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Dusty Boots Tour offers behind-the-scenes look at Home-A-Rama By Allison Dudgeon While surfing the television channels, you’re likely to come across multiple home building, remodeling and decorating programs showcasing the latest trends and luxuries that make a house a dream home. But before furniture is placed and paint is swapped, countless hours go into creating a home of quality craftsmanship. The 2005 Dusty Boots Tour takes the home-building process off the television screen and engages the public in an interactive experience allowing them to tour eight custom homes before the finishing touches are put in place. The event, from noon to 4 p.m. today at Stonegate in Zionsville, is free and open to the public. Street parking is available. Look beyond decorating “The Dusty Boots Tour is an interesting event because it gives potential homebuyers a look at the basics of the house without all of the (trimmings),” said Debbie Pittard of Sedona Custom Homes. “They get the chance to look beyond the furniture and décor to see the quality of the home.” Mike Wright of Will Wright Building Corp. agreed. “It’s a chance to satisfy a curiosity and gain a better understanding of the tasks that go into building a home and how those tasks correlate to the cost of a home. Seeing a custom home at this stage in the building process gives the public a deeper appreciation for the finished product they’ll tour at Home-A-Rama.” While the Dusty Boots Tour offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the homes in Home-A-Rama, attendees can expect to see a unique spin on the conventional Home-A-Rama event. “We’re taking a different approach this year,” said Wright. “We’re designing a home that is functional and usable without all of the bells and whistles that can overwhelm a potential homebuyer in a typical Home-A-Rama home. We’re going for the maximum amount of home, floor space and creativity for an economical price.” Traditional Neighborhood Design That design philosophy fits right into the traditional vision Stonegate developers have for their community. “We’re not a big, glitzy development seeking national attention. We are a small family-run community that prides itself on its quaint charm and quality of life,” said Stonegate’s Creative Director, Jasna Reitz. That doesn’t mean, however, that this year’s homes are lacking the cutting-edge technology and inspired amenities characteristic of Home-A-Rama. “Home-A-Rama is a one-of-a-kind event. It’s the cream of the crop as far as builders and designers go,” said Pittard who described Sedona’s entry home as having a lot of fun features and stylistic touches. The homes, together creating a picturesque streetscape, each boast a unique theme carried out in the architectural styling all the way down to the cabinetry detailing. The Federal Period theme of the Will Wright Building Corp. home can be found in the distressed hardwood floors and oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, while surround sound wiring and a built-in plasma screen television niche are seamlessly integrated into the classic look of the home. Visitors will be just as impressed by what they see inside the homes as by what they find outside, within the Stonegate community. A revival of the traditional neighborhood, Stonegate offers its residents a place to live, work, learn and play. Stonegate Elementary, slated to open this fall, is located directly across the street from the event homes and will serve students in grades K-4. Street-front shops and office buildings round out the traditional neighborhood in which everything is within a 10-minute walk. “People can walk through the entire development and see all that is finished and still in progress. Tree planting is going on right now, our community center is being sided and roofed, and all of the homes are coming to life,” said Reitz. “Having the public see a traditional neighborhood come to life helps educate people on how this community is different from other ‘cookie cutter’ subdivisions with no amenities. People can see that Stonegate will offer different types of homes for people in all stages of life, lending diversity to the neighborhood.” Stonegate is located approximately 1½ miles east of I-65 on State Road 334 in Zionsville and is accessible from I-65 North, Exit #130. Completed Home-A-Rama homes to debut in June Tour custom-built, fully-decorated homes in the picturesque setting of Stonegate in Zionsville at the 2005 Home-A-Rama Lifestyle Edition. Showcased builders are: • Lattimer Custom Builders The official Home-A-Rama event runs Saturday, June 4 through Sunday, June 19. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages five to ten. Children four and under are free. Discounted tickets will be available at Indianapolis area Marsh Supermarkets after May 31. A portion of the proceeds from the 2005 Home-A-Rama will benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Home-A-Rama is presented by hh gregg and the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis. Standard Federal is the 2005 product sponsor. For more event information, visit BAGI’s website at www.bagi.com.
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