THE BARRINGTON COUNTRY GARDEN & ANTIQUE FAIRE RETURNS - JUNE 13th & 14th

Hands of Hope invites you to the 14th annual Barrington Country Garden & Antique Faire, Friday, June 13th and Saturday, June 14th! This highly anticipated 2-day event allows guests the rare opportunity to tour the properties of three gorgeous private estates in Barrington. Guests will enjoy spectacular waterfalls, swimming pools, unique architectural details, stunning stonework, and fabulous floral and vegetable gardens.

Enjoy antique and boutique shopping on the main estate grounds where specially selected local area merchants will be featured in a tented French Market setting. A multitude of unique treasures, furniture and household items are available for sale in the Avant Garden, an upscale flea market overflowing with unusual finds. New this year, “The Boutique” offering, jewelry, scarves, purses, dolls and other fashion and home accessories will be located in its own quaint cottage. 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, or savor special pastries from Barrington’s Ambrosia Euro American Patisserie while listening to live musical performances throughout the day. 

Featured Garden Estates:

Urban Treasure

Unexpected treasure awaits behind this traditional Four Square and neighboring cottage. A beautiful example of urban gardening in which two properties are joined together into one magical retreat.

Welcoming you into the backyard is a charming custom wood gate, flanked by an alle’ of European Hornbeam trees and rows of tidy boxwood. A repurposed Victorian cast iron urn, now a fountain, transitions you into various garden spaces including a festooned rose garden off a new sunroom with views onto a private ellipse lawn terrace. A gentle slope leads you into a large expanse of lawn which accommodates an ice rink for the children in winter, or stands ready for an evening of chasing fireflies in summer.

An opening designated by flanking iron urns brings you into another open elliptical lawn area. Bordered on the west by a children’s woodland playground, note the “secret paths” through the forest (delineated with different colored mulch and tree trunk stepping stones) and the toadstool table and chairs, perfect for a children’s tea party. To the east, a large circular bluestone terrace with flanking limestone lion and lioness statues and an abundant Jardinière is the perfect spot for entertaining. The patio space features a fire pit, an in-ground hot tub, and a drop down movie screen concealed by a new eyebrow trellis. A lovely transitional deck stairway is framed by a large pergola arbor that links the house architecture to the new garden. 

Another bit of backyard magic lies with the whimsical layout of the small, raised vegetable garden (made of repurposed concrete sewer pipes stained in an aged copper wash). Do you recognize the character represented by the garden’s design? Here’s a hint, his initials are MM – the family loves Disney! This urban retreat created by John Staab of The Brickman Group proves that landscape magic is possible no matter the location. 

Prairie Perfection

The inspiration for this masterful estate is immediately evident as you approach the custom stone gates. Designed by award-winning architect E. Fay Jones, the influence of his mentor, Frank Lloyd Wright, cannot be missed. Notice the bridge ahead as you travel along the road to the home. It, and the three-tiered waterfall to the right are designed in beautiful harmony with the surrounding environment. Tall prairie grasses and beautiful wildflowers border your path as you cross the lawn to discover more of this architectural gem.

Well worth a few moments of your time is a brief walk into the woods and across the simple wooden bridge to see the open fire pit surrounded with large stone seating. Then it’s back to your original path, and the stunning pool, hot tub, and outdoor kitchen retreat. As if carved out of a stone hillside, the pool is fed via waterfall and is surrounded by stone outcroppings, vine covered walls and colorful potted tropical foliage. 

Densely landscaped borders offset the high limestone walls surrounding the residence. Set apart from the home, but worth a quick trip through the tall prairie grass, is a small apple orchard. As you enter the backyard (fenced to keep the deer away) the gardens draw your attention. Stepping stones lead you from one garden area to the next. Filled with low growth ground covers, the homeowner has loaded the borders with annuals for bright pops of color. A small vegetable garden is tucked in toward the back of the property. 

Follow the stepping stones leading out of the fenced yard, and you’ll find yourself at the home’s main entrance. Here, more examples of Jones’ organic architecture are evident as stone walls rise out of the landscape, highlighting trees and other perennial favorites. Enjoy the short walk back to your starting point as you reflect on this architectural masterpiece in the prairie.

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, Lori Lennon - Lori Lennon & Associates, Lake Forest; Christina Currie - Christina Currie Events, Inc., Barrington; Michelle D’Arcy - Horticultural Associates, Inc., Gurnee; Celeste Jackson – Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd., Barrington; Mary Mazzeffi & Jeanine Zapatka, ASID – Toms-Price Home Furnishings, South Barrington.

Complimentary Home & Garden Presentations:

Friday and Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
"Floral Inspiration" with Glen Egeland, Barrington Flower Shop

Friday and Saturday, 2:00 p.m.
"Rescue, Restore, Redecorate with Style” with Debra Phillips, SG Geneva (aka Scentimental Gardens), Geneva

Friday and Saturday, Ongoing, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
"Summer Salad Surprises” with Kelly Donlea, Organizing Dinner

Friday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. & 3:15 p.m.
"Take a Walk on the Wild Side” with Ron Zick, Wild Birds Unlimited

Hands of Hope – Women Helping Women and Children

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.  Hands of Hope was started 14 years ago by a small group of women, who were moved into action as they heard reports of women and children who were suffering. Determined to affect change, these women worked tirelessly, giving selflessly of their time, skills and resources. The group has grown significantly in the last 14 years, but the determination to change lives is still very much the culture of the organization.  According to Hands of Hope President/Founder Vicky Wauterlek  “We have raised over $4.5 million dollars used to continue addressing education, health, water and economic development in poor rural communities on the African continent. We work hard to make sure our projects are self sustaining and that the impact of our projects will continue in the future. Schools that are built will continue to educate children for generations, wells will continue to provide clean water for communities for years - a million dollar loan portfolio will be used to continue the economic growth in the rural community that we are working in.” This year’s Garden Faire proceeds will be used to continue our work of economic development, education and providing wells to communities who live in extreme poverty.

Tickets and Information

Faire tickets are $45 by June 8th and $55 June 9th 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 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. Tickets may also be purchased at these retail locations:

Ambrosia Euro-American Patisserie, 710 W. Northwest Highway, Barrington

Barrington Flower Shop, 201 South Cook Street, Barrington

Egg Harbor Café, 210 South Cook Street, Barrington

Pasquesi Home and Gardens, 990 W. Northwest Highway, Barrington

Pasquesi Home and Gardens, 975 North Shore Drive, Lake Bluff

SG Geneva (aka Scentimental Gardens), 428 W. State Street, Geneva

SG Geneva (aka Scentimental Gardens), 116 Cedar Avenue, St. Charles

Toms-Price Home Furnishings, The Arboretum of South Barrington

Wickham Interiors, 67 N. Williams Street, Crystal Lake


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 800 Hart Road (across the street). 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.