Decades of style highlight holiday tour
By Earl Horlykehorlyk@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Sunday, November 16, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Ever want to jet-set back to the "ring-a-ding" days of the Rat Pack 1950s-era opulence?
Or is a leisurely stroll through the stately 1890s more your speed?
Houses from both eras (and everything in between) will be on display, decked out in seasonal splendor, during the 18th annual Holiday Tour of Homes Wednesday through Saturday.
The tour, a fund-raiser for the Siouxland Chapter of the American Red Cross, promises to be a trip back into time, said Red Cross public relations and events coordinator Beth Trejo.
"You can call this year's tour: Decades of Style and Elegance," she explained. "That's because all five houses on the tour perfectly exemplify the periods in which the homes were first built and provides a telling insight into the social and physical changes undergoing Sioux City at the time."
Among the homes on display will be Sioux City's famed "Chocolate House," a three-story structure, now owned by John and Deborah Wockenfuss. The house, located at 2900 Jackson St., was built during the city's most prosperous times: the 1890s.
Representing the turn of the 20th century will be the four story, Foursquare home owned by Gary Miller and Ralph Ostermann. The house, located at 2722 Jackson St., is known for the spectacular Christmas parties hosted by the two owners every year.
The "Roaring Twenties" will be represented by two very different types of homes. Beau and Susan Fey's Colonial style home (4530 Manor Circle) reflects the era's desire to mingle the old with the new while the Mediterranean-style home (20 McDonald Drive) owned by Dan and Kim Shuck reflects the 20s idealism and sense of the exotic.
But it was the mid-century modern design of the one-story home, owned by Michael and Jessica Nagel, that captured the eye and the imagination of Marissa Bargmann.
"I think we have the best house on the tour," Bargmann, a designer for Johnathan Blake Home Decor, remarked upon seeing the spacious floor plan of the Nagel home.
Bargmann, along with her Johnathan Blake colleague Jennifer Vogt and Joba's/Happy Hang Ups' Marie Friederich and Tammy Ludwigs, will be in charge of decorating the home, located at 3823 Sylvian Way.
The house has been home to the Nagels for the past three years.
"When we saw this house," said Jessica Nagel, "we fell in love with it."
With its expansive layout, curved architecture and low-lying furniture, the home reflects the owners' eye for detail.
"We really wanted to furnish our home with furniture that dated back to the '50s, '60s and '70s," Michael Nagel said. "To go more contemporary, we felt, would detract from the beauty of the house."
With built-in buffets and libraries, terrazzo flooring, a granite fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows, it's easy picturing Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, feeling at home, holding court inside the Nagels' living room.
"Some designers overwhelm a house with holiday decor," said Marie Friederich. "For the Nagels' home, understatement will be the key."
Choosing decorations that pull colors from the Nagels' existing furniture, Friederich consults with her fellow designers.
"Decorating a Holiday Tour of Homes house can take up to four or five days," Friederich said with a tired laugh. "But when you see the results, it is all worthwhile.
Which is news to the ears of the Red Cross' Trejo.
"Our tour is always popular because it gives people inspiration on how they'd like to decorate their own homes for Christmas," she said.
Does Jessica Nagel have any concerns with the estimated 2,500 people traipsing through her home during the four-day tour.
"Not in the least," she said, smiling. "Mike and I are proud of our home so want we want to share it with the entire community."
"Plus the proceeds will be going to a great cause," Jessica added. "What could be better than that?"
Or is a leisurely stroll through the stately 1890s more your speed?
Houses from both eras (and everything in between) will be on display, decked out in seasonal splendor, during the 18th annual Holiday Tour of Homes Wednesday through Saturday.
The tour, a fund-raiser for the Siouxland Chapter of the American Red Cross, promises to be a trip back into time, said Red Cross public relations and events coordinator Beth Trejo.
"You can call this year's tour: Decades of Style and Elegance," she explained. "That's because all five houses on the tour perfectly exemplify the periods in which the homes were first built and provides a telling insight into the social and physical changes undergoing Sioux City at the time."
Among the homes on display will be Sioux City's famed "Chocolate House," a three-story structure, now owned by John and Deborah Wockenfuss. The house, located at 2900 Jackson St., was built during the city's most prosperous times: the 1890s.
Representing the turn of the 20th century will be the four story, Foursquare home owned by Gary Miller and Ralph Ostermann. The house, located at 2722 Jackson St., is known for the spectacular Christmas parties hosted by the two owners every year.
The "Roaring Twenties" will be represented by two very different types of homes. Beau and Susan Fey's Colonial style home (4530 Manor Circle) reflects the era's desire to mingle the old with the new while the Mediterranean-style home (20 McDonald Drive) owned by Dan and Kim Shuck reflects the 20s idealism and sense of the exotic.
But it was the mid-century modern design of the one-story home, owned by Michael and Jessica Nagel, that captured the eye and the imagination of Marissa Bargmann.
"I think we have the best house on the tour," Bargmann, a designer for Johnathan Blake Home Decor, remarked upon seeing the spacious floor plan of the Nagel home.
Bargmann, along with her Johnathan Blake colleague Jennifer Vogt and Joba's/Happy Hang Ups' Marie Friederich and Tammy Ludwigs, will be in charge of decorating the home, located at 3823 Sylvian Way.
The house has been home to the Nagels for the past three years.
"When we saw this house," said Jessica Nagel, "we fell in love with it."
With its expansive layout, curved architecture and low-lying furniture, the home reflects the owners' eye for detail.
"We really wanted to furnish our home with furniture that dated back to the '50s, '60s and '70s," Michael Nagel said. "To go more contemporary, we felt, would detract from the beauty of the house."
With built-in buffets and libraries, terrazzo flooring, a granite fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows, it's easy picturing Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, feeling at home, holding court inside the Nagels' living room.
"Some designers overwhelm a house with holiday decor," said Marie Friederich. "For the Nagels' home, understatement will be the key."
Choosing decorations that pull colors from the Nagels' existing furniture, Friederich consults with her fellow designers.
"Decorating a Holiday Tour of Homes house can take up to four or five days," Friederich said with a tired laugh. "But when you see the results, it is all worthwhile.
Which is news to the ears of the Red Cross' Trejo.
"Our tour is always popular because it gives people inspiration on how they'd like to decorate their own homes for Christmas," she said.
Does Jessica Nagel have any concerns with the estimated 2,500 people traipsing through her home during the four-day tour.
"Not in the least," she said, smiling. "Mike and I are proud of our home so want we want to share it with the entire community."
"Plus the proceeds will be going to a great cause," Jessica added. "What could be better than that?"
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
