A Kansas City Architect and a California-based Interior Designer Team Up to Create the Ultimate Dream Home for a Leawood couple

A bird’s-eye view of the living room, where the Carlsons’ golden retriever rescue, Lainey, relaxes in front of the fire. *All photos by Aaron Leimkuehler*

When it came time to retire, a Leawood couple had decisions to make. Mark Carlson, a cardiologist, and Sue Carlson, a former buyer for the Jones Store, and their two grown sons had lived in the Midwest, Washington D.C., and more recently in California. Which area would they call home at last?

Beachy San Diego, but with all the attendant problems the West Coast is having? Or land-locked Kansas, with all the family connections?

When the couple found a property that bordered a small lake in Leawood, they realized they could have their beach and laid-back comfort, too.

**Left:** Another view of the living room. **Right:** In the library, alderwood trims the walls and bookshelves that hold antique books, medical books, and bound copies of the magazines published by Sue’s father.

They made a list of what they wanted in their forever home. “We love entertaining,” Sue says, “and we wanted lots of light and indoor-outdoor living.” Mark envisioned a wine cellar, a dedicated office, a theater room, a hot tub, and space for a golf- and skeet-shooting simulator. An elevator so they could age in place would be required. To fashion all of this into a residence, they hired Kara Carlson (no relation) of Carlson Duncan Architecture and Interior Design as the architect and Kirk Wulff of Wulff Fine Custom Homes as the builder.

What ties it all together is “a traditional, coastal, Hamptons style,” says Sue. And what says that more than blue and white? Kathy Ann Abell, an interior designer in the San Diego area whose work Sue discovered online, made this color scheme look fresh and interesting in every room.

**Left:** The blue-and-white theme is introduced in the foyer, with the fabric, art, and ceramic planter. **Right:** Schumacher’s classic Hollyhock pattern clads the walls in the powder room.

“Mark and Sue were so much fun to work with,” says Abell. “They gave me the freedom to design a wonderful home for them, room by room. For each space, I picked out a lead fabric and then I pulled everything else from it. I made sure to vary the shades of blue and the patterns in the fabric. I also used natural fibers like raffia and wicker to bring warmth to each room.”

“It’s been our kitchen table for years and made many moves,” Sue says of the breakfast room table, and the cushions have been recovered to match every interior. Flowers from Botanica Flower Studio.

Shades of blue, from Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy in the breakfast room to Sherwin Williams’ Oyster Bay on the kitchen island, are complemented with crisp white and texture from European Oak hardwood floors throughout the first floor. Most of the curtains are white linen, but with different embroideries or trim details. Each bathroom has a coordinating but unique pattern of tiles. “We took a day to choose all the tile, and I was exhausted by the end of it,” says Sue with a laugh.

**Top:** Appliances in the kitchen include a stainless-steel Wolf rangetop and ovens, while the integrated Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer is paneled to match the cabinetry. **Bottom:** Blue-and-white ware from Sue’s extensive collection holds kitchen necessities and a variety of houseplants.

It took six days for Abell and her design team to install everything, from furniture and rugs to lighting fixtures and art. “I love that part of my job,” she says. “It fills my cup.”

It has now been two years since Abell helped the Carlsons move in. The couple regularly welcome large gatherings and groups, such as the 2024 Kappa Kappa Gamma Holiday Homes Tour last December or watch parties for Royals games in summer. They also enjoy their downtime in small and cozy spaces. There is always something to do or a new place to hang out in their home.

In the home’s turret, an expandable Jupe table from Sarreid Ltd. mimics the curved walls of the dining room. Flowers by Botanica Flower Studio.

The generous circular entry hall leads to the turret-shaped dining room with its ingenious round table and an enviable storage closet with concave doors, providing storage for platters, linens, wine glasses, and more. “The attention to detail on the cabinetry is just amazing,” Abell says.

The large living room has a panoramic view of the lake. When weather permits, they open the glass doors on the veranda.

**Top:** In the lower-level family room, the club chairs and small sitting chair have been reupholstered; the sectional is from Lexington. **Bottom:** Semi-gloss Sherwin-Williams’ Denim paint in the lower-level kitchen is highlighted by Visual Comfort sconces and pendants.

“I love to cook,” says Sue, and the generously sized kitchen with its white cabinetry and quartzite counters makes preparing a dish seem effortless. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that a secret, hidden prep kitchen handles some of the mess, while a butler’s pantry with a wine refrigerator and extra dishwasher keeps everything close by but out of sight.

**Top:** In the tiered home theater room, Bradington-Young leather recliners are fronted by a Lexington sectional. **Bottom:** The wine cellar repeats the shape of the dining room directly above it.

Around the corner, the breakfast room is Sue’s favorite spot for morning coffee while she perches on the window seat, where she can view her collection of Louisville Pottery that started her love for blue and white. The country French table and chairs were repurposed from a previous home.

On the other side of the house, a cozy wood-paneled library is the place where the couple unwinds, watching their favorite shows or listening to music.

**Left:** With views of the lake, the primary bedroom repeats the sky and water hues. The Lexington Tommy Bahama bed is fronted by a tufted daybed. Flowers are from Botanica Flower Studio. **Right:** In the primary bathroom, walls are papered in Stroheim’s Preston Lark grasscloth, and the floor tile is from Jeffrey Court.

The primary bedroom provides a calm retreat after all the guests have gone home. A large steam shower, a freestanding soaking tub, and separate vanities in the primary bath underscore the appeal of quiet luxury—as does the massive clothes closet.

Upstairs, above the dining room is Mark’s rotunda office. This level also contains a son’s bedroom, guest quarters, and a second laundry room.

**Left:** In a guest room, the Bernhardt Auberge poster bed is dressed in navy blue-and-white linens. **Right:** Schumacher’s Valentain Floral covers one wall in a second guest room. The bed is a family heirloom.

On the lower level, another son’s bedroom is tucked away from the gathering space with a family room, home theater, wine cellar, golf simulator, and a kitchen.

Sue might enjoy her morning coffee, but at the end of the day, you might find Mark soaking in the hot tub that could double as a small lap pool, perhaps with a gin and tonic in hand.

That’s the life!