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Homes opened for school fundraiser

The tour featured very creative decorating schemes. Reminder Publications photo by Courtney Llewellyn
By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW The compliments did not stop the afternoon of Dec. 8. "Beautiful," "gorgeous," "elegant" -- visitors marveled at the architecture and the decor of the eight homes opened up for the second "Cooks-N-Kitchens" Kitchen Tour, a fundraiser for Blueberry Hill Elementary School.

"It was nice for these people to offer up their homes," event coordinator Kristin Fitzpatrick said. "We couldn't do this without them."

While the entire first floor of many of the houses was open for viewing, the focus of the tour was really on the grandiose kitchens in each home.

The home on Concord Road was praised by one couple for its Roman arches and columns. There were many dark tones in the home but they never felt oppressive. The kitchen, however, used tones of cream and red for a French countryside feel. There was a large, angular marble-topped island in the center of the kitchen along with very modern appliances. One visitor noted, "There are no sharp edges in this house."

The compliments continued from one home to the next. The home on Converse Street received praise for its wide open kitchen and the way the table sat perpendicular to the island. Also of note was the mural painted behind the range. A volunteer said the owners wanted to bring a bit of nature inside, so they hired a local artist to paint three special places in the Adirondacks in the mural. It is covered with a finish to make sure splashing sauce from the stovetop doesn't ruin it.

One of the homes on Ellington Street had a "comfortable study" and "gorgeous curtains," according to visitors. The other abode on Ellington had a sunlit reading room, prompting one visitor to ask her friend, "Wouldn't you love to have a space like this? It's so cozy when you walk in."

Visitors took in elegant homes on Farmington Road, Green Willow Drive, Pendleton Lane and Silver Birch Road as well, and even though the tour was supposed to focus on kitchens, it was often the little touches that caught visitors' attentions. Things like an old rotary telephone, framed childrens' artwork, candles in a fireplace, cozy work stations, a grandfather clock and wine racks were all commented upon.

"As long as you take something [aesthetically] from each home, that's what matters," Fitzpatrick said.

While on the tour, visitors were also able to buy raffle tickets for a number of different donated items, including gift baskets, place mats, blenders, paintings, martini glasses and an entire table setting.

Tickets for the tour cost $20 in advance and $25 the day of, but those who took the kitchen tour gained more for their donation than the ability to look at lovely homes. Each ticket booklet with information on every kitchen also contained a variety of recipes for aspiring chefs. The "Dips & Salsas" section had everything from Guacamole Dip to Wild Mushroom and Artichoke Dip with Spiced Parmesan Cheese Crisps.

Recipes in the "Appetizers" ranged from Stuffed Mushrooms to Honey Mustard Palmiers to Southwestern Wontons.

All the recipes were submitted by Blueberry Hill Elementary School parents. For the last kitchen tour, full cookbooks were offered, but this year the organizers decided to offer one particular area of recipes.

"Because of the recipes and all the information and advertisements, these books have a great shelf life," Fitzpatrick said.

According to Fitzpatrick, over 300 people purchased tickets and toured homes on Dec. 8, raising $11,000 for the Blueberry Hill Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). The money will go toward assisting with a $20,000 library investment, field trips, supplies and special teacher requests.

"We sold less tickets this year but we raised the same amount of money," Fitzpatrick said. "We have to thank everyone who came out and all the local businesses who were so generous in supporting us."

She also thanked the 12 volunteers who helped out with the four-hour event.

"Our PTO is extremely supportive," Blueberry Hill principal Marie Pratt said. "Every year they do a great job fundraising. What they provide for us is incredible. I don't have words to describe how important this is."

The PTO will be meeting in early January to discuss how the funds raised will be allocated.

The next big Blueberry Hill PTO fundraiser will be a golf tournament in late spring, hosted by Twin Hills Country Club.