RICHMOND, VA (September 21, 2009) – LifeStyle Builders and Developers, Inc., a Richmond based homebuilder, is proud to host a “Meet the Gourmet Kitchen Experts” open house during the 2009 Parade of Homes on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2009 at their model home in Harpers Mill, a new home community in Chesterfield County.

Gourmet food is appreciated and desired for its high quality and artful presentation. The same can be said of a gourmet kitchen, typically constructed with the highest quality materials, such as select hardwood cabinetry with hand-painted finishes, imported tile or stone flooring and countertops, and state-of-the-art appliances, all artfully arranged to create the ideal space for cooking and entertaining.

During this year’s Parade of Homes (sponsored by the Home Building Association of Richmond), visit the LifeStyle Builders and Developers’ model home in Harpers Mill October 3 and 4 to hear the experts give advice about designing the gourmet kitchen of your dreams. Between noon and 5 p.m., experts will be on hand to talk with you about the latest kitchen product trends, proper maintenance and care, and much more. In addition, there will be refreshments and opportunities to win fabulous door prizes.

Design your gourmet kitchen from the ground up… literally. Better Floors, Inc. offers a variety of fashionable floor options to fit your lifestyle. Pre-finished hardwood floors provide a superior performance while keeping up with today’s trends by offering varying widths and species including oak, brazillian cherry, maple, bamboo, walnut and more. Mohawk hardwoods offer a Scotchguard finish that resists most any stain for easy cleaning, even permanent marker! If you prefer the look of tile, Duraceramic flooring by Congoleum is a great flooring solution for the kitchen. This lifetime warranty product is extremely durable, stain resistant, warmer on the feet than tile, and is more flexible to prevent cracking.

Representatives from MidSouth Building Supply advise that when designing a gourmet kitchen, it is important to focus on the functionality and utility of the room in a way that makes it not only a kitchen, but also a comfortable living and gathering space. A kitchen’s cabinetry is much more than just a beautiful color or finish, and includes such features as:

• Plenty of drawers, accessory cabinets and fixtures like recycle bins, cutlery trays, roll-outs, spice racks, and more
• Built-in desk or pantry areas that provide storage and workspace, with the added functionality as furniture
• Enough space to store the “chef’s” tools and ingredients, without detracting from the workspace for creation
• And accessory items such as matching appliance panels, wainscoting, wood hoods, decorative wood and metal corbels and fluted fillers that tie it all together and add visual interest

Capitol Granite & Marble is one of the few fabricators in the U.S. utilizing digital templating and water jet technology to design precisely measured and fitted countertops for today’s gourmet kitchens. No matter how simple and uncluttered or complicated and intricate a kitchen design, this technology ensures a perfect finish every time, while also making granite a much more affordable luxury today than it was 10 years ago. “A trend that some people are drawn to for their gourmet kitchen,” says Mimi Rodrigues at Capitol Granite & Marble, “is to use a more muted pattern granite on the perimeter of the kitchen and install an exotic or variegated granite on their island for that visual ‘pop.’ Also becoming more popular are the quartz products, which are lower maintenance and a great alternative for a homeowner that wants a consistent color pattern.”

No gourmet kitchen is complete without the appliances, plumbing fixtures and lighting, all components that can be found in one convenient location, at your local Ferguson Showroom. Depending on a homeowner’s preference and the kitchen’s design, appliances may be tucked away in an unobtrusive manner or they may be highlighted to stand out as focal points. Plumbing fixtures and lighting are the perfect way to personalize your space, reflecting your individual sense of style and taste. “Whether you are building a new home or remodeling a room, Ferguson Showrooms offer you the largest range of plumbing fixtures, lighting and appliances from quality names in the latest trends and cutting-edge styles.” says Marc Ayscue, sales manager for Ferguson. “Our Showroom Consultants offer the best expertise in the business, as they understand budget planning, design, the building process, and work hard to ensure that the right products are delivered on-time.”

Be sure to visit Harpers Mill to learn more tips about designing your dream gourmet kitchen. To reach Harpers Mill from Route 288, take the exit for Route 360 West (Hull Street Rd towards Amelia), travel approximately 5 miles, turn left on Otterdale Road, the entrance to Harpers Mill is straight ahead, turn right on Longlands Road, the LifeStyle Builders model home is the second house on the left, 15707 Longland Road, Chesterfield, VA.

A Richmond-based and locally-owned company since 1990, LifeStyle Builders and Developers offers an extensive portfolio of award-winning homes with distinctive elevations and innovative designs. LifeStyle Builders is currently building in 10 neighborhoods throughout the Richmond area. For more information about LifeStyle Builders, please visit www.lifestylebuilders.com or call (804) 639-9440.