Civic Club Holiday Home Tour
Chicago
couple has made
a showcase home in Oldham County
Nevitts’
home among those
featured on annual tour
By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
CRESTWOOD, Ky. (November 2009) – With nine Christmas
trees in the house, you could say Pat and Bob Nevitt love decorating
for the holidays. Their Crestwood home will be one of three featured
in November in the annual Crestwood Civic Club’s Holiday Home Tour
& Luncheon.
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Photo
by Helen McKinney Pat
Nevitt decorates her 4,000-square- |
“The last time I decorated, a friend of mine saw
the house and recommended it” to the Crestwood Civic Club, said
Pat Nevitt. Since 1988, the club has held a Holiday Home Tour to raise
money for a four-year scholarship program.
Nevitt admits that she does all of the decorating for their two-story
brick, walkout ranch style home. While every inch of the 4,000-square-foot
home may not be decorated, Nevitt comes pretty close to it.
“I tend to do color themes for the rooms,” said Nevitt. One
group of rooms may be devoted to a certain festive color grouping, while
other colors are employed in adjoining rooms.
Nevitt has just naturally accumulated a lot of things over the years
which she uses to adorn each room in the spirit of the holidays. Though
her tastes have changed as she has gotten older, she said she still
likes nice, lush embellishments, such as poinsettias in large quantities.
The Nevitts’ home will be one of three on this year’s Crestwood
Civic Club’s Annual Holiday Home Tour & Luncheon, to be held
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20. The luncheon will be served
at the Club House located at 7215 Kavanaugh Rd. in Crestwood at two
seating times: 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
“These are three newer built houses on the tour this year,”
said Civic Club member Carla Jones. The Nevitts designed their home
with Christmas storage in mind, said Jones, with 800 feet dedicated
to storage space for Christmas decorations.
The Nevitts definitely like to celebrate Christmas. Pat begins preparations
as early as August each year and is still fine-tuning everything in
October. The home has wider doors and hallways to accommodate moving
trees in and out of rooms. More than 30 large windows fill the house
with light and showcase panoramic views of the extensively landscaped
lot, which also incorporates holiday décor.
Bob is fond of saying that they own “a lot with character.”
The lot begins on a high point then drops from the road, descending
downhill to an island created by Asher Run Creek.
The Nevitts lived in Chicago for 15 years before moving to Oldham County.
They purchased the property and had their house built while still living
in Chicago. The couple moved into the home shortly before Christmas
1997.
They decorated their home in the same grand way while living in Chicago.
In the beginning, they started with 26,000-28,000 Christmas lights but
will not be using “near as many this year,” said Nevitt.
She crafts all of the garlands, wreaths and floral arrangements that
grace the home. Every room and hallway is decorated, even if it only
gets garlands, said Nevitt.
A large Nativity scene is placed in the downstairs guest suite area.
Due to its size, the all-white decoration is stretched along one entire
wall. Tucked away in her kitchen is an all-white Russian ice palace
village.
Nevitt said a snowman surprise awaits visitors. “I like to watch
people’s reaction to it,” she said. “I just like watching
people enjoy the decorations.”
Kim and Jim Beach have the next home on the tour. Their contemporary
styled 5,500-square-foot home has a light and airy feel.
Built in 2005, a three-sided fireplace and bar area separates the kitchen
from the Great Room. Other accents that reflect the Beach’s personality
include plum walls in the dining room accented by a wall of mirrors,
and contemporary railings that extend to the second level. This level
is devoted to the master suite and the entire home will shine brightly
for the holidays.
The Beaches are fond of animals and have included a dog-themed powder
room and canine-themed Christmas tree.
The third home on the tour belongs to Chris and Becky Bowling. This
Mediterranean-style 1 1/2 story home features two islands in the large
kitchen, as well as archways, columns and three fireplaces.
Becky Bowling is a local decorative artist whose work graces the walls
of the couple’s home. Warmth and contrast are added throughout
the home with the use of hammered and antique metals made of bronze
and copper. A Thanksgiving theme will be found throughout the home,
blending naturally with the home’s pallet of burnt orange, browns
and green hues.
• For more information, contact Linda Patton at (502) 241-0231. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $15 by contacting Anne Murner at (502) 292-2701, or at the door for $17 the day of the tour.