Local house tours reveal surprises and decor
House tours are your chance to peek inside homes old and new around the suburbs and check out their surprises.
We can also see how their owners have modernized and decorated.
This season's lineup includes the Arlington Heights home of artist Will Hamm, filled with the stained and leaded glass of his own creation, and Barbara and Phillip Malarski's painted lady in Palatine, to which they've been adding loving touches for 21 years.
In Lombard, Ron and Julie Vincent built a new house, and he constructed a large backyard pond complete with waterfalls.
More Coverage Links Roundup of area housewalks [05/31/08]
And see the fun Michelene and Michael Reed had remodeling and decorating a classic bungalow for her mother. It backs up to their own child-filled house in Waukegan.
Most June housewalks feature both newer and vintage homes.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
Attraction: Prairie-style stained glass doors separating the living room from the family room are among the works Will Hamm created for the 1904 house he shares with his wife, Carolyn.
Event: Six Arlington Heights homes open.
Sponsor: Arlington Heights Historical Society
Time: Noon to 5 p.m. June 8
Tickets: $35; 30 for members; tea at the museum included with tickets purchased by Thursday.
Where: Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St.
Information: www.ahmuseum.org or (847) 255-1225
Don't miss: Carolyn's garden and Will's collection of palm trees contribute to a haven around the rear deck and his studio.
LOMBARD
Attraction: Ron Vincent built the huge koi pond and two waterfalls - with the help of his youngsters, of course. This is only part of the backyard that stretches to the Illinois Prairie Path and features a deck, patio, stone walls and views of 89 species of trees, shrubs and perennials.
Event: Six Lombard homes open
Sponsor: Kiwanis Club of Lombard
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Friday
Tickets: $25 at various businesses in advance; $30 at each home the day of the tour.
Where: Mr. Z Supermarkets, 401 S. Main St.
Information: www.lombardhousewalk.com or (630) 621-7424
Don't miss: From the purple living room to Vincent's green office, the red dining room and lighter green family room with one wall faux painted with yellow mixed in, Julie Vincent shows no fear of color.
PALATINE
Attraction: The antique oak fireplace mantels in the living room and master bedroom and the pillars that separate two parlors are gorgeous, but the amazing thing is that Barbara and Phillip Malarski did most of the 21 years of rehab work themselves.
Event: Four Palatine houses and a garden.
Sponsor: Palatine Historical Society
Time: Noon to 4 p.m. June 29
Tickets: $15 in advance; $20 day of walk
Where: Clayson House Museum, 224 E. Palatine Road
Information: www.palatinepark district.com/clayson.html or (847) 991-6460
Don't miss: The 14-color paint job on the exterior of the 125-year-old home that the Malarskis applied themselves. They also copied a brick chimney in Wisconsin, spent three years digging out the basement by hand and dragged antique furniture home from many parts of the country.
WAUKEGAN
The living room of the bungalow that Michael and Michelene Reed own with her mother, Doris Bakken, features a classic 1920s brick fireplace with a glass-doored cabinet on one side. And Michael Reed rebuilt the falling-down front porch for the refurbished baby grand piano.
Event: Four Waukegan homes are some of the five Sheridan Road buildings dating from the mid-1800s that were formerly owned by Shimer College.
Sponsor: Waukegan Historical Society
Time: 1 to 5 p.m. June 22.
Tickets: $12 in advance, $14 day of the tour.
Place: Historical Society Museum at 1917 N. Sheridan Road.
Information: www.waukeganhistorical.org or call (847) 336-1859.
Don't miss: The brand-new kitchen built by Michael Reed, who is a contractor. The cherry cabinets are from Home Depot, and the very old fruit labels that decorate the room were found in the home's basement.