Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The site of the Builders Association of Kosciusko/Fulton Counties' 2005 Homes on Parade is Barrington Hills, at the corner of CRs 350N and 100E, Warsaw.
VIP Night Thursday evening provided the opportunity for the Builders Association to recognize the builders and introduce the hosts and sponsors of the event. Joni Truex, the new executive officer of the Builders Association, opened the ceremonies by welcoming everyone to the 20th Homes on Parade VIP night and thanking the board members for the effort required to plan and produce the event. New this year is two interactive information centers, provided by Video and Sound Productions, that allow attendees to vote online for Best In Show. She then introduced Jeff Hamman, Builders Association president.
Hamman requested a moment of silence for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and announced that $1 of every ticket will go to the Red Cross for disaster relief.
Larry Peppel, executive director of the local Red Cross chapter, said, "We're very busy raising funds and training volunteers. This is the biggest disaster the Red Cross and other agencies have ever experienced, and it will be a long-term project. We thank the Builders Association for their support."
Hamman thanked the host sponsor for VIP night, Mutual Federal Savings Bank, represented by Bill Curl, assistant vice president and retail lending manager. Mutual Federal is a charter member of the Association, with 27 years of support.
Developers of the Barrington Hills parade site were represented by Tom Brovont, Joe Hamilton and Donnie Hamby.
The builders of the six homes built for this year's parade are: Tom Brovont and Sons Builders and Developers, with two homes in the parade; T.L. Jackson Construction Inc.; Willie's Oakbrook Homes; Coplen Construction Inc.; and Renewal Homes LLC, owned by Wendell Miller and new this year to the fall Parade.
Catering was by Boss Hogg, and entertainment was provided by Deb Collier's Class Act Dance Troupe and Dixieland Music by a group of veteran musicians led by Martin Becker on trumpet.
Common among this year's homes was the use of ceramic tile combined with carpet, both wall-to-wall and area rugs, and richly colored hardwood floors. Most carpeting was serviceable and in neutral tones. Also featured in most of the homes were open floor plans, walls of larger windows and a variety of light to dark shades of earth tones on the walls.
What's in:
• Large kitchens with plenty of cabinets and adjacent eating areas in addition to formal dining rooms. Two of the homes also have cozy hearth rooms next to the kitchen areas.
• Screened and three-season porches were featured in addition to deck areas.
• Traditional overstuffed furniture allows decorations, occasional tables and other furnishings to establish the ambience. Decorating themes ranged from rich traditional to retro and eclectic. Exceptional artwork was displayed in several homes.
• Look up! Check out the array of ceiling fans and attractive trayed and coffered ceilings.
• Oversized showers, double sinks and large master baths are included in all the homes.
• High ceilings.
What's out:
• White walls.
• Living rooms have been replaced by great rooms.
Other interesting items to check out include: open storage and coat hangers in mud rooms in The Thomas and The Tannin Maple; the unique room arrangement in The Hemingway; use of black accents in The Cottage; the elegant decor of The Thomas; openness in the entry to The Manor; the artwork, ceilings and upper walls in The Tannin Maple; and the retro decor in The Benson.
Photographic renderings of the homes and floor plans were contained in a special section in the Sept. 8 Times-Union.
This parade runs Saturday through Sept. 18. The hours are: Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 8 p.m.; Monday through Friday, 3 to 8 p.m.; Sept. 17, 1 to 8 p.m.; and Sept. 18, 1 to 6 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the parade site: $5 for age 13 and up ($1 of which will go to the American Red Cross for hurricane disaster relief); $1 for ages 6 to 12; and under age 6 are free.
