THE WINTER ISSUE 2024

from designKC - Winter 2024

Comforting Touch

139 PAST PERFECT

A Fairway family revamps a deteriorating 1935 Tudor Revival with attention to historical accuracy and artistry.

169 KITCHEN + BATH

A small but luxurious modern bathroom renovation; the diﬀerence between “his” and “hers” manifested in the master suite; custom cabinetry solutions that appear to expand space; warm walnut and green quartzite accents in a kitchen renovation.

252 RESOURCES

254 ADVERTISERS

260 SANCTUARY Designer Amy Krause transforms a playroom stage into a nature-inspired shower.

Hygge. Wabi Sabi. Kintsugi. These are some of the “weird” words you’ll see in this issue.

Hygge has had a heyday in the last couple of years as Americans have discovered the long-standing Danish sentiment of coziness, contentedness and togetherness. In this issue, it’s best expressed through the design of a Lake Superior lodge from Kansas City designer Julie Arnold of Place Interiors (page 90).

Sauna culture, a topic we explore on page ##, is also very hygge.

So is eating and cooking—together. Celeste Antoine’s design at the restaurant Noka—with its “imperfect” reclaimed barn wood and 200-year-old pottery—is celebrated amid communal dining tables (page 83). And at the home of retired Chiefs player Mitchell Schwartz and his wife, Brooke, their renovated Tuscan residence is largely a tribute to preparing good food (page 236).

Wabi sabi, or “wisdom in natural simplicity,” is an ancient Japanese term that jibes with today’s modern organic movement, reveling in clean lines and soft textures. It also has connotations of being incomplete—which is a ﬁne place to be. It reminds me of a model home, beautifully staged but not fully matured until a family moves in and makes it their own. The Roosevelt from Bickimer Homes on page 198 is an elegant interpretation.

Kintsugi, another Japanese word that literally translates to “golden repair,” embraces the history of an object, usually pottery, highlighting—not hiding—where the object was broken by dusting the repairs with gold.

Designer Kara Kersten papered her client’s library in Porter Teleo’s “Kintsugi” on page 174. That decision was intentional. At the home of Mike Hyer and Jo Burg, whose island countertop broke during installation, the idea of kintsugi evolved. As the owner of Rocktops, Mike could easily have ordered a new top, but Jo convinced him to keep it as it was, allowing a gleaming walnut tabletop extension to showcase the cragged edge—and it’s turned out to be her favorite part of the house’s design. See a sneak peek of their online exclusive on page 108.

Holistically, this Winter issue comes down to imbuing a general feeling of wellbeing at home. What makes you feel good? Is it “forest bathing” at a community rooted in nature (page 103) or a heaping helping of indoor plants to brighten your mood (page 66)? What makes it a welcoming place to gather or to ﬁnd sanctuary? See any new functional kitchen or luxurious bathroom in this issue for examples! Whatever your own unique answer is, may it bring you happiness and joy this season—and always.