Creative Kitchens ‘Pots And Plans’ Puts Spotlight On Six Showcase Kitchens, Including One That Even Borrowed A Few Ideas From A Tour In The Past

Jan and Gil Zwetsch bought their ‘60s rancher on east 54th for three reasons.

The first was location.

So was the second.

You can guess the third.

The home fronts a quiet, affluent South Hill neighborhood, and backs up to Manito Country Club’s No. 9 tee.

But little about the one-story residence itself appealed to the couple.

The living-room ceiling was low, a detriment accentuated by two fans that threatened to take a little off the top of anyone over 6 feet.

The kitchen was dark, crowded and inconvenient - the refrigerator couldn’t have been farther from the sink.

Before the Zwetsches moved in, they hosted two large gatherings at the unfurnished house, one celebrating Oktoberfest, the other Christmas.

“We wanted to see how traffic moved through the house before we started changing things,” explained Jan.

And the Zwetsches did one other thing before launching into an extensive remodeling project: they attended “Pots and Plans,” the Spokane County Medical Society Auxiliary’s every-other-year-or-so kitchen tour fund-raiser.

Some of the ideas gleaned from the tour found their way into the couple’s new kitchen. So they figure it’s only fair to return the favor and open their house to this year’s Pots and Plans attendees.

Tours of the Zwetsches’ showcase kitchen and five others are available Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at any of the participating residences.

Proceeds will go toward a Habitat for Humanity project co-sponsored by the auxiliary and the local medical community.

Ticket-holders also can attend workshops today offered by Kitchens by Contardo, whose designers contributed to several of the tour kitchens, including the Zwetsches’. The workshops will focus on choosing cabinets and counter tops. They are offered at 9 and 11 a.m., and 1 and 3 p.m. at 204 S. Koren, Suite 800. Call 534-5410 for reservations, as space is limited.

The six stops on Sunday’s tour include:

242 E. Manito Place. A work in progress, the kitchen of this 1907 Greek Revival blends old and new, from original cabinets to a six-burner Wolfe gas range. Owner George French will be on hand to discuss the project.

2010 E. Pinecrest. The most castle-like structure in architect Glen Cloninger’s exclusive Grapetree development, this playful brick-and-stone residence features a high-tech, high-gloss kitchen with granite counter tops and jewelry-store lighting.

3201 S. High Drive. This home’s cozy, “empty nester” kitchen feels spacious, thanks to the adjoining great room and a view of Hangman Valley to the south.

3621 S. High Drive. Built in 1989, the home’s original kitchen and family room swapped identities during a recent remodel. The new, larger kitchen includes a custom-built French stove, granite counter tops and a garden view.

8401 S. Fork Lane (off Regal). This Craftsman Revival home south of Spokane is featured in Paul Duchscherer’s new book, “Inside the Bungalow.” The kitchen blends early-20th century details with modern conveniences.

1221 E. 54th. Gil Zwetsch jokes that he gave his wife an unlimited budget for their kitchen remodel, “and she exceeded it the first day.”

Walls came down, the ceiling went up and a granite-topped island became the focal point of the couple’s day-to-day relationship with their new home.

One idea the Zwetsches borrowed from the 1995 Pots and Plans was using Italian tile on the floor. But they enhanced the effect with zoned radiant heat beneath the floor.

The vaulted ceiling has skylights, one which can be opened and closed remotely at the push of a button.

Niches above cabinets accommodate baskets, clay pots and other craftwork.

Elaborately detailed cabinets, ornate plumbing fixtures and Corian counters around the sinks all work in concert to create a feeling of elegance.

But what Jan likes most about the kitchen is its convenience, which owes more to good planning than it does to a big budget.

Despite the kitchen’s generous size - 16 feet square - the sink, range and refrigerator are all within a step or two of each other. And her heavy dinner plates reside in cabinets next to the dishwasher.

Map: Kitchen Tour