a year later. They gray sectional (from Interior Define) combined with the large rug (from Room & Board) works well to ground this large space. But I’d have to say my favorite spot is the tall bookcase. It’s a great little spot to style and display pretty objects, plus I love the light wood color.

Rooftop PatioRooftop deck in ChicagoRooftop furniture with turf

Outdoor firepit

One of the best parts about their amazing condo is their huuuuuge rooftop deck. It has the most beautiful view of the Chicago skyline and we spend lots of time out here during the summer. They’ve been working on the space for the last six months or so and recently added turf to half of the deck. The other half will eventually get a pergola and outdoor dining setup. But this half is already looking good with the firepit and large sectional. I’m excited to spend more quality time with my family out here over the next few months.

Contemporary condo tour

Master Bedroom //  Guest Bedroom // Living Room

So that was a look at my brother and soon to be sister-in-law’s contemporary condo in Chicago. It’s definitely a showstopper!

Submit your Home for Reader OMG!Reader OMG blog series

Want to see your home featured on The DIY Playbook? Send an email to [email protected] with the subject line โ€œReader OMG!โ€ including lots of photos of your gorgeous home. I already have a few tours booked up for this summer, but would love to get your home ready for a fall feature!

Casey


The Year of Casey

Hey there!

Iโ€™m Casey Finn, the voice behind The DIY Playbook. I’m a Chicago gal teaching you how to design, DIY, and maintain your home…by yourself! Learn more about me right here.