Living In Color in Oak Park: Meet the Sanchez Family
Welcome to Oak Park, Sanchez Family!
The Sanchez family was looking for more space and to put down some roots in a west suburb of Chicago. They made a list of “must-haves” which included: mid-century modern design, natural light, and a good school district for their son. Read on to find out how they found just what they were looking for (and more!) in the historic suburb of Oak Park, IL.
What was a “must-have” in your new home?
Brightness and creative space. Having a bright home was essential and enough space for creative projects was a bonus.
Did your criteria for your home change as your search progressed?
We started off pretty broad in our search, but then narrowed it down to LaGrange and Oak Park. Our vision for the home didn’t waver, but the locations we searched within did.
We were drawn to this location because of the school district for our son. We’ve also been big fans of Frank Lloyd Wright forever and we would visit the area very often for tours and just take walks so it’s great to call Oak Park our home, finally.
How did you know this house was “the one”?
We knew when we walked into the house that it was a special one. All the design choices from previous home owners were well thought out and true to our MCM style. We felt as owners of this home we too had an obligation to keep it true to its style.
Why did you decide to stop renting and buy your first place?
We always knew we were going to buy a home but knew we had to plan for it. Our thought process was not to rush into it but instead save to assure we would be competitive in the market and also get what we wanted in the end. We had a great financial advisor who helped us through the process and we were ready a few months early, which in hindsight, was the best choice since the pandemic came a few months later.
What do you love most about your home?
We love all of the light that floods through our home. It makes the winter months feel short with the amount of sun that comes through our large window in our living room.
Our front room is our favorite room. With all of the light that comes through in the morning, it is a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee and start off our day, or host guests and share a glass of wine and conversation.
What are you most excited about in your new home?
The house is great but it's nice to have the flexibility to make it our own. We have plans to add our own touches, from art to remodeling, as creative types, it’s nice to know we can curate our own space.
Have you made any changes since moving in?
We updated a part of the basement and changed the previous owner's wood workshop into creative studios where the three of us could create, paint or work on plants. We also updated our landscaping and changed the paint color in some of the rooms. We also have more cosmetic updates planned for 2022.
Favorite memory in your new home?
It's a tie between when our son walked through the new home for the first time and said “I love it”, and our first Christmas here.
Do you have a favorite neighborhood spot?
The area has great culture! Our favorite restaurants are The Buzz Cafe, Mora and Munch. There are a lot of great shopping spots as well.
Do you have any for first-time home buyers?
Have a point of view and a wish list but also allow flexibility, but most importantly be patient.
“Meg’s experience during the offer and closing phase, giving us advice and coaching us through the process was invaluable. The previous owners let us know that the letter Meg asked us to write was a key deciding factor to us getting the house, despite other higher offers. Meg is great to work with, patient and super knowledgeable throughout the process.”
Let us help you find your next home in Chicago.
When you’re ready to make your next move, we’ll be right there with you.