2022 Holiday Tour of Homes

The Randolph County Family Crisis Center took the reins to the Holiday Tour of Homes event this year and four locations will be available for touring and viewing on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 1-5 p.m.

Tickets are $15 on the day of or $12 in advance. Advance tickets can be purchases at Four Saints Brewing Co., Bright Gallery, Burge Flower Shop and Minkology. Tickets can be purchased at the door of any of the homes and are good for visiting in or all of the four destinations.

You can find out more by turning on your phone camera and aiming it at the UPC code in the Holiday Tour of Homes ad on page 6A to take you to the RCFCC Holiday Tour of Homes webpage.

Proceeds to benefit the Randolph County Family Crisis Center.

Here’s a look at the history of each of the destinations and a brief description of what visitors can expect to see at each.

Commerce Lofts

Downtown Asheboro

Eric & Christie Luckenbach

Located at 134-138 Sunset Avenue in downtown Asheboro, current property owners and Asheboro natives Eric and Christie Luckenbach have affectionately named this site The Commerce Building. They decided on this name due to the number of commercial businesses formerly located there. 

Built in 1910, it is the tallest, oldest building in downtown Asheboro. Once occupied by the Post Office, a jeweler, a family practitioner, a tailor, a clothier, a photography studio, a comic shop, the Masons, a financial group and a realtor, it is now the location of The Taco Loco and Taco Loco Cantina, four loft apartments, and one vacation loft rental. 

This three-story brick building is accented with granite window sills and has five arched windows facing Sunset Avenue and North Street on the third floor. There is one of two remaining accent caps constructed of tin on the southeast corner of the parapet wall which once flanked a large center pediment. This building boasts 34 windows between the 2nd and 3rd floors, allowing a grand amount of natural light for each loft unit. 

The Commerce Lofts, designed by Christie, are directly above The Taco Loco and Taco Loco Cantina. Tenants and their guests enter the loft portion of building from 134 Sunset Avenue through a massive glass and wooden door. Thankfully the original door had been stored on the third floor and has now been returned to its rightful spot. A period fixture, found at Asheboro’s Collectors Antique Mall, lights the landing as you enter. It is the same style as the pendants in the hallway of the second floor. Because it is so similar to the hallway fixtures, there is speculation it could have been original to this building and maybe even hung in this same spot. After climbing 24 steps to the second floor, you will notice the original natural pine floors and the row of original milk glass pendant light fixtures lighting the hallway. Original bead board ceilings cover most of second floor – where repairs were needed, matching milled stock from East Coast Lumber was installed. In the hallway of the second floor there is a red fire door (now sealed off) that used to connect to the building next door. Long ago it was an opry house and this doorway gave access to the balcony seating. 

No. 201 unit is a vacation rental and second to the first downtown vacation rental  which is located on historic Lawyers Row, Worth Street. The goal was to design a space with a unique blend of furnishings, accessories and amenities that would also provide a boutique hotel experience to visiting guests. Mostly locally sourced or a part of the owner’s personal collection, there is a story about everything you will find inside. The Christmas decorations are modern and simple accenting with silver and gold to compliment the eclectic interior design. The most special feature about this unit is the view through its corner windows of the entrance to Bicentennial Park, the town clock and the train mural.  

Stephanie Lovell currently lives in No. 202. It showcases properly scaled furniture and its use of mirrors will give the illusion of a much larger space. Her favorite space is the living area where you will see neutrals with vibrant pops of color. She has decorated with snowy whites, using some traditional items mixed with new. You will discover lots of fun colors, lights and smells of Christmas while touring her apartment!

No. 203 is also tenant rented and has a rustic modern industrial design. Using the high-top table to divide the kitchen from the living space, it creates a wonderful open floor plan with more properly scaled furniture. This tenant works from home and during the week uses a home office and shares the kitchen table top with a co-worker.  

The third-floor houses two additional units to include the private residence of owners Eric and Christie Luckenbach. Continued renovations prohibited having this area on the tour. 

After purchasing the building in 2018, it was the dream of the Luckenbachs to restore and renovate the entire building to create a place where it would have full life again and the residents would immerse themselves with downtown within the surrounding businesses and restaurants. 

The Prayer Pony Foundation at Brigman Farm

1627/1629 Browers Chapel Rd.

Jeff Brigman & Kim Farmer

The home that now sits at 1627 Browers Chapel Road was built in 1985 by William Barker. He and his family lived in the home until 2009 when it was purchased by the non-profit, Agape Christian Academy. Many children graced this land enjoying an alternative approach to learning during the 10 years that the school was in operation.  

In 2019, Jeff Brigman and Kim Farmer purchased the property after nearly a year on the market. It was an undertaking that they have enjoyed over the past three years to turn the property into the dream home and farm. Kim grew up across the street from the home and is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jones of Jones Skating Rink. While she felt as if she had been blessed to return home, she did not realize until months after her and her husband’s purchase that the property dated back many generations in her family.  

Following a deeper deed research by her uncle Larry, he discovered that the land Kim and Jeff now own was acquired by Kim’s third great-grandfather Nathaniel about the time of the Civil War, passed on to her second great-grandfather about 1900, and owned by her second great Aunt Ila Brown Ingold for a couple of years. 

The home is a two-story brick house with a full basement. The original owner, Bill Barker, was a brick mason by trade and his impeccable work is evident in every perfect mortar joint.  

While the home has undergone many renovations since their purchase in 2019, the place that they seem to spend the most time in is the building out back. It was originally built as an oversized garage and went through many upgrades and changes after the purchase by Agape Christian Academy. Today, Jeff and Kim enjoy the space to host holiday events with their families and friends. It is an open space with 14-foot ceilings and large windows. It overlooks the farm animals and pool. This is the part of the home that will be shown.

Their favorite feature of the property is the land. While they love the home, they really love the outdoors — surrounded by a pond with a bridge built by Jeff in memory of Kim’s late dad. A beautiful pool and many farm animals call this home.  

The Holiday Décor will be themed as “An Old-Fashioned Christmas.” Kim yearns for the simpler times and hopes that while touring the property, guests will be reminded of the Christmases of their past. 

There will be a large decorated Christmas tree with wooden toys, Raggedy Ann doll, snow sleds, a red Radio Flyer Wagon and stick horses. The stockings will be filled with nuts, fruits and candy and Christmas Carolers will greet guests at the door.  

But the simplest decoration of all with be the “Live Nativity Scene” in the shed among the animals that can be seen through the window or visited outdoors. Kim’s hope is it will remind everyone of what the true meaning of Christmas truly is: Jesus is the reason for the season.

606 Lexington Rd., Asheboro

Clay & Stephanie Phillips

The home was built in 1939 by Mr. and Mrs. James Neely (then president of First National Bank). In 2016, Eric and Betsy Kozlow purchased the home, restoring and renovating it to its current state. Clay and Stephanie Phillips purchased the home in 2021 and have enjoyed making it their own, updating the lawn and decorating with the help of Angie Ward & Betsy Kozlow of Summer House Designs.

It’s a five bedroom, two-story home with original brick painted a fresh white and original features such as plaster walls, hardwood floors and open staircase. There is an addition with a large master suite including his & hers closets and a laundry room.

Commissioned artwork by Windy O’Connor hangs in the den in a custom acrylic frame. The decor is mostly traditional with a mix of contemporary pieces. 

On weekends, the Phillips’ favorite room to be in is the sunken living room. Which houses their vinyl record collection, turntable and bar, so it is a lot of fun.

Their retreat is the den, the smallest room in the home. With its bookshelves, gas log fireplace and colorful artwork, it is cozy & inviting.

The holiday decor is mostly traditional incorporating natural elements and greenery from the yard. There is a mix of live and artificial trees, one that is fun & funky, one natural & bright, and one polished & elegant.

Now that the Phillips’ children are older, their favorite holiday tradition is doing most of their celebrating Christmas Eve so they can sleep in a bit on Christmas Day before heading to the grandparents’ home. They note that it’s nice not to feel rushed and exhausted on Christmas Day anymore and to truly enjoy time with family relaxing and honoring the birth of Jesus.

863 Anns Court, Asheboro

Neal & Beth Robbins

The two-story brick home with a finished basement was built in 2000. It has glass transoms between rooms on the main level, a big peaceful deck with a beautiful view overlooking a wooded backyard and creek, and a rock fireplace in the basement. The interior is adorned with a combination of antiques and contemporary pieces.

The main living area is more formal with white lights, garland and a snow village collection started when Beth was a little girl. The basement is a fun area with kids ornaments, Santa and a nutcracker collection started by the boys’ grandmother. 

There are four Christmas trees set up: A gold one in the dining room, a red & silver one in the living room and two in the basement, one with the boys’ handmade ornaments and collectibles and Beth’s tree decorated with girly ornaments.