Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly

MATTHEWS – One local couple recently came out on top in a nation- wide franchise competition.

Tom and Debi Taube, owners of a Matthews-based franchise of Kitchen Tune-Up, were thrilled when their peers voted one of their professional kitchen-remodel projects as Kitchen Tune-Up’s Project of the Year.

“That was pretty cool,” Tom Taube said. “A lot of the awards you win don’t have a lot of franchise owners involved.”

Tom and Debi Taube received recognition and were awarded an all-expensespaid cruise at Kitchen Tune- Up’s annual convention on Jan. 14 in Las Vegas.

“Our system chooses the best kitchen makeover project of the year, and Tom and Debi do excellent work,” Heidi Morrissey, vice president of marketing and sales for Kitchen Tune-Up, said in a news release.

Franchise peers select the Project of the Year by voting from a pool of contestants chosen as Project of the Month during 2014, said Sarah Eisenbeisz, marketing director at Kitchen Tune-Up.

Eisenbeisz said the winning criteria are “most dramatic change,” “unique features” and “workmanship.” She said the Taubes’ project stood out because of “the unique design, the way they reconfigured the space and the island was changed; the overall functionality combined with a clean, modern look.”

The winning project was a remodeled kitchen in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Tom Taube said the kitchen had outdated oak cabinets, a small island and a low ceiling. His team recon- figured, designed and installed dark cherry cabinets, raised the ceiling and installed a larger island with storage and seating. They also installed granite counter tops.

The client sent a testimonial to Kitchen Tune-Up’s corporate office, complimenting the Taubes’ work and calling them “a fantastic group to work with – they were very accommodating and professional.”

Tom and Debi Taube have remodeled kitchens and bathrooms through their Kitchen Tune-Up franchise for nine years. The Mint Hill couple was honored in 2007 as Kitchen Tune- Up’s Rookie of the Year, and they were named Franchise of the Year in 2012.

Debi Taube said she never imagined owning a remodeling company, but Tom Taube, who has a background in engineering, said it aligned with his passions. Both said after tack- ling home renovations together, they became interested in rehabbing.

The family business has grown over the years, including their sons and extended family members in various jobs and roles. Tom and Debi Taube now mostly manage the business and employ a team of workers to complete the renovations.