Beech Tree News Network

The Annual Butler County DAR Christmas Home Tour will be held Sunday, December 4, 2011 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The cost is only $2 per home with all proceeds going to the DAR Scholarship fund. This year’s tour includes five homes: Kenneth and Debbie Young, Bill and Brenda Smith, Pat and Kim Grubb, John and Beth Embry, and Stephen and Stacy Rice.

On Thanksgiving Day 2010 a long time dream became a reality for Debbie and Kenneth Young as they moved into their new log home.  The home is located off Highway 79 South at 177 Eric Young Road and on the farm of Debbie’s parents and grandparents where she grew up.

The 3332 square foot custom home is constructed from 10 inch round white pine logs supplied by Heritage Log Homes.  The home features a two story A frame center with covered porches on each side and across the back.

The three bedroom- two and ½ bath home features a 22 foot ceiling in the great room with log rafters and beams and lots of large windows.  A six foot stone fireplace with cedar mantle is also a feature of this open space as well as the ½ log staircase leading to the loft, 2 upstairs bedrooms and bath.  The combination kitchen/dining room features custom oak cabinets with many built-ins and stainless steel appliances.  Granite countertops and a two level bar with stone and log trim complete the kitchen and ties this area back into the great room.  Down the hall past a half-bath and laundry room is the master suite featuring a custom made log bedroom suite, large bay window, walk-in closet, whirlpool tub, walk-in shower and oak bath vanity.  The main level of this home has hickory and tile flooring and the upstairs floors are made of tongue and grove pine.

The combination of logs, stone, wood trim, furnishings, and decorations including a twelve foot Christmas tree make this a rustic yet modern home you don’t want to miss.  Debbie and Kenneth said God has blessed them so much and they look forward to sharing their home with their friends to help raise money for DAR scholarships.

Are you ready to get into the Christmas spirit?  Bill and Brenda Smith have roots in Butler County, but lived in Owensboro for more than forty years.  She retired from teaching, and they purchased the 1956 home at 207 West Morrison Street, the home had belonged to a former local teacher, Ms Addie Wade.   Since purchasing the home, they have gutted the kitchen and a cousin, Stan Johnson with Fine Designs, fashioned the beautiful kitchen cabinets from hickory with wormwood.  They have gutted two bathrooms and their son Jeremy who has his own tile business when not serving as Lieutenant at the Daviess County Fire Department, laid the tile as well as everything else. During the renovation we had to call upon my brother-in-law Doug for the plumbing.
Brenda believes she was born in the wrong era because she loves to decorate in ways that remind her of her precious grandmother, Beivie Johnson, who also resided in Butler County.  Brenda loves Victorian, antiques, and primitive. The Smiths hope you stop at their home on the Christmas Tour and find that it will fill your heart with joy and peace and hopefully get you in the Christmas spirit.

 Check out Part II: DAR Home Tour for Pat and Kim Grubb, John and Beth Embry and Stephen and Stacy Rice's homes.