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Making it Lovely

House Tours

• Tour our current home, an 1891 Victorian in Oak Park, IL.
House Tour: Making it Lovely's Oak Park Victorian Home
 

 
• Tour our first home, a 1910 bungalow in Oak Park, IL.
House Tour: Making it Lovely's Oak Park Bungalow

Hello! I’m Nicole Balch.

Hello! I’m Nicole Balch.

Designer with a handyman background, renovating our Victorian home in historic Oak Park, IL (just outside of Chicago). Mom of three, fan of pink, keeping busy all around.

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Another Christmas that didn’t go as planned. It Another Christmas that didn’t go as planned. It hurt more when it didn’t happen this year because at least last year we knew in advance that we would all be apart. This year we had had hope up until the last minute. Christmas Eve with family was called off as we were making the salad to bring. Christmas dinner was called off as we were making it and ready to welcome everyone in. We looked forward to being with family. The kids wanted to play with their cousins. I hope we managed to make it feel special. I think we did. Quoting Brandon here: Merry Christmas! Omicrock-o-shit may have fucked up our plans, but we managed to have a good time. The moments spent with loved ones was greatly missed, but we managed to still swap presents and food. While not as good as a hug, it still felt pretty nice. Love you all, and in the wise words of a disgraced former mayor of Cincinnati. “Take care of yourselves and each other.”
I’ve made some changes to this spot, but it need I’ve made some changes to this spot, but it needed illumination. 💡@dcw_editions kindly sent the French modernist lamp of my dreams (appropriate since this is in the bedroom). It adjusts from upright to jauntily leaning over and it is very cool. There’s a link to the lamp in my Stories today, and you can use the code DCWLGY15 at @lightology for 15% off through December 31.
Kitchen progress has stalled. By choice. The mater Kitchen progress has stalled. By choice. The materials are here and there’s more I can do, but with the roof unexpectedly being replaced this month (the banging is SO loud!), other work picking up, and Christmas right around the corner, this solo DIY-er needs a little break. 🤍 Sometimes, usually after a particularly strong cup of coffee, I think “I’m going to do X, Y, and Z after I finish A, B, and C!” Then by the time I’ve finished “C” and the caffeine has worn off, I’m ready to do a little bit of nothing.
100-year-old cabinets and a new fancy-pants range. 100-year-old cabinets and a new fancy-pants range. A tin ceiling that’s not original, but could trick you into thinking it might be. A fresh coat of paint after stripping the old wallpaper and I’m in love.
Chicago was beautiful yesterday and the @thedrewba Chicago was beautiful yesterday and the @thedrewbarrymoreshow was in front of The Bean taping a Drew’s News segment. So glad to have been invited to meet @drewbarrymore! It’s a genuine joy to watch someone do the thing they’re good at, and clearly Drew was meant to have this show. 🤍 🏙 The Chicago episode airs November 18!
I’m still loving my chair with its new look cour I’m still loving my chair with its new look courtesy of @calicocorners! Do you want to see some of the other fabrics I was considering during the reupholstery process? There was the floral that was very “floral 2.0” - an elevated version of the chair’s original fabric. It was close, but the one I went with reminded me of granny squares, and something about that really charmed me. Calico made the intimidating task of reupholstering so easy and the final look is just perfect! #custombycalico #calico #reupholstery #interiordesign #calicodesign #calicocorners #sponsored
We’ve got a zombie 🧟 a dog 🐶 and The Med We’ve got a zombie 🧟 a dog 🐶 and The Medic from Team Fortress 2 (and his friend, The Engineer) 💥
The tiniest fluffball of a puppy ran off from its The tiniest fluffball of a puppy ran off from its family and up to us as we were leaving the park, and I did NOT gently scoop it up to take it home with us even though I really very easily could have. I let its owners catch up and retrieve it but I stress to you: VERY CUTE. My self-restraint is enormous. And here is a picture of my family because I did not photograph the tiny pup. 💁🏻‍♀️
This chair was a floor model and had a rip in the This chair was a floor model and had a rip in the fabric when I bought it a decade ago. I patched it up and loved it, but the fabric finally gave out across the seat and it was time to reupholster. I went to @calicocorners in Hinsdale and explored different fabric options with Linda from their design team. (You were great Linda, thank you!) Thanks to Calico, my chair is back and ready for the next decade in a new pattern that I love! #custombycalico #calico #reupholstery #interiordesign #calicodesign #calicocorners #sponsored
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Sims 4 CC and Stardew Mods

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Latest Posts

Nicole Balch Likes Ochre.

Accessories for Aging Former Goth/Witchy Types

November 1, 2021
Reupholstered Armchair from Calico Corners | Making it Lovely

Reupholstering My Floral Chair with Calico

October 12, 2021
I Want to Smell Like a Marshmallow.

I Want to Smell Like a Marshmallow

September 21, 2021
Warm Caramels and Blush | Making it Lovely

Warm Caramels with a Hint of Blush

September 2, 2021
The Lovely Garden, June 2021 | Making it Lovely

Gardening Through Grief

June 7, 2021
Making it Lovely
Another Christmas that didn’t go as planned. It Another Christmas that didn’t go as planned. It hurt more when it didn’t happen this year because at least last year we knew in advance that we would all be apart. This year we had had hope up until the last minute. Christmas Eve with family was called off as we were making the salad to bring. Christmas dinner was called off as we were making it and ready to welcome everyone in. We looked forward to being with family. The kids wanted to play with their cousins. I hope we managed to make it feel special. I think we did. Quoting Brandon here: Merry Christmas! Omicrock-o-shit may have fucked up our plans, but we managed to have a good time. The moments spent with loved ones was greatly missed, but we managed to still swap presents and food. While not as good as a hug, it still felt pretty nice. Love you all, and in the wise words of a disgraced former mayor of Cincinnati. “Take care of yourselves and each other.”
I’ve made some changes to this spot, but it need I’ve made some changes to this spot, but it needed illumination. 💡@dcw_editions kindly sent the French modernist lamp of my dreams (appropriate since this is in the bedroom). It adjusts from upright to jauntily leaning over and it is very cool. There’s a link to the lamp in my Stories today, and you can use the code DCWLGY15 at @lightology for 15% off through December 31.
Kitchen progress has stalled. By choice. The mater Kitchen progress has stalled. By choice. The materials are here and there’s more I can do, but with the roof unexpectedly being replaced this month (the banging is SO loud!), other work picking up, and Christmas right around the corner, this solo DIY-er needs a little break. 🤍 Sometimes, usually after a particularly strong cup of coffee, I think “I’m going to do X, Y, and Z after I finish A, B, and C!” Then by the time I’ve finished “C” and the caffeine has worn off, I’m ready to do a little bit of nothing.
100-year-old cabinets and a new fancy-pants range. 100-year-old cabinets and a new fancy-pants range. A tin ceiling that’s not original, but could trick you into thinking it might be. A fresh coat of paint after stripping the old wallpaper and I’m in love.
Chicago was beautiful yesterday and the @thedrewba Chicago was beautiful yesterday and the @thedrewbarrymoreshow was in front of The Bean taping a Drew’s News segment. So glad to have been invited to meet @drewbarrymore! It’s a genuine joy to watch someone do the thing they’re good at, and clearly Drew was meant to have this show. 🤍 🏙 The Chicago episode airs November 18!
I’m still loving my chair with its new look cour I’m still loving my chair with its new look courtesy of @calicocorners! Do you want to see some of the other fabrics I was considering during the reupholstery process? There was the floral that was very “floral 2.0” - an elevated version of the chair’s original fabric. It was close, but the one I went with reminded me of granny squares, and something about that really charmed me. Calico made the intimidating task of reupholstering so easy and the final look is just perfect! #custombycalico #calico #reupholstery #interiordesign #calicodesign #calicocorners #sponsored
We’ve got a zombie 🧟 a dog 🐶 and The Med We’ve got a zombie 🧟 a dog 🐶 and The Medic from Team Fortress 2 (and his friend, The Engineer) 💥
The tiniest fluffball of a puppy ran off from its The tiniest fluffball of a puppy ran off from its family and up to us as we were leaving the park, and I did NOT gently scoop it up to take it home with us even though I really very easily could have. I let its owners catch up and retrieve it but I stress to you: VERY CUTE. My self-restraint is enormous. And here is a picture of my family because I did not photograph the tiny pup. 💁🏻‍♀️
This chair was a floor model and had a rip in the This chair was a floor model and had a rip in the fabric when I bought it a decade ago. I patched it up and loved it, but the fabric finally gave out across the seat and it was time to reupholster. I went to @calicocorners in Hinsdale and explored different fabric options with Linda from their design team. (You were great Linda, thank you!) Thanks to Calico, my chair is back and ready for the next decade in a new pattern that I love! #custombycalico #calico #reupholstery #interiordesign #calicodesign #calicocorners #sponsored
Nicole Balch Design | Making it Lovely
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