Local couple Christy and Russell McBrayer will soon have their home featured in Southern Living and Veranda magazines.
The couple opened their home in early December for the Christmas Tour of Homes sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Calhoun.
The McBrayers just moved into their home last February, and Russell said being part of the tour helped motivate him to finish the renovations faster. Nancy Gerard, a member of Calhoun Kiwanis Club and an organizer of the tour, said local furniture companies lent furniture to the home to prepare it for the event.
The couple liked the effect so much that they e-mailed photos to several decorating magazines. Southern Living and Veranda contacted them about featuring the home, Russell said, although there has been no timeline set.
The couple also liked the furnishings so much that they purchased most of them.
“We bought everything except for one bedroom,” explained Russell.
Gerard said more than half of the furniture in the home came from Ashton Home Furniture, Badcock Home Furniture & More and Aarons, all in Calhoun.
Russell and Gerard said they also attribute the beauty of their home’s décor to Tami’s Flowers in Calhoun. Russell said the business furnished all of the greenery found in the home, and owner Tami West put in long hours to help prepare the house for the tour.
After the tour, the McBrayers also purchased all of the Tami’s greenery that was in the home.
A home full of history
Located at 700 Lance Road, the 20,000-square-foot house is formerly the home of Bert and LaBelle Lance and is full of history, said Gerard.
“If the walls could talk they would have a lot to say,” she said about the house.
The McBrayer house has had visits from former US President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Roselyn, television personality Tom Brokaw, as well as a long list of politicians, said Russell.
He also said the house was built around a Calhoun National bank vault that is still in the home today.
The patio even has history, as it was built with reclaimed bricks from a local elementary school that once stood where First Baptist Church is now located on College Street in Calhoun. Russell said the elementary school was where former owner Bert Lance first met his wife LaBelle.
“Bert is a big name around here,” he said. “He was an adviser and friend of Jimmy Carter.”
Russell said the history of the home was a big selling point to him.
Ticket proceeds from the Christmas Tour of Homes went toward providing college scholarships for local students.
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