Tour of Homes 2012 sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Darke County

This year’s Tour of Homes 2012 sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Darke County is scheduled for Sunday, September 23 from 1 to 5 p.m. and promises to be one of the best yet. The three beautiful homes include contemporary. country, and classic designs. These home tours raise funds for informational programs and materials that are offered free to the public.

Featuring the homes of Kelly and Travis Fliehman, Ann Willis and Fran and Richard Nord, tickets are now on sale for $10.00 at Ann’s gifts, Brenda’s Beanery, Montage, The Bistro off Broadway, The Coffee Pot, The Flower Patch, The Ivy League, and Tropical Isle. On the day of the tour, tickets will be on sale for $12.00 at the door of the first home visited. Children under 5 are admitted free.

The Fliehman Home,8314 121 St. Rt. 121 North, combines a contempory feeling inside to a home with over a hundred years of history. An inviting fireplace is the focal point of the Fleihman great room.

The Fliehman home at 8314 St. Rt 121 (N) is a combination of 19th century architecture and twenty first century innovation. Standing majestically at the end of a tree-lined lane, it is both a home and a business to the family. From the front entrance, which opens to a waiting area and offices, the living area is reached by following a hallway to the newer section of the house revealing a bright great room with a contemporary feel. Along one brick wall is the fireplace with a huge wrought iron clock hanging above it.



The great room opens into an airy kitchen and a dining room with crown molding. From the kitchen window the landscaped lawn, pool and pool house are clearly visible, making it easy to imagine children at play. A lovely year-round sunroom and patio give even more access to outdoor living.

In the great room is a staircase that goes up to a balcony leading to two large bedrooms, including the Master, which has his and her walk-in closets and an attached bath with a Jacuzzi. There are three additional bedrooms in the business area of the home. Tastefully decorated throughout, this home also has Italian-tiles that extend from a hallway into a laundry room, which is larger than most kitchens.

Anne Willis' Country Home, 6100 Routzong Road, has used her artistic talents to create a beautiful country bed and breakfast get-away. Amid all the artistic touches in Anne Willis' guest bathroom, a visitor would be tempted to relax in her body fitting tub.

The Willis home at 6100 Routzong Road is a Bed and Breakfast called Art Junction - - aptly named because of Ann’s artistic talent and willingness to work hard to make her old farm house of yesterday into her dream home of today. Built in 1893, she has replaced its original floors with reclaimed Hemlock, has added a fireplace and has recycled used furniture into masterpieces of color and charm that compliment her many antique pieces.

From the first-floor rooms where she lives to the second-floor area where tourists stay, her entire home has been refurbished and redecorated to take advantage of every inch of space, including a unique tiled shower on the first floor that has been cleverly constructed and concealed beneath a staircase. There is also a claw-foot tub in the upper bathroom that invites a leisurely bath..

Other outstanding features of this home are one open and one enclosed porch, where guests can sit and enjoy the rural countryside. A short distance from the home is a barn which Anne has converted into a studio “get away” for guests who want more privacy. A bedroom loft overlooks the living room and kitchenette with Ann’s artistic influence everywhere in the décor. The barn sets next to the stone foundation of what was once a larger bank barn. Although the area is already used for parties, Ann, whose hobby is country-western dancing, has a long-term plan for a dance floor to be installed where hay wagons and tractors once stood.

The American flag is reflected in the window of the Nord Home, 6811 U.S. 36, a home incorporating innovative ideas with tradition. The relaxing overlook of countryside invites visitors at the Nords to choose a comfortable chair and enjoy some liesurely moments.

The Nord home at 6811 U.S. 36 (E) is as elegant as it is practical with over 8,000 feet of living space. Located back from the highway on a gentle knoll, it overlooks a small lake. Having worked with the architect on design ideas, the Nords say they wanted to incorporate front pillars, a steep roof line, several gables, a large overhang and high inside ceilings in this home. Built on two levels with the main living space on the upper and the recreational areas on the lower, the home is constructed to capture wonderful light and views even when the blinds are pulled. Although the house is filled with gorgeous traditional furniture, antiques and paintings as well as a number of whimsical touches, including window seats, it nevertheless has the latest in contemporary kitchens and bathrooms as well as mechanical equipment, which the Nords have incorporated for convenience and comfort.

Descending the stairs to the lower level of the home is like entering a vacation resort with over 5000square feet of most everything a family needs for fun and entertainment. In fact, the Nords call it their Florida House in Ohio. From a large family room complete with its own kitchenette and large-screen TV to two guest bedrooms and a fully equipped exercise room, it extends to other rooms that offer everything from a pool table, dart board, table tennis, and music Best of all is an indoor, heated pool with an automatic pool cover and walls that are a hand-painted mural of the coast of Maine completely surrounding it. The mural depicts the ocean and the rocky shore where the Portland Lighthouse stands - - all reminding Fran of Maine, where she grew up. Built at ground level to take advantage of the natural slope of the land to the north, it has its own entrance and exit onto a slate-tile patio and a beautiful waterfall area.
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Visitors will be well rewarded by the styles, decors and personal touches that make each of these homes offers for the LWV 2012 Tour of Homes.