The Prairie Village couple found an ideal spot for their house: a corner lot with tall trees in a cozy neighborhood within walking distance of shops and restaurants. They knew it was important to work with an architect so they could build a dream home that lived up to the location.
This house, with its personalized details, will be featured April 18 on the fifth annual Homes by Architects Tour, a sold-out event each year at KC Design Week. All homes on the tour are designed by American Institute of Architects (AIA) Kansas City member firms and selected by committee.
Bruce Wendlandt of Wendlandt & Stallbaumer Architecture designed this Prairie Village house.
The front entryway is designed with a sense of arrival and welcoming, but “doesn’t give away the whole show,” he says.
“The homeowners love how Frank Lloyd Wright made a transition from outdoors indoors,” Wendlandt says. “This is a gorgeous backyard in a neighborhood of deep lots, beautiful no matter the season with its foliage.”
So the living room was designed with a generous bank of nine-foot-tall windows to showcase the scenery. A floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace adds another prominent natural element.
The space is open to the kitchen and dining room.
Slabs of deeply veined quartzite used on the countertops and backsplash in the kitchen were a point of contention between the couple. She loved it; he did not. “But once he saw it in place,” the wife says, “he thought it was perfect!” Black leather and brass counter stools and a pair of oversized black pendants with gold lining bring a touch of sophistication to the sleek space.
In the dining room, an airy glass chandelier hangs over the bold geometric round dining table from Restoration Hardware. Tall sliding glass doors lead to the patio, and a long swath of inset matte black cabinetry that matches the kitchen finishes holds dining and drinking accouterments at the ready.
“Check out the utility areas,” Wendlandt says. A room with a door off the kitchen is a cozy nook that serves as a playroom for the family’s 3-year-old daughter.
The bedroom in the master suite is compact with only a bed and nightstands. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors open to private, outdoor sitting space. But the bathroom is a showstopper with a dramatic, tall stained-glass window, vanities, and a shower room enclosed with a tub.
“We wanted a house that reflected our lifestyle, and to have zero wasted space,” the homeowner says, and motioned to Wendlandt. “He made it right.”
Homes by Architects Tour
What: Talk to architects at homes they designed, both new construction and remodels. Architecture firms include Wendlandt & Stallbaumer, Studio Build, and Dan Maginn in a collaborative renovation of interior designer Lisa Schmitz’s home.
When: 1 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 18
Where: Homes are on both sides of the state line; addresses provided at registration.
Tickets: $35 each, kcdesignweek.org. They go on sale later this month.
KC Design Week
The 11th annual event is April 17–24, 2020
Since 2010, KC Design Week has informed, connected and inspired the community. Thousands of designers and design enthusiasts have experienced thought-provoking and creativity-boosting programming in all areas of design including architecture, graphics, interiors, products, fashion, landscape architecture, planning and urban environments.