In an effort to raise funds for their class trip, Barr-Reeve’s seniors are sponsoring a home tour in the Montgomery area. It will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 5.

The home of George and Liz Nolan, 6186E Terrace Court, will be part of the tour. Other homes on the tour are John and Maria Knepp’s, Shad and Jamie Truelove’s, Matt and Alison Hart’s, Jim and Jamie Miller’s and Chris and Karen Hoover’s.

The Nolans

Anyone who has ever driven through Montgomery on U.S. 50 has probably already noticed the unusual home of George and Liz Nolan. The back of the house, with its circular frame that stretches from the main level to the walk-out basement, creates an imposing structure that is as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside.

Completed in 2002, the home is a blend of style and function. The earthy colors, iron and stone works, tile floors, interior and exterior columns and Mediterranean artwork give the home a Tuscany feel.

The hearth room, with a cherry wood fireplace and forward tilting mirror above the mantle, initially greets guests. Walking through this area takes visitors past the two guest bedrooms to George’s office that faces the front yard.

To the right of the front entryway is the formal dining room. Its long wooden dining table and matching buffet welcome guests. The faux finish walls in soft linear shades of olive and gold complement the dark woods of the room.

Directly opposite the front door is the family room. The floor-to-ceiling windows spreading across the rounded exterior wall light up the main living area and provide a panoramic view of a pleasingly landscaped backyard with the town of Montgomery in the background. In the middle of the house is the kitchen, clearly the focal point of the Nolan home.

Opening into the family room, the curve of the bar mimics the curve of the exterior wall. Granite countertops and cherry cabinets fashion the area. George and Liz’s son-in-law from Marietta, Ga., had asked to make granite countertops for a future home years before the couple had decided to build.

They took him up on his offer for the granite that tops most of the cabinetry in the home and surrounds the upstairs’ fireplace.

The master bedroom opens into a spacious master bath with a skylight over the garden tub. A large tiled shower with a glass door and roomy vanity area are other amenities in the room.

His and her walk-in closets give the couple independent storage space. The flow of the house is practical, with the laundry room connecting both the closet area and garage entryway.

While the main level of the house is a perfect size for the couple, the basement functions as extra space for family. The couple’s six children, 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren fill it up for holidays and other get-togethers throughout the year. It has a full kitchen and recreation and game area. It also provides plenty of storage and an extra guest room and full bath.

The basement is completely furnished with items that the couple brought with them from their previous home, including an oak rocker with ornate carvings that belonged to George’s grandmother, but the most treasured piece in the Nolan home is the wooden fireplace surround and mantle that was dismantled from the old Nolan farmhouse and reconstructed around the basement fireplace. Liz Nolan estimates that it is at least 150 years old.

Other furnishings in the basement are reminiscent of the Nolan family, including a China cabinet that once belonged to George’s mother Ruth. Family pictures and other memorabilia also fill the area.

Walking outside the basement, one could follow the stone path along the side of the house where natural stones form steps leading to the upper lawn level. Much of the landscaping was replanted from the Nolan farm and has thrived in its new environment. Pine trees are already large enough to provide privacy for the back of the home.

From its Old World flair to its functional floor plan, visitors will enjoy a peek into the Nolan home.



If You Want to Go

What: Montgomery Fall Home Tour

When: Oct. 5, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets: $10 tickets may be purchased from any senior class member and are also available at Barr-Reeve High School, Amber Jo’s Head to Toe and the Gasthof Amish Restaurant in Montgomery, Rosie’s T-Shirt Shop in Loogootee and Main Street Pharmacy in Washington. Tickets will be available at all the homes the day of the tour.

Why: The tour is sponsored by the Barr-Reeve Class of 2009 and all proceeds will be used to fund the senior class trip to New York and Washington D.C.