The Kiwanis Club of Lombard will present its 13th annual “Over the Threshold…A Tour of Distinctive Lombard Homes” on Friday, May 19. The house walk will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 5-8:30 p.m.
All attendees are invited to a reception from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Lombard Historical Society Coach House, where they can meet the homeowners and designers.
The house walk is known for showcasing homes that are diverse, have examples of unique styles and decorating, and are a part of the residential tapestry of Lombard. There are five terrific homes to tour, all from the 20th century. Four are from the 1920s and have been renovated extensively, and the newer home is a late 20th century home, which has also been updated.
Each home reflects the lifestyle, interests and needs of its owners. The house walk is a great way to gather decorating ideas, remodeling tips and gain inspiration to improve one’s own home and garden. The house walk attracts many visitors who come to gain renovation ideas, as well as ways to make their own homes more efficient, functional and enjoyable.
Unique to this year’s house walk are two adjacent homes, which are owned by the same family, the Franz family. The first home was built in 1927 and rehabbed in 2006. It was originally a bungalow, but has added on space. The beautiful front door greets guest under the cedar shake gabled façade. Bold paint colors and original oak floorboards made the home vibrant, yet reminiscent of the home’s early days. The large open living spaces of the kitchen, dining room, and living room can be separated by pocket doors to provide privacy when desired. Consideration in re-designing the home’s interior was given to create one-floor living if needed, and to provide for a fireplace in the future.
Family heirloom furnishings add to the charm of this home, which boosts a four-season sunroom. The kitchen has unique cabinetry to maximize the space and highlight the owners’ love of natural woods. There are five bathrooms, one of which is a part of the mudroom, allowing for a quick shower after being outside, and some have been rebuilt to include glass shower doors to better accentuate the room’s features. Three bedrooms and a loft are upstairs, with the master enjoying an expansive view of the backyard. The Family Room Over Garage (FROG) is a bonus room where games are set up and ready for play.
The second Franz home was also built in the late 1920s and redone in 2010. Originally built as a bungalow, it has been remodeled in the style of a modern farmhouse. The charming front porch has a ceiling fan on the bead board ceiling and the large back deck makes this a delightful home for enjoying the outdoors. Once inside there is a great room, which includes the kitchen, living, and eating area, which has sliding doors out to the deck.
The kitchen features a large island. The butler’s pantry allows easy access to the formal dining room, which is now being used as an office. There is oak flooring throughout the home. Large windows make the upstairs bedrooms light and airy. A unique feature is that two guest rooms share a bathroom.
Outside one discovers that the garage is two cars deep so as to accommodate two cars plus storage in the front.
The Huff home was built in the early 1920s and is believed to be a Colonial Sears mail order home. This home has also experienced additions and updating over the years. Extensive efforts have been made to appreciate outdoor living with a four-season room, deck, and a backyard pool. Guests will be fascinated to find out about the original footprint of the house and how it compares to the home today.
Original hardwood floors add warmth to the home – the type that owners will want to keep looking their best as a key feature of their home using quality floor cleaning products (shop on this site here). The dining room was an addition to the home, which adjoins the recently renovated kitchen. This is an excellent example of a home evolving to meet the interests and needs of its residents. The family room was first converted to a three-season room and ultimately a four-season room.
The home has four bedrooms, along with bathrooms on all levels. The ample indoor and outdoor living space make this the perfect home for family gatherings and happenings. Each family who has called this house their home added space and landscaping to enhance it for themselves and for the enjoyment of their guests.
The Lahr home, built in 1986, is the newest on the house walk. It has two unique distinctions. This is the first time that a homeowner’s childhood home was featured on a previous house walk (2011), and their current home is now on the tour and the home has a royal connection. It is the home of the 2010 Lilac Queen.
This eye-catching home with its dramatic peaks has had window and siding installation all round and grey and white brick on the exterior. The unique character of the façade also has a striking copper hood over its bay window. As guests enter the home they see the antique baby grand piano and the extra-wide and open staircase that leads to the bedrooms upstairs. The kitchen and family room create a large opening living space for the family to enjoy. The den on the main level provides quiet space with its bay window and oak bookshelves. Special family treasures are used to personalize spaces throughout the home. The recently remodeled kitchen has shaker style cabinets, large pantry and granite countertops. The large island creates very functional space for cooking and entertaining. Extra granite was cut and used for a mantle and hearth for the wood burning fireplace and the computer counter area. Each of the four upstairs bedrooms has special features such as a built-in window seats and double doors. A fifth bedroom is located on the lower level for guests. Also on the lower level is another large family living area, which displays souvenirs of family vacations and the family’s involvement with ice hockey. The back deck extends the entire width of the home from which one can enjoy the private backyard.
The Scarpellis are the owners of a 1926 Dutch Colonial home, which is easily identifiable with its traditional barn roofline. Hardwood floors are found throughout the home, which features a fireplace, built-in cabinets and French doors in the living room. A second fireplace in the family room has a potbelly stove, which is a ventless fireplace. The warm and inviting nature of the home is attributable to decorating and collectibles. A notable characteristic of this home is the arches, which lead to the living room and kitchen. The recently-renovated kitchen extended into what was once the dining room. This allowed for the creation of a kitchen, which has become the heart of the home with its great long island. This area opens to the family with its exposed beams. The design creates an open site line throughout the house.
Originally a three-bedroom home, a master suite was recently added. The master bath fits in the older character of the home with its claw-foot bathtub and subway tile. The laundry room was relocated to the upstairs during the addition, along with the remodeling of the other three bedrooms. The backyard has a flagstone patio. A beautiful gate leads toward the new garage, which was built to match the Dutch Colonial style of the home.
Sponsors for this year’s house walk are: United Home Builders, Robert Mueller; Edward Elmhurst Health, Diane McGinnis; Pioneer Child Care, Jeannine Baran and Nancy Lantz; Inland Bank, Georgia Tsilimigras; and Flint Architects, Stephen Flint. Be sure to patronize and thank these sponsors for their generous support.
All proceeds from the house walk go toward charities supported by the Kiwanis Club of Lombard. Among the beneficiaries are Lombard/Villa Park Food Pantry, Lombard Fire Department Trauma Teddy program, NEDSRA, TLC Camp, PADS, Special Olympics Torch Run, Lombard Historical Society Junior Historians, Plum Library reading programs, Healthy Lombard, Salvation Army, Lombard YMCA Camp Scholarships, Easter Seals and Campfire USA. Scholarships to local high school seniors are awarded each year by the Kiwanis.
Tickets are $30 per person, which includes admission to the homes, reception and three door prize tickets. Tickets are available in advance at these Lombard locations: Potted Petals, Lombard Pharmacy, Paradiso, Blossoms of Lombard and the Lombard Chamber of Commerce.
The ticket includes three door prize tickets. On the day of the house walk, tickets are available at Lombard Pharmacy and at each home. Information and online ticket purchases are available at kiwaniscluboflombard.org.
