One of the first things that had to go when Michael Neiswander purchased his 1948 ranch home about three years ago were the red sink and green walls in the outdated kitchen.

"I like modern, minimalist architecture," says Neiswander, an architect and principal at the Atlanta design firm ASD.

Joey Ivansco/Staff (ENLARGE)

This gourmet kitchen for Junior League of Atlanta's annual tour of kitchens was designed by Emily Robbins.

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To get the look he wanted, Neiswander did a lot more than replace the sink and cover the kitchen walls with a new coat of paint.

With the help of Bulthaup kitchen designers, he created a sleek, ultramodern kitchen that is masculine in style, minimal in decor and functional in design.

The Druid Hills kitchen will be one of 14 featured this weekend during the Junior League of Atlanta's annual tour of kitchens.

The 10th annual event is the league's largest fund-raiser and attracts more than 1,000 attendees anxious to see the latest and greatest products and design elements for kitchens today. These are Atlanta's trendsetter kitchens and indicate how local designers are responding to influences sweeping kitchen decor nationally.

For example, even though trend spotters say granite is on the way out, almost all the upscale kitchens on the tour have granite countertops.

Warming drawers are hot. So are double dishwashers, professional-grade ovens, six-burner stovetops, sleek range hoods, windowpane cabinets and "garages" that hide small appliances such as microwaves, coffeepots and mixers.

Few kitchens are without an island.

Check out Neiswander's cool new kitchen and some of the others that will be showcased this weekend.

10TH ANNUAL TOUR OF KITCHENS

Sponsor: The Junior League of Atlanta Inc.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Highlights: Self-guided driving tour of 14 metro homes (sites including Buckhead, Dunwoody, Virginia-Highland, Druid Hills and Sandy Springs). Cooking presentations featuring such top Atlanta chefs as Doug Turbush, executive chef at Bluepointe; Alisa Barry, owner, Bella Cucina Artful Food specialty food and gift company; and Riccardo Ullio, executive chef at Sotto Sotto and Fritti restaurants.
Cost: $25 in advance; $35 on show days
For tickets and other info: Visit www.jlatlanta.org/tok or call 678-916-3100.