HOME & GARDEN
Back to the future for Tour of Homes

Simplicity by Hayden Homes will debut a tiny house on the Tour of Homes running July 22-30 in Eugene, Springfield, Coburg and Veneta. The 600-square-foot home is in a new subdivision of homes less than 1,064 square feet in size. (Kelly Lyon/The Register-Guard)

This year’s Tour of Homes running July 22-30 in Lane County may not be the biggest or most grandiose since 1985, but it has some fun surprises in place.

For years the tour, sponsored by the Home Builders of Lane County, has been anchored by Pacific Northwest traditional homes, often along Craftsman lines. But now start thinking pink flamingos, too: six of the tour’s 11 homes have more modernistic slants in regard to layout and architecture.

“It may be the millennialist connection, but some people seem to be getting tired of traditional homes,” ponders Chad Wilson, who built his own $599,000 tour home in southwest Eugene with low-slung hip roof, cube-shaped garage, industrial accents and open floor plan. “It’s the same kind of thing people liked in the ’50s. It’s been done before, people got burned out on them, but now it’s back in.”

The Home Builders Association of Lane County also chose a modern design for its prairie-style tour home in north Eugene. Each year members build and sell a tour house to help fund the organization’s programs.

“Part of the discussion was that, with all of the traditional homes selling before they were built, why do we want to change?” confides Ed McMahon, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Lane County. “The response was that there is a market for the modern look, but nobody is building them. Now here we are with (multiple others) on the tour.”

Big little surprise

The “tiny house” fad makes its tour debut with a 600-square-foot burrow in the River Road area. “I’m excited about that being on the tour; that’s different,” McMahon says.

The wee unit is one of 20 small rental homes — all ranging from 600 to 1,064 square feet — in the new “Turtle Creek” subdivision along Turtle Lane in Eugene. Simplicity by Hayden Homes built the subdivision for a private investor, so the rental homes are available to the community at large.

“You feel like you’re in a bigger home because of the (open) living area,” says Matt Van Coutren, construction manager for Simplicity by Hayden Homes.

“The kitchen, dining nook and living area all are open to one another.”

Latest, greatest

Most homes on this year’s tour weigh in at $500,000 or less, to as low as $233,990. More opulent showpieces include a 4,000-square-foot, dream-come-true family home in Coburg by and for builders Todd and Nekol Bardwell of Oregon Estates LLC, and a 2,493-square-foot, tri-level southwest Eugene indulgence by Designer Homes.

But even more mortal homes on the tour feature advanced technologies, namely in energy efficiency, air quality and finish materials.

“It (the tour) gives people a lot of great ideas,” suggests Dane Butler of Future B Homes, whose homebuilding family has had a house on each Tour of Homes. “There are lots of new flooring materials, lots of great light fixtures. The turnover in home construction design is monthly; they’re constantly coming out with the newest and greatest. There’s very little stagnation in the industry.”

Most builders stage their tour homes with furnishings and art.

The self-guided tour’s hours are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weeknights and noon to 6 p.m. weekends from Saturday, July 22 through Sunday, July 30.

Here’s a brief inside look at all 11 homes that will be open during the 2017 Tour of Homes:

Coburg showpiece

Husband-and-wife homebuilders Todd and Nekol Bardwell, owners of Oregon Estates LLC, wanted to build their $899,000 tour home at 91146 Mayor Court in Coburg like it was their own. And in fact that’s what they did: The couple plan this 4,000-square-foot, four-bedroom Pacific Northwest contemporary house as the family of five’s forever home.

“Basically it’s her dream home, so I built it like she wanted it,” Todd Bardwell says.

The big kitchen island alone catches you off guard, what with two huge, elevated granite slabs flanking an induction cooktop. Alder cabinets, with transparent stain to show their wood grain, rise 10 feet on the kitchen wall.

Other opulence includes the living room’s massive fireplace wall, plastered to look like concrete and with two side-by-side flame boxes; built-in wine room with crystal chandeliers; dining room with reclaimed log table and linear chandelier with black crystals; the master suite’s posh double-door walk-in shower enshrined in porcelain tile with mirrored inlay tiles; and 1,000-square-foot outdoor patio with built-in hot tub, barbecue and dining area.

Homebuilders’ featured house

Members of the Home Builders Association of Lane County, which sponsors the annual Tour of Homes, chose modern lines for their $469,000, three-bedroom and two-bath house at 283 W. Dean Ave. in Eugene’s Santa Clara area. Proceeds from the sale of the house will benefit HBLA programs.

Rated for energy performance beyond code, the upper-end, 2,198-square-foot house includes a tankless water heater, gas fireplace, hardwood floors, quartz countertops, walk-in pantry, 50-year asphalt roof and large covered back porch.

Universal single-story design

Future B Homes had daily living conveniences in mind when building its $384,900, 1,829-square-foot tour home at 3181 Gardenia Way in the Santa Clara area. “It’s an easily accessible house for people of all ages,” says company head Dane Butler.

The single-story, easy-upkeep universal design includes wide hallways and doors, clean lines, year-round natural light, and energy performance beyond code. Built around a great room, the home has vaulted and tray ceilings, walnut kitchen cabinets, maple hardwood floors, attic storage and a finished garage.

Cusp of the countryside

Crescent Homes chose a setting on the fringe of Santa Clara suburbia for its $520,900 home at 2945 Miles Way in Eugene. The four-bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, 2,368-square-foot home’s backyard overlooks a natural area.

“At the end of the day, people want to enjoy their home; they want to go to their backyard and have peace and serenity,” says Crescent Homes owner Mark Grassauer. “That’s what we offer.”

Appointments in the two-story Pacific Northwest contemporary design include energy efficiency, large rooms, master suite with walk-in shower, covered rear patio, tile throughout, mud room and three-car garage.

Novel tiny house

Nestled in a new River Road subdivision of some 20 tiny rental houses, this 600-square-foot house at 1357 Turtle Lane is courtesy of Simplicity by Hayden Homes, a division of Hayden Homes. Construction manager Matt Van Courtren says the bantam home with detached one-car garage feels bigger than it is, thanks to combined kitchen and living spaces, with enough space left over for a separate laundry room.

Contemporary aspects include slanted roofs on both the home and garage. Clean, easy-maintenance interior finishes include real wood cabinets, porcelain backsplashes above quartz countertops, and laminate wood floors. Ductless heating and air conditioning add to energy efficiency.

Remodeled, expanded farmhouse

Paul Witt, owner of Regal Custom Homes & Development, saved 800 square feet of an old farmhouse and expanded it with 1,500 square feet of new construction for his tour home at 25851 Jeans Road in Veneta.

The three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with unstated value features a great-room design with masonry fireplace and hardwood floors. Exposed interior wood — such as for wrapping beams and columns — was in part milled from an old barn on site. The master suite has a clawfoot tub.

Set on 1.7 acres, the home has a new custom shop, two covered outdoor living areas, and mature fruit trees.

Hints of the ’50s

Wilson Homes Inc. recaptured mid-century modern design elements in its $599,000 view home at 1920 Sunrise Blvd. in Eugene. The 2,600-square-foot, four-bedroom, 3.5-bath house with office stands out for its low-profile roof, modern open interior, and cube-shaped garage.

“It’s something new,” allows Chad Wilson, owner of Wilson Homes.

Inside, the entry opens to an exposed second-floor balcony with black iron posts and steel cable railing. The chef’s kitchen boasts higher-end appliances, two-tub pullout dishwasher, lavish tilework, cherry cabinets and quartz counters. Nearly 100 LED can lights boost energy efficiency. Flooring includes stone tile and maple hardwood.

Modern interior design

Designer Homes chose a modern, lofty floor plan for its $849,000, 2,493-square foot home at 2490 Panorama Drive in southwest Eugene. The three-level “Panorama” has three bedrooms, 2.5 baths and bottom-floor garage with a glass/metal door.

The upscale kitchen with large island has walnut cabinets and top-of-the-line appliances. A covered deck wraps around the middle floor, and the oversize master suite — with double shower heads in the bathroom — soaks up a city view.

White oak floors and high ceilings accent the open-concept floor plan; extras include a butler’s pantry/wet bar.

West Springfield perks

Fashionable living near schools, shopping and parks was the inspiration for Anslow & DeGeneault Inc.’s $445,000 tour home at 966 Hamilton St. off Centennial Boulevard in west Springfield.

The three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,848-square-foot home with open-living floor plan is part of the company’s new Osprey Park subdivision.

Ten-foot ceilings span the great room, which includes a fireplace with custom mantle and a kitchen with quartz countertops, high-end appliances, pantry cab and pot filler at the cooktop.

A large porch accents the home’s front side; behind the dwelling is a patio. The front entry has oak plank floors and access to a home office.

Large lot on a hill

Breeden Homes chose a hip roof and open-living concept for its $419,760 tour home at 3651 Vitus Lane in east Springfield’s new River Heights subdivision.

Eventually the hillside subdivision will have about 50 homes. “We have very large lots up there; most of them are more than 10,000 square feet,” says construction superintendent John Thompson.

His 1,867-square foot, three-bedroom, two-bath tour home has a distant McKenzie River view, best seen from a deck off the dining room. The gourmet kitchen has granite slab counters, stained alder cabinets and higher-end stainless-steel appliances.

Both bathrooms also have granite counters and heated tile floors.

Nicely affordable

Hayden Homes includes some niceties in its relatively affordable, $233,990 tour home at 4770 Glacier Meadows Loop in east Springfield.

The three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,408-square foot, single-level home aims for curb appeal with lap siding and ledges below window shutters. Interior finishes include birch cabinets with crown moulding, designer backsplashes above laminate countertops, nickel cabinet pulls and energy-efficient thermal paned windows.

A gas fireplace accents the living room, which, like the bedrooms, is wired for cable. The backyard is fenced and landscaped; the roof comes with lifetime architectural composite roofing material.

[“Source-registerguard”]

About the author

Related Post