Big on Creativity and Charm, Plus a Clever Chalkboard!

There are pantries, then there are pantries that are hidden by a marvelously movable chalkboard. Haven’t seen one of those? Then that’s another reason to join us on the 27th Annual Kitchen Tour to benefit The Music Hall.

One of the homes on the tour was built in 1800 but renovated a few years ago to provide the homeowner with a mid-century modern feel. It’s a good feel, let me tell you. Concrete countertops, a sleek backsplash, clean lines.

The stainless appliances are part of the gray, yellow, and white palette. Ditto the range hood and lighting fixtures over the island. These elements seem less like functional necessities and more like part of the design scheme. Don’t you love when it works that way? It makes kitchens better than the sum of their parts.

Despite all that good stuff, it’s the pantry cabinet cover that really drew my attention. What a small but brilliant idea. You could use it to write a grocery list, a reminder for someone else in the household, or simply to create art.

This isn’t a huge kitchen, but it’s big on creativity and charm. Further, it conveniently sits adjacent to a sitting area, and the dining area is just on the other side of the wall.

I love having this kitchen on the tour this year. It shows so well how a kitchen doesn’t have to be big to be grand. All it takes is a design vision that’s well executed. And maybe a clever little pantry door.

There are 11 great kitchens to see on the tour this year, which takes place on Saturday, May 12, in the Little Harbour neighborhood in Portsmouth. That’s the day before Mother’s Day, folks. Bring Mom along!

Advance tickets are $25 for Music Hall members and $27 for non-members. They can be purchased at the Historic Theater’s B2W Box Office at 28 Chestnut Street in downtown Portsmouth, online at TheMusicHall.org, or by calling 603-436-2400. Tickets are available at the box office on the day of the Kitchen Tour for $30. Read more on the tour here.