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• Tour our current home, an 1891 Victorian in Oak Park, IL.

• 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.

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.

More about Nicole…

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Instagram

Instagram post 17933219455431648

I realized the other day that I’m not seeing as many white walls (or gray tones) on my feed lately. Is it a result of me having trained the algorithm to my liking, or is everyone finally coming on board with more color and warmer tones? What’s it looking like for you on Instagram these days?
•
#thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely

Instagram post 17875026848004429

This photo is from four years ago. I do not have fresh flowers at all times and so have replaced the vase with a brass snake, but it all looks the same otherwise, down to the tassels on the doorknob.
•
The wall color is the palest blush. The lamp was expensive but the antique dresser and portrait were cheap. I’ve had to repair a drawer, and when the painting arrived, I painted the wooden parts of that frame gold to match the rest of its gilding. I also painted the doors and wooden trim across the entire second and third floors and I don’t miss the old wild-grained fir and pine at all.
•
Sometimes I think it would be fun to wallpaper in here, or make some other random change. If I’m feeling particularly inspired, I will, but there’s a lot to be said for enjoying things that are good as they are.
•
•
•
🏷#thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely #victorianhome #instahome #instadecor #sodomino #oldhouselove #oldhouse #modernvictorian #avantrevivalists #ckstyleaccordingly #showemyourstyled

Instagram post 18174024112013876

I’ve been rearranging things! Since our guest room is seeing zero guests, I brought this storage piece up from downstairs and filled it with toys. Fun for the kids to play, fun for me to have a small decorating change with no cost.

#thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely

Instagram post 17884436005815181

Here’s to better days to come! We have so much work to do as a nation, but a Biden and Harris win is cause for joy.

Instagram post 17895981550635766

#ad My dining room table matches my dining room now! @chilewich sent over a set of their mini basketweave round placemats and I chose their pimento color to echo the red of my ceiling. I layered them over a pink tablecloth that I had on hand, and it’s nice (especially with the kids eating here) to have that added layer of protection for both the tablecloth and the table itself.

Instagram post 17874487978986874

I want to surround myself with this color. “Drab,” yes, but dang it makes me happy.
.
#thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely #housetwinning 👯‍♀️

Instagram post 17864877326137209

This wall color feels entirely too light now that I’ve painted the dining room (on the other side of that door that isn’t usually closed). Olive, ochre, mustard, sepia? More wallpaper!? I mean, more wallpaper always feels like a good idea.
#thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely

Instagram post 17870135843033254

This bed remains one of my all-time favorite furniture pieces. I came across an older photo of our bedroom and it doesn’t feel like the same room. We were using our low, upholstered queen-sized platform that had worked so well in our last house. I hadn’t painted the woodwork yet, but I had painted the walls gray/blue. It was fine, but wasn’t nearly as good as what we have now (that feels really good to wake up to). Plus you know I love a room with pink. 💕 #thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely

Instagram post 18152330176073556

I like my house. 🙃❤️💕 #thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely

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Our 1891 Victorian

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Latest Posts

70s Chic TV Hideaway

September 15, 2020

A Birthday Wish List Disguised as a Style Post!

September 8, 2020

Spool Dining Chairs

August 27, 2020

Planning a Moth-Inspired Dining Room

August 12, 2020

I Love This $28 Dress

July 23, 2020

Instagram post 17933219455431648

I realized the other day that I’m not seeing as many white walls (or gray tones) on my feed lately. Is it a result of me having trained the algorithm to my liking, or is everyone finally coming on board with more color and warmer tones? What’s it looking like for you on Instagram these days?
•
#thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely

Instagram post 17875026848004429

This photo is from four years ago. I do not have fresh flowers at all times and so have replaced the vase with a brass snake, but it all looks the same otherwise, down to the tassels on the doorknob.
•
The wall color is the palest blush. The lamp was expensive but the antique dresser and portrait were cheap. I’ve had to repair a drawer, and when the painting arrived, I painted the wooden parts of that frame gold to match the rest of its gilding. I also painted the doors and wooden trim across the entire second and third floors and I don’t miss the old wild-grained fir and pine at all.
•
Sometimes I think it would be fun to wallpaper in here, or make some other random change. If I’m feeling particularly inspired, I will, but there’s a lot to be said for enjoying things that are good as they are.
•
•
•
🏷#thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely #victorianhome #instahome #instadecor #sodomino #oldhouselove #oldhouse #modernvictorian #avantrevivalists #ckstyleaccordingly #showemyourstyled

Instagram post 18174024112013876

I’ve been rearranging things! Since our guest room is seeing zero guests, I brought this storage piece up from downstairs and filled it with toys. Fun for the kids to play, fun for me to have a small decorating change with no cost.

#thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely

Instagram post 17884436005815181

Here’s to better days to come! We have so much work to do as a nation, but a Biden and Harris win is cause for joy.

Instagram post 17895981550635766

#ad My dining room table matches my dining room now! @chilewich sent over a set of their mini basketweave round placemats and I chose their pimento color to echo the red of my ceiling. I layered them over a pink tablecloth that I had on hand, and it’s nice (especially with the kids eating here) to have that added layer of protection for both the tablecloth and the table itself.

Instagram post 17874487978986874

I want to surround myself with this color. “Drab,” yes, but dang it makes me happy.
.
#thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely #housetwinning 👯‍♀️

Instagram post 17864877326137209

This wall color feels entirely too light now that I’ve painted the dining room (on the other side of that door that isn’t usually closed). Olive, ochre, mustard, sepia? More wallpaper!? I mean, more wallpaper always feels like a good idea.
#thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely

Instagram post 17870135843033254

This bed remains one of my all-time favorite furniture pieces. I came across an older photo of our bedroom and it doesn’t feel like the same room. We were using our low, upholstered queen-sized platform that had worked so well in our last house. I hadn’t painted the woodwork yet, but I had painted the walls gray/blue. It was fine, but wasn’t nearly as good as what we have now (that feels really good to wake up to). Plus you know I love a room with pink. 💕 #thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely

Instagram post 18152330176073556

I like my house. 🙃❤️💕 #thelovelyvictorian #makingitlovely

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