My name is Molly Costello, and I love creating homes with the tool of interior design. I am a D.C. transplant and cozy home enthusiast, working in with clients near and far.

I grew up in a home bursting with creativity and imagination. 

I moved a lot; from the Philly suburbs to the south, back to the northeast, then all around the D.C. area. I am currently at move number eight. With each move, I have been given a new opportunity to redefine my space. Upon arriving at each new space, the first task has always been to unpack the bedroom and the kitchen. 

At each home growing up, our kitchen housed a craft station stocked with bits and bobs asking to be played with: pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, shrinky-dink paper, every color of plastic lace cord, polymer clay, gallons of glue for slime, yarn for knitting, feathers, glitter, beads, and embroidery supplies. I was lucky enough to create with it all. I always had the space to explore textiles and utilize tools to design from my imagination. 

Fast forward to living on my own, bouncing from one high-rise rental to the next, I have taken lessons from my childhood as I explore different parts of D.C. I discovered that I hate to move, but I love to recreate, reuse, and recycle pieces in my spaces. Between my moves, I had the urge to design spaces that represent their inhabitants; thankfully my friends and family have allowed me to scratch that itch. 

These experiences led me to create this platform to connect with you! Whether that be laying out a gallery wall, setting up an indoor garden, incorporating antiques or vintage pieces, or creating useful zones around your home – your home has the opportunity, to not only look beautiful, but also to tell a story you can be proud to share with friends and family.

A few weeks ago, I completed an Apartment Therapy Home Tour submission — fingers crossed my home is featured. Until then, I am sharing with you my approach to designing my own home. The best thing about creating your space is that it can always be evolving to meet your current life’s needs. Be sure to check out my Instagram for my latest home improvements or furniture swaps (@Meandering_Molly).

Describe your home in five words or less? Lived-in, Curated, Sustainable 

Tell us a little or a lot about your home and the people that live there? I’ve lived in DC for the past six years and racked up 3 moves. Currently, I’m living in a high-rise apartment in Navy Yard. I live with a roommate and we share a modern two bedroom, two bathroom space that is 1k square feet. This is the first space where I have my own bathroom and closet! 

How do you identify? Is your identity identified in your home (art color accessories)? I am extremely passionate about protecting the environment. 95% of my apartment is secondhand (antiques and vintage) with plants scattered throughout. I want visitors to walk in and comfortably sit anywhere. I love sharing how the different pieces of furniture made their way into my home. Curating secondhand items might take more time, but the results are always worth it. I have cozy blankets, footstools, side tables, and moody art that is intended to help visitors exhale and leave the busy city stress at the door. 

What is your favorite room and why? This is a hard one since I now work 100% from home. I don’t think I have a favorite room. Each space serves a different purpose. I would say my favorite part of my apartment are the windows. If you look really hard you can see the river. This makes me feel like I have a waterfront view. I do have a favorite piece of furniture; my nana’s chair. It’s a wingback chair with claw and ball feet and a mahogany frame. It was originally covered in a bright crewel fabric and now that I have had the chair for 5 years. I can’t wait to reupholstered and bring back the crewel!

What is the last thing you bought or found in your home? I have been on the search for a leaning mirror for years. I have searched for a used one wherever I could shop. In fact, I had one chosen from Pottery Barn (PB) and was hoping to eventually find one at the outlet. Just a fast check-in at Marshall’s and I found one that matches PB’s in size and design at 60% less than PB price. And the Pendelton blanket? I saw those classic stripes from aisles away. It was another fluke to find a high-quality find complete with a well-known brand name.

Advice for creating a home you love? Your home can not only look beautiful but also tell a story you can be proud to share with friends and family. Together, let’s live a life we are proud of by surrounding ourselves with what we believe in.