Not only does the arrival of spring bring with it hope for a new gardening season and another chance at the World Series, it also brings hope for home renovations.
You might have been dreaming the winter away for new living room furniture or new colors on your bedroom walls. Thank goodness for house walk season — and our annual list of tours — if you haven’t done your homework and don’t have a clue where to begin.
In the coming months, dozens of walks, most put on by non-profit organizations, will open the doors to some of the area’s finest looking homes.
And you can’t do much better than a house tour when it comes to experiencing the impact of a great decorating idea.
APRIL
April 29: Six kitchens in Elmhurst and Oak Brook homes will be showcased on the Elmhurst Junior Women’s Club’s annual “Elmhurst Kitchen Expedition.” Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Local florists’ and tablescape designers’ work also will be featured; refreshments will be at the walk’s sponsor, Dan Wangler Builders, 533 S. York St., Elmhurst. Cost: $20 in advance, $25 day of event, benefiting the Elmhurst Walk-in Ministry and the United Community Concerns. Call: 630-834-0227.
MAY
May 4: The Garden Club of Evanston hosts “Springtime in Evanston,” a tour of four Evanston homes designed by well-known architects and built from 1895 to 1927. Each home features a floral theme with the displays and floral arrangements by Garden Club of Evanston members. Cost: $45; advance reservations recommended. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call: 847-328-4692 or visit www.gcevanston.org .
May 5: The Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest holds its 4th Annual Housewalk, “Splendor in the Suburbs: River Forest’s Grand Homes,” featuring six homes built in the 1920s. Homes include the estate built by Edwin Perkins, the inventor of Kool-Aid, a Normandy French Chateau-style house, a stately English Tudor mansion and a timbered Swiss Chalet with a locomotive that pulls a string of circus cars. Cost: $30 in advance (708-848-6755 or e-mail [email protected], or send a check to the Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest, P.O. Box 771, Oak Park, IL 60303), $35 day of event (Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 W. Division St.) Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All proceeds benefit the historical society. Call: 708-848-6755.
May 6: Guided walking tours of the Historic Pullman District of Chicago are offered on the first Sunday of the month from May to October. Tours, incorporating social and labor history, architecture, urban planning and even garden lessons, last about 90 minutes and begin at the Historic Pullman Foundation Visitor Center, 11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Hours: 1:30 p.m. Cost: $5 adults, $4 seniors and $3 students. Call: 773-785-8901 or visit www.pullmanil.org .
May 11: The Glen Ellyn Infant Welfare Society Annual Housewalk features four homes, including a French chateau stone house, a Prairie style inspired by a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Oak Park, a two-story cottage and a newly constructed 7,000-square-foot American Foursquare. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Cost: $30 in advance (Villa Bianca, 460 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn; for other ticket locations, call Laura Eskilson at 630-858-5336). Tickets benefit local charities serving women and children in DuPage County. Visit www.glenellyninfantwelfare.org .
May 13: The Evanston History Center hosts its 32nd Annual Mother’s Day Housewalk of six homes in Evanston’s Ridge Historic District. The national landmark Charles Gates Dawes House also will be open for tours and refreshments. Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Cost: $35 in advance (847-475-3410), $40 day of event (Evanston History Center, 225 Greenwood St., Evanston). Children 12 and older require tickets. Call: 847-475-3410 or visit www.evanstonhistorical.org .
May 17: The Winnetka Woman’s Club 2007 Annual Housewalk, “Lifestyles: Celebrating a Beautiful Life,” recognized as the “Best Housewalk” by Northshore Magazine last year, features six homes. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A sit-down lunch will be offered between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Indian Hill Club, a private club in Winnetka ($35); reservations required. Cost: $55 before May 11, $60 thereafter. Call: 847-446-1830 or e-mail [email protected], or visit www.winnetkawomansclub.org .
May 18-20: See the newly constructed Gallery House, where artwork will be featured in each room; five Park Ridge homes; and the Brickton Art Center on the “Artistic Living Tour of Homes.” Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. May 18 (cocktail party at Gallery House); tours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 19, noon to 5 p.m. May 20. Cost: $25. Call: 847-823-6611 or visit Brickton Art Center, 147 Vine Ave., Park Ridge or www.bricktonartcenter.org.
May 19: The 33rd Annual Wright Plus Housewalk presented by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust features tours of eight homes in the Frank Lloyd Historic District in Oak Park. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $85. Call: 877-848-3559 or wrightplus.org.
May 19: St. Mary’s of the Lake grammar school in New Buffalo, Mich., is hosting its annual “Our Favorite Homes” tour. Six homes, including four on Lake Michigan, reflect a variety of architectural and design styles. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CDT). Cost: $50 in advance, $60 day of event (Michigan Thyme Cafe, 107 N. Whittaker St., New Buffalo, Mich.). Call: 269-469-1515.
May 20: The Hawthorn PTO will sponsor its 5th annual House Walk featuring six homes in the Hawthorn School District 73 in Vernon Hills. Cost: $15 in advance; $20 day of tour at the Sullivan Center, 634 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills. Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Call: 847-275-9775.
May 20: The 19th Annual “City Style” House Tour is a walking tour of five Gold Coast homes. The tour begins with a reception at Spiaggia, 980 N. Michigan Ave. A Gallery of Home Design, featuring several of the top names in home design products and services, will be featured. Hours: 1 to 5 p.m. Cost: $140 in advance (up to two days before event), $165 day of event until 3:30 p.m. at Spiaggia. Call: 773-327-0900.
May 20: The 37th annual Beverly Hills/Morgan Park Home Tour will showcase five buildings, including a fully restored example of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s American System-Built Homes. Tours leave from the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at door; guided trolley tour available for $3. Call: 773-233-3100 or visit www.bapa.org .
May 20: The Wilmette Historical Society’s Housewalk will feature four homes in three architectural styles: American Foursquare, Italianate and Craftsman bungalow. Hours: 1 to 5 p.m. Cost: $45 before May 20; $50 after (at the museum, 609 Ridge Rd., Wilmette). Call: 847-853-7666 or visit www.wilmettehistory.org.
May 20: The Near West Side Neighborhood Association of Aurora hosts their 5th annual “Restorations in Progress” historic home tour, featuring seven homes. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $15 in advance (Aurora Historical Society Gift Shop, 20 E. Downer Pl., Aurora), $18 day of event (Tanner House Museum, Oak and Cedar Streets) Call: 630-844-1721
JUNE
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June 3: Historic detail and modern design can be seen on the 10th annual Prairie Avenue House Walk, starting at Glessner House Museum, 1800 S. Prairie Ave. Cost: $55; reservations recommended. Hours: 1 to 4 p.m. Call: 312-326-1480 or visit www.glessnerhouse.org .
June 3: The Berwyn Historical Society holds its second annual tour of seven bungalows in different styles and a historic church. Cost: $20 in advance, $25 day of event. Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Call: 708-484-0020 or www.berwynbungalow.org .
June 9: The Heartland Alliance hosts the 14th annual Home and Garden Tour of vacation homes and gardens in southwestern Michigan. Some of the homes are owned by Chicago-based interior designers, architects and horticulturists. Cost: $100 in advance, $125 day of tour. Hours: 10 a.m .to 5 p.m. CDT. Call: 312-660-1313 or www.heartlandalliance.org/events .
June 10: The Arlington Heights Historical Society’s 14th annual walk features five homes, including a century-old home in the historic Hana area. Cost: $35 before June 5 (includes an afternoon tea with sandwiches, sweets and a chocolate-dipping station). Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Call: 847-255-1225 or www.ahmuseum.org .
June 15: “Over the Threshhold: A Tour of Distinctive Lombard Homes” includes Victorian, Tudor and other styles of houses. Cost: $25 in advance, $30 day of tour. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Reception (2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Lilacia Park Pavilion, 150 S. Park Ave. Call: 630-268-7000.
June 24: The Waukegan Historical Society’s annual Tour of Homes showcases four houses in Waukegan and the Haines House Museum in Bowen Park. Cost: $10 in advance; $12 at the door. Hours: 1 to 5 p.m. Call: 847-336-1859 or www.waukeganhistorical.org .
June 24: The Palatine Historical Society’s annual House and Garden Walk includes six houses and three gardens and begins at the Clayton House Museum, 224 E. Palatine Rd., Palatine. Cost: $15 in advance, $20 day of tour. Hours: noon to 4 p.m. Call: 847-991-6460.
June 27: The 21st Annual House and Garden Walk, hosted by the Associate Board of the Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, will feature some of the most elegant homes on the North Shore. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Cost: $60 in advance only. Call: 312-997-3679.
AUGUST
Aug. 26: The 26th Annual Historic Elgin House Tour features eight homes, representing a variety of architectural styles dating from the mid-19th through early 20th Centuries. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost: $15 in advance (GPA, P.O. Box 928, Elgin, IL 60121; 847-697-3370 or www.gifford-park-assoc.org ), $20 day of tour. Call: 847-697-3370.
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Beth Botts, Mary Daniels, Marjorie David and Elaine Matsushita contributed to this report.
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