Old blends with new in Holub's farm home
Beautiful, new custom cabinetry blends with beloved family antiques to create the perfect home for rural Marion residents Mike and Pauline Holub.
Located at 2004 E. 230, the Holubs' one-year-old ranch house will be on display from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday during the third annual Christmas Home Tours, sponsored by Marion City Library. The Holubs, along with three other Marion area residents, will have their homes open to the public.
Other stops on the tour include the homes of Dwight and Helen Beckham, 48 Lakeshore Drive at Marion County Lake; Robert and Penelope Marler, 325 N. Cedar; and Stan and Jami Williams, 405 N. Locust.
As for the Holubs, their home is a dream come true. They moved to their country location north of Marion in 1979 and lived in a doublewide manufactured home until last year.
"This is our dream home," Pauline said. "We'd go on vacations or somewhere and see something we like. We just took the different things we've seen and used them."
Pointing to a wooden molding in the living room skirting the walls and ceiling, Mike said, "We got the idea for that from Pizza Hut. They use trim like that around the walls with (decorative pieces) in the corners."
The decorative moldings are just one of many wooden pieces which adorn the Holubs' home. Throughout the house one can find custom-made built-in furniture made specifically to accommodate the family's needs.
"Our contractor Dennis Maddox from Chase County made all these," Mike said gesturing to a custom-built sewing/craft desk Pauline uses, located in the basement of the home.
Other built in pieces include Pauline's computer and work desk in her office, his and her joined closets, and even two accent tables located in the home.
Driving up to the Holub's home, one first sees a beckoning covered patio area, located in the breezeway between the house and garage. Entering the front door, a focal point is the natural gas fireplace, a cozy place to sit and visit on a cold winter's evening.
In the large black and white kitchen, a black-fleck counter top provides a prep space on the center island. A three-foot clearance around the perimeter of the island provides plenty of room for several cooks to work.
"We have 22 drawers in this kitchen," Pauline said with a laugh. "Our contractor told us he was going to check every drawer and cabinet and make sure we had things in them."
The home features a combination of old and new interwoven through the decorating skills of the Holubs' daughter, Tina Hague of Aulne. Tina has two children Jared, 6, and Emily 3. The couple also have a son, Shane of Marion.
For the most part, each room has a name. For instance, the guest bedroom is known as the Log Cabin room. There, antique family heirlooms like tin toys, a mantle clock, a ladies' fan and a sack of marbles mix with newer reproduction pieces to create a feel of the past.
The spacious master bedroom features a mauve carpet and seating area. The dresser holds an old curling iron — the type that was heated by holding it over a kerosene lamp, a decorative dresser set, tatted by Pauline's aunt, lies underneath an antique silver brush, comb and mirror set.
The room is also the gateway into the large master bath, which features extra storage space and a closet spanning the entire width of the room.
An enthusiastic collector, Pauline collects Boyd's Bears as well as other types of bears. She also has a collection of birds and miniature vases.
Pauline's theme for the home tour is "snowflakes and snowmen." During the holidays, Christmas trees will be located in various room each decorated in a different theme. Greenery will festoon the fireplace mantle, and poinsettias in various colors will be on display. Her collection of Old World Santas, as well as an exquisite nativity set made by their daughter, Tina, will be on display.
Mike is a mechanic with the Kansas Department of Transportation, Marion, and Pauline is site manager for Butler of Marion.
Other tour homes
49 Lakeshore Drive — The Beckhams' new standing beam construction cottage at Marion County Lake features an open loft and a blending of the old and new. Other features include antique furniture, pine kitchen cabinets with glass fronts, an old kitchen table from a church, stained glass from a Presbyterian church in Newton, and a collection of old Santas, light bulbs and ornaments.
325 N. Cedar — Built in the late 1870s, the Marlers' home was remodeled in 1901 and has since been renovated to the original and features hardwood floors. Visitors will see a Bethlehem village scene, antique hand-blown European ornaments, a Precious Moments nativity center, Russian nesting dolls, a collection of other Christmas collectibles, and a collection of celebrity autographs from Mae West, the Duchess of York Sara Ferguson, and Vincent Price.
405 N. Locust — The Williams' home is newly remodeled and features an addition with a family room, master bath, and bedroom. An antique organ, a family heirloom, is located in the house, and at least six trees decorated in various themes will be located throughout along with a collection of Santas, nativity sets, and dolls.
Christmas Home Tour tickets are $5 each and can be purchased in advance at Marion City Library, Marion Chamber of Commerce, local banks or Marion Pharmacy. They also are available the day of the tour at the four home locations.
Refreshments will be served in the library — the former depot — located at 101 Library Street.
