When Michael Burcham welcomes people into his home this weekend for the Brentwood Tour of Homes, he really wants them to feel welcome.

A man who loves to entertain, helping the Brentwood Historic Commission seems to be just second nature to him.

His home, 308 on Deerwood Lane has already been featured in Southern Living magazine and was on the Brentwood Garden Tour this past spring. As guests passed through the hallway on the way to the gardens in the back, they got a glimpse of this ''contemporary Gothic'' home. Now, Burcham is inviting everyone back for a full-scale look at this unique house.

Tucked into a naturally landscaped four-acre hillside, this 7,500-square-foot house is a haven for Burcham from his hectic life as executive vice president at Paradigm Health.

''I'm in so many big cities, it's good to come here and relax,'' he said. ''My favorite spot is the library.''

That's also where Burcham displays his collection of religious artifacts, started during his many travels.

''My father is a minister and I think that had an influence on my decision to collect religious items. I also wanted to have something to leave my children.''

Burcham looked for some time before he found the right location for his home; the quiet hillside with space for his Walking Horses fit his idea. Once he found the house, it would be another year of remodeling before he could move in.

His friend, Thom Meek, offered advice on how to take out walls to create a more open feeling in the house. They used black and stainless steel to create the contemporary look throughout the house. Even one of the ceilings is black. Burcham also said they used 2,500 pounds of slate and granite on the floors.

The house was built around 1980 and when Burcham purchased it, the house still had shag carpet, massive amounts of wood and smaller rooms. Built as a passive solar house, the southern exposure had an abundance of windows — in fact, there are 72 in the house. That's one of the things Burcham liked about the house in its original state.

In the kitchen, Burcham replaced wood doors with glass and updated knobs. He installed a large sink with the idea that friends can congregate in the kitchen to help dice and chop.

Bathrooms were all updated, too, and have become focal points. The sinks and fixtures could almost be classified as works of art. Many of the sinks are unique glass bowls set in cabinet tops, with the base or legs of the cabinets Gothic in many cases.

Hanging in the house are pictures of Burcham's two children, Ryan and Lauren, and his friend Meek on one of their walking horses, Phantom Menace, the 2003 World Grand Champion. Burcham doesn't ride, although he said his daughter does.

''On weekends we travel to all these small towns for events,'' Burcham said. ''We get a lot of local flavor there. It reminds me of home — Booneville, Miss.''