Kiwanis home tour is April 28
Comet staff report

Laurie Brower home

Flora Kiwanis Club's second annual home tour will be April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The five homes on the tour include one new home, two older homes, and two recently remodeled and upd a t e d r a n c h - s t y l e homes.

Home owners and locations, all in the Flora area, are as follows: Laurie Brower, 303 South Circle Drive; Bill and Jane Kearns, 211 East Main Street; Kevin and Martha Clark, 320 North Washington Street; Dale and Renee McIlrath, 5334E State Road 18; Dale and Sarah Orem, 920 Camero Court.

Proceeds from the event will help children in the community in various ways. Tickets can be purchased from any Kiwanis member, at the Flora Town Office, Loudon Printing, Jamp Sales, or the Flower Shoppe. They also may be purchased at any of the homes on the day of the tour.

For those wanting to take in a full day of activities in Flora, the Carroll County Flower & Garden Fair will be the same day, at the Flora Community Park.

The five homes on the tour are described below. The tours will not be guided, but family members will be there to answer questions.

Home of Kevin and Martha Clark

Brower

This 2005 two-story home features cathedral ceilings and a great room with fireplace, open to the dining area and Zinn kitchen. The mahogany table in the dining area was hand crafted by Laurie Brower's brother, Dick Langston.

The home also includes a home office, four bedrooms upstairs, and a grandmother's suite for Mary Catherine Carter. The decorating style of the home is Old World, eclectic.

Kearns

This home was built in 1915 and purchased by the Kearns eight years ago. It features original oak w o o d w o r k d o w n s t a i r s and original maple woodwork upstairs. There are two staircases - an open staircase in the

front, and an

e n c l o s e d staircase in the back.

Of the four bedrooms, one is being used as a craft and sewing room.

Other rooms include a living room, dining room, and large kitchen.

The house has nine-foot ceilings and wallpaper decorating.

Clark

The Clarks live in a Victorian Style home built in 1904.

Home of Dale and Sarah Orem

The house features original red oak and pine flooring and trim, stained glass window, fireplace, and upgrades such as a new Zinn kitchen.

There are six rooms, along with a half bath, on the main floor, and four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a common room on the upper floor. There is a bay window on each level. The house has a full basement and attic. At one time the t w o - c a r garage was a carriage house.

The Clarks have lived in the house for 16 years and enjoy c o l l e c t i n g antique furniture that c o m p l e - ments the home. They have mixed different styles of artwork from pastels to bold abstracts painted by local artist, Erma Flora. A rich deep color palette was chosen to enhance the original architectural features of the home.

McIlrath

The McIlraths recently updated their home, removing a wall in the family room to create a dining room. There are new doors and woodwork throughout the home. The new Zinn kitchen features a combination of French ivory and spice finishes. The kitchen and dining room have elegant hardwood flooring.

The home has three bedrooms and two baths. Both baths have new flooring and cabinetry.

The McIlrath home has been decorated in rich natural colors.

Orem

This brick ranch home was built in 1972 by Dick and Judy Fitzer. The Orems purchased it in December 2004 from Robert and Mary Wise.

In recent remodeling, the Orems removed walls to give the home an updated open concept.

The house features a new French Country Zinn kitchen, three bedrooms, two baths, and a fireplace. It is decorated in contemporary style with an Asian flair.