By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Cassopolis Vigilant
CASSOPOLIS – Lovely gardens, antiques blended with various fabrics, all blend to add beauty to our homes.
Seeing how others decorate their homes is always fun. The popularity of these type of shows continues to grow on cable television.
Those attending the annual Home Tour on Beautiful Diamond Lake will be seeing many ideas they may incorporate in their own home decors, or a home they are building.
This year's event, will be this Saturday, Aug. 9, from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now, only at Dussel's, 21765 M-60, Cassopolis. Proceeds each year help extend the paving of the bike path around the lake.
President of the Diamond Lake Bike Club, Jean Schultz, expects one more home tour next year may just be able to generate enough funds to complete the last mile on the path, along the east side of Crooked Creek Road, north of Brownsville Road, Schultz said. There are about 200 members in the club, businesses and residents, she said.
"It is a great way to get decorating and landscaping ideas," she added.
Featured along with eight homes will be the popular Art in the Yard, with pieces from local artists for sale at 21770 Howell Drive. On sale will be photography, antiques, pottery, jewelry and items with a Diamond Lake theme and more. Portion of the proceeds will go toward the bike path.
A bonus this year, she said, will be free wooden boat rides off Lee Avenue.
Many of the featured lake houses were once cottages which have been enlarged to accommodate growing families who make traditional visits to the lake.
Included in this year's tour is a huge new eight bedroom and more nine and a half bathroom villa on Leigh Avenue, which shows the owner's Italian ancestry. The lower level includes a home theater and old-world wine cellar.
Another home on Diamond Shores was redesigned to be grandchild friendly.
Another Chicago family moved to one of the two homes on the tour on Sail Bay and remodeled a four bedroom home into one with seven bedrooms, to enjoy the best of both worlds, city and country.
Check out the perennial garden on the Kamp Kozy Shore, on Lake Street, and the beautiful views.
The home on Diamond Harbor Court overlooks wetlands, with its own walkway to the lake and sandy beach.
The family who own the home on Decatur Street transformed a cottage into a cozy two-story, eventually becoming full time residents and adding three additions, which include a third floor master suite.
A map with photos and a brief summary of each home is included in the $20 ticket (adult only). An open house sign and balloons will also be at every stop and the tour can be started at any order you choose.
For more information, call 445-8715.