Elegant decor with a family touch will greet visitors to the home of Mark and Deanne Burris during Sunday afternoon’s Christmas homes tour.
The Burrises, at 308 Fairway Ave. on the outskirts of Gas, have one of five featured homes for the annual tour, sponsored by the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility.
The two-story house, built in 1997, “is family oriented,” Deanne noted during a preview of the tour.
The dining room, for example, features an elongated table that could seat as many as 20 for special gatherings.
“It’s perfect for us because it allows us to host both sides of the family,” Deanne said.
Each of the rooms, meanwhile are lavishly filled with home decor, accentuated by an assortment of Christmas decorations.
The family room features a Christmas tree heavily influenced by passions of the Burris’ three children.
Oldest son Brigham has ornaments dedicated to the world of fishing; Bryce, likewise, has tree ornaments featuring a number of sporting themes, including several indicating the family’s allegiance to the Kansas State University Wildcats. Both Brigham and Bryce are students at KSU.
Briann, a junior at Iola High School, has Barbie-themed ornaments sprinkled throughout the tree as well.
“And then you have the Norman Rockwell ornaments Mark’s grandmother gave to him when he was a child,” Deanne said.
THE HOME HAS been renovated three times in the 14 years the Burrises have lived there, the first to add a game room heavily influenced by the family’s affinity for all things South Carolina.
“We like to vacation there, and this room reminds us of that,” Deanne said. The room also sports a foosball table and table style video arcade game found years ago in restaurants.
The second major renovation came when the Burrises installed a swimming pool, which necessitated a bathroom situated close by.
The third renovation was to create a TV room away from foot traffic.
“You couldn’t watch anything without people walking through all the time,” Deanne said of its former location.
“I think that will do it for major renovations,” she said with a laugh.
