This year’s home tour to benefit Hand-in-Hand Hospice promises everything from modern to historical, and some surprises along the way.
The annual tour will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets cost $8 in advance and $10 at the door. There are four homes on this year’s tour. Tickets can be purchased at any of the CoreFirst Bank locations; the Newman Regional Health gift shop; Hand-in-Hand Hospice; Dayton’s Hobbies and the Medicine Shoppe.
Homes on this year’s tour include the Gufler home, 612 W. 12th Ave.; the home of Gilan and Susan Cockrell, 739 Road 200; the home of Char and Steven Miller, 502 W. 15th Ave.; and the home of Jim and Deb Rathke, 1545 Berkeley.
Today, we peek inside the final two houses.
502 W. 15th Ave.
Built around 1930, the home of Char and Stephen Miller is filled with personal touches — and some surprise themes for guests of the home tour to enjoy.
The Millers moved into the three bedroom, three-bath home in 1997 after they fell in love with it. The house was move-in ready, Char Miller said, adding that they haven’t done any major renovations since they’ve owned the home. The Millers live in the home with their shih tzu, Domino, who is 16 years old.
Much of the home’s decor comes from the Millers’ life experiences. Stephen Miller works for the Park Service, and for a period of time the family lived on the Navajo Indian reservation.
Many Native American pieces decorate the home, which is around 2,500 square feet. Chinese decorations also grace the home and were given to the Millers by Char Miller’s parents.
The kitchen of the home still has the metal cabinetry from the 1950s, Char Miller said as she gave a tour.
“The kitchen really hasn’t been re-done,” she said.
There’s also a breakfast room and a sun porch in the house. The backyard houses a pool.
The second floor, which is accessed via an ornate dark wood stairway, has built-in bookshelves in the hallway and has a surprise that Char Miller is saving for guests.
“It’s a secret,” she said with a smile as she peered into the room.
1545 Berkeley
The home owned by Jim and Deb Rathke, 1545 Berkeley, comes with several features that add to its charm and appeal.
Built in 1925, the house is currently on the real-estate market and the Rathkes moved out because they needed a single-level home, Jim Rathke said on Monday. The home is around 2,800 square feet with two stories and a basement. It has three bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths. The Rathkes purchased the home in 1998 and lived there until last year.
“We loved living here,” Rathke said as he gave a tour of the home. “It’s a beautiful place. There’s a lot of charm to it.”
The living room has French doors that lead to a sun room with built-in cabinets and a cedar ceiling. Inside the large living room is a working wood fireplace.
“We loved it in the wintertime,” Rathke said.
The dining room has crown molding and custom shades. The kitchen has a breakfast nook with built-in cabinets.
Rathke said they found the doors to the cabinets in the basement and re-attached them.
There is a unique half bath located off the kitchen. To get to it there are three steps down and then another three steps up.
The staircase leading to the second floor is graced mid-way up by a stained glass window. An alcove off the landing of the stairs likely was used to store a phone. There are three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.
The Rathkes used one bedroom for an office.
Rathke said they fell in love with the house and the neighborhood from the start.
“It’s a beautiful neighborhood,” he said.