Now Trending in Professionally Designed Northern Michigan Kitchens on the 2014 Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tour…
As the 7th annual 2014 Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tour approaches on Saturday, October 18, I’ve poured over each of the 11 kitchens on the tour and found trends both functionally savvy and stylistically captivating. Here’s what I’m seeing:
- Mixing styles of cabinetry: This trend has been around for a bit, and on our tour you’ll see that it has evolved to incorporate new selections of woods and colors.
- Mixing countertop materials: A workhouse material such as granite or Corian on the key workspace counters and touches of marble or soapstone on secondary surfaces.
- Custom hoods: stone welded black steel, breadboard … you name it. The range hood is the new kitchen hearth.
- Farmhouse-style sinks: The beloved white enamel makes several appearances on this tour—and so does a new stainless steel version.
- Dark-stained wood cabinetry: Rich, handsome and historically evocative.
- Two islands: One for full-on cooking prep: the other for visiting with the cook and light meals.
- Two-tiered islands: The lower surface is for prep, the other is for light meals and where visitors hang out. And, oh so clever—the upper surface helps block the prep mess from view.
- Kitchen designers moving into designing the entire home interior: Makes sense given that the kitchen is the heart of the home, doesn’t it?
Want to see for yourself what’s new in kitchens? Take the Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tour and meet the professionals who design these kitchens.
Our Ultimate Up North Kitchen tour is a great way to see Northern Michigan’s stunning October landscapes. Watch for vineyards and wineries, royal blue lakeshores, orchards and farm markets, boutiques and restaurants along the way. On Saturday, October 18you can buy tickets at any kitchen on the tour. Here are the addresses and directions:
1. 2310 SE Torch Lake Dr, Bellaire  (Torch Lake)Â
Beginning point: downtown Alden at the intersection of Helena Rd and SE Torch Lake Rd. Turn onto SE Torch Lake Rd and remain on it for approximately 8 miles. Home is on left.
2. 4812 Lake Grove Rd, Petoskey    (Walloon Lake)
From home #1: Head north on SE Torch Lake Dr about 8.4 miles. Turn left onto M88. Take 2nd right onto US31 and drive approximately 30 miles. Turn right onto Lake Grove Rd and continue 3.9 miles. The house is on the lake side and is not visible from the road.
From nearest intersection:Â From US31 and Lake Grove Rd just south of Petoskey turn onto Lake Grove Rd and continue 3.9 miles. The house is on the lake side and is not visible from the road.
3. 230 Fairview Ave, Petoskey
From home #2: Retrace your way to US31/Charlevoix Rd and turn right heading north toward Petoskey. Continue on US31 as it becomes W Mitchell St. and Bay View Rd. Turn right onto Winter Park Ln. Take the 2nd left onto Grand Ave then take the 1st left onto Fairview Ave. House is at top of hill on the corner.
From nearest intersection: From the corner where US31 meets US131 head north on US31. Continue as it becomes W. Mitchell St. and Bay View Rd. Turn right onto Winter Park Ln. Take the 2nd left onto Grand Ave then take the 1st left onto Fairview Ave. House is at top of hill on the corner.
4. 1388 Bay View Heights, Petoskey
From home #3: Head back to Grand Ave and turn right. Turn right onto Winter Park Ln then take 2nd right onto US31 and follow it for 2.7 miles. Turn right onto Pickerel Lake Rd at the flashing light just north of M119. Take 1st right onto Bay View Heights. House is on the left at the top of the hill.
From nearest intersection: From the corner where US31 meets US131 head north on US31 for 2.7 miles. Turn right onto Pickerel Lake Rd at the flashing light just north of M119. Take 1st right onto Bay View Heights. House is on the left at the top of the hill.
5. 4720 Deer Park Circle, Harbor Springs (Conway)
From home #4: Backtrack to Pickerel Lake Rd and turn left. Turn right onto US31. Continue 2.9 miles. Turn left onto N Conway Rd (Just past W Conway Rd. Look for the Park Place Café on your left). Drive for 4.7 miles then turn left onto Stonehedge Ct. Take the first left onto Deer Park Cir. The home will be on the right towards the end of the cul-de-sac.
From nearest intersection: where US31 meets M119 north of Petoskey follow US31 (do not drive towards Harbor Springs). Turn left onto N Conway Rd (Just past W Conway Rd. Look for the Park Place Café on your left). Drive for 4.7 miles then turn left onto Stonehedge Ct. Take the first left onto Deer Park Cir. The home will be on the right towards the end of the cul-de-sac.
6. 2598 Pennsylvania Ave, Harbor Springs (Weque)
From home #5: Turn right onto Stonehedge Ct then right onto N Conway Rd. After 3.7 miles turn right onto Hathaway Rd. Continue 2.5 miles then turn left onto Pleasantview Rd. Take 3rd right onto M119N and continue into Harbor Springs. Turn left onto Zoll St then left again onto Pennsylvania Ave. Home is on the left.
From nearest intersection: where US31 meets M119 north of Petoskey follow M119 into Harbor Springs. Turn left onto Zoll St then left again onto Pennsylvania Ave. Home is on the left.
7. 6949 Timberlake Dr, Elk Rapids
From home #6: Continue east on Pennsylvania Ave and take 1st left onto Central Ave. Turn left onto Bluff Walk, then right onto M119. Continue for nearly 6 miles then turn right at M119/US31. Drive for 46 miles towards Elk Rapids. Turn left at Williams Rd, then take the 1st left onto Timberlake Dr. House is on right.
From nearest intersection: From the stop light on US31 in Elk Rapids drive north about 2.5 miles. Turn right onto Williams Rd. Take first left onto Timberlake Dr. House is on right.
8. 2345 Montmorency Ln, Traverse City
From home #7: Return to US31S by driving south on Timberlake and turning right onto Williams Rd. Take 1st left onto US31S. Continue driving 18 miles towards Traverse City. Turn right onto Garfield Rd (onto Old Mission Peninsula), continue onto Peninsula Dr and drive for nearly 9 miles. Turn right onto Montmorency Ln. House in on left.
From nearest intersection: From the intersection of Front and Garfield in Traverse City follow Peninsula Drive 8.8 miles and turn right onto Montmorency Lane. The house is on the left, 0.1 miles.
9. 2533 Carroll Rd, Traverse City
From home #8: Return to Peninsula Dr and turn left. Take 3rd left onto Island View Rd and continue about one mile. Turn right at M37 and continue 1.2 miles. Turn left at Carroll Rd. House is on left.
From nearest intersection: From the intersection of Front and Garfield in Traverse City follow Peninsula Drive. Slight right onto M37 N/Center Road. Turn right onto Carroll Road. House is on left.
10. 501 W 11th St, Traverse City
From home #9: Return to M37 and turn left heading south for 7.4 miles. Turn right onto E Front St. Remain in the right lane and continue on Grandview Parkway to the traffic light at Cass St. Turn left onto Cass and drive 0.7 miles to 11th St. Turn right onto E 11th and continue onto W 11th. House is on left.
From nearest intersection: where US31 and US37/Division St meet drive south on US37/Division St about 0.5 miles. Turn left onto W 11th St. House is on right.
11. 5467 W MacFarlane Rd, Glen Arbor
From home #10: Drive west on 11th St to Division St/US31/M37. Turn right and continue one mile, then turn left onto Grandview Pkwy. Turn left onto M72. Drive 17 miles on M72 then turn right at Plowman Rd/CR675. Continue 2.6 miles then turn right onto MacFarlane Rd. House is on right.
Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tour produced by Northern Home & Cottage Magazine and National Kitchen & Bath Association sponsored by Honor Onekama Building Supply and Virginia Tile, and benefitting Child & Family Services.
The tour features more than 10 stunning kitchens scattered along an equally awe-striking route that leads from the Wequetonsing area of Harbor Springs, to Walloon Torch and Birch Lakes, on both coasts of Old Mission Peninsula to Traverse City and ends in Glen Arbor.