2009 Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tour: Saturday, October 24
I can't believe it, but the second annual Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tour is rolling around again. Mark it on your calendar: Saturday, October 24.
The first tour was an incredible success. After spending the day yesterday reviewing photos and designer statements for this year's 25 kitchens, I can tell you to expect another spectacular tour.
These kitchens, located from Manistee to Petoskey, represent the latest in national trends along with a host of uniquely Up North twists. We co-produce the tour with the Northern Michigan chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association—you'll be blown away by the talent of these designers. I'd like to thank the Traverse City cabinet company Wooden Hammer for being a sponsor of our 2009 tour. It's an honor to work with a company that has a reputation for such fine craftsmanship.
I'll use my blog to keep you updated on the tour. Below are some tour highlights. But before you read on, here's a sneak preview of one of the kitchens—the designer is Sandra Bargiel of Bay Cabinetry in Traverse City. Sandra had two knockout kitchens on last year's tour:
Renovation Magic
Walls disappear to make way for lake views, old energy-guzzling appliances are replaced with shiny Energy Star models, islands materialize calling family and guests to gather, and in one case, the former master bedroom morphs into a kitchen. Many of the kitchens on this year’s tour are remodels, reflecting a national trend to reuse, recycle and economize. See how National Kitchen and Bath Association designers magically transform ugly duckling kitchens into sleek cooking machines.
The Not so Big Kitchen
Wasted space is so two years ago. On this year’s tour you’ll see an efficient laundry area tucked under steps off the kitchen, a refrigerator secreted away in a pantry, islands that house everything from wine bars to refrigerator drawers (and more) and ceiling-height cabinetry that makes use of every inch of available wall space.
Mixing It Up
Don’t like your style-pigeon holed? Neither do many of the homeowners on our 2009 tour. With the help of National Kitchen and Bath Association designers these homeowners paired streamlined modern cabinets with fine antiques pieces; light glazed cabinets with dark glazed; maple cabinets next to cherry cabinets. And it all works just beautifully.
Painted Cabinets
Whether they are used to give a kitchen a bolt of sophisticated color or to play up a kitchen’s cottagey-ambiance, painted cabinets are a national trend that is reflected on our tour in black, red, cream and white painted cabinets.
Great Legs!
Old-world charm is one reason for the national trend to give cabinets furniture-style legs—and you’ll see that on our tour. But you’ll also see a set of head-turner modern stainless legs on a cabinet.
Not Just a Pantry Pantries
We’ve got a pantry that hides a refrigerator, a pantry that looks and feels like a cottage in Tuscany and a pantry that doubles as a bakery.
Sexy Kitchen
Want to seduce you husband in(to) the kitchen? Promise him his very own island/cooking space like the one you’ll see on our tour. Want to really heat it up in the kitchen? Give him his own sous kitchen. Yep, you’ll see that, too.
Luxurious Details
These kitchens may not be big on square footage but they more than make up for it in luxury. Keep an eye out for chandeliers in unexpected places, bars in the kitchen (why drag your guests all the way to the den?), granite counter tops that look like museum pieces and lighting that makes a week-night supper feel like a candlelit dinner.
Appliance Lust
Dreaming of a convection oven? We’ve got em’ on this tour. Want to see one of those new induction cooktops? Got one. Pining for two dishwashers in your kitchen? A wine refrigerator? Warming drawer? Commercial grade range? The latest in Sub-Zero refrigeration? Our 2009 tour fulfills your every appliance fantasy—vicariously, of course.
The first tour was an incredible success. After spending the day yesterday reviewing photos and designer statements for this year's 25 kitchens, I can tell you to expect another spectacular tour.
These kitchens, located from Manistee to Petoskey, represent the latest in national trends along with a host of uniquely Up North twists. We co-produce the tour with the Northern Michigan chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association—you'll be blown away by the talent of these designers. I'd like to thank the Traverse City cabinet company Wooden Hammer for being a sponsor of our 2009 tour. It's an honor to work with a company that has a reputation for such fine craftsmanship.
I'll use my blog to keep you updated on the tour. Below are some tour highlights. But before you read on, here's a sneak preview of one of the kitchens—the designer is Sandra Bargiel of Bay Cabinetry in Traverse City. Sandra had two knockout kitchens on last year's tour:
Renovation Magic
Walls disappear to make way for lake views, old energy-guzzling appliances are replaced with shiny Energy Star models, islands materialize calling family and guests to gather, and in one case, the former master bedroom morphs into a kitchen. Many of the kitchens on this year’s tour are remodels, reflecting a national trend to reuse, recycle and economize. See how National Kitchen and Bath Association designers magically transform ugly duckling kitchens into sleek cooking machines.
The Not so Big Kitchen
Wasted space is so two years ago. On this year’s tour you’ll see an efficient laundry area tucked under steps off the kitchen, a refrigerator secreted away in a pantry, islands that house everything from wine bars to refrigerator drawers (and more) and ceiling-height cabinetry that makes use of every inch of available wall space.
Mixing It Up
Don’t like your style-pigeon holed? Neither do many of the homeowners on our 2009 tour. With the help of National Kitchen and Bath Association designers these homeowners paired streamlined modern cabinets with fine antiques pieces; light glazed cabinets with dark glazed; maple cabinets next to cherry cabinets. And it all works just beautifully.
Painted Cabinets
Whether they are used to give a kitchen a bolt of sophisticated color or to play up a kitchen’s cottagey-ambiance, painted cabinets are a national trend that is reflected on our tour in black, red, cream and white painted cabinets.
Great Legs!
Old-world charm is one reason for the national trend to give cabinets furniture-style legs—and you’ll see that on our tour. But you’ll also see a set of head-turner modern stainless legs on a cabinet.
Not Just a Pantry Pantries
We’ve got a pantry that hides a refrigerator, a pantry that looks and feels like a cottage in Tuscany and a pantry that doubles as a bakery.
Sexy Kitchen
Want to seduce you husband in(to) the kitchen? Promise him his very own island/cooking space like the one you’ll see on our tour. Want to really heat it up in the kitchen? Give him his own sous kitchen. Yep, you’ll see that, too.
Luxurious Details
These kitchens may not be big on square footage but they more than make up for it in luxury. Keep an eye out for chandeliers in unexpected places, bars in the kitchen (why drag your guests all the way to the den?), granite counter tops that look like museum pieces and lighting that makes a week-night supper feel like a candlelit dinner.
Appliance Lust
Dreaming of a convection oven? We’ve got em’ on this tour. Want to see one of those new induction cooktops? Got one. Pining for two dishwashers in your kitchen? A wine refrigerator? Warming drawer? Commercial grade range? The latest in Sub-Zero refrigeration? Our 2009 tour fulfills your every appliance fantasy—vicariously, of course.
Tags: 2009 ultimate up north kitc..., manistee, national kitchen and bath a..., petoskey, traverse city
8 Comments
-
Comment by rdiesing on August 3, 2009 at 4:27pm - Hi Elizabeth - I work for Motawi Tileworks in Ann Arbor. A few of us were thinking about attending the tour this year. We're wondering if any of the kitchens on the tour have Motawi Tile in them. We wouldn't want to miss those!
-
Comment by Elizabeth Edwards on August 12, 2009 at 1:03pm -
Hi Motawi friends,
You are right, you won't want to miss the tile garden tables in Traverse City architect Ken Richmond's courtyard just off the kitchen--which is a highlight of this year's tour. The tables are a mix of Pewabic and Motawi tiles and are really very striking. Last year, a home located a block from the Richmonds' had 200 people go through it. Given the location of the home and that Ken is a very well known and respected Northern Michigan architect, this promises to be the busiest kitchen on the tour. Also, we are featuring this kitchen in our October issue of Northern Home & Cottage.
The way the Richmonds' home is laid out, people will step out of the kitchen, into this darling courtyard, and right past these tables. Ken told me that he loves Motawi tiles (not a surprise because he has fabulous taste) and loves working with your company. If you had an interest in sponsoring the tour, we could do some fun promotion at this kitchen. Of course, there are other perks of sponsorship as well. For details I would refer you to our sales associate, Candace Morse, cmorse@traversemagazine.com; 231-941-6536.
Here's a picture of the Richmonds' kitchen--the French doors lead to the courtyard. Richmond collaborated with kitchen designer Scott Lankford on the design.
Here are the tables:
-
Comment by rdiesing on August 12, 2009 at 1:34pm
- Thanks for the info. We're big fans of Ken Richmond too. I'll pass this along to the rest of the staff!
-
Comment by Scott Lankford on September 24, 2009 at 4:35pm -
This kitchen tour offers a wonderful opportunity to see some spectacular kitchen designs. As one of the designers involved with a kitchen on the tour, I'm very pleased and honored to have a project included. I know that your tour participants will walk away with great ideas they can use to make their home kitchens more functional and attractive. Tour participants who have questions about kitchen design are welcome to check out our website at http://lankfordgroup.com/.
Ken and Joan's home and property are magical. An urban jewel tucked in amidst the Boardman Neighborhood. Lissa- you and Todd Z have done such a nice job with the whole October 09 issue. Thanks for including us.
-
Comment by Theresa Ames on October 1, 2009 at 3:38pm - IS there a place where individuals need to sign up for the tour?
-
Comment by Sara W. Brubaker on October 25, 2009 at 3:29pm -
I loved the tour, but did not have enough time to see all of the kitchens I wanted to see, especially since there seemed to be two distinct "areas": the Traverse City/Leelanau County area, and the Elk Rapids/ Petoskey/Harbor Springs area. When speaking with other people on the tour, everyone lamented that there wasn't enough time, and they wished that it was TWO DAYS instead of one.
Next year, could it be on a Friday/Saturday, or better yet, Saturday/Sunday? It would be better for those of us who would like to see more than 5 or 6 kitchens, and go to more of a geographically widened area. It would also be great for the local merchants and restaurant-owners: 2 days of Kitchen tourers!
-
Comment by cottageonthebay on October 27, 2009 at 11:01am -
This was our second trip for the kitchen tour. We leave Grand Rapids and agree with Sara. We need two days for the tour. Yes, Saturday and Sunday would be ideal . I was pleased that it was in October this year and we were able to find shops open on Sunday. We only managed to see 7 kitchens since the areas were so distant.
The map was poor compared to the map in 2008 . The clarity or distance from each home was most difficult.
We love the tour and hope to see you for two days next year !!!
-
Comment by Scott Lankford on October 28, 2009 at 7:57am
-
Thank you Sara W. Brubaker and cottageonthebay for your great comments and suggestions. As a designer on the Tour (#18 Richmond) I had a blast chatting and giving the "Vana White" treatment to all of the interior features and fun details in that jewel of a kitchen. So many couples and groups of friends were from outside of Traverse City. So many knew each other- all laughing and catching up. The enthusiasm and excitement for the day, the Tour, the Richmond home and the ideas shown was overwhelming.
Our Habitat for Humanity volunteers were the best- allowing me time to discuss with folks how to tranform a home for your lifestyle- how to leverage you and your home's assets into a great place to truly live and live well.
Props to Traverse Magazine; Lissa Edwards, Rachel North, Jan Chapman and Jodi Simpson for all of their ideas, vision, leadership and hard work. Living and working in Traverse City and our Up North area are made all the richer by their sharing and telling the stories of the community through Traverse Magazine year in and year out.
Add a Comment
You need to be a member of MyNorth to add comments!
Join this network