TOUR GIVES PEEK AT HOW OTHER HALF COOKS.

Byline: Marilee Reyes Staff Writer

It's one thing to walk through a showroom of sparkling clean kitchens at the local home improvement or furniture warehouse, but to see a masterfully designed kitchen all in working order in a real house, where real people live, eat and cook - that's a treat.

For a chance to see how the other half cooks, look no further than the annual Showcase of Kitchens and Interiors Tour, being held Sunday.

This year's self-driving tour includes five homes - in Pasadena, Arcadia, La Canada Flintridge and San Marino - in styles that range from Colonial to contemporary Mediterranean.

The event is part of the Pasadena Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers' (ASID) annual fund-raiser, with proceeds supporting a scholarship fund for interior-design students, educational endeavors of chapter members and community-service projects.

Here's a sneak peek at the five showcased homes:

Big and bold

Janet Yukich of JV Interiors has decorated a completely rebuilt home in La Canada Flintridge that echoes classic Mediterranean design in its clean architectural lines, soaring ceilings and open floor plan, including a 32-foot-high rotunda entry with a gallery of windows overlooking a classic rectangular pool and pergola.

When viewed from the rotunda, the overall impression the house conveys is one of opening an elegant treasure box.

The kitchen features elegant emerald-pearl granite countertops, custom maple cabinetwork and oak hardwood flooring. Stainless-steel finishes on appliances and satin nickel hardware continue the rich, clean look.

A lush ethnic print reminiscent of a safari, but with hints of pink, is used on the chairs in the breakfast area and as the basis for the color palette for the surrounding areas.

Don't miss the unique paint finishes on the walls of the powder room, guest bedroom and bath: The lavender tint with gold vein is soothing and soft.

That country feeling

The 7,000-square-foot Colonial home in the Oaks area of Arcadia was built in 1994 and designed and decorated for large-scale entertaining. The homeowner asked designer Cynthia Bennett to give it a country feeling throughout.

There is bright color everywhere, from the cheerful blue and red rugs to the drapery ribbons. The kitchen is a crisp black and white, softened by cheerfully colored print curtains.

Because the owner loves to cook, the kitchen was redesigned to accommodate a commercial Viking stove, double Dacor built-in ovens and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. Dominating the room is a large island work space for food preparation and serving. The spaciousness is augmented by an airy family room and large windows overlooking the sprawling lawn, pool and cabana.

Downsizing in style

Ann Fletcher's entry in the tour is her own Orange Grove Boulevard townhouse in Pasadena. Fletcher and her husband are recent empty-nesters who decided to begin the process of downsizing from a much larger home into 2,000 square feet of living space.

Two patios, high ceilings and large rooms help expand the home. And while the kitchen is small, Fletcher has made good use of the space. The cabinetry has a light white-wash and a hand-rubbed finish. Glass-door inserts etched with a French bistro design give the kitchen an open feeling. The countertop is a golden sunset granite with a backsplash of tumbled travertine.

The decor is country French in design, with a warm color scheme of goldenrod and rosemary with persimmon accents. Furnishings are antique country French and English. Fletcher said that downsizing was not as difficult as she anticipated because they have added storage space in every conceivable location.

Do the double-take

There's a nice treat in this year's tour: The chance to see two interpretations of the same floor plan. John Fremdling has redesigned a townhouse in the same complex as Fletcher's.

The new owners of this townhouse also are downsizing after becoming empty-nesters. The furnishings came from the owner's larger, Spanish-style house but have been reupholstered to blend with the new color elements of beige tones and French limestone. The kitchen remodeling includes Corian countertops and tumbled French limestone backsplash. A beige-tone border of exotic plants and animals rims the wall.

A splash of Southwest

Linda Holley's facelift of a Spanish Revival home in San Marino was accomplished without any new construction. The owners asked her to make use of the existing cabinets, improve the lighting, bring the kitchen aesthetics in line with the Spanish Revival style and incorporate two Southwest desert posters they owned.

The kitchen had been remodeled last in 1985, so Holley accomplished the new remodel with granite countertops that suggest the strata of Southwest plateaus; vinyl plank flooring in weathered gray; and wood plank cabinets that were repainted in light almond with a brown glazing, which ties all the colors together. Chunky twisted iron drawer pulls were custom-made, and the rusty finish further connects the Southwest mode. Window treatments are simple and textural - linen and bamboo.

An outstanding piece of furniture in the home office, a custom-made and painted armoire, conceals the owner's modern computer equipment while maintaining the vintage feel of the home.

The facts

The event: The 13th annual Showcase of Kitchens and Interiors Tour, a self-guided tour of five homes.

Where: Homes in Arcadia, Pasadena, San Marino and La Canada Flintridge.

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Extras: Design boutiques and sales of the Junior League of Pasadena's ``Dining by Design: Stylish Recipes, Savory Settings'' cookbook ($25).

Tickets: $20. For ticket sales locations, call [phone].

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Photo

PHOTO One kitchen on the 13th annual Showcase of Kitchens and Interiors Tour features emerald-pearl granite countertops, custom maple cabinetwork and oak hardwood flooring.

Mike Mullen/Staff Photographer