Winners of 'Painted Ladies' contest announced

Each autumn as the leaves change and fall throughout the suburbs, a celebration of color takes place around Chicago.

It's not just the beauty of the trees that is celebrated. For more than a quarter of a century, a group of painters has drawn attention to the colorful homes and businesses in the area that also please the eye.

Winners of the 26th annual Chicago's Finest Painted Ladies and Her Court competition have been announced by the Schaumburg-based Chicago Paint and Coatings Association.

The entries were judged not only on the beauty and craftsmanship of the paint application, but how well the colors complement the structure. This year the contest took on new meaning as winners were selected in a variety of new categories, such as Best Use of Color Combination and Best Use of Color for a Non-Victorian.

The style, size or age of the property was not a factor in selecting the winners. The contest is open to homes and commercial properties, both professionally painted and work done by owners. Among the winning entries this year are a condominium complex in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, and a home on a rural farm in Marengo.

The winners will be honored this week at a special awards dinner on Thursday, Oct. 25, at Maggiano's in Schaumburg. For more information, visit the association's website, www.chicagopaint.org, where you may also view winners of past years.