Black against white. Square lines meet soft arches. Marble and stone contrast with plush upholstery. This year’s Renovation Sensation Homes Tour features a new build that proves the old dictum: Opposites attract.
From design inspiration to elegant reality, the entrepreneur homeowners with two young children relied on the advice and expertise of architect Clint Evans of NSPJ Architects and interior designer Olivia Burns of Liv Interior Designs.
In 2018, Evans recalls an early visit with the couple and the magazine photo that started it all. “The wife said, ‘I want this,’” pointing to a winding staircase that seemed to float. The style, says Evans, is “very L.A.” Sophisticated, elegant, with clean lines throughout.
“Sight lines were very important,” he says. “She wanted to see the staircase from the road. And she didn’t want to see the two double garages.” Evans designed a classic, two-story center hall with two wings—the double garages—that create a “formalized motor court” in front, lined with paver bricks. You can see the staircase from the large window on the right. And when you step in the front door, you can see all the way back to the pool.
The staircase is an “engineering marvel,” says Evans. “Steel plates … give it extra strength. It takes a lot of effort to make it look effortless.”
“All of the rooms are symmetrical,” he adds, “and that gives this home a certain elegance.”
To give the interiors the high contrast they desired, the couple “trusted me to bring their vision to life,” says Burns. “They wanted a unique family home set up for great entertaining,” she says. Burns started with the floors—white oak in a pale finish—against woodwork and walls with an ebony stain. Burns used mixed metals throughout—black, stainless steel, and a champagne finish on brass. Contemporary light fixtures help create an airy feeling.
The staircase to the right is indeed a sight to behold, and its seeming simplicity belies all the problem-solving that went into it. The side wall of porcelain and dark-stained wood also features integrated accent lighting to create drama in the evening. Jim Glover of Lost Path Iron created the custom railing. A baby grand piano makes a statement under the curve of the stairs.
The great room features a pair of white leather sofas (easy cleanup for kids and tipsy guests with glasses of merlot) on an area rug of cowhide in tones of gray. The see-through fireplace set into a wall of tile from International Materials of Design leads to the lounge area where a book-matched marble wall on the other side “is all the art we needed,” says Burns. Four plush armchairs in a merlot velvet, surrounding a brushed brass cocktail table, create the perfect grouping to enjoy a cocktail from the sophisticated bar area at the opposite end of the room. The sleek kitchen in ebony-stained wood centers around a marble island with a waterfall edge. A champagne brass range hood and a pendant light that mimics a trapeze bounce the light around. The butler’s pantry keeps any mess out of sight.
The adjacent dining room, with a custom wood table crafted by Matt Castilleja, overlooks the pool. A series of ring pendant lights cast a modern glow, while the dark-hued wallpaper keeps it moody for dinner parties.
In the primary bedroom upstairs, an upholstered wall in a gray velvet bordered by mirror panels offers a luxurious alternative to a headboard. The walls are covered in an off-white grasscloth. Pleated curtains provide softness as they moderate sunlight. A custom bed and bench add more glamour. The primary bath continues the symmetry with expansive his-and-hers floating vanities. The back wall of storage features a niche to hold fresh flowers, undisturbed if you open either door.
A lanai, or three-season room, allows gatherings by the pool. Mounted above the gas fireplace is a TV perfect for watching sports.
“This house gives one of the best first impressions,” says Burns. “It is a true custom home. Everything in it is unique to the homeowners.”
And that’s just what Renovation Sensation attendees are waiting to see.
The It List
Architect
NSPJ Architects
Interior Design
Liv Interior Designs
Tile Contractor
International Materials of Design
Renovation Sensation Tour
On Wednesday, September 18 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., this home will be open to view as part of the 2024 Renovation Sensation, a benefit for the Shawnee Mission East SHARE program. This year’s homes tour includes four beautifully renovated and newly built homes in the Shawnee Mission East area, featuring different styles and trends in home design.
Click here for your Tour Pass and more information.