Sometimes spur-of-the-moment decisions are the best choices in the long run. Four years ago, Janie Molster and two of her children were walking around and killing time before a University of North Carolina basketball game when they wandered into a real estate open house in a brand-new condominium development right next to campus. Janie is a native North Carolinian and a UNC alum, along with three of her five children, so the idea of a game-day condo had definite appeal.
As the designer started laying out the furniture, she quickly realized the late afternoon sunlight streaming in could also be hot and glaring. “The sunset ultimately drove the design,” Janie says. To cool things off, she chose a deep, muddy teal for the walls of the living area. “Once we started painting, I began to think of the small space as a little jewel box, so I brought in more sparkle with the ceiling’s patterned wallpaper, gauzy sheer curtains, and lots of golden accents in the tables, lighting, and pillows,” she explains. For a streamlined aesthetic, the velvet and linen sofas are the same hue as the walls. Bold geometric artwork, colorful patterned fabrics, embroidered pillows, vintage Turkish rugs, Moroccan terrines, and sculptural accessories confidently enliven the room.
Since the goal of this second home is to enjoy the hub of activity just an elevator ride away, Janie decided to forgo a traditional dining table and instead positioned a pair of end-to-end upholstered chaises with furry white throws in the sunny nook. The adjacent small galley kitchen is outfitted with only the bare essentials needed for weekend stays.
The two bedrooms offer a study in opposites. Since the master is easily visible from the living area, Janie chose a soothing neutral gray-and-white scheme and exercised a longtime itch to mix patent leather on the headboard with luxurious satin curtains. In contrast, the guest bedroom makes up for its smaller size with a more ambitious palette. The starting point was a pair of red Otomi bedspreads Janie had purchased years ago in San Miguel de Allende. Hung on a single rod, the two ornate spreads serve as bed drapings in lieu of headboards for the twin beds. As a counterpoint to the bold shades of red in the room, window treatments and bedding nod to the home team’s signature color, Carolina Blue. “That combination would be a hard sell for a client,” Janie confesses, “but it’s so fun and so me.”
Although the designer credits her children for influencing the hasty purchase, there’s no doubt this getaway is all about Janie and John. “Chapel Hill is only two-and-a-half hours from Richmond, so it’s an easy retreat for us,” she says. “It’s where family and friends come together before the games, and it’s my place to get my UNC fix whenever I need one.”
