Albany Democrat-Herald

Nina Barton decorated her 1909 Craftsman-style bungalow with "funky, unusual and retro things" that visitors can see Saturday on the 32nd annual Interior Tour of Homes in Albany. Eight homes are on the tour.

Barton said she and her husband, Corey, were "meticulous" in restoring the home built by Albany druggist Allyn Stellmacher for his wife, Lydia.

To preserve the history of the 3,300-square-foot, two-story home, the Bartons retained the push-button light switches, the vintage Stickley front door, the hanging pendant lights in the parlor and living room, and the floral bouquet wallpaper they found after removing two later layers of paper on a wall upstairs.

The Bartons - who own NDI, also known as No Dinx, a graphics and screenprinting business - used their enchantment with the "funky" to accent their rooms with world globes, chandeliers, Greek-looking busts, throw pillows, an old bowling pin and replicas of the Eiffel Tower.

Other homes on the tour are a new Salt Box in North Albany, a 1910 Craftsman, a 1932 French Normandy Farmhouse, an 1891-93 Eastlake/Queen Anne, an 1869 Farmhouse, an 1878 Farmhouse, and a 1879/1932 Colonial Revival.

Joe and Linda Harris' Salt Box will also be featured in the holiday issue of Spaces, which appears Nov. 8 in the Democrat-Herald and Gazette-Times. The August/September issue of Country Sampler magazine includes a story about the house as well.

And as always with the interior tour, the Carousel Studio, the Dentzel American Carousel Museum, Whitespires Church, the United Presbyterian Church, the Albany Regional Museum and the 160-year-old Monteith House Museum will be open to visitors.

The tour is self-guided, so tourgoers can walk or drive to each stop. Or they can take a horse-drawn wagon or vintage trolley, which are included in the ticket price. Cordele Sele of Marks Ridge Percherons will drive tourgoers around.

Light refreshments will be available, and strolling banjo player Bill Lanham will provide entertainment.

The Historic Interior Tour Committee sponsors the annual event. Proceeds will cover tour expenses. Anything left over will help fund the annual Christmas Parlour Tour.

In the past, proceeds have benefited the Carnegie Library, the Monteith House Museum and Central School.