It is perhaps the most famous address in cinematic history—a red-brick Georgian colonial that became a fortress against the “Wet Bandits” and a symbol of Christmas chaos.
But after years of modern renovations that stripped the property of its festive charm, the Home Alone house is finally getting its warmth back.
Following its sale for over $5.5 million in January 2025, the new owners of the Winnetka, Illinois estate have commissioned a massive project: to undo the “sterile” all-white renovations of the past and return the interior to the cosy aesthetic of the 1990 classic.
‘Bring the magic back’
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Architecture & Design (@architectanddesign)
For decades, the McCallister house was defined by its patterned wallpaper, grand staircase, and rich red and green palette. However, a 2018 renovation replaced these features with a modern, monochromatic white design.
Fans were vocal in their disdain, with many taking to social media to describe the new look as “incredibly depressing” or likening it to a “sterile” doctor’s office.
Now, the pendulum is swinging back.
“Our vision is to bring back the warmth and just the love from the movie,” Scott Price, the project manager for the renovation, told NBC5 Chicago.
“There was so many great colors and it just made you feel like family and like home and we want to bring that magic back.”
‘A movie fun house’
The house’s identity is inextricably linked to Macaulay Culkin, who famously defended the 9,000-square-foot property as eight-year-old Kevin McCallister.
Even the actor himself has toyed with the idea of reclaiming the space.
Speaking at a screening in Chicago last year, Culkin, 45, admitted he “had half a mind to buy it — just for giggles” when it was listed for sale in 2024.
His vision was not to live there, but to turn the property into a “movie fun house,” a place where fans could relive the magic and perhaps reenact a scene or two.
Living inside the set
While Culkin ruled the screen, real life continued behind the scenes for the Abendshien family, who actually lived in the home during the four-month shoot.
Laura Abendshien, who was just six years old at the time, recalls a surreal childhood of dodging cameras inside her own home.
“In order to avoid appearing onscreen, we would have to crawl around the window line from room to room,” she told the UK show This Morning in 2020.
She also shared a unique bond with the cast, noting that Culkin used her bedroom as a study space with his tutor while his brother, Kieran Culkin, would simply hang out.
“It was very surreal when the movie came out… and it was an endless row of cars and people wanted to see the house,” she recalled.
For the new owners, restoring the house isn’t just about interior design; it is about preserving a piece of cultural history. As Price noted, the goal is simple: to make the house feel like a home again.
