Suburban homes showcased for classic paint jobs

A classic Victorian home in Elgin is the grand prize winner of the 2015 “Chicago's Finest Painted Ladies & Her Court” competition, sponsored by the Chicago Paint & Coatings Association.

A house in Barrington Hills won the non-Victorian category; and two other homes in Elgin, one in Chicago and one in Harvard round out the six winners for 2015.

The contest is open to homes and businesses throughout the Chicago area. The style, size or age of the property is not a factor in selecting the winners, but beauty and craftsmanship of the paint application, and how well it complements the structure of the building is essential to being a 2015 “Chicago's Finest Painted Ladies” winner.

The winners are:

• Grand Prize, for Best Use of Colors on a Victorian Home Not Painted by Professionals: 359 Park St., Elgin, owned by Thomas and Maureen Lee.

• Best Use of Colors for a Non-Victorian Home, Professionally Painted: 157F Helm Road, Barrington Hills, owned by Gwynne & Susan Johnston. Painter: Swanson Painting.

• Best Use of Paint Detail, Professionally Painted: 21003 McGuire Road, Harvard, owned by Elvis and Carolyn Henson. Painter: Swanson Painting

• Best Use of Color for the Style of the Home, Professionally Painted: 16 Rugby Place, Elgin, owned by Paul and Jean Bednar. Painters: Homework Construction

• Best Use of Expressive Color, Professionally Painted: 250 Vincent Place, Elgin, owned by Marcia Borzeka. Painters: Josh's Painting

• Best Use of Color to Fit Geographic Location, Professionally Painted: 1137 N. Hoyne Ave., Chicago, owned by Jamie and Janelle McMullen. Painters: Painting in Partnership.

The winners will be honored at an Awards Dinner on Oct. 22 at Maggiano's in Schaumburg. This year's celebration is open to the public for the first time, and will feature a panel discussion with the painters who created this year's award-winning Painted Ladies.

The panel will highlight the planning, the challenges, and the satisfaction of producing the ultimate curb appeal homes. They also will forecast how their painting products are helping to set new aesthetic and quality standards. Tickets are $85 per person; get them at www.chicagopaint.org or call (847) 240-0102.

The National Association of Real Estate Appraisers estimates that a good first appearance of a home can add as much as 5 to 10 percent of value, said Bill Heiden, spokesman for the Chicago Paint & Coatings Association.

The competition's entries, he added, “underscore the fact that paint and coatings are the most affordable ways to improve and accent a home or business appearance.”