Come See Villa Taj......

f you’ve ever wanted to take a closer look at the Gold Jerusalem stone, 4,000-pound grand entrance doors to the home at 6501 County Line Road, Burr Ridge, all you need is a ticket.

The home, called the Villa Taj due to its size and 4.5-acre setting, is part of the 2009 Holiday Home Tour sponsored by the Hinsdale Center for the Arts. Tickets are $35.

One of the nonprofit organization’s prime fundraisers, the tour is scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 and includes four Hinsdale area homes that will be open to hundreds of visitors.

“We are really excited about the four homes that will be showcased,” said Beth Waldo, one of the event planners. “The home at 6501 County Line Road, we call it Silk Road, has drawn a lot of interest from people who have seen it being built, and we are thrilled to have it on our tour this year.”

Each year, the Hinsdale Center for the Arts reaches out to homeowners of unique homes to include on the holiday tour, which Waldo said will draw more than 500 visitors.

Joe and Anita Bauer, owners of the Gothic Revival-style home at 304 S. Lincoln St., Hinsdale, agreed to showcasing their home to help the center.

“It is certainly a worthy cause,” said Joe Bauer. “We were approached last year and declined, but said yes this year.

“Anita began decorating after Halloween, and we hope people will enjoy our ‘Christmas years ago’ decorating style.”

Various sponsors, from interior decorators and florists, work with a team captain assigned to each house to come up with a unique decorating scheme.

“What we try to do is come up with a plan that complements, embellishes the vision of the individual home owner,” Waldo said. “We try to stay true to their holiday decorating ideas.”

Tour sponsors will visit the homes about a week beforehand to put the finishing touches on existing holiday decorating, Waldo said.

Choirs will be at each home to provide musical entertainment.

Patrons can purchase tickets at a number of locations in Hinsdale and surrounding communities, as well as the Hinsdale Center for the Arts, 5903 S. County Line Road.

Tickets can be purchased the day of the event at one location only: 28 E. First St., Hinsdale, the site of the HCA’s 2009 Adornments display.

For a complete listing go on line at hinsdalearts.og.