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.

We have featured so many amazing homes in the series, check them all out here. Here are some of my favorites…

• Jan’s Feminine Condo
• Tracey’s Beach House
• Vanessa’s DIY Cabin in the Woods
• Cindu’s Historic Chicago Home
• Sophia’s Mozambique Safe Haven

Molly’s Colorful Condo

• Homeowner: Molly and her rescue dog, Murray.
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Home Type: 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom condo
• Year Built: 1896
• Describe your Home Style: I’d call it “Colorful Classic”. I want my home to feel welcoming, relaxed, and full of life from the moment you walk in. Think: bold patterns and prints, lots of color, and nods to my favorite people and places throughout.
• Favorite Spot in your House: My favorite spot in my home is my living room. It gets the best light through the big bay window and has a fun and playful vibe. I’m happy and relaxed every time I walk in (and hope my guests are too!).   

I am so excited about today’s reader home tour because it features my dear friend, Molly. Molly and I worked together at WGN, back in the day, as producers on separate TV shows. (Mine was a DIY show and Molly produced a food show.) We instantly bonded and have been friends ever since! Molly now works as a senior media producer for an agency, here in Chicago, and produces culinary content for chefs in her spare time. If I ever need a restaurant recommendation, Molly is my gal!

Molly’s home truly represents her personality. It’s bright, cheerful, and full of color. I had such an amazing time shooting this space. It wasn’t because I got to catch up with an old friend (that was, of course, wonderful), but because every single piece of furniture and decor in her house comes with a backstory. I spent so much time hopping from room to room asking her about each and every piece that I was shooting. It was a blast.

You may be sad to find that I don’t have a ton of sources for the items throughout Molly’s home and that’s because most items are family heirlooms, original art pieces, Facebook Marketplace finds, or decor from her travels. I always stress that home should tell your story and Molly’s condo truly does tell her story.

Even the paint color throughout most of her home is custom! Molly mixed a variety of light blue and white samples that she had on hand until she achieved her desired color.

The Entryway & Living Room

Entryway Wallpaper // Scalloped Entry Rug // Curtains

Molly and her mom, Janet, have a similar tight-knit relationship to me and my mom, and they’re always doing projects together! In the entryway, the duo added this wallpaper for an instant pop of color. In fact, you’ll see a few spots with wallpaper throughout Molly’s home. The entryway also features an antique mirror and console table hand-me-down from Molly’s mom.

The living room is grounded with a gorgeous hot pink rug with a cozy navy sectional on top. Molly says both she and Murray love a good couch nap. The armchairs and coffee table were her grandparents’ and her mom reupholstered the chairs for an updated look. They’re Molly’s favorite piece in her home and I can see why! Oh, and her mom even made all of her couch pillows with a fabric they picked out together.

The Home Office

Wallpaper // Bookcase // Desk Chair

Directly next to the living room, you’ll find a cozy space tucked away for Molly’s home office. Here, Molly added more wallpaper and I love the gorgeous pattern with birds. The desk was an estate sale find that Molly refinished in her mom’s garage, bringing it back to its original glory! I was so impressed with the quality and the gorgeous finish. She nailed it!

The gold bookcase highlights so many sentimental items from Molly’s life, including her grandma’s WAVE uniform from WWII, signed books from chefs she has worked with, and travel mementos. And if you look closely, you’ll see a miniature painting of Molly and her grandmother that was painted by her sister, Sarah. You can see more of her amazing artwork here. She is incredibly talented!

The Kitchen & Dining Rooms

Dining Room Paint Color: Farrow & Ball, “Dix Blue” // Kitchen Rug // Dining Room Artwork // Dining Room Rug // Chandelier

The kitchen is a small, but mighty, space in Molly’s house and she said there wasn’t much to do to it when she moved in! Here, she displays her collection of cookbooks.

The dining room is another special place, filled with special pieces. The table and hutch were Facebook Marketplace finds and Molly reupholstered the dining room chairs to add more color to the space. I love how she takes these classic pieces of furniture and gives them a colorful upgrade! On the walls, you’ll find more original artwork, this time from her aunt who is also an artist. This is one talented family of women!

The hand-me-down bar car is probably my favorite spot in this room and that’s because of the artwork displayed above. Molly’s sister took the photo of the dancing woman when she was in Brazil and Molly framed it. The top photo is actually a picture of Molly’s grandma and her friends drinking beer back when they were younger. How fun is that?! She said both photos scream “good time” to her, so she knew that this was the perfect spot to display them.

The Bedroom

Paint Color: Sherwin Williams “Slow Green” // Rug // Chandelier // Lumbar Pillow

Molly’s bedroom is truly a feminine oasis! You walk into this space and you instantly feel calm. The pale green walls, the plush bedding, the velvet curtains, and the soft colors…it’s the perfect place to come in and rest. Molly said she keeps this space streamlined and clutter-free and I think that’s so smart for a bedroom. I especially love her custom lumbar pillow from a new-to-me shop called Pepper Home. Lots of goodies are to be found there!

The Bathroom

Paint Color: Behr, “Chopped Dill” // Wallpaper // Vanity // Light Fixture // Medicine Cabinet Mirror // Picture Frame

Molly recently refreshed this bathroom for under $2,000 and she and her mom did a fantastic job! They replaced the vanity and added a medicine cabinet mirror for double the storage. My favorite element is the wallpaper behind the vanity and light fixture. It’s such a beautiful choice for this small space. The framed photo above the toilet is actually a picture of Molly’s mom and her dog growing up. Seeing all of these adorable family photos really encouraged me to look around my home and think of ways I could incorporate more of our family history around here! Bravo, Molly!

Shop The Look – Molly’s Colorful Condo In The City

Rug // Desk // Desk Chair // Pillow // Planter // Faux Bird of Paradise // Bookshelf // Picture Frames // Chandelier // Mirror // Wallpaper

A huge thank you to Molly (and Murray!) for welcoming me into their home. Molly said that her 2023 goal is to host more dinner parties and I will say that I will gladly hang out in that dining room, and drink from that awesome bar cart, whenever she’ll have me! Thank you for sharing your colorful condo with us today.

Submit Your Home Tour

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 and information about your gorgeous home. We are filling up our calendar for 2023 and can’t wait to see your submissions.