Tour of Homes Showcases Residential Gems, Raises Funds for Arts In Education
"Aspri Villa" is the largest home ever featured on the Tour of Homes.
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE - ONLY $20 IN ADVANCE
It?s almost Valentine?s Day, and that means the Cultural Arts Association of Walton County is getting ready for the annual Valentine Tour of Homes, showcasing some of the most unique residential gems on the Beaches of South Walton. This self-guided tour will take place Saturday, February 12th from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm to raise funds for the CAA?s Educational Giving Program, which provides $20,000 annually in grants to Walton County teachers, need-based scholarships for students to participate in art programs and college scholarships awarded to outgoing high school seniors and college students to pursue degrees in the arts.
Event Chair Nina McCaslin-Horn carefully chose the homes on this year?s tour, including ?Chatham House,? Seaside?s original ?dogtrot? recently renovated in a fresh new style. Guests will then take a quick shuttle ride to tour a 1925 Gulf-front homestead named "Emerald Crest" with Alys Beach?s five-star "Aspri Villa" across the street providing an interesting contrast. ?We wanted to present a diverse array of styles that have evolved through the years, and provide an exclusive opportunity for the public to explore these beautiful homes, while raising much needed funds for the CAA,? says McCaslin-Horn. ?The public can garner a unique appreciation of the diverse architectural styles of our community, and at the same time, provide much needed support for a very worthwhile mission.?
?Chatham House" is a private residence owned by John W. Houghtaling, II of Metaire, LA. Located at 71 East Ruskin Place in the Town of Seaside, balances desire for the heroic in architecture with the necessity of good urban manners. When first designed and built by Walter Chatham in the late eighties, this house received much attention for its marked departure from the surrounding houses of early Seaside. Originally composed of two separated pavilions, ?The Dog Trot House? acted very much in the spirit of its namesake type commonly found in the south. New owner Houghtaling, after a few years of enjoying the house as originally designed, decided it was time to make necessary adjustments, and in the fall of 2009, the 2500 square foot renovation and addition was finished at a total cost of over a million dollars. Braulio Casas was the architect behind the revisions and the new landscape design, and John Fernandez designed the interior. In pattern, form, color and material, the renovation and addition have given the house a new lease on life. An essay in balance, the house once again has become an attraction for its dramatic departure from the Seaside norm.
In 1925, Lucien May homesteaded 160 acres along the Gulf of Mexico where he lived for two years and raised fruit trees, vegetables and chickens before President Calvin Coolidge deeded the land over to him in 1927. Located at 9368 East County Hwy 30A, Home #2 got its name when a great uncle stood at the bluff, noting the crescent shape of the coast line and the emerald green waters and said ?This is an Emerald Crest.? The house was used as a vacation home by the family, except from 1941 to 1945 when the U.S. Coast Guard took it to use as an out post to watch for German U-Boats. The only evidence of their presence today is the lockers on either side of the house and the ping pong table (still used by the family) on the front porch. In 1973, all but 100 feet on the western border of the property was sold, and at that time the house moved to its present day site. In 1975, the property was again sold, at auction, to Mr. Elton B. Stevens of EBSCO, and now it is becoming Alys Beach.
The largest home we have ever presented, is an 11,250 square foot compound named ?Aspri Villa,? which is Greek for ?the large white mansion.? This 5-Star hotel-style estate home is owned in part by Charlie Renfroe, and is situated in the community of Alys Beach. Renowned Florida architect Tom Christ, and Atlanta interior designer Christa Renfroe Hurley, teamed up to create a truly one of a kind masterpiece that embodies the epitome of style and design. ?It has a beachy feel without being predictable. Because the architecture is so exquisite, I wanted to compliment it with a soothing, timeless look,? says Christa. 9,500 square feet of living space surrounds a private saltwater pool with underwater music features and a sheer decent waterfall. At the front center of the house, the winding staircase elegantly ascends to the tower room and rooftop terrace that features a luxurious Jacuzzi and, of course, the magnificent views of the Gulf.
?Each home on this year?s tour is impressive in a unique way and has its own story to tell,? says Jennifer Steele, CAA Executive Director. ?I think tour guests will be as fascinated by the beach-front cottage that was used during World War II as they will be by the stunning 11,000 square foot Alys Beach retreat that sits across the highway.?
As an added bonus, tour attendees can turn their ticket stubs in at World Six Gallery in Rosemary Beach throughout the day to be entered into a drawing to win original artwork by Allison Wickey, Beaches of South Walton?s 2011 Artist of the Year.
Tickets for the Valentine Tour of Homes are $20 in advance and can be purchased online. Tickets may also be purchased locally at the following locations: in Rosemary Beach at World Six Gallery (34 North Barrett Square, M-SA), in Seaside at Sundog Books (89 Central Square, 850-231-5481, open 7 days), at the CAA office (Bayou Arts Center, 105 Hogtown Bayou Lane off CR 393, 850-622-5970, M-F), and near Sandestin at Silver Sands Factory Stores (Shopper Service Kiosk located near Juicy Couture, open 7 days). Tickets will increase to $25 the day of the Tour and can be purchased at any of the five homes throughout the day.
For more information about the Tour and the Cultural Arts Association of Walton County, please call 850-622-5970.
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE
Purchase $20 tickets now online or at these outlets:
* Silver Sands Factory Stores, Shopper Services Kiosk (located next to Juicy Couture)
* CAA Office (off north 393 at 105 Hogtown Bayou Lane, next to Cessna Landing)
* Sundog Books in Seaside
* World Six Gallery in Rosemary Beach
"Aspri Villa" is the largest home ever featured on the Tour of Homes.
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE - ONLY $20 IN ADVANCE
It?s almost Valentine?s Day, and that means the Cultural Arts Association of Walton County is getting ready for the annual Valentine Tour of Homes, showcasing some of the most unique residential gems on the Beaches of South Walton. This self-guided tour will take place Saturday, February 12th from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm to raise funds for the CAA?s Educational Giving Program, which provides $20,000 annually in grants to Walton County teachers, need-based scholarships for students to participate in art programs and college scholarships awarded to outgoing high school seniors and college students to pursue degrees in the arts.
Event Chair Nina McCaslin-Horn carefully chose the homes on this year?s tour, including ?Chatham House,? Seaside?s original ?dogtrot? recently renovated in a fresh new style. Guests will then take a quick shuttle ride to tour a 1925 Gulf-front homestead named "Emerald Crest" with Alys Beach?s five-star "Aspri Villa" across the street providing an interesting contrast. ?We wanted to present a diverse array of styles that have evolved through the years, and provide an exclusive opportunity for the public to explore these beautiful homes, while raising much needed funds for the CAA,? says McCaslin-Horn. ?The public can garner a unique appreciation of the diverse architectural styles of our community, and at the same time, provide much needed support for a very worthwhile mission.?
?Chatham House" is a private residence owned by John W. Houghtaling, II of Metaire, LA. Located at 71 East Ruskin Place in the Town of Seaside, balances desire for the heroic in architecture with the necessity of good urban manners. When first designed and built by Walter Chatham in the late eighties, this house received much attention for its marked departure from the surrounding houses of early Seaside. Originally composed of two separated pavilions, ?The Dog Trot House? acted very much in the spirit of its namesake type commonly found in the south. New owner Houghtaling, after a few years of enjoying the house as originally designed, decided it was time to make necessary adjustments, and in the fall of 2009, the 2500 square foot renovation and addition was finished at a total cost of over a million dollars. Braulio Casas was the architect behind the revisions and the new landscape design, and John Fernandez designed the interior. In pattern, form, color and material, the renovation and addition have given the house a new lease on life. An essay in balance, the house once again has become an attraction for its dramatic departure from the Seaside norm.
In 1925, Lucien May homesteaded 160 acres along the Gulf of Mexico where he lived for two years and raised fruit trees, vegetables and chickens before President Calvin Coolidge deeded the land over to him in 1927. Located at 9368 East County Hwy 30A, Home #2 got its name when a great uncle stood at the bluff, noting the crescent shape of the coast line and the emerald green waters and said ?This is an Emerald Crest.? The house was used as a vacation home by the family, except from 1941 to 1945 when the U.S. Coast Guard took it to use as an out post to watch for German U-Boats. The only evidence of their presence today is the lockers on either side of the house and the ping pong table (still used by the family) on the front porch. In 1973, all but 100 feet on the western border of the property was sold, and at that time the house moved to its present day site. In 1975, the property was again sold, at auction, to Mr. Elton B. Stevens of EBSCO, and now it is becoming Alys Beach.
The largest home we have ever presented, is an 11,250 square foot compound named ?Aspri Villa,? which is Greek for ?the large white mansion.? This 5-Star hotel-style estate home is owned in part by Charlie Renfroe, and is situated in the community of Alys Beach. Renowned Florida architect Tom Christ, and Atlanta interior designer Christa Renfroe Hurley, teamed up to create a truly one of a kind masterpiece that embodies the epitome of style and design. ?It has a beachy feel without being predictable. Because the architecture is so exquisite, I wanted to compliment it with a soothing, timeless look,? says Christa. 9,500 square feet of living space surrounds a private saltwater pool with underwater music features and a sheer decent waterfall. At the front center of the house, the winding staircase elegantly ascends to the tower room and rooftop terrace that features a luxurious Jacuzzi and, of course, the magnificent views of the Gulf.
?Each home on this year?s tour is impressive in a unique way and has its own story to tell,? says Jennifer Steele, CAA Executive Director. ?I think tour guests will be as fascinated by the beach-front cottage that was used during World War II as they will be by the stunning 11,000 square foot Alys Beach retreat that sits across the highway.?
As an added bonus, tour attendees can turn their ticket stubs in at World Six Gallery in Rosemary Beach throughout the day to be entered into a drawing to win original artwork by Allison Wickey, Beaches of South Walton?s 2011 Artist of the Year.
Tickets for the Valentine Tour of Homes are $20 in advance and can be purchased online. Tickets may also be purchased locally at the following locations: in Rosemary Beach at World Six Gallery (34 North Barrett Square, M-SA), in Seaside at Sundog Books (89 Central Square, 850-231-5481, open 7 days), at the CAA office (Bayou Arts Center, 105 Hogtown Bayou Lane off CR 393, 850-622-5970, M-F), and near Sandestin at Silver Sands Factory Stores (Shopper Service Kiosk located near Juicy Couture, open 7 days). Tickets will increase to $25 the day of the Tour and can be purchased at any of the five homes throughout the day.
For more information about the Tour and the Cultural Arts Association of Walton County, please call 850-622-5970.
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE
Purchase $20 tickets now online or at these outlets:
* Silver Sands Factory Stores, Shopper Services Kiosk (located next to Juicy Couture)
* CAA Office (off north 393 at 105 Hogtown Bayou Lane, next to Cessna Landing)
* Sundog Books in Seaside
* World Six Gallery in Rosemary Beach