A Second Home in Kansas City Brings a Far-Flung Family Together

In the living room, Schumacher’s malachite-patterned wallcovering wraps the fireplace wall, while a pair of mirrors flank the mantel, visually enlarging the space. A quartet of boucle-upholstered swivel chairs are arranged on the custom rug from The Rug Studio. *All photos by Aaron Leimkuehler*

Tricia and Mark Schlipman’s primary residence is not in Kansas City, but they decided to buy a home in town to spend more time with their adult children and to entertain friends and clients for Mark’s newly opened Kansas City branch office.

“We wanted to bring our family together throughout the year,” Mark Schlipman says. “Our daughter is in school in Lawrence, and our son lives in Omaha. Kansas City has been a great meeting place for us, and we wanted a home here to be able to bring everyone together.”

They found the Plaza area particularly alluring.

Four Uttermost stools line up under a painting by Gaston Carrio, providing extra seating when needed.

“We wanted to be close to the Plaza because it’s a chic location that is known for its blend of culture, art, and upscale living,” Schlipman says.

While searching for the perfect home in the area, they were charmed by the Tudors at Plaza North and the home that ultimately became theirs.

“The look is completely different from our home and lake house,” Schlipman says. “During development the project manager lived in it. Once the project was complete, it was offered for sale. The entire home was painted white, which acted as a great blank canvas.”

With the talents of Connie Fey of Madden McFarland Interiors, who shared a vision of modern elegance merged with the rich charm of Kansas City, the house did not stay white for long.

In the foyer, a white lacquer console from Century sports a chiseled, gold-patina interior to match the Thibaut gold-and-cream wallcovering.

“The Schlipmans reached out to me after visiting the Madden McFarland website. In addition to the aesthetic, they were assured that we were the firm for the job as we have both residential and hospitality experience,” Fey says.

“During the design process we had to weigh the competing priorities of their need for function and sophisticated elegance,” she says. “We were able to accomplish that using special finishes, texture, lighting, and art.”

**Left**: Fey designed the custom faux shimmering wall treatment in the bar to carry the hand-applied gold-leaf treatment on the ceiling to the walls. Michelle Kelly with Creative Faux Effects and Mike Urso of Mike Urso Painting & Design created the look. Green glass mosaic tile from International Materials of Design wraps the bar and back wall. **Right:** The black-velvet upholstered tufted banquette makes a dramatic statement

For their inspiration, the couple decided to lean into their appreciation of the Plaza’s architectural allure.

“We wanted to incorporate the sophisticated finishes and luxurious materials that mirror the surroundings, as well as the spirit of the Plaza starting its revitalization plan,” Schlipman says.

The entry hall greets visitors with a vibrant pattern of gold and cream, which serves as a calling card for the rest of the home, announcing the home’s strong reliance on white, black, and gold to provide a bold backdrop. Accents of rich jewel tones of emerald, deep turquoise, and vibrant yellow provide warmth, energy, and interest. Textures of mosaic tile, lacquer, burnished brass, boucle, and grass cloth in the living spaces soften the modern edge.

**Left:** The enfilade of rooms—kitchen, bar, living room, and foyer—opens up the first floor to feel exceptionally spacious and light-filled. Kitchen walls are clad in an earthy, geometric wallcovering from Thibaut. **Right:** “The white cabinets provide a fresh, clean, open concept we found perfect for a home that has no side windows,” Mark Schlipman says of the kitchen.

“The design could not have been pulled together any better,” Schlipman says. “I researched several designers, and Connie’s past work was amazing. She made the process so easy. The key to a great experience is to place your faith in the designer and get out of the way. I hired Connie and got out of the way. I’m glad I did. It’s a place we enjoy calling home.”