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I am THRILLED to debut a new series here on The DIY Playbook. You guys have always mentioned that you’ve wanted to see more spaces and more styles here on the blog. And while I love our Reader SOS series (and plan to continue that!), there’s just something so gratifying about seeing a finished space!
So let me introduce you to the latest blog series…Reader OMG!
What is Reader OMG!?
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.
The first 4 months of the series will highlight spaces from people I already know (who are technically blog readers!), but then I would love to open it up to you for submissions! I’ll dive into those details at the bottom of today’s post.
So far we’ve featured these amazing homes in the series…
Jan’s Feminine Home Tour
- Homeowner: Jan (my mom!)
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Home Type: Condo Building, 2 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms
- Year Built: 2007
- Describe your Home Style: Feminine, Neutral and oh so comfy!
- Favorite Spot in your House: The sectional in my living room, with a good view of the kitchen and dining area
Obviously, you guys are VERY familiar with this first home tour because I’ve showcased it right here on the blog over the past year or so. Many of you reached out asking to have Jan’s tour all in one post for reference, so I figured her condo would be a good first post for the new series. Plus, I loved any excuse to head over to my mom’s gorgeous home for some fresh pictures! She truly is the ultimate blog reader…so just made sense to feature her for the first Reader OMG! post. We even filmed a video walk-through of the entire space and you can check it out right here.
Let’s dive into this feminine home tour, room-by-room.
Main Bedroom
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Gray Owl”
I think my mom’s main bedroom just might be my favorite room in her house. It’s so serene and calm, and whenever I walk in here I automatically want to hop on that bed and take a big nap. I first revealed this bedroom in this blog post, and since then she has only swapped out the ceiling fan for this one. Everything else still looks amazing!
Custom Closet Built-Ins
On the other side of the room, my mom opted for a custom wall of built-ins. I showcase the before and after (and details about the process) in this blog post, but let me just say…it transformed the room! This unit makes such a statement with the “greige” color and these sleek black pulls from Rejuvenation. Because of this piece, she now has so much storage, which is a necessity when you live in the city.
Gallery Wall Hallway
This DIY project was a crowd favorite and for good reason. These inexpensive frames and black and white prints give so much life to this otherwise blank space. 
Since that blog post, my mom upgraded the light fixture to this one and continues to swap out the photos with fresh ones as her grandkids get older.
Main Bathroom
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Fog Mist”
My mom’s bathroom was very builder-basic (you can view the before here) and didn’t flow with the rest of her home. She did a complete remodel on it and can I say that it turned out incredible?! Between the hexagon tile floors, the vanity and that freestanding tub…holy smokes! You can see the entire reveal right here.
Entryway
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Balboa Mist”
In Jan’s hallway, I created a functional drop zone for her. I always love having a spot to put your keys and a mirror to check yourself out before heading out the door. This slim console fits perfectly and has been a lifesaver for her.
On the other side of the hallway, my mom found art (from HomeGoods) and a blush bench. She keeps toys for her grandkids inside the storage bench and it’s so cute to see the kids rush over to it when they come over to whip out all of the toys. Such a great way to maximize space in a small condo.
Guest Bedroom
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Chelsea Gray”
I love Jan’s cozy guest room…the dark gray paint, floral touches, and fun gallery wall really make it special. I actually haven’t ever spent the night in this room (never had reason to since we live a mile away!), but Finn and I will be crashing here in the future! And I don’t mind it one bit, it’s such a comfy space.
Guest Room Closet
My mom and I decided to take her guest room closet to the next level. We added a colorful peel and stick wallpaper to the back of the closet, and then I installed an inexpensive closet kit. It turned out so gorgeous and is so much more functional now.
Guest Bathroom
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Chelsea Gray” (wood wall treatment) and “Fog Mist” (walls)
The guest bathroom was incredibly dark (you can check it out here) and did not go with the rest of her home so we came up with a design plan that layered in grays and gold. With new tile, vanity, and lighting she was able to achieve the goal of creating a light and bright space. The entire reveal is right here.
Dining Room
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Balboa Mist”
When condo hunting, my mom was adamant about finding a home with space for a large dining table. She loves hosting holidays and having all of the kids and grandkids over, so a dining room is a must! I’m incredibly happy she was able to get what she wanted and has room to seat 8 people! You can read more about her farmhouse dining room in this post (along with the shop where we found the gorgeous table). And how about all of those windows?! So dreamy!
Family Room
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Balboa Mist”
Jan’s living room is where we spend all of our time when visiting. For a city condo, it is incredibly spacious! She added the built-ins, redid her fireplace (her look inspired my fireplace makeover!), and accessorized it to perfection. The comfy couch from Interior Define still looks as good as new, along with the super inexpensive rug we chose for this large space. The only big-ticket item she added to the space since I first showed it here on the blog is this gorgeous light fixture!
Kitchen
Cabinet Color: Benjamin Moore “Chelsea Gray”
My mom’s kitchen isn’t huge, but she certainly makes the most of this space. When she first moved in, it definitely wasn’t her style (you can see the before pictures in this post). But she had the cabinets painted, got new countertops, added these open shelves, and now it works well with the rest of her gorgeous pad. Just goes to show you don’t always have to rip out an entire kitchen to make it work for your lifestyle! You can learn more about her kitchen makeover in this post.
Pantry Makeover
This pantry makeover was such a fun project to tackle with my mom. The before wasn’t the prettiest or most efficient space and today it’s stunning! We did this project back in December and it still looks like absolute perfection! I’m so proud of Jan for maintaining this space because it’s rewarding to open up these doors and see such an organized space.
Master Bedroom // Custom Built-ins // Gallery Wall // Entryway // Guest Room // Pantry Makeover // Kitchen Reveal // Dining Room // Living Room // Guest Room Closet // Master Bathroom Makeover
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. I can’t wait to see your submissions…
Casey
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