Wheaton designer hosting unique house walk to help neighbors in need

House walks often leave much to be desired.

As guests browse each thoughtfully decorated room of the home, they might get inspired to do something similar in their own homes, or have a sparked interest in a new design trend.

But rarely are attendees able to point at luxe curtains, decorative pillows, table settings and other furniture they've fallen in love with, squeal "I want that!" and then purchase the items right on the spot.

That's exactly what shoppers will be able to do at Love Your Neighbor's second annual Design House and Artisan Market fundraiser, taking place 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday in downtown Wheaton.

Love Your Neighbor is a nonprofit effort started two years ago by Nancy Shepherd, a designer who ran a home goods shop called Serenade at 129 N. West St. for nearly seven years. Shepherd closed the store in 2014, after she felt called upon by God to use her design skills in a way that would help people. But she kept the 100-year-old home that the store was located in and converted it into the Design House.

Anyone who wants to get the first look - and first dibs - at the items on display in the well-furnished house is welcome to attend a preview event Thursday, which costs $40 per person and includes food, drinks and a silent auction. Tickets for entry on Friday and Saturday are $25. Advanced purchase is recommended, but tickets also will be sold at the door for $35.

Shepherd selected a new batch of designers to take part in the event this year, assigning each to a specific area in the house that they could decorate however they wanted. The designers - who are based in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Geneva and DeKalb - include 610 Home, Designstorms, PS Flowers & Interiors, Nona Jo's, Amy Schmidt Designs, Urban Grace, Spiff It Up, Creative Windows and Walls, Can't ContainHer and Adorn Design Group.

"They're all awesome," Shepherd said. "They all have a completely different style. It's cool to see how the different styles look next to each other."

All the decor attendees see when they walk into the home will be for sale. All proceeds from the event will go to Love Your Neighbor, which will give the money to families in need.

Last year, the event raised about $7,000, which was split evenly among seven cases of people struggling with a variety of issues, including the sudden death of a spouse, medical problems, depression and job loss.

"We were able to come in and just shine a little light in their situation and show them love at a time that they really needed it," Shepherd said. "Everybody was super grateful, super open and shared their story. We all cried. It was amazing and I really felt God's presence there."

Anyone who attends the event is able to nominate a family or individual who they believe is in need of a gesture of love. A Love Your Neighbor committee will review the entries after the event and select who to help, both financially and spiritually. A confidential nomination form, along with tickets and more information about the event, is also available at www.lovebydesign.org.