January 2006 - 302 E. Charles Street

January’s Home-of-the-Month is a 2-story 1940’s Tudor style home, belonging to Jack and Rachel Plating. “This is Grand Central Station,” Rachel Plating tells me as she takes me on a tour of her home. It is easy to see what she means, as there is a constant stream of friends and family coming and going to and from her home at its corner location on Charles and South. Some people are staying at the home, some are there to work, some just to visit. No matter their intent, a look around the house and you know why this comfortable home has so many visitors. Rachel and her husband Jack Plating moved from Baltimore, back to Lakeland, during the summer of 2005. They went to Florida Southern College together, but a job transfer took them away from the area after graduation. When the opportunity arose to bring them back to Lakeland, they jumped at the chance and found their new home in the middle of the Lake Morton Historical District. Jack and Rachel just moved into the house in August, but already it has a lived-in, loved-much feel…helped by Rachel, an interior designer looking to build up her business here in Lakeland. Jack works for Verizon Wireless and Rachel, in addition to the design business, is also a musician in a band called Pemberley. Their 1946 home is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with over 2600 square feet of living space. As only the third owners of this fine home, many of the home’s original details are still intact, including the grand central staircase and the black and aqua bathroom tile. However, as an interior designer, Rachel has added many of her own touches to the place. She has an impeccable sense of style and an ability to blend old with new in a fresh, funky way. Her great use of color throughout the house only adds more warmth and charm. A back room on the first floor, newly painted with a metallic finish, serves as a music studio for Rachel and her band. The carpet throughout much of the house was removed to reveal the original wood floors, and in the master bedroom, where there were no wood floors, Rachel and Jack installed salvaged wood floors from a house that was being torn down on Park Street. Future renovation plans are now being directed outside, where Rachel says that she and Jack have plans for a landscaping overhaul. Other residents include their beloved dogs, Elsey and Windsor, both Chesapeake Bay Retrievers (direct imports from Maryland). A close friend and bandmate, also named Rachel, lives in the home’s additional 1 bedroom apartment across the driveway. Her dog, Buckley, named after the late musician, Jeff Buckley, is a good playmate to the Platings’ pups. Another bandmate, Drew, has taken up residence in the colorful guest bedroom of the main house. Rachel and Jack have graciously offered their home to be one of the homes featured on this year’s LMNA Home and Garden Tour. Join us March 11th to meet our new neighbors and get a peek at this spectacular showcase!