Cindy Cornette said she and her husband designed their Enclave home around the colors in their Long Island Blue granite kitchen countertop.
Since guests often wind up congregating in the kitchen when families entertain, the room once used just for cooking more and more has become a focal point for design and interest, homeowners say.
On Saturday, April 10, the Junior League of Chattanooga will offer its fifth annual Tour du Jour, a self-guided tour of premier kitchens in the homes of six area residents, including the Cornettes.
“We’ve had great turnouts, from both (Junior League) members and members of the community,” said Laura Ketcham, the event’s chairwoman. “I think it is nice to see (kitchens) in the context of the home rather than in the showroom.”
Mrs. Cornette said she and her husband found the rare, Brazilian-mined granite for their countertop at a cabinet shop in the Atlanta suburb of Buckhead.
“I came to a screeching halt,” she said of happening upon the granite, which features tones of blue, marble and brown. “It reminded me of the Caribbean ocean.”
The kitchen, designed by Haskell Interiors, also features off-white cabinetry by Norcia Fine Cabinetry and a sea blue island whose interior contains a small freezer, drink bin, microwave, sink, garbage disposal and trash compactor.
Hidden behind two of the cabinets are an oversize refrigerator and a sizable walk-in pantry.
The kitchen itself overlooks a swimming pool and the Tennessee River.
Charlotte Humphrey said her Barton Avenue kitchen and adjoining living room have become her and her husband’s favorite part of their home, which is also on the Tour du Jour. The fact she and her husband did most of the work to renovate it into what it is today makes it all the sweeter.
Former year-round Florida residents, the couple moved to Chattanooga after being invited to visit friends in the city.
“We fell in love with (the city),” Mrs. Humphrey said. “We could not wait to get here.”
The couple took a much smaller dwelling and added to it, moving the kitchen from the rear to the front of the house.
The style of the kitchen, with black and white tones, black subway tile and beadboard walls and ceilings resembles that in many houses in their former home on Nantucket Island, Mass., Mrs. Humphrey said.
“It functions very well,” she said.
The Tour du Jour is one of the Junior League’s three primary fundraising events. Profits from the tour go to organizations it supports, according to officials.
In recent years, it has partnered with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department’s Step ONE-Eat Well program, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, Re:Start — The Center for Adult Education, and the Mary Cameron Robinson Foundation’s Ladybug program as part of its Healthy Starts initiative.
IF YOU GO
* What: Junior League of Chattanooga’s fifth annual Tour du Jour.
* When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 10.
* Where: Home are located in the Bluff View, North Chattanooga, Enclave, Mountain Creek Road and Hamilton Island neighborhoods.
* Admission: $15 (through Friday), $20 (day of tour); tickets available online at www.jlchatt.org or at the Junior League headquarters, 622 E. Fourth St.; on tour date, the tickets will be available at all tour homes.
* Phone: 267-5053.
KITCHEN FAVORITES
Homeowners were asked to name a favorite aspect of her kitchen:
* Erika Ballard: “On an aesthetic level, I love that our kitchen is amazingly beautiful. Just a few of the features that make the kitchen so pleasing to the eye are the richness of color and attention to detail of the cherry cabinets, the beautiful stone range hood, the stone and tile. … On a utilitarian level, I love that the kitchen is extremely functional.”
* Sheila Boyington: “The exclusive Downsview cabinets made in Canada, the complete Wolf appliance suite, the imported mosaic tile backsplash and dual granite countertops. The view of the Tennessee River from every point of the kitchen is just icing on the cake.”
* Cindy Cornette: The Long Island Blue granite countertop “because we built the whole house around it. Fortunately, we found it before plans were finished for the house.”
* Charlotte Humphrey: “The big island because I love the distressed wood countertop” and the Wolf gas range because of the way it cooks, its overall look and its kitschy red knobs.
* Susan Young: “It is small and I do very little cooking in it, so it’s easy to clean up and easy to walk downtown to all the wonderful restaurants we have.” Otherwise, “my electric wine opener.”
