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Dreamers, designers look for inspiration

Annual Parade of Homes attracts all kinds
Paul Beasley, left, and his wife, Jackie, far right, owners of Tile & Light Art of Durango, play host Friday during the opening day of the annual Parade of Homes. Suzanne Sutherland, center left, and Beth Hall, tour the remodeled home on East Third Avenue.

Take off your shoes before you enter.

The 11th annual Durango Area Parade of Homes kicked off at noon Friday, and visitors were very eager to get the ball rolling and see the latest trends in new-home construction and remodels.

Most people perusing Durango’s in-town homes were doing so simply out of curiosity.

“I’m just in awe of the architecture,” Jan Phillips said inside parade home No. 8, at 15 Eagle Ridge Road, near Florida Road on the east side of town.

It was Phillips’ first time doing the Parade of Homes.

Architect Steve Eccher, of Eccher Design & Planning, said homeowner Emil Wanatka had a specific vision.

The garage, which is an important room for Wanatka, is insulated and energy-efficient. The room also had a lot of natural lighting and the walls had a painted finish.

Eccher said he has noticed a huge trend in people designing their garages to be more than just the room in which you park your car.

Home No. 14 is a historic East Third Avenue home with a modern sprinkle.

“They’ve taken a beautiful 1888 home and updated it, but maintained the character,” said Paul Beasley of Tile & Light Art of Durango.

The building was gutted and completely restored to create more open space. Builders were able to maintain some of the original windows from the 1880s, Beasley said.

And in steampunk fashion, the family room had a Remington typewriter next to the computer.

Though the parade had barely begun, the East Third Avenue home had 20 visitors by 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Wendy and Jeff Bailey started their tour at this home. They’ve done the parade a few times out of curiosity and in hopes of sparking ideas for their home. Plus, it’s fun, they said.

And just a few blocks away is home No. 13, 421 E. 12th St., a new home built by Skywalker Construction.

“It’s a good house to have a party,” said visitor Dottie Robinson.

She started the tour with her friend Susie Ammann in Mancos, where the parade starts at house No. 1. The other 14 homes are in the Durango area.

Ammann has lived in the area for 10 years and had never attended the Parade of Homes, she said, so she gave it a go this year.

Luke Hanson of Skywalker Construction said the stained-concrete floors and open staircases gave the home a unique touch.

Demetrius Lewis, also of Skywalker Construction, said that many visitors get their remodeling ideas from touring these homes and sometimes leave with a “can you do this for me?” inquiry.

The parade will continue through Sunday and tickets can be purchased at www.durangopoh.com for $18. The parade features 15 homes that have been constructed and remodeled by local builders. The event is put on by the Home Builders Association of Southwest Colorado, an agency that advocates for home-ownership.

vguthrie@durangoherald.com

Sep 20, 2014
Durango-area Parade of Homes set to begin


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