Lakewood Home Festival Features Gorgeous Homes With Plenty of History

(All photographs by Jenifer McNeil Baker)

In case you didn’t already know, the signs lining Gaston Road should serve as a reminder that your favorite home tour is just around the corner!

Every year I fall in love with Lakewood all over again at the annual Lakewood Home Festival. This year, the 37th for the home tour benefiting Lakewood Early Childhood PTA, is no different. The houses are impeccable, a selection of great architecture and history that anyone with eyes will just fawn over.

This year’s tour runs from Nov. 8 to 10 and, as usual, includes a market and cafe inside Lakewood Elementary where you can get a bite and shop local art in between stops on the tour. The weekend kicks off Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. with the Auction Party and Black & White Masquerade Ball at the Palomar Hotel, and concludes Sunday, Nov. 10. It’s a fantastic weekend that is not to be missed.

And truly, is there a better cause than supporting elementary education? I sincerely doubt that Lakewood public schools could have improved as much as they have in recent years without the funding and encouragement of groups such as the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA. Find out more about what LECPTA is doing in the community on their website.

Tickets go on sale Oct. 11 at select Tom Thumb stores and at Lakewood Elementary. Of course, you can buy them online right here. Tickets to the Friday Candlelight Tour sponsored by amazing Lakewood Realtor Nancy Johnson, which includes a meet-and-greet with homeowners, are $20. Tickets to the two-day festival on Saturday and Sunday are $15. Ticket prices go up $5 at the door, so be sure to secure your tickets in advance!

Keep reading for a look at the gorgeous homes on this year’s tour.

6828 Avalon Avenue

This Spanish-influenced gem was constructed by noted Lakewood area builders Dines & Kraft in 1939 and underwent a meticulous yet loving renovation in 2009-2010. Sponsored by: Chicago Title Company and Scott Jackson Sells

6616 Lakewood Blvd.

The interior design introduced to this 1946 Traditional by a recent remodel wows with its combination of whimsy and contemporary practicality. Sponsored by: David Bush Realtors and Republic Title

6624 Lakewood Blvd.

This exquisite 1929 home fuses all of the history and charm of classic English Tudor architecture with the modern amenities that fit a busy family lifestyle. Sponsored by: Juliette Fowler Communities and Mast Sturgeon Group

6565 Bob O Link Drive

An extensive renovation breathed new life into this 1941 Colonial with an expansion that preserves the home’s character while bringing it into the 21st century with eye-popping design. Sponsored by: Kovar, LLC and Maestri, LLC

7130 Brookcove Lane

Exemplifying the owners’ fondness for Italian architecture and la dolce vita, this extraordinary modern-day villa exudes warmth, charm and a passion for life under the “Texan” sun. Sponsored by: Coldwell Banker and Team Whiteside

7169 Greentree Lane

Peek through the mature trees that frame a small green meadow and discover this wondrous, owner-designed English country cottage, housing eclectic furnishings, distinctive collections and one-of-a-kind paintings and dioramas. Sponsored by: Forest Lane Pediatrics and Walnut Hill Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates