Staff Report

The Junior League of Rockford, Inc. (JLR) has started planning its 2013 Dine by Design Kitchen Tour and is looking for 10 spectacular or unique, recently renovated kitchens to showcase on the tour, which will be Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28, 2013.

Dine By Design, a fund-raiser for the JLR, is a tour of local homes that have recently undergone a transformation of the most popular room in the house.

As the kitchen is the heart of the home, more and more people are investing in this part of the house by enhancing, upgrading and decorating.

By offering a tour of 10 unique homes, designers can showcase their work while inspiring audiences with new ideas and innovations.

The JLR is looking to work with local designers in selecting the 10 most intriguing homes in Rockford and the greater northern Illinois area to include on this tour.

Any designer or homeowner wishing to submit their kitchen project for consideration for this event should contact Kathy Roos, Dine By Design co-chairman, at the JLR headquarters, (815) 399-4518 or jlrockford@jlrockford.org ^[1], no later than Sept. 10, or as soon as possible.

Homes will be evaluated on several criteria, including innovation in design, practicality, current trends and ease of access for guests, to name a few.

Specific themes or trends in design such as small space design or disabled accessibility would also be considered and are encouraged for submission.

The Junior League hopes to begin the selection process in September and have the 10 kitchens for the tour selected by Nov. 1. The tour will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28, 2013.

Proceeds from this fund-raiser will go to support the community projects and programs of the JLR. The JLR is working on a teen mentoring project, Girls On Their Way, which teaches life skills, empowerment and leadership skills to young girls, many of whom are in high-risk environments.

For more about the JLR and the impact it makes in the community, contact Junior League President Elizabeth Groncki-Boger at (815) 399-4518 or visit www.jlrockford.org ^[2].

From the Sept. 5-11, 2012, issue