Glossy magazines and decked-out showrooms are great sources of inspiration when remodeling a home or daydreaming about a renovation. But to get a real sense of what a modern kitchen or an open design looks like and how they fit into the grander scheme of a home, nothing beats seeing them in person.
Local residents and out-of-towners will have the rare opportunity to poke their noses into six Scenic City homes Saturday, May 11 as the Junior League of Chattanooga revives its home sightseeing experience, the Tour Du Jour, after more than a decade since the last installment.
The self-guided event will allow ticket holders to visit six homes, including both new builds and chic remodels, in the Wildwood, Black Creek, Riverview, St. Elmo and Hixson communities.
“We want people get a feel for the different parts of the greater Chattanooga region, discover things they like about them, and maybe decide what they want to prioritize as they look for a home,” says McKaya Knight, the local Junior League’s 2024 president.
The Tour du Jour will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and highlight the creative efforts of area homebuilders and remodelers, including Curate, GreenTech Homes and more.
The Tour du Jour will benefit the Junior League’s current initiative, A League of Learners, which provides funds for Hamilton County Schools, MOMentum, YoungLives and more.
“More than half of every dollar we raise goes back into this community,” notes Knight. “We funnel the money directly to our local partners, whether its food for MOMentum, small grants for Hamilton County Schools, or building and stocking free miniature libraries around town. One of our missions is to find nonprofits that need our help and dive in.”
Sponsors of the Tour du Jour include GreenTech Homes, Styled & Organized Systems, The Group Real Estate Brokerage, High Country Drapery Designs, Homes & Land Magazine, A. Perry Homes and Grafe Studio Floral Artists.
The Tour Du Jour began life in 2006 as an annual kitchen tour. Through 2013, the local Junior League recruited select homeowners who opened their doors to the public for one day and gave people an eyeful of the most stunning kitchens in the city. Featuring work by premiere local designers, the tour never failed to impress.
As Knight contemplated the League’s fundraising efforts for 2024, memories of taking the tour with her mother sparked her interest in reviving it.
“My mother and I always took the tour together when I was a kid. It was fun and the perfect girls’ day out,” recalls Knight. “So, when the Junior League was coming up with ideas for a spring fundraiser, I thought about the Tour Du Jour, which made sense given all the people who are moving to Chattanooga and our ability to showcase both historic homes and new builds.”
Tickets and a map of the tour are available at jlchatt.org.