Guests tour the New Product Showcase Home in south Salem that is part of this year’s Tour of Homes. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
The beauty of the Tour of Homes put on by the Home Builders Association of Marion and Polk Counties is that potential house buyers can look at a variety of houses on the market, while still being socially distant from other guests.
There is one more week to view 18 outstanding new homes from our region’s finest builders. Guests can tour homes that range from a modest 1,600 square feet to over 4,300 square feet with prices under $350,000 to more than $1.2 million.
“We’re thrilled with the opening weekend turnout for this year’s Tour of Homes,” said Mike Erdmann, the CEO of the Home Builders Association. “Our builders have implemented a strict set of Covid-19 safety precautions at each of the homes, and we’re hearing from visitors that they’re just really appreciative that the tour is taking place and that they have the opportunity to get out there and see the homes.”
Among the builds, one favorite is always the New Product Showcase House. This year it was built by Builders Future Inc. and Mike Riddle Construction and located in the Illahe Forest subdivision at 3725 Illahe Ct. S.
“My inspiration was a fusion of modern and traditional, with clean lines,” explained Riddle. “I love the front door, which was custom made for this home with leaded glass.” The three-bedroom, 2,813-square foot house is in a transitional Tudor style with soaring high ceilings and wood beams, custom limestone fireplace, and natural light.
Priscilla Glidewell of Budget Blinds of the Mid-Willamette Valley contributed the window coverings to the project. She showed off the automatic shades in the tall windows in the living room and was especially pleased with the Roman shades in the master bedroom that included a side panel custom drapery with French return hardware.
The kitchen had a unique wheel pulldown faucet from Waterstone Faucets that looked like a piece of art itself.
There was a folding wall that went out to a covered patio onto stone pavers and a firepit. Rich Kansky, the president of Green Acres Landscape, said they created the yard with custom pavers, a horizontal fence, synthetic turf, large custom pots, garden boxes, LED lights, and flowers. Synthetic grass is also becoming popular, according to Kansky.
“It’s easy to clean for pet owners,” he said. “It always looks good, it’s great to play on, it is cost-effective, and it preserves water.”
The home, priced at $659,900, was sold before it was opened for the tour.
If you go: Open now through Sunday, July 26, noon to 6 p.m. weekends and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. weeknights. No admission charge. Learn more or see the guidebook here. Masks required, booties provided. Click for full details on COVID-19 measures.
Builder Mike Riddle helped put up the New Product Showcase Home in south Salem that is part of this year’s Tour of Homes. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
A unique water faucet is one of the features of the New Product Showcase Home in south Salem that is part of this year’s Tour of Homes. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Mary Louise VanNatta is a Salem public relations professional writing regularly for Salem Reporter. During the quarantine, she will be connecting with Salem local events nonprofits. [email protected] and follow her on Facebook.
SUPPORT ESSENTIAL REPORTING FOR SALEM – A subscription starts at $5 a month for around-the-clock access to stories and email alerts sent directly to you. Your support matters. Go HERE.
