Boughs of holly won’t be the only colorful décor decking the halls of four distinctive Oak Brook homes soon to be on public display. Indeed, visitors who partake in the seventh annual Hinsdale Center for the Arts Holiday Home Tour, set for Sunday, Dec. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m., are promised a festive feast for the senses as they enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the holiday season.

This year’s Holiday Home Tour—the seventh annual—features four unforgettable residences in Oak Brook, each uniquely decorated and equipped with different musicians who will perform live for visitors:
• “The Ultimate Christmas Home” at 18 Devonshire Dr., boasts two Christmas trees: one adorned entirely in crystal and the other a vintage variety with bubble lights. Spotlighted in years past on WLS TV news and formerly feted on the cover of an Oak Brook newspaper, this memorable abode won the 2009 Holiday Home Tour grand prize. The homeowner spends a minimum of 150 hours creating his exquisite display. A pianist will be present to tickle the ivories, and Simply Elegance Floral of Lemont will create the breathtaking floral arrangements.
• “A Tall Oaks Christmas” at 317 Glendale Ave. is memorable for its extensive entryway and circular drive amid a picturesque holiday backdrop of tall oak trees. This inviting home, situated on two acres, is elegantly garnished in a casual, warm and comfortable style perfectly suited for entertaining family and friends. Talented carolers from Hinsdale Central High School will be on hand to regale visitors, and Phillips Flowers of Hinsdale will flaunt its elaborate décor.
• “An English Country Manor” at 522 Wennes Ct. is a Tudor-style home built in 2008 that backs up to Fullersburg Woods on a lovely 1.5-acre site. Highlights include a 14-foot Christmas tree in the Great Room, architecturally stirring wood details such as solid ceiling beams and knotty Alder, a lower level English pub, and a kitchen with AGA appliances, a lavish exterior décor by Premier Landscaping, indoor floral arrangements by Jane’s Blue Iris Flowers of Hinsdale, and an elaborate outdoor fireplace, around which a local elementary school choir will croon Yuletide carols.
• “The Sportsman’s Lodge” at 3305 York Rd. is a regal new construction residence, built in 2007, loaded with eye candy—from a large first-floor exercise room equipped with a sauna and steam room to a huge master suite with a sitting room to a driving and putting range on the lower level to a swimming pool and guest house. Rich, dark woods adorn the property, as do several lovingly restored relics from the owner’s boyhood home. Two Tannenbaums are also on exhibit: an oversized tree in the family room and a second tree completely embellished with Disney décor. The decorations and floral arrangements are compliments of Linly Designs of Clarendon Hills, and music is by pianists from the Hinsdale Center of the Arts.

“This is truly a home tour that has to be seen and experienced firsthand to be fully appreciated,” said Diana Ivas, event chairperson and board member of the Hinsdale Center for the Arts, host of the tour, which serves not only Hinsdale but the surrounding suburban communities.

“Each address on the holiday tour was carefully chosen for its one-of-a-kind charms, architectural character, and personalized themes. If you want to get in the spirit of the season and treat yourself to an enriching and entertaining afternoon, this is an event that shouldn’t be missed,” she said.

Ivas recommended purchasing tickets soon, as tour attendance in past years has ranged from 600 to 1,000, with some years selling out. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 each at various locations throughout the western suburbs; visit www.HinsdaleArts.org for a full list of those purchase points or to reserve an advance ticket, which can be picked up at will call at the Salt Creek Club at 830 N. Madison St. in Hinsdale. Tickets can also be bought the day of the tour for $40 each at any of the four homes on the tour.

Price includes a free round-trip trolley, which will depart from the Salt Creek Club at 1 p.m. and transport attendees from home to home.

All proceeds benefit the programs at Hinsdale Center for the Arts, keeping arts and cultural events alive in your community. This program is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Tour sponsors include Adventist Hinsdale Hospital; Charles Vincent George Design Group, Inc.; Harris Bank; Hinsbrook Landscaping, Inc.; Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company;
Imperial Crane Services, Inc.; and SourceOne Realty.

For more information on the Hinsdale Center for the Arts Holiday Home Tour, phone 630.887.0203 or visit www.HinsdaleArts.org.