Designed for a relaxed lifestyle and for entertaining family and friends, it will be a refreshing feature on the Kitchens And Moore House Tour on Thursday, Sept. 7.

From the Midwest, the Hamiltons met during college years at DePauw University. Coincidentally, their three sons are also DePauw graduates, as are two of their daughters-in-law. The couple moved to Pinehurst after making their home in New Canaan, Conn., for 25 years.

As senior vice president of human resources for Philips Electronics, Don commuted daily to New York City. Upon retirement from the corporate world, he served as parish administrator at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. After raising their family, Emily enjoyed 17 years in the employment of an upscale boutique in New Canaan.

Both Don and Emily enjoy golf and traveling and Emily finds time to garden at home, on garden club projects and doing needlepoint.

The Hamiltons chose Pinehurst for their retirement home because it reminded them of a New England village, and selected Pinewild because of the great lot location. The house, built by Speight Construction in 1997, is a Carolina-style home with high ceilings tucked away to preserve the openness and spacious open areas.

Approaching the house through a manicured area of pines and shrubbery, one welcomes the pleasing sight of white Hardiplank board, forest green shutters, a recessed entry and walls of tall, arched windows. The windows allow light to flow into high-ceilinged spaces with pale yellow walls and warm hardwood floors.

A similar arrangement of windows on the opposite wall is centered by a French door, which opens on a deck extending the full length of the house. The landscape below rolls away to the ponds and golf course.

To the left, the dining room is separated from the entry area by white circular columns with sturdy square bases several feet high. Windows of both the dining room and living room are dressed with floor-to-ceiling sheaths of draperies in a fresh floral pattern with soft sage green background and tassel edging. They were custom-made to match the living room sofa. Area carpets are patterned primarily in rich cranberry red.

In the living room, Chippendale chairs in green, an antique spindle-back chair and a tastefully striped Queen Anne chair are complemented by several pieces of walnut furniture. The chest, corner cupboard and a miniature child's secretary all display interesting mementos including Battersea boxes.

Especially notable is the large glass-topped curio table which houses a number of prized family mementos such as a 1912 baby ring owned by Emily's father. In addition, Emily has preserved his small teddy bear. (Her father has just celebrated his 94th birthday.)

An antique secretary in the entryway holds a precious collection of Limoge boxes selected to mark family activities and Lladro figurines which bring back memories of other times and loved ones. Emily has followed her mother's example in displaying these objets d'art to perpetuate precious memories. Collections of yellow and blue Herend porcelain add delicate accents of color.

Treasures from the past are featured in the dining room where the circular walnut table is set with heirloom china, crystal and linen from Emily's family. Her grandmother's heavily gold-leafed and monogrammed Haviland china from the 1900s, great-grandmother's 1850 crystal water goblets and mother's monogrammed linen napkins grace the table.

The Baker party butler is used for her father's demitasse set, and her grandmother's 1895 pitcher is on the Henredon walnut sideboard. A Georgian chandelier lights the scene.

The den is strikingly decorated with walls of navy blue and crisp white woodwork outlining a setting for the navy and white floral patterned sofa, navy and white toile patterned club chair, cream carpeting and blue and white accessories.

An antique secretary desk, found completely disassembled in a family barn, was reassembled, with added burled frontispiece and refinished. The rescued piece is now at home holding pictures of sons, Scott, Todd and Mark.

A childhood picture of Emily's mother is sweetly reminiscent of days when little girls wore fancy dresses and big hair bows. An old steeple clock presides on a bookcase. A red, white and blue afghan commemorating 1776, given to the family by Scott, the oldest son, was the inspiration for the room's dcor.

An adjoining bath with navy and cream wallpaper and brass accessories has a large picture of 42nd Street in New York, showing, in the background, the Pershing Building where Don once worked. Amazingly, the picture was found in Pinehurst.

The master bedroom has walls of a soft, restful green with window valances repeating the colors from the botanical-patterned wallpaper in the dressing room bath.

Raspberry fabric is a refreshing color for club chairs in the sitting area. Artwork here and other places in the house is by Jane Casnellie. Silk and fresh flower arrangements are by Aldena Frye.

The focus of the room is an antique oak secretary desk, which Emily's mother obtained from a sale, just by agreeing to pay $1 for delivery. It holds a grouping of "photo statues" including Emily on her first day of school and those of the grandchildren as they have entered school.

The master bath boasts a Jacuzzi and large shower with partial surround wall. A creamy colored counter tops an ample vanity, and the flooring is large ceramic tile in cream with green overtones.

Between the living room and kitchen is a bar with enclosed glass cabinet above and a taste of the cobalt and white ceramic tiles on the counter. The subtle blues and yellows of a French Country theme, burst delightfully into full bloom in the kitchen.

Cobalt blue and white tiles top the cook island and back splash walls. Blue and yellow dishes decorate cabinet tops, and a blue rooster struts near the white double sink with white faucet.

All appliances are Kitchen Aid. (Youngest son, Mark, is director of Refrigeration Strategy for Whirlpool, which manufactures Kitchen Aid appliances.) A white French Country chandelier with shaded lights hangs above the French Country breakfast table and chairs.

A whimsical fabric in coordinating colors is found on chair seats and bar stools. Beadboard is used for all the cabinetry and to hide the refrigerator, the freezer and appliance "garage."

Adjoining the kitchen is the inviting family room centered by a fireplace with beige marble surround and hearth. Set in the wall above is a hi-definition flat screen TV.

The French Country colors are echoed in the blue, white and yellow fabrics of the sofa and chairs and the flecks of blue in the Berber carpeting. A powder room conveniently located off the kitchen shares its fresh dcor.

A peek at the private upstairs guest space reveals some surprises. In addition to comfortably sized rooms with private baths, a large storage closet on the landing has been carpeted, painted and equipped to become the grandchildren's "indoor tree house."

And not only does the bedroom for grandchildren have the furniture used by their fathers, but it houses the computer Don shares with them. The colors here are red, white and blue with cream colored Berber carpeting.

The "parents' suite" is furnished in beige wicker with mauve and turquoise accents, and a Dhurrie carpet dressing the hardwood floor. A hand-painted desk and chair add further interest in a setting of sandstone shaded walls.

Volunteer Hostess Chairman Sue Caperton of Pinehurst will welcome tour visitors at the Hamilton home where mementos of the past enhance today's charming dcor. In the kitchen, Goldie Toon of Goldie's Gourmet will provide a taste of one of her "famous" soups.

Other homes on the tour will include those of Bud and Sande McCaffery, Southern Pines; Edmund and Jean Ely, Pinehurst; Richard and Susan Lapato, Pinehurst; James and Sally Thomas, Southern Pines; and Leann Parker and James Heustess, Pinehurst.

Sponsored by the Moore County Extension and Community Association, Inc., the proceeds from the 13th annual tour will benefit the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, Inc., 4-H Clubs and other local youth programs. Carolyn Register chairs the event.

Tours may begin at 10 a.m. at the Village Chapel where brochures, maps and refreshments will be available. Tickets for $20 may be purchased at each house the day of the tour or in advance for $15 at The Faded Rose, Pinehurst; The Cook's Choice and Gap Creek Candle Company, Southern Pines; Phoenix Fashions, Seven Lakes Plaza, West End; or the Extension office, Carthage.

Call 910-947-3188 for further information.