Home and garden events in the Roanoke Valley this spring

Good Health Begins in These Kitchens
Virginia Amateur Sports (VAS) is helping promote wellbeing in the most important room in the house in terms of health: the kitchen. VAS, dedicated to promoting physical fitness and healthy lifestyles, is partnering with Carter’s Cabinet Shop to host the 4th Annual VAS Kitchen Tour on April 4th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “The kitchen is really the center location of where health begins in the home,” says Diane Williams, director of marketing and fundraising for VAS. The tour features six truly exceptional kitchens, as well as a “bonus” house offering a catered spread and live music.
Four of the kitchens on tour are located in The Preserve at Two Ford, a “smart home” community boasting homes with complete house automation, whole-house entertainment and energy management features. These homes are energy efficient and built with environmentally friendly materials, and their kitchens are sure to delight and inspire. Also on the tour, the Hofford kitchen takes into consideration the owners’ present and future needs. Dual counter heights, access under sinks and cooktops, banks of extension drawers, and wide doorways and hallways can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers, helping ensure that the homeowners will enjoy full functionality of their home now and into the future. With a stunning view of the Valhalla vineyards from the window, the kitchen design in the Philps’ home puts the emphasis on entertaining. From commercial grade appliances to a wine refrigerator to bar seating, this kitchen lends itself beautifully to accommodating crowds.
Whether you are remodeling your kitchen, building a home from the ground up, or just enjoy a good house tour, there are ideas galore: decorating tips, remodeling ideas, information on “going green,” and cooking  emonstrations. The professionals from Carter’s Cabinet Shop will also be on hand to answer questions. And for those who don’t want to drive, there will be a bus to shuttle visitors from kitchen to kitchen.
Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 on the day of the event. Tickets are available online at www.carterscabinetshop.com; they can also be purchased at any of the homes on the day of the tour. For more information, please visit www.commonwealthgames.org or www.carterscabinetshop.com, or call (540) 343-0987.
Home Expo Offers Something for Everyone
Want to check out all the latest in home trends in the Roanoke Valley area? Then head to the “Better Living Expo ’09—THE HOME SHOW,” brought to you by the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association on March 27, 28 and 29 at the Salem Civic Center. You’ll have the opportunity to enjoy “one-stop shopping;” under one big roof, you can learn about and purchase a multitude of products and/or services for the home. Also included in the show are free “how-to” clinics on topics such as how to choose a professional for your project, home technologies basics, outdoor lighting, critter control, preventing your home from an insurance loss, tile tips and tricks, and more.
To help plan your visit, go to www.rrhba.com to peruse the show’s official guide (available online in early March), also available at the show. Admission is $5.00; children 12 and under are free with an adult. Free parking. For more information, visit www.rrhba.com or call (540) 389-7135.
Garden Day Offers Something For Everyone
Savor signs of spring inside and out in several local homes during Roanoke’s annual Garden Day. To be held Saturday, April 25, rain or shine, the tour is part of the statewide Historic Garden Week in Virginia, also known as “America’s Largest Open House.” Hosted by the Roanoke Valley Garden Club, the Mill Mountain Garden Club, and the Garden Club of Virginia, Garden Day in Roanoke will feature five private homes and other public points of interest. Visitors will marvel at historical architecture, stunning interiorsand glorious gardens.
Highlights include:
2717 Longview Avenue: While traditional in design, this 1925 brick colonial has been decorated by the current owners with their young family in mind using bright paint colors, unusual wallpapers and fresh window treatments. Large windows allow much natural light; the open effect highlights detailed moldings and woodwork, bright rugs and artwork. The renovated European kitchen features custom-glazed cabinets and granite countertops, and is the heart of the home for this family. A master bedroom balcony offers views of downtown Roanoke and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The informal garden includes tulips, daffodils, dogwoods and azaleas.
3122 ALLENDALE STREET: Built in 1928, this Tudorstyle residence underwent a complete renovation and restoration in 2005 by its present owner. Great effort was made to restore the house to original specifications both inside and out—in the wood, stucco, slate roof, bricks and more. Local artisans crafted the diamond-leaded windows and mahogany front door, as well as wrought-iron railings. Decor features a mix of antique furniture and rugs and clean, modern lines in neutral colors. Custom cabinetry and millwork are installed throughout, and all trim, doors and windows were designed to match original specifications. Landscaping reflects the English Tudor style, with boxwoods planted to set off the curve of the front stone patio. Natural rock walls were also added to create an open, flat front yard. The backyard garden features hydrangeas, camellias, gardenias and roses.
3112 ALLENDALE STREET: Another Allendale beauty, this 1918 house is the definition of classic colonial. The interior features heavy crown moldings with numerous custom-built cabinets. The home features an extensive collection of works by local artists, custom-designed rugs, cheerful curtains and upholstery, golden glazed faux-finished walls and more. The deck off the bedroom overlooks casual gardens filled with hollies, rhododendron, roses, tulips and boxwood.
511 AUDUBON ROAD: Built in 1991, this Italian-style house is situated on a one-acre lot in South Roanoke with mountain views from the terra cotta terrace. The interior features handsome hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling arched windows opening to mountain views. The kitchen incorporates marble countertops, a copper stove hood and large seated island. Furnishings range from modern to antique. Artwork throughout features a mix of local artists, antique botanical and architectural prints, the original work of American painter John Alexander of Texas, and a Picasso drawing. Landscaping includes boxwoods and azaleas that blend with the natural terrain surrounding the house.
3105 SOMERSET STREET: The informal garden of this 1938 house was renovated with the residence in 2004. The large tile patio includes a stone fireplace with stone steps leading into a garden area with numerous perennials and annuals that provide constant color from spring to fall. Plantings include hosta, peonies, salvia, balloon flowers, knock-out roses, periwinkle, phlox, dianthus and day lilies. Azaleas and boxwood accent the back and front of the residence and add more beauty to the serene setting. Trees such as mature Nellie Stevens hollies, Japanese maple, red leaf maple and hemlocks accentuate the landscape.
Historic Garden Week is the oldest and largest statewide house and garden tour event in the nation. Sponsored by The Garden Club of Virginia, tours benefit the restoration of important historic grounds and gardens throughout the state. For more information, visit www.vagardenweek.org.