HomesPlus

Fine dining at home

2009-07-09T19:31:24Z

In today's Chicago Tribune, you'll find a letter from Phil Vettel (Tribune's restaurant critic) to WGN Radio newbie Greg Jarrett listing Chicago's don't-miss restaurants. The list contails around 50 restaurants that Vettel deems un-missable. But he did miss one thing. He forgot to mention that if there's anything better than a night out with great food and good company, it's a night IN with great food, good company...and NO COOKING! Let's face it, even if you love your kitchen, sometimes it's just better to stop playing host and enjoy the dinner party with your guests, right? It's only so often that your home is tidy enough for such a gathering anyway, why mess it up by cooking dinner? Let one of these places do the cooking for you! They are, afterall, the best of Chicago. My go-to for home catering is Tarascas, in Lincoln Park. Great guac, spicy salsa and fresh-from-the-fryer chips are enough to make my house the hottest destination on party night...even at the last minute, which is my favorite time to call... What's your go-to place for fine dining at home? Help out your fellow HomesPlus viewers and share here.

Beautiful...and haunted? Lake Forest mansion

2009-07-09T12:04:27Z

In this weekend's HomesPlus, we're kicking off the show with our largest - and most expensive home tour yet. Words can't describe how exquisite this home, nay, mansion is... so for that you'll just have to tune in to the show this weekend and see if for yourself. Today's topic is the fascinating backstory to the estate. The home was built as a wedding gift from John G. Shedd for his daughter, Laura, and her new husband, Charles H. Schweppe in the early 20th century. The story goes that the couple lived in the home, threw lavish parties hosting the high rollers of the time and raised two children there. Tragedy struck in 1937 when Laura passed away and was magnified a few years later when her husband, still troubled by his wife's death, took his own life. For decades, the home stood empty. Sightings of Charles Schweppe were reported for years. Legend has it that while the rest of the manse succumbed to the dirt and grime that comes with being abandoned for such a long period of time, the window overlooking the front drive remained clean. Visitors at the time reported seeing a man's figure in that window despite the fact that the home remained empty and it was said that Mr. Schweppe's ghost kept that window clean so that he could see who was visiting. Fast forward to the late 1980's when the current owner purchased the home and restored it to its original grandeur, bringing it back to life. No telling whether or not that put dear old Charles at peace, but perhaps if you're in the market for an $18-million dollar home with a little bit of history, you could be the one to fill us in on his current whereabouts... Read more about the history of Mayflower Place here, or check out Dennis Rodkin's Deal Estate blog. See the tour on HomesPlus this weekend! Saturday at 9am and 1pm, Sunday at 9am Or if you just can't wait to get a peek, take a look at the photo gallery.

Google goes real estate

2009-07-07T15:18:24Z

Just when we thought Google couldn't do anything more to secure its world-domination status, it went and added real estate to the mix. As of this week, Google Maps joins Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com and other real estate search engines to help the wayward surfer narrow down his home search. And it's pretty impressive to see all of those for-sales pop up on a map (...or depressing, depending on your point of view) just check out what you get when you search "Chicago."
View Larger Map In addition to showing you where the homes on the market are actually located on a map, the expanded search engine also allows you search by price, beds/baths and square footage. Plus, you can even specify foreclosures. Looks like real estate has a new home at Google.

Backyard entertaining for the 4th

2009-07-03T15:06:21Z

So, you decided to play it low-key this year only to realize at the last minute that you actually do want to live it up for the 4th...you just don't want to fight the crowds or spend the big bucks that usually comes with it. Understood. So, why not enjoy your home tomorrow - and let your friends enjoy it too? All you need is a backyard or patio, a working grill and some creativity. You provide the grilling meat and some all-American accents and your friends provide the fun. Your backyard could transform into the party spot of the summer! Check out some ideas to host an Indepence Day bash on the cheap...

No place like Neverland

2009-07-02T21:53:03Z

Okay, so maybe HomesPlus didn't get the scoop on this one, but we think Matt Lauer did as good a job as any at giving a tour of Michael Jackson's California home, affectionately known as "Neverland Ranch." And this home puts them all to shame. Forget the amusement park in the backyard, the house itself is incredibly impressive. Take a look -

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Eddy Curry home in foreclosure

2009-06-30T20:21:07Z

Ahhh, the life of celebrity...fancy cars, fine champagne and gorgeous estates are just part of their daily lives. That is, when they're not behind on their mortgage payments like so many average Joes. Case in point: former Bulls player, Eddy Curry. Today's Tribune reports that Curry's suburban Chicago home is in foreclosure. It would appear that the baller has fallen short by about $217k...so far. That's probably not difficult to do when you've got an interst rate of 9.25% (can we stress the importance of refinancing??). The home was purchased for $3.7 million in July of 2003. For the entire Chicago Tribune article, click here.

Top ten beach homes

2009-06-30T15:47:24Z

Yes, we have a beach in Chicago. It's on Lake Michigan and it's lovely. But when you're spanning the nation for the country's top ten beachfront homes, surely you can understand why they might all come from the left and right coasts and not so much the northern coast that we occupy. And if not, then just take a look at these pictures...I think you'll forgive the list's publisher for the faux pas of leaving our windy lake-side city out of the mix. So, here's the good news - they're incredible and they're all on the market right now. Here's the bad news - the least expensive home comes in at #9 - a 12,000 square foot estate on the Atlantic...available to the savvy buyer ready to sign on the dotted line for a mere $12 million. Think that sounds extravagent? Just take a look at the other nine...

How well do you know real estate?

2009-06-26T21:17:45Z

Do you know what "vu" means? How about "w/d?" Take this quiz and see how on top of your real estate lingo you really are! And if your score tells you that you have some homework to do, just tune in to HomesPlus every weekend and catch up on your real estate basics! Click here to take the quiz!

Celeb housing troubles...

2009-06-23T18:03:21Z

Jon and Kate aren't the only ones with problems. Their Elizabethtown, PA home has been listed for more than three months and while I've never seen a single episode of their reality show (don't worry, I'm still totally updated on their daily activities, thanks to every media vehicle in existence) it does appear that the reality of the housing market is weighing on them just as it is the rest of us. And if the home of the couple that everyone can't get enough of can't sell, then what hope do the rest of us have, right? Turns out celebs (real or otherwise) aren't immune to the housing slump. Here are a few who are feeling the heat of the current market... The Chicago Tribune is reporting that... -Mel Gibson's Greenwich, CT home has been reduced from $39 million to $29 million -Richard Gere and Carey Lowell have lowered the asking price on their New York Hamptons home from $8.8 million to $7.2 million -Jeana Keough, of Houswives of Orange County, has confirmed that she is in default on her mortgage Click here for more!

Bonus rooms and flexi-space

2009-06-22T21:10:10Z

Since buyers are trending more toward buying right-sized homes these days, and not super-sized homes, it seems everyone wants their space with a side of flexibility - space that can grow and change with the family that uses it. It's a fantastic idea. It saves on the energy costs of heating and cooling a larger-than-necessary home and allows a play room to turn into a media room which can then turn into a den, guest room or any other room that your lifestyle requires! Builders are right on top of this trend - have been for years actually. Not long ago, we dropped by the Churchill Club community in Oswego and checked out their models, which included a bonus room - the ultimate in flex space. Take a look-

Top ten things to buy before the economy rebounds...

2009-06-19T15:41:42Z

Hard to believe that someday we might be sitting on the patio, sipping our tea, yearning for the "good old days" when houses were cheap and deals were plentiful. But despite a nasty recession that has taken its toll in one way or another on all of us, the pros (the pros being the President's Council of Economic Advisors and the Federal Reserve) seem certain that the economy will improve by the end of this year. Which means all of those great deals you're seeing on everything from houses to vacations will slowly begin to disappear and prices will start to rise again. Among the top ten things to buy before the economy bounces back? A house tops the list at #1. It seems that between the competitive pricing of homes right now (prices were down 25% between the 4th quarter of 2006 and the fourth quarter of 2008), interest rates that hover around 5% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and the $8,000 tax credit for first time buyers...the stars are aligned for those in the market. Also on the list? Furniture. So, if you've just taken advantage of the market and purchased a home, don't wait to furnish it. Check out the other 8 items you shouldn't wait to buy after the jump...or click here for the full article. 1. House 2. Car 3. Vacation 4. Toys 5. High-dividend stocks 6. A Laptop 7. Diamonds 8. Women's clothing 9. TV 10. Furniture

Calling all outdoor spaces

2009-06-17T20:18:32Z

That means patios, balconies, decks, backyards, rooftop terraces...if it's outside and you're proud of the space you've created - we want to see it! Just email your photos along with a description of the space and what you did to make it spectacular for this summer and we'll post them here on our website to inspire others...and they might even make it onto the show!

Design wars - battle of the sexes

2009-06-16T19:27:19Z

If you've ever tried to shop for a home or decorate that home with a member of the opposite sex then you've probably noticed that guys and gals are looking through different lenses when it comes to the home. One North Shore architect estimates that women make about 80% of the decisions when it comes to home design and remodeling. So, what is it that makes us so different? Too much for one blog, I'm sure. But here's how it breaks down where homes are concerned: Women: When it comes to the home, most women think about the family. Large kitchens, accessible laundry rooms, walk-in showers that are easier to clean and mud rooms to catch all that dirt before it gets into the house. Men: Guys love their toys, right? So, it's all aobut the garages and basements for the guys. Anywhere they can fit in new gadgets seems to be of interest as well. Topping the list? Large flat-screen tvs, energy efficient fixtures and faucets and any equipment they can add to their home gym. Click here for the full article.

The house that Ferris made famous

2009-06-11T15:23:29Z

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of meeting up with the interior designer and the listing agent for the Highland Park home that was featured in Ferris Bueller's Day Off back in '86 and is now on the market for $2.3 million. I was initially attracted to the house (like everyone else in America...) because of the movie magic attached to it. But as it turned out, the house itself has some interesting history. Plus, it's one of the most unique homes I've seen since I started with HomesPlus...and there have been A LOT of homes!

It all starts with the surroundings. The main house and garage (the actual garage, not the structure that they used as the garage in the movie - that's actually the pavillion house) are set no further back from the road than any other home in the neighborhood, but because of the way it was designed, it's not even visible from the street; the foliage provides incredible privacy...for a lot less than a big ol' iron gate. Gotta love nature, right? As you've seen in pictures and of course in the movie, the home is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for an unparallelled view of the surrounding ravine...from nearly every room (bathrooms and kitchen excluded). The nature angle continues throughout the home. From wood ceilings to cork floors (underneath the carpet) to the steel-and-glass frame of the home - this place was way ahead of its time in terms of eco-friendliness. Which brings me to its other claim to fame... It was built in 1953, designed by architect A. James Speyer. Speyer was the first grad student of world-famous architect Mies van der Rohe (responsible for Chicago structures 860-880 Lake Shore Dr. and the Farnsworth house among others). 20 years later, the owner added the now-famous pavillion house at the back of the property. This is the "garage" used in the movie. It mimics the house exactly, but actually was designed by another architect, David Haid, who happened to be a student of A. James Speyer. See how we've come full circle? In all, this home is a work of art in and of itself. Despite the need for some updates, I suspect that the new owners of this incredible house will consider themselves quite lucky for grabbing a handsome piece of history. Take a look at the tour...

Flower potty - recycling gone too far?

2009-06-10T15:19:53Z

(Photo by Stacey Wescott/Tribune) So, how do you know when it's a good idea to give old household items new life by reusing them and when is it time to toss the junk? Turns out, that line is different for everyone. A Lakemoor woman who has been cited for using toilets as planters in her front yard could be fined up to $500/day if she doesn't remove them by this time next month. She says the two toilets, filled with potting soil and flowers, are art and just meant to get a laugh out of passersby. Neighbors say it's an eyesore. What do you think? Art...or atrocious? Leave your comments!