Explore Elegant Novi, Northville Homes This Weekend

Admire the elegant details like stained glass windows and Grecian columns at three centuries of homes Saturday during the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Northville-Novi Branch 18th Annual Home Tour. 

The six Novi and Northville homes vary in architecture and interior design, including Victorian and 21st century style. Some of the homes were architecturally redesigned, include extensive gardens and give rooms new purpose — like a bedroom turned into a library, said Jane Hecker, event chair. 

"One has a kitchen that was totally redone for large scale entertaining," she said.

Several of the houses include design elements straight from the homeowners, of whom one is an interior designer. 

"The person that owns another house is a floral designer and she has done a number of the touches herself," Hecker said. 

Two of the Novi homes had a complete kitchen remodel by Northville business Epiphany Kitchens on Center Street. 

"They will be on site to talk about the renovations and upgrades in those homes," she said.

The third Novi home was built in 1969 and the homeowners have been renovating since they moved in. They worked with an architect, she said, but also did much of the design themselves. 

The tour is self-guided and tour-goers receive a map and a description of the homes after purchasing tickets. The The Home Tour is the signature fund-raising event of the AAUW Northville-Novi Branch. Ticket purchases are tax-deductible as funds are used to promote equity, education and development of opportunities for all women. This includes:

• scholarships for women/girls at area community colleges and high schools
• the Mercy Education Project in Detroit
• a program of math enrichment, “Let’s Read Math”, offered to local second and third grade students

Purchasing a ticket includes an automatic three-year subscription to Detroit Home magazine. In addition to the tour, there will be a private estate sale at one home, a craft sale and vintage cars on display.

The Home Tour is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $20 and are available online through Friday at www.aauwnn.org. Tickets purchased online may be picked up 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Starring "The Gallery," 118 West Main Street. 

Tickets are also available at:

• Starring “The Gallery”, 118 W. Main St., Northville
• Gardenviews, 117 E. Main St., Northville
• Pear-Aphernalia, 184 E. Main St., Northville
• Meadowbrook Art Center, 41200 Ten Mile Road, Novi
• Calico Corners, 25875 Novi Road, Novi
• Northville Chamber of Commerce, 195 S. Main St. Northville