2013 Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tour: #5, Boyne City

Northern Michigan's 2013 Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tour: #5, Rockin' Reno in Boyne City, near Petoskey

Designer: Carolyn Andrew, Preston Feather, 231.347.2501, prestonfeather.com

Find driving directions on your ticket: MyNorthTickets.com

Working closely with homeowners Matt and Courtney Fruge, kitchen designer Carolyn Andrew oversaw the transformation of a 90s-era, bright blue-and-white kitchen into a sophisticated, contemporary space for cooking, dining and entertaining. Step one was removing two walls to meld the once cloistered kitchen into one large, wonderful great room.

Within the large room, Carolyn helped the Fruges lay out a highly efficient kitchen that revolves around a generous island equipped with a cooktop, prep sink and seating. Catalina-style white beadboard cabinetry adds a cottagey touch. Ceiling-mounted cabinets over the island are outfitted with glass doors on each side to allow easy access to serving pieces that are worthy of being displayed under glass!

Dark-stained maple floors make a handsome contrast to the white cabinets and stainless appliances create a streamline look. In a final touch, Matt faced the island base in the same stone he’d used on the fireplace that sits across the room. Beyond creating balance in the room, Matt points out that the stone is durable enough to withstand any amount of careless kicking his two young sons might dish out over the years.

Like any renovation project, this one had its wrinkles—but Matt says that Carolyn was more than up to the job. “It was a pleasure to work with Carolyn,” he says. “Problems came up, but she was quick to solve them.”

Cabinets:

Preston Feather

Builder:

Matt Fruge

Appliances:

Kitchen Aid

Get a preview to the 2013 Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tour in the October issue of Northern Home & Cottage & Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine.