'Art of the Home' HCC tour set for Sept. 21

The traditional elegance of this home is an example of center-hall Colonial architecture. Photo by Frank Gerlak.

Just as fall begins to sweep its striking palette of colors across Northeast Ohio, the 37th annual Heights Heritage Home & Garden Tour curates an exhibit of the cozy comforts of home juxtaposed with exquisite garden grandeur.

The self-guided tour of seven homes and three gardens takes place Sunday, Sept. 21, from noon to 6 p.m., and includes refreshment stops at two Lee Road locations, The Wine Spot and Heights Arts, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The Heights Heritage Home & Garden Tour is sponsored by Heights Community Congress (HCC), and the 2014 tour theme, Art of the Home, is a tribute to Cleveland Heights’s legacy of artistic and historic homes, in a community with a strong background in, and recognition as, “home to the arts."

Each home and garden on the tour presents a gallery of the unique architecture, style and personality of a diverse community painted with historic elegance, modern sophistication and touches of eclectic whimsy.

Highlights of this year’s tour stops include:

  • A sparkling 1924 classic English cottage with crisp details, glistening chandeliers, historic furniture and a stunning ballroom of mirrored glass. Note the fine craftsmanship in this artful renovation.
  • A 1954 dwelling presenting contemporary architecture and artworks—including glass pieces by Dale Chihuly, among others. An original dome-shaped skylight and windows stretching the entire perimeter of the living area put one with nature throughout the home.
  • A tastefully restored 1914 home presents original stately character while incorporating modern luxuries. Explore the grand entry with curved ceiling, enviable closet/dressing room and spectacular views from the dining room’s curved wall of windows.
  • An enchanting carriage house built between 1899 and 1900, and converted into a living space in 1910, blends rustic with refined. The master bedroom features walls of original barn siding, and opens up to a spacious deck.
  • A 2005 townhouse on an adaptive reuse property maintains the historic Tudor-style of the neighborhood, with touches of modern flair. Soaring windows illuminate regional and folk art from travels both local and abroad.
  • A tranquil courtyard garden maximizes space and interest with a clever mix of pots for varied texture and height. Find cool shade and a soothing fountain amid ferns and climbing hydrangea set against a backdrop of mature evergreens.

The 2014 Home & Garden Tour offers a rare opportunity to visit these Cleveland Heights masterpieces, and proceeds benefit HCC’s fair housing and diversity programs. Ticket holders will receive a detailed tour map and background information on each location.

Tickets for the tour are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the tour, and can be purchased online at www.heightscongress.org, or at several locations in Cleveland Heights. For details, visit HCC’s website or call the HCC office at 216-321-6775.

To kick off the tour, HCC also will host a preview party the evening of Saturday, Sept. 20 at the College Club. Preview party guests will promptly board Lolly the Trolley for a sneak peak at a selection of tour homes, as well as an exclusive tour—available only to Saturday preview party guests—of the home of famed Cleveland architect Peter van Dijk and his wife, Bobbi. Festivities include a champagne toast at the van Dijk home as well as a brief reading by Meredith Holmes, Cleveland Heights poet laureate and honorary chair of the 2014 Heights Heritage Home & Garden tour.

Trolleys will return to the College Club around 8:30 p.m., where guests can enjoy cocktails, hearty hors d’oeuvres, live music, dancing and a silent auction. Tickets for the preview party, which include tickets to the Sunday tour, and are offered at the Hallmark ($500 per couple; includes a print signed by Peter van Djik) and Platinum ($300 per couple) levels, are limited and are on sale now. For more information, or to purchase preview party tickets, call the HCC office or visit its website.

Heights Community Congress is an advocate of social justice, a monitor of fair housing practices and a facilitator for building strong diverse communities. Each year, HCC sponsors the Heights Heritage Home & Garden Tour as its primary fundraising event. Since 1977, HCC has featured more than 300 Cleveland Heights homes, which have attracted visitors from throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.

Heights Community Congress is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and all proceeds and donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

 

Erin Henninger

Erin Henninger is a Cleveland resident and co-chair of the 2014 Heights Heritage Home & Garden Tour.

Read More on Cleveland Heights
Volume 7, Issue 9, Posted 2:01 PM, 08.28.2014