15TH ANNUAL BARRINGTON COUNTRY GARDEN and ANTIQUE FAIRE - JUNE 19th - 20th

This highly anticipated 2-day event allows guests the rare opportunity to tour the properties of three gorgeous private estates in Barrington. Each property features it own uniquely private setting adorned with beautiful gardens, winding pathways, graceful water features, gorgeous views, and charming architectural details sure to please all who attend. As an added feature, guests will have an opportunity to see and learn about a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) organic vegetable farm specializing in fresh, seasonal, and sustainable farming.

Enjoy antique and boutique shopping for your home and garden on the main estate grounds. The French Market brings together a variety of upscale shopping vendors for your shopping pleasure. Discover unique accessories, whimsical and decorative items, fine art, jewelry, garden accoutrements, and much more. An exciting treasure trove of wonderful one-of-a-kind items are available for sale in the Avant Garden, an upscale flea market. Find vintage iron and garden furniture, china, antiques, and much more. The Boutique returns this year, offering jewelry, scarves, purses, and other fashion and home accessory items located in its own quaint cottage on the property. Be sure to allow time for daily complimentary home and garden presentations hosted by area professionals. Gourmet lunch items will be available for purchase from Barrington’s Egg Harbor Café. Savor special pastries from Barrington’s Ambrosia Euro American Patisserie while listening to live musical performances throughout the day.

Featured Garden Estates: 


New England on the Prairie

Meander down a country lane and be transported as you venture into this charming New England style retreat. A panoramic view features the weathered clapboard siding of the Cape Cod style home, the 10-stall horse barn, and the recently added carriage house blending seamlessly into a landscape that includes forest, fenced pasture and wetlands. A stone pergola, loaded with purple wisteria marks the entrance to the most formal garden area. Bluestone patios and colorful perennial beds frame the sunken central lawn. Sitting beyond the row of three stately pear trees, perfectly hedged in boxwood, is a custom designed wood-framed glass conservatory. It is the ideal place to hold delicate annuals until the timing is right to add them to the numerous beds of peony, allium, iris, hydrangea, lady’s mantle, and coneflower that color the property.

Note the rustic stone wall that forms the backdrop for a traditional English style garden at the back of the home. Set within an aged picket fence, the garden quadrants contain coreopsis, agastache and salvia, separated with paths of crushed pea gravel. A trellis of Jackmanii clematis set among a bed of nepeta marks the center of this lovely space. As you continue your tour, spend a peaceful moment atop the wall enjoying the vibrant perennial borders and gazing out over the recently cleared fence line and wetlands beyond.

Finally, step inside the custom gates and enjoy the landscape design at the entrance to the home. Edged with boxwood, the garden features ornamental dwarf pear trees, trellises loaded with white roses and a colorful tiered planter purchased at a past Hands of Hope Faire!

Old World Charmer Meets The Gentleman Farmer

Your tour begins as you pass through the old stone and iron gate and journey down a gently curving road. On one side, observe acres of white-fenced pasture, on the other, a lovely pond rippling with the splash of a tall center fountain. Overhanging the far edge of the pond is a large deck and gazebo, perfect for sunset gatherings. Directly ahead lies the residence. Originally built in the 1870’s as a barn, this unique home is now an integral part of the landscape. The aged barn siding and stone facade of the structures are in perfect harmony with the Fox River boulders and old-growth trees of the grounds.

An Old Chicago brick walkway leads into the front gardens which feature a bed of white roses, multiple stem Red Bud trees, day lilies, begonias, salvia and a majestic Gingko tree. Tangled vines lay claim to almost every surrounding wall. Colorful window boxes, baskets of hanging ferns, and olive jars planted with topiaries all add to the old world charm. Pass beneath the stone archway as you wander into the intimate back gardens filled with several varieties of hydrangea. Imagine enjoying your morning coffee in this serene and peaceful setting.

A series of flagstone steps lead you up to the freeform waterfall and pool. Spend time relaxing to the sounds of the flowing water and the doves flitting around the aviary while you observe the beautiful potted containers and natural landscaping.

A short walk across the back lawn brings you to the fields of The Gentleman Farmer, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) venture that harkens back to an earlier time when people knew their farmer, ate in harmony with the seasons, and enjoyed a diet of fresh whole foods. Representatives from The Gentleman Farmer will be available to answer any questions you have about Community Supported Agriculture as well as organic farming in general.

As you head back to the main residence take a peak in the greenhouse featuring vintage garden tools, topiaries and old world pottery. Then continue under the shade of a towering White Pine as you find your way back to the brick driveway and hillside gardens filled with iris, lilies, cleome and salvia. It’s possible the nearby barn will be inhabited, so be sure to allow yourself time to investigate it, as well as all the nooks and crannies of this charming old-world property.

An English Masterpiece

Stately columns of trees, and containers brimming with color set the stage for this estate. Designed by John Staab of The Brickman Group, these 10 acres offer everything from formal, terraced 
gardens to carefree cottage borders.

The gardens surrounding the main house are decidedly formal, as 
evidenced by the English style boxwood gardens and brick path lined with white begonias and yews. Travel through the garden gate to visit the serene grand terrace and lawn area. 



A gravel lane will lead you through the pool parterre and into the formal garden. The ornate pavilion covers distinctive perennials, annuals and roses, all in riotous bloom. Notice the use of containers to add more color and dimension throughout the area. 

A short stroll brings you to the multi-award-winning potager garden, a French inspired vegetable, fruit, berry and cutting garden sure to impress.

Nearby, the charming cottage gardens bordering the 19th century farmhouse and guesthouse will have you pointing out your favorite blooms and noting new possibilities for your own garden! 



Garden Party Vignettes by Leading Designers


As you tour the three estates you will find charming garden party vignettes created by local area designers ranging from whimsical to elegant, offering unique and traditional ideas to Faire goers. This year’s designers include, Paul Lenczuk, Settings, Inc., Barrington; Josephine Valenti, Valenti Interiors, Lake Forest; The Brickman Group, Long Grove; Lincoln Bracket and Cindy Platt, Bracket & Company, Arlington Heights;

Lori Lennon - Lori Lennon & Associates, Lake Forest; Christina Currie - Christina Currie Events, Inc., Barrington; and Michelle D’Arcy - Horticultural Associates, Inc., Gurnee; John Regan - Twisted Stem Floral, Crystal Lake.

Complimentary Home & Garden Presentations:

Friday and Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
“Contain Your Enthusiasm for Gardening” with Michelle D’Arcy, owner of Horticultural Associates in Gurnee, IL. Container gardening is an exciting way to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers. Whether you are new to gardening of just short on time or space, containers can add a wonderful splash to your patio or landscape. See how to make your garden containers both beautiful and bountiful.

Friday and Saturday, 2:00 p.m.
“Make the Most of Your Garden’s Bounty” with Chef Kelly Donlea, owner of Organizing Dinner in Lake Barrington, IL. “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food” – Hippocrates. This tale, as old as time, rings true today. Learn how to maximize your garden’s bounty to add antioxidants to your menu. Sample garden waters, juices, fresh salads and more. Kelly is a featured speaker at Gary Chapman’s Hearts at Home conferences, a national trainer for the Health cooking for Kids initiative, and author of three cookbooks.

Faire tickets are $45 through June 14th and $55 June 15th or after. Regular Faire hours are 10:00 AM to 4 PM each day. A special $80 “Early Buy” ticket will be offered Friday only for those who want to shop before the Faire opens from 8:30 AM - 10 AM. Tickets may be ordered on-line through June 17th from the website www.handsofhopeonline.org, purchased in advance and held at the entry by sending a check or money order to: Hands of Hope, 800 Hart Road, Suite 100, Barrington, IL 60010, or purchased on Faire days in the Faire parking lot. Tickets are good for both days. Sorry no refunds.

Free Parking and Shuttle:
Shuttle busses will depart every 15 minutes from the following locations: Friday: from Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St. (Hart Road Parking entrance); and across the street at 800 Hart Road. Saturday: from 800 Hart Road only. 



For more information, call 847-381-7367, visit the website at www.handsofhopeonline.org or join us on our Facebook page - Hands of Hope (Barrington Country Garden & Antique Faire) for up to the minute information about the Faire, raffle prizes and more.

Faire proceeds benefit Hands of Hope, a Barrington-based non-profit organization, dedicated to meeting the critical needs of women and children in Africa by addressing education, economic development, clean drinking water and health services.