Reader OMG! is a series showcasing home tours from my favorite people…The DIY Playbook readers! Every month or so, I highlight the home of someone with some serious design style. I hope 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.

So far we’ve featured these amazing homes in the series…

• Jan’s Feminine Condo
• Ryan & Sarah’s Contemporary Condo
• Kristin’s Eclectic City Condo
• Liz’s Mid-Century Modern Condo
• Brittany’s Family-Friendly Home
• Erica’s DIY Townhome
• Kerri’s Vancouver Home for Five
• Tracey’s Beach House
• Sarah’s Victorian Across the Pond
• Dina’s Farmhouse Style
• Jon & Christina’s Modern Home
• Lauren & Kam’s Renovated Chicago Condo
• Vanessa’s DIY Cabin in the Woods
• Cindu’s Historic Chicago Home
• Britney’s Modern Farmhouse
• Ranjini’s Modern Bohemian Home
• Alesha’s Farmhouse Condo
• Jody’s Moody Condo
• Lydia’s Historic Whimsical Home

Jacob’s Budget Bachelor Pad

• Homeowner: Jacob (23)
• Location: Port Moody, BC, Canada
• Home Type: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom condo
• Year Built: 2009
• Describe your Home Style: Budget Bachelor Pad
• Favorite Spot in your House: My favourite spot in my home is the main living space.  It is very open, bright and a great place to kick back and relax and watch some NFL (go Chiefs!) or host poker night with some buddies.

Jacob’s mom, Dina, is a Reader OMG! alum. (Remember her amazing DIY home?!) So, she was so excited to share her son’s new condo with me. The mother-son duo worked on it together and it truly turned out awesome. After Jacob lived across the country during college, he moved back home to start a full-time job, two years ago. He decided that it made financial sense to live at home for two years and save, so that he could then quickly go on to homeownership!

Jacob just moved in at the beginning of July, so it’s wild to see how fast this budget bachelor pad came together. It may be small, but with some help from Dina, it’s now a bright space that feels much larger.

They painted the walls throughout the condo the same shade of white (Benjamin Moore “Chantilly Lace”), in order to brighten the very dark space and add continuity throughout. Dina painted the kitchen cabinets a much lighter color, added new hardware, and left some as open shelving. 

With only $300 in paint and cabinet hardware, along with some hand-me-downs, DIY projects, and thrift store finds, it now has a homey, bachelor pad feel. Let’s take a look around…

The Living Room

Paint Colors: Benjamin Moore “Chantilly Lace”

The living room is full of hand-me-downs from Dina’s basement, as well as thrift store finds.  The TV console was a $65 Facebook marketplace find. Can you believe it?!  Dina removed the top two drawers, so she could add a basket and the TV components, and then gave the entire piece a coat of black paint. The coffee table was an old piece that Dina had. She also gave that a fresh coat of the same paint as the TV console.

The rug was also a hand-me-down, that was no longer being used, so over to Jacob’s new place it went.  The large art was a thrifted canvas that he painted over and framed out. What a great DIY project to bring new life to a piece!  Most of the accessories, like the baskets, pots and books were thrifted. I’ve gotta say, Jacob is pretty lucky to have such a savvy shopper for a mom!

Behind the island, is a great catch-all, styled out to create a vignette, with a small bookcase and some functional items, like the coat rack and mirror.

The Kitchen

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore, “Chantilly Lace” (walls); Benjamin Moore, “Annapolis Gray” (cabinets)

The kitchen cabinets are basic IKEA flat panel doors. Originally, they were really dark, so the duo decided to paint them! They also chose simple black cabinet hardware, from Amazon, to tie in the black granite countertops. I love how they kept the doors off the end cabinet to display pretty dishes and make the space feel a bit more open. What a great way to add open shelving, without committing to ripping down the cabinetry!

On the island, they added some character, by installing a cute wrought iron sign and bottle opener, that Dina had purchased years ago from a friend’s shop. The stools were purchased from a local non-profit, Urban Repurpose, that repurposes items for $5.00 each!

The Bedroom

Paint Colors: Benjamin Moore, “Chantilly Lace” (walls); Benjamin Moore, “Annapolis Gray” (headboard)

The bedroom is small, but had loads of built-in storage! The layout of the built-ins provided a blank wall where they were able to place the bed, and Dina took it one step further with a faux headboard, made of wood and trim and leftover paint from the kitchen cabinets!

To add more character and interest to the space, Dina build a custom peg rail between the two sliding doors.  It is super functional for holding hats, hoodies, and belts.

The Bathroom

Paint Colors: Benjamin Moore “Chantilly Lace” (walls)

As you can see, the bathroom was really dark when Jacob took ownership. A fresh coat of white paint really brightened it up. Then, all it took was some shelving, a new shower curtain, and a few accessories to give this space some personality.

The Patio

How awesome to have some outdoor space in a condo! Jacob made this patio the perfect spot to enjoy his morning coffee or glass of wine at night!  This seventh-floor view of the mountains and bustling street activity in the shops and restaurants below can’t be beat.

Shop the Look – Budget Bachelor Pad

Jute Rug // Plant Stand // Couch // Mirror // Save Water Drink Beer Sign // Pillow // Cutting Board // Coat Rack // Amber Soap Dispenser // TV Console // Faux Fern // Framed Canvas

A big thank you to Jacob for giving us a peek inside his budget bachelor pad. And a shout out to Dina for introducing us to Jacob and his space and for providing these great photos!

Submit Your Home for Reader OMG!

Want to see your home featured on The DIY Playbook? Send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Reader OMG!”, including lots of photos of your gorgeous home. We’re starting to book for 2022 and I’d love to see your submission!

Casey