"The home of Bill and Sher Dunaway at 1517 San Marcos will be one of the homes included on Coleman County Medical Center Auxiliary’s Tour of Homes scheduled for Sunday, December 3.  The Dunaway’s call their home “Casa Alegre,” and is a Mexican style home.  When the Dunaways purchased the home six years ago it had been vacant for more than 15 years and was in need of a loving owner. Sher, an anthropologist and interior designer and Bill, a banker and real estate broker, have traveled extensively.

"The home’s furnishings, accessories and interior design reflect their interest and collections of folk art from Mexico and South America, along with the art and influence of the Southwest and other areas.  The architecture of “Casa Alegre” is Mexican and is a reflection of the Santa Fe style.  Although each room boasts a different color scheme, there is a natural progression which weaves its way throughout the home.  The accessories accent the personality of each room.  The living room and dining room are reminiscent of the Mexican tropics with the use of bold, sunshine colors, wicker and bamboo furniture, traditional Mexican furniture and equipale chairs, plants and whimsical folk art.  In contrast to the rest of the home, the kitchen is all white but is richly accented with colorful Mexican folk art.  Each bedroom makes its own distinct decorative statement.  For instance, one bedroom’s decor is Mexican and Rio Grande Cowboy and Ranch style.  This is where Bill has placed the antique Mexican vaquero saddle, and a very worn working sombrero he found on their travels to Mexico.  The bedroom is also accentuated with antique western collectibles and photographs taken by Sher.

"One of the many challenges was in one of the baths which had been painted a vivid green.  “I could not change the color, it bled through every color I put over it, so I just went with it,” states Sher.  The vanity top is covered with antique broken tile, the furnishings, accessories, and warmth of the home.  Except for plumbing and heating, Bill has done the inside restoration.   Having only the weekends to work on “Casa Alegre,” its restoration has been challenging, and is still ongoing, but the home’s transformation has been rewarding.  Bill and Shèr’s goal is to make sure that everyone who visits their home is made to feel good and experiences the home’s magic, thus the name “Casa Alegre” … the joyful, happy home."  (The Chronicle and Democrat-Voice, Coleman, Texas, November 9, 2000, page 1.)