Home Tour: Making It Lovely in Chicago

While Nicole of Making It Lovely blogging fame was busy birthing the cutest baby in the world, I was tracking her down to get the scoop on her unbelievably adorable home. Nicole, who also owns popular stationery company Pink Loves Brown, is one of my decorating idols and I have no doubt she could be the next Martha Stewart if she wished. With impeccable taste and a knack for styling, Nicole has transformed her bungalow in Oak Park, Illinois into a home fit for a queen, king, and their cute little daughter.

One of my favorite traits in Nicole is her ability to know when a room is finished. She notes, "The living room is one of my favorites because it's one of the only rooms in the house that I really consider 'done.' Everything from the pink zigzag rug (Madeline Weinrib) to the Eames rocker just makes me happy. I love our Jasper couch from Room and Board. I think that was our first major furniture purchase!"


Speaking of big purchases, the Balchs' kitchen is a big ticket project the pair tackled as they took ownership of the bungalow. "We completely redid the kitchen shortly after we moved in to our home. The walls, windows, and floor stayed – everything else was replaced. We saved money by using IKEA cabinetry, which allowed us to spend more on the quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances." Nicole adds. I love the bright, airy look and can only imagine the delectable dishes Nicole creates from such a beautiful kitchen!

To save money, Nicole often takes advantage of floor samples from bigger retailers. "The Petrie chair and ottoman in our library were Crate & Barrel floor samples, and they make such a nice spot to curl up and read. The curtains... well, I'm still searching for the perfect curtains for the room," she says. She's not kidding either! Nicole often blogs about her continuous updates throughout her home.

As far as business goes, Nicole has it covered. "I run my stationery shop, Pink Loves Brown, out of my home studio. All of the orders are gathered up and packaged there, and then sent all over the world! Most of the furniture is from IKEA (gotta love that ubiquitous Expedit shelving and Docksta table!)."

"I'm lucky enough to have both and office and a studio in my home (it's one of the reasons we bought this house). I sit at my desk all day (or at least I did before having a baby!), so I need something pretty to look at," she says. An Amy Ruppel painting is small and dainty but lovely, and the vintage style phone looks so much better than a cordless ever could.

So where does such a fabulous gal lie her head at the end of the night? "The bedroom has gone through many colorful versions, but right now it's calm with all-white bedding. With so much pattern and color throughout our home, I think it's nice to have one spot that's a little more simple. The bed is from Room and Board, and we have a very soft rug underneath from West Elm that feels like a giant cozy sweater. The linens are all from IKEA, but I love changing the bedding because it changes the room so quickly. I'm sure I'll be ready for another new look soon!"

I don't know, Nicole -- could your home possibly be any more beautiful? We think not. For another chic blogger home tour, check out Grace Bonney's Brooklyn apartment.