Tobacco Facts.

The Globe Tobacco Lofts at 838 S. Main St. will certainly be a highlight of the Christmas tour of homes this year as two lofts will be open to visitors on Dec. 5 and 6.

Rodney Gwyn in unit 206 and Dustin Bledsoe in unit 300 will open their homes to show off two completely different loft styles.

Gwyn’s two-bedroom loft is a mixture of eclectic furniture and stylings. Gwyn is a freelance interior designer. He is originally from Mount Airy, but lived in Atlanta for a number of years. He moved back to the area 10 years ago to be closer to his family.

“The space is industrial, but I wanted it to feel warm,” Gwyn said.

Gwyn’s whimsy is evident by the bronze kangaroo that he won at an auction. It is one of his most prized pieces.

Wreaths hang from two balcony doors that look out onto the courtyard of the lofts.

Gwyn’s bedroom glows with the soft-flickering light from a modern-art wall hanging filled with candles.

Bledsoe’s third-story loft is accessible from the second floor of the building. After entering the foyer, visitors will go up a set of stairs into the only third story loft in the building. Bledsoe’s one-bedroom loft features exposed beams and a skylight. The spacious living room is decorated in the manner of a New York style-loft, he said.

Bledsoe is a native of Elkin, but after working as a creative director for Interstate Signs for 11 years, he decided to move closer to his job. He has lived in the loft for one year.

“From the minute I came to the top of the steps, I nearly fell to my knees. I just couldn’t believe how wonderful the space was. I knew I had to have it,” Bledsoe said.

He was told that his loft has the most open floor plan with about 900 square feet. He loves the open kitchen which allows him to engage with living room guests.

The space is decorated with dimensional graphics, designed by Bledsoe. It also features a sea of blue, with an expansive brick wall in the living area that is painted blue and blue carpet throughout.

For the Christmas tour of homes, Bledsoe has Christmas touches throughout the space. There are two Christmas trees in the main living space with a Santa lounging on a leather sofa.

The community room, library and workout rooms will be open to the public the day of the tour. Light refreshments will be served during the tour.

In 2008, the Globe Tobacco Lofts won the J. Timothy Anderson Award for best mixed-income housing project in he nation. The development beat out two Boston-area finalists, not to mention a considerable number of other projects across the country.

The Landmark Group of Winston-Salem approached the city several years ago with the idea of transforming the 120-year-old brick building on South Main Street into affordable housing. The group began work in January of 2006 after rounding up financing of $3.7 million in affordable housing tax credits and $2.6 million in historic rehabilitation tax credits to aide in the $8.3 million project.

The building was finished in 2008 and now dozens of families live in the former warehouse that now features one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Thirty-four of the 43 units have been set aside for lower-income families.

To enter the Globe Tobacco Lofts from South Main Street, turn in just behind the South Main Street Service Center and enter through the courtyard.

For more information on the Globe Tobacco Lofts, contact Carolyn Choate at 786-1438 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Tickets for the event are $10 and the tour is self-guided. Tickets are available at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, at the Gertrude Smith House, by calling Betty Wright at 786-4512, or at the individual’s homes on the days of the tours.

By Mondee Tilley Mtairynews

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