Horses And Houses: Ridgefield Kitchen Tour

RIDGEFIELD — From a beautiful European country kitchen on historic Main Street to the formal cherry cabinets inside of the stately home facing McKeon Farm, this year’s Ridgefield Kitchen Tour will kick off Mother’s Day weekend by taking ticket-holders through a variety of houses, most of which are set in the beautiful area of Ridgebury, known for its sprawling horse farms.

On Friday, May 7, The Ridgefield Kitchen Tour, sponsored by Bailey Avenue Kitchens of Ridgefield, Northeast Cabinet Design of Ridgefield and Newtown, and Kitchens By Deane of New Canaan and Stamford, will be honoring the heart of the home – the kitchen.

Although the scenery will be eye widening, it’s the kitchens that people really come to look at, and this year’s tour will give people a lot to see. The tour starts on Main Street with a home that is a feast for the eyes, from its Fleur de Lis faux finishing on the walls to the Mediterranean Room with tile mosaic and faux painting, all of which reflects the fun and whimsy of the owners.

The second stop is on Ridgebury Road, at a majestic white house that sits atop a hill overlooking an open space cow pasture and the historic McKeon Farm. This home boasts custom cherry cabinets throughout the kitchen and into the butler’s pantry, all from Putnam Kitchen in Cos Cob.

The tour continues to Canterbury Estates, where newly built homes have the option of either looking at the beautiful horse farms or backing up to the Ridgefield golf course. Backtracking down to Chestnut Hill Road, there are two recently built houses on the tour. One house boasts a classic design which includes hand rubbed cherry cabinets; the other features glass-front cabinets in the Frank Lloyd Wright style.

The final house is on Dillman Court and features a brand new kitchen which elegantly reflects the formal lifestyle of the owners.

As in the past, the tour kicks off with a gourmet breakfast and other goodies for Patron ticket holders. The Patron Breakfast, which has become a favorite of kitchen tour goers, will be at a beautiful home on Spring Valley Road. This property, once a home to horses and llamas, is now used by the current owners’ many golden retrievers.

The tour runs from 10 am to 2 pm, with with the Patron Breakfast starting at 9 am.

Tickets cost $35 for the tour or $75 for the tour and Patron Breakfast. Tickets for the tour, which benefits The Ridgefield Community Center and Maimonides Academy of Western Connecticut, can be purchased by calling 203-645-3259.