Double Parlor My Life The Victorian House

Waiting

All I want to do is sketch floor plans of the new house and make plans for decorating it. And I have been! And I’m totally jumping the gun on doing so! I can’t help it though — I’m in love with the place.

We had our inspection earlier in the week — the results of which are mostly in. We’re still waiting on a few things, and then there will be some negotiating, and we can progress from there. The financing is moving forward too, but that can take up to two weeks before everything is settled. I get nervous, since the mortgage in hinging on my self-employment income, but we have solid tax returns to back everything up and we carry no debt (besides our current mortgage), so hopefully everything will go smoothly.

In other news, I’m fairly convinced that the blue sofa will be our big furniture splurge for the new home. The new house has a double parlor, so we actually will need more seating. I followed a link on Jules’ blog today to this older post of hers, and was reminded of how much I love Sofia Coppola’s former apartment with its somewhat similar sofa(s).

Sofia Coppola's Former Apartment

Sofia Coppola's Apartment

The sofa is on sale right now for 20% off, and I’m not sure if I should go for it now or gamble and hope I can score one of the two Chicagoland floor models. Someone mentioned that the 15% off birthday promo that Anthro runs (which I’d forgotten about) could bring the price down too, so I can at least bank on that in September. Assuming the sofa continues to be available for order, that is. It still hasn’t shown up on the website.

sale

It fits perfectly in the floor plan I’ve been working on.

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  • CT
    June 27, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    I love the floor planning, furniture scheming, crazy idea time that a new space generates. Sometimes I worry I will explode my brain thinking about all these amazing new opportunities a new house presents. I can’t wait too see what Making It Lovely has in store. A double parlor, indeed! Cheers – CT

    • Making it Lovely
      June 27, 2013 at 2:50 pm

      It’s the best time! My brain is going crazy with ideas right now.

  • kara
    June 27, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    do you know about these guys? https://www.facebook.com/CoCoCoHome?hc_location=stream i have no personal experience but their [knock-off] sofas always look exceptionally pretty for the price…

    • Making it Lovely
      June 27, 2013 at 2:48 pm

      The logo looked familiar, but I’m not sure if I’d ever been to their site before. Thanks!

  • Sam
    June 27, 2013 at 2:41 pm

    Buy it now. You love it, it’s the perfect piece for your new house, it’s 20% off right now. If it’s not on the website yet, might not ever get there and you could miss out. You could always call their head office and try to find someone who could tell you if it’s coming on-line or not. I find so few things I really love my gut would be to go for it.

    • Making it Lovely
      June 27, 2013 at 2:49 pm

      The thing that’s holding me back right now is that we’re going to have some time in between houses, and that’s exactly when the sofa would be scheduled to be delivered. I could see if a friend or family member would be willing to have an extra sofa taking up space in their house for a little while, but then I’d have to figure out how to get a 98″ sofa to the new place on my own, which would probably mean renting a truck.

      • hally
        June 27, 2013 at 3:17 pm

        So then rent a truck! If you love it, and you can rationalize the purchase for yourself (hello!! 20% off!!), get it! Money can’t buy happiness, but a loving and comfortable home sure can!

  • Julia
    June 27, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    I’m doing the exact same thing – only my sketching involves a little kitchen renovation. It’s funny how real estate practices differ so much between Canada and the US though – we were there for 4.5 hours with our inspector while he thoroughly checked everything out. We got to see first hand what he was looking at, talking about and the little things here and there we’d need to change/fix, keep an eye on or how to operate. We got our inspection report on the spot. And mortgage financing happens very quickly here, too – after preapproval it’s basically just locking in a rate and deciding on a payment schedule. We move in exactly two weeks (a 30 day closing, yikes!) so I’m feverishly going through your old posts for design inspiration. I’m already set on scooping up the Target chair you posted on Babble! Great find, girl!

    Have fun with the planning!

    • Making it Lovely
      June 27, 2013 at 2:47 pm

      I was there with the inspector too (also for 4.5 hours!), but we’re waiting on the results of a Radon test right now. I wish the financing went more quickly here though. Preapproval was easy, but rates are jumping around here, and I guess things just take a little while to go through.

      Enjoy your new house, and same to you — have fun with the planning!

      • Julia
        June 28, 2013 at 8:01 am

        Radon testing?! I’ve never even heard of that before – which is making me think I should get that done too. I should get all the tests done! ALL the tests!

  • Jen
    June 27, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    I am so excited for you and cannot wait to see the new house. I really hope everything goes smoothly for you.

  • Michelle M
    June 27, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    Dumb question – what is a double parlor?

    • Making it Lovely
      June 27, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Old houses often have them. A double parlor is like a living room and a family room, but connected via a wide archway or double door opening instead of at opposite ends of a house like they would be built today.

  • Karen L.
    June 27, 2013 at 4:24 pm

    When we bought some new furniture for our current house, the company was willing to keep it in a warehouse for us til they could deliver it. Maybe that would be worth a try? Great looking sofas and such a pretty shade.

    • Making it Lovely
      July 2, 2013 at 4:05 pm

      Most furniture companies will work with your delivery date, but Anthropologie is more of a clothing and small goods store, I guess. They weren’t willing to be flexible on delivery.

  • Maureen
    June 27, 2013 at 4:36 pm

    Hi Nicole! We’re all waiting with breath bated to see the Balch Dream Home. When you work on floor planning do you rely on free-hand sketching or use a program? I’m someone who really struggles visualizing without something concrete before me. I’d love to know your secrets…maybe in a future post?

    • Making it Lovely
      July 2, 2013 at 4:06 pm

      I sketch it first, free-hand. Then I take measurements and mark everything on my sketch, and either make a new layout on graph paper (my favorite), or on the computer. I’ve used illustrator, SketchUp, AutoCAD, and floorplanner, but I don’t have a favorite of the bunch.

  • Kelly
    June 27, 2013 at 5:11 pm

    You NEED that sofa! It is elegant but non-boring. You should go for it.

    I am dying for pictures of the house. Can you give us a peak?

    • Making it Lovely
      July 2, 2013 at 4:07 pm

      I think (hope!) I can next week. I’m just waiting on everything to be finalized first.

  • etta
    June 27, 2013 at 6:16 pm

    can you sign any of your family members with earlier birthdays up for anthro so you can use their bday rewards? :)

  • D
    June 28, 2013 at 2:23 am

    Can’t wait to see the new house now!

  • Andrew
    June 28, 2013 at 8:53 am

    I love the fabric on your new sofa, both the color and texture. Can’t wait to see what color scheme you are going to go for in your new double parlor, besides of course the lovely blue fabric. My boyfriend and I are currently looking at places, and a double parlor seems to be high on the list. We lost out on a place in the city that had a double parlor with a working fireplace and I keep pining away for it. I bet we even looked at a few of the same places in Oak Park, though we’ll probably end up in Andersonville.

    • Making it Lovely
      July 2, 2013 at 4:09 pm

      Double parlors are charming. It wasn’t something I actively sought out, but now I’m excited about it! Good luck with the search. Andersonville is great, though I’m obviously biased toward Oak Park.

  • Jo
    June 28, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    I would buy it now while it’s on sale.
    When you move – stop by with the moving truck and pick it up (@ the friends house who has been storing it for you).

    Hope it all goes smoothly with the new house purchase!

  • Laura
    June 28, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    A double parlor sounds so fancy. I think the blue sofa would be perfect for a space like that! I wish I was more adventurous with my furniture color choices, but then I usually default to gray or black (safe and neutral) and then add color with accessories.

    Financing is nerve-wracking! But I’m sure it will all work out in the end. It’s just the waiting game part that makes you feel like you’re in limbo until all the papers are finally signed.

    • Making it Lovely
      July 2, 2013 at 4:10 pm

      It does sound fancy. I feel a little bit like an ass saying it, but that’s what the house has!

      And yes, we’ll feel much better after the financing has been worked out. I’ll share the house then.

  • Little Gray Pixel
    July 4, 2013 at 1:03 am

    I’m pretty sure this is the exact same sofa I’ve been coveting from Anthro, too. It’s soooo spendy. But I love it. You sink right in, and I could imagine myself taking a glorious midday nap someday…

  • Charlotte
    July 5, 2013 at 4:13 am

    Your house is so so beautiful. I am in the middle of renovating our first house so is great to get inspiration. I can’t wait to follow your next project!

    C x