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One of Genva's most notable homes highlights house tour

Looking for holiday decorating ideas? Get inspired at Geneva's annual Christmas House Tour Dec. 7 and 8.

Five distinctive homes decorated for the holidays by area businesses will open their doors to visitors for self-guided tours.

These homes range from an 80-year-old Tudor in Geneva's historic district to a modern-day beauty overlooking the rolling hills of the Eagle Brook Country Club golf course.

One of the true gems of the tour is the Rittenhouse family home at 502 S. Fourth St., which was built in 1864 and wears a plaque presented by the Geneva History Center for its significance in the community. Its striking wraparound veranda adds to the grandeur of this Italianate villa.

A belvedere cupola is perched atop the roof. The house was built by Alexander B. Moore, who designed the cupola with 16 panes of glass to resemble a railroad car; a special place he could watch the trains come into the Geneva station, just one block away.

For the tour, the home's interior holiday decorating and landscape designs will be done by decorator Debra Phillips, owner of Scentimental Gardens on West State Street. Each home on the tour will be decorated courtesy of local businesspeople.

Tour hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. House tour tickets are $30.

A traditional tea at the Congregational Church in Geneva and a keepsake decorating and entertaining ideas booklet are also included in the tour price.

For more information, call the Geneva Chamber of Commerce at (630) 232-6060 or visit www.genevachamber.com/christmaswalk.html.

  The home of John and Lynne Bellano, 611 Forest View Drive, is a spacious three-story, five-bedroom Old European Tuscan-inspired house built in 2006. BRIAN HILL/bhill@dailyherald.com
  This 80-year-old Tudor at 405 S. First St. is home to the McFadden family. Set in Geneva’s historic district, this house maintains its original character but was completely redone last year with the latest energy-efficient systems. BRIAN HILL/bhill@dailyherald.com
  One of Geneva’s most notable houses, 502 S. Fourth St., is one of five featured in this year’s Geneva Chamber of Commerce Christmas House Tour. Built in 1864 by Alexander B. Moore, the home of the Rittenhouse family is registered with the Geneva History Center. Photos By BRIAN HILL/bhill@dailyherald.com
  The front of the Rittenhouse family home features two parlors, mirroring each other in architectural detail with Italian fireplaces and picture rail moldings. BRIAN HILL/bhill@dailyherald.com
  The family room in the Rittenhouse family home, centered around a stone fireplace and oak shelves, was added in 2004. Imported doors from France conceal a handcrafted armoire. BRIAN HILL/bhill@dailyherald.com
  The Arnold family home, 844 Sunset Road, is a 75-year-old white brick colonial that blends its original design with modern upgrades. BRIAN HILL/bhill@dailyherald.com

Tour highlights

While on the 2012 house tour, don't miss these features:

<b>Arnold family home</b>

Ÿ Lovingly displayed antiques grace the shelves and walls in the kitchen, including a fluted iron from Geneva's Howell & Co. and inherited china.

<b>Bellano family home</b>

Ÿ A stately grandfather clock, passed down through generations, acts as a time marker for counting down the hours. Can you find the “B” in the stained glass window?

<b>Kirtley family home</b>

Ÿ Bright light streams through a crescent foyer window illuminating a grand staircase where, from above, a Santa keeps watch over the white flock tree, adorned with the homeowner's Mercury Glass ornament collection.

<b>McFadden family home</b>

Ÿ As you stroll to the current kitchen, added in 2011, you pass through the “first kitchen” now furnished with a custom wet bar fully prepared for parties this holiday season.

<b>Rittenhouse family home</b>

Ÿ An impressive foyer is lit by a decorative chandelier, original to the home.

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