With a lovely Georgian colonial home as the backdrop, regional Interior Designers and decorating professionals will showcase their unique talents by refashioning nineteen memorable spaces Under One Roof.  From May 3 – May 18, 2008, the Junior League of Rockford will present their third Under One Roof Designer Showcase Home Tour fundraiser to benefit their projects and programs.  Those wishing to have the very first look at the redesigned home may attend the Under One Roof Premiere Party on Friday, May 2.

Located in the heart of Churchill’s Grove at 1806 National Avenue, the Daly Family Home is thought to be the oldest home on a beautiful tree lined avenue of historic Rockford mansions.  This imposing Georgian colonial residence has approximately 5,000 square feet of living space, and consists of seven bedrooms, 5½ bathrooms, an office, a sunroom, and a wood-paneled library with a fireplace. The formal living spaces are filled with familiar hallmarks, such as high ceilings, gleaming hardwood floors, leaded glass, stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a dramatic staircase.

Advance tickets for the Designer Showcase Home Tour may be ordered through the Junior League website www.jlrockford.org - Tickets / Hours / Directions page, by calling 815-399-4518, as well as purchased at the following local ticket outlets: Alpine Bank, Crimson Ridge, Logli Supermarkets, Rock Valley Federal Credit Union, Talbots, Village Green, and Wonderland Books and Toys.  Tickets will also be available at the door during the tour viewing hours.  Tour tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $15 for groups of 10 or more.

The Junior League of Rockford’s Fundraising events have become synonymous with unique shopping opportunities.  The Final Touches Boutique will be open during the Designer Showcase Home tours in May, and will feature unique items for your home, garden, and even yourself, featuring the works of local and regional artisans.  From jewelry to purses, specialty food to baby and children’s novelty items, there will be something for everyone! 

Proceeds from the Under One Roof Designer Showcase Home Tour and a portion of the proceeds from the Final Touches Boutique will go to support the projects and programs of the Junior League of Rockford, including its most recent community project RAISE (Reaching and Inspiring Students for Education).  RAISE is a program aimed at increasing access to and success in post high-school education for financially disadvantaged, underrepresented and first-generation college students from the Rockford Public Schools. The project is a collaboration between the Junior League of Rockford, the Mayor’s Office of Education and Life-Long Learning, the Community Education Partnership, and Rockford Public School District 205.

The Junior League is grateful to the following organizations for their sponsorship of this event:  The Rockford Register Star, Electrolux, Fetelli, 13-WREX, Comcast Communications, and Swedish American Center for Women.

The Junior League of Rockford, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.  For the past 77 years, Junior League of Rockford members have researched, developed and implemented programs in our community that have impacted over 10 million lives.  Past community projects of the Junior League of Rockford include Ken-Rock Community Center, Washington Park Community Recreation Center, Stepping Stones, Bright Side Adult Day Center, Discovery Center Museum, CASA, Youth Services Network, Rock River Discovery Park, Domestic Violence Assistance Center, and most recently MAYA’S House.

For more information regarding the Under One Roof Designer Showcase Home Tour, visit the Junior League of Rockford website at www.jlrockford.org or call 815-399-4518.

Under One Roof Premiere Party
Friday, May 2 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
$50 per person (includes admission to Premiere Party, appetizers, & home tour) Be among the first in Rockford to view the Designer Showcase Home when you attend
this fabulous party the night before the home opens to the public! Tour the home, meet the designers, be the first to shop at the Final Touches Boutique, and sample some of the
finest hors de oeuvres and desserts in the city, provided by new owner Michael Ellis and Executive Chef Philippe Forcioli of CLIFFBREAKERS. Music will be provided by the Dean Moriarty Jazz Trio. A silent auction will also be held featuring exciting items such as an Electrolux stainless steel grill, a Costa Rican fishing trip, sports tickets, and family entertainment packages.

Lisa Frost “Portraits of Mom” Children’s ART Class
Ages 5-7
Sunday, May 4
Sessions at 1:00 pm; 2:30 pm; 3:30 pm
Cost: $45 each (includes class for one child and one adult tour ticket)*
Cost art class only: $25 per child
Just in time for Mother's Day! Come and treat yourself to an afternoon at the Designer Showcase Home while your child creates a wonderful 16" X 20" canvas painting and lesson in portraiture with national artist and award winning art teacher, Lisa Frost.

Lisa Frost "Mixing with the LETTERS" Children's ART Class
Ages 8-12
Saturday, May 10
Sessions at 11:00 am; 12:30 pm; 1:30 pm
Cost: $45 each (includes class for one child and one adult tour ticket)*
Cost art class only: $25 per child
Children will mix, design and paint beautiful artistic letters on canvases to spell words. National artist and award winning art teacher, Lisa Frost, will teach this lesson of modern Art. Some popular themes include creating names, initials, or words such as the everpopular T.E.A.M. or L.O.V.E. (Letters limited to 4). *Please note that the cost of the classes will cover supplies, materials and provide a donation to the Junior League of Rockford compliments of Lisa Frost!

Historical Tour of National Avenue
Tuesday, May 13 11:00 am
Thursday, May 15 6:00 pm
$45 per person (includes historical tour and one tour ticket)
Cost historical tour only: $25 each
Learn about the fascinating history of the homes on National Avenue during this guided
tour. Afterwards, tour the Designer Showcase Home and shop the Final Touches
Boutique.

Please contact the Junior League of Rockford (JLR) at 815-399-4518 for reservations or download the Order Form in PDF format from www.jlrockford.org. Send payment andorder form to JLR, 4118 Pinecrest Road, Rockford, IL 61107. Deadline for mail orders is April 25, 2008. For more information regarding the Under One Roof Designer Showcase Home Tour, log on to www.jlrockford.org or call 815-399-4518.