Get design ideas on Elk Grove tract home tour

Because tract homes are so much alike, seeing how people have modified what some call "cookie-cutter" homes over the years can provide great ideas to others on how to redo their own homes.

With that thought in mind, longtime Kenneth Young Center employee Lois Colaprete has put together the group's first ever house walk this Saturday, through 10 Elk Grove Village tract homes.

The homes are models built in the '50s and '60s that originally sold for $18,000-$29,000. Colaprete and event co-chair Lorraine Herforth of Prudential American Heritage Real Estate found participants by consulting a list of appealing homes in the village and talking to remodelers.

"Some we just looked at and thought they were cool and rang their doorbell," said Colaprete, who has lived in the community more than 30 years.

Some people were enthusiastic about participating, while others were leery of crowds or thought their place wasn't quite ready for prime time.

Regardless of their feelings about participating, they were anxious to give Colaprete a tour and point out what they'd done with their tract homes.

"People love showing off their homes," she said. "Everybody wanted to tell me how wonderful their houses were."

The house walk is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with ticket pickup at the Kenneth Young Center, 1001 Rohlwing Road, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $20 if ordered ahead or $25 on Saturday. Call (847) 524-8800, ext. 119 or visit kennethyoung.org.

Proceeds benefit the organization's community mental health and senior services.