I was browsing one of my favorite blogs the other day–Hooked on Houses–and saw that another famous Chicago area movie house is on the market: the brick Colonial from 1987’s Planes, Trains and Automobiles. You may remember (or maybe it’s etched in your mind because your husband makes you watch the movie EVERY Thanksgiving like mine does!) that Steve Martin’s character, Neal Page, spends the entire movie trying to get home to this house.
Here’s what the home looked like in the movie as John Candy and Steve Martin made their way up the walk:
Located at 230 Oxford Road in what is perhaps considered Chicago’s most exclusive neighborhood, Kenilworth, the home is being sold for 1.699 million (that’s up from the 1.4 it sold for in 2009, but down from the 1.7999 being asked last week–curious as to what’s been done to the property to justify that jump in such a market–maybe a lot of “behind the scenes” work based on the pictures!)
Here’s what the house looks like now:
Unlike another famous John Hughes location North Shore property that was recently on the market, the house from Home Alone, where so much of the movie was shot in the interior of the house, the interiors of this house were not seen a lot. (For the record, the Home Alone house was originally on the market for over 1.9 million in the summer of 2011 and sold for 1.585 this March.)
Here’s a shot of the Home Alone house–Hughes loves a traditional Colonial!
Back to Planes, Trains… Here’s a shot of the hallway as seen in the movie
And how it looks in the real house (nice open entry and like the console, but please let me do something about the picture and lighting!)
Here are some other pics of the house as it currently is–obviously a lot of Asian influence in the current owners’ decor (they did move to Hong Kong after all.)
Oh how this dining room is begging for a new lighting fixture (not because it’s not pretty, but because it’s tiny!) The built-ins are gorgeous and deserve an equally dramatic light.
Here’s a shot of the kitchen as seen in the movie
Blue tile nowhere to be found (phew) but could definitely use some updating. Great space though and gorgeous stove!
Master Bedroom–btw, no picture of the master bath which in a property at this price generally means it’s in not so great shape or tiny.
Interested in laying your head here? Coldwell Banker agent Barbara Mawicke has the listing and, since I know I always ask the question “why are they moving?” here’s the scoop–according to the Evanston Review, the property is owned by her son who has moved to Hong Kong with his family.
oh man, I really got to get out of Vancouver – that much would get you a 1500 square foot two or three bedroom duplex here. But less to clean, I tell myself.
What? You aren’t doing a design review of the motel room where they shared a bed? I recall a fabulous velvet painting of a deer scene.
Thanks for the shout-out! I love the exterior of this house, even if the interiors leave a little to be desired. Every time I watch the movie I wish they’d show us more of the rooms. Interesting that they lowered the price on it–and to hear why they’re moving!