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Breathe Easy

Millions of people in the United States suffer from asthma — mainly because of poor air quality — and H&S Covenant Homes, one of only 25 builders in the nation qualified to build health houses, wanted to do something about it. Coming this spring, Kansas City’s first truly clean-air home in The Woods at Colton Lake in Overland Park will be complete and open to the public. In accordance with guidelines from the American Lung Association, KC Health House will make living easier for family members who suffer from allergies, asthma and other lung disorders, as well as feature energy-efficient materials and products throughout the clean, green home. The KC Health House will include a concrete exterior, moisture control system, advanced insulation techniques, Bluwood interior construction (no rot or mold), high-efficiency air filtration and ventilation system, and energy-efficient windows, with site inspections and performance testing from American Lung Association officials. There’s finally a home that can protect you, your family and the environment — it doesn’t get much better than that. 913.681.3373 or www.kchealthhouse.com.

Step into Comfort

After nine years of being an interior designer in the Kansas City area, Deb Vogler decided to branch out on her own. “I needed to follow my own direction in order to better serve my clients,” she says. And with that, she opened Comfort by Design in October 2007. Located within the studio/boutique showroom of Exclusive Interiors, she and six other designers share the boutique space. “I liked the idea of bonding together. It’s women helping women,” she explains, which is the philosophy of the woman who created the co-op. “Ultimately, we’re helping each other more forward.” Her full line of interior design services include everything from space planning, finish selection and custom bedding to window treatments, furniture and accessories, providing nothing less than flair and comfort. 913.522.2860 or www.comfortbydesignkc.com.

Lower-Level Living

Formerly known as the basement, lower levels are transitioning into one of the family’s favorite hang-outs. Upscale Downstairs is a premier basement finishing company in Utah and is expanding its reach to the Kansas City area. “After researching, we felt this market was similar to what we were doing in Utah, and it’s a good fit for or model,” says Ben Bond, basement specialist. Located in Leawood, Upscale Downstairs set up shop in November 2007 with services that include start-to-finish lower-level renovations (floor plans and layout) with home theaters, wet bars, kitchenettes, bathrooms, bedrooms and storage. “We’ll do any custom basement anyone wants, and we’ll do anything to make it happen,” Ben says. Licensed and insured, the company’s credentials include Utah’s Best of State award in 2006 and 2007 and memberships with NARI, NAHB, BBB and KCHBA. Upscale Downstairs offers a 5-year warranty on all projects. 913.402.9600 or www.upscaledownstairs.com/kc.

Dreams Come True

Urbané Interiors, LLC, launched in March based on the personal dreams, vision and inspiration of its owner and principal design consultant Victoria Palmer. Working in the design industry for more than 30 years, Victoria has been nationally recognized for her award-winning designs and is a contributing author to the award-winning book, IRIS in the House. As director of The National Redesign Institute, she has spent the last several years devoted to the training and support of others entering the design field. However, “I felt an intense desire to reconnect with the client and experience the pure gratification gained from making my clients happy,” she says. And that’s how Urbané Interiors came to be. Regardless of what your personal design style might be — contemporary, eclectic, traditional and everything in between — Urbané Interiors’ staff will work with you to achieve the look and feel you desire. “Believing that your home is your sanctuary and should be a reflection of you, Urbané Interiors is a resource to help obtain that vision,” she says. 816.532.3770 or www.urbane-interiors.com.

Curb Appeal

Wanna make your lawn look great and add value to your home at the same time? Well, that happens to be Rick Herrin’s main goal with his new business, Elite Landscape Edging, which offers continuous concrete landscape edging that is all-weather tolerant and comes in numerous styles and colors. Since Rick enjoys working outside, he started researching different landscaping ideas and stumbled upon concrete edging. After becoming familiar with the product, he decided to get into the business, especially with all the new housing going up in Platte City. With his love of the outdoors and newly found passion, Rick launched Elite Landscape Edging in July 2007. Whether you live up north or not, enhanced curb appeal is just a phone call or e-mail away. 816.661.0061 or eliteedging@aol.com.

Continuous Popularity

Dave Smith the Lamp Maker has been in its original Waldo location since opening in 1968. Dave’s wife, Bette, remembers when the doors first opened: Dave had 20 lamps, 30 shades and a cardboard box with parts. As the years passed, the store expanded and now offers several products and services as a lighting and decorating store. It has more than 10,000 replacement shades, lamps, furniture, pictures, mirrors and accessories. It also has a full-repair department for lamps, not to mention that customers can make their own out of family heirlooms or accessories. “There’s nobody in Kansas City that really does what we do,” Bette says. And in 2008, with the continued success of their business, Dave and Bette will celebrate the store’s 40th anniversary. But that’s not all they’re celebrating. Decided by Wednesday magazine readers, the store has been voted Best Home Accessory & Decorating Store in the Southland for the past two years, with Bette named Best Southlander for the past three. (She was the Waldo mayor, an honorary position, for three years.) “It’s real warm to the heart for me,” she says. “I feel like I’m doing something good for the community, and it [the award] is a nice thank you.” 816.333.4200.

The Big ONE

Celebrating its 1-year anniversary, Acme Brass Custom Plating, Inc. provides discriminating Kansas Citians with unsurpassed metal polishing and precious metal plating and restoration service. With decades of metal-finishing experience, as well as manufacturing skills, co-owners Steve Gaunt and Jim Hummel combined talents to start their new venture in the downtown Kansas City area. Services include retail and commercial work with gold, silver, brass, copper and nickel plating, combined with experienced craftsmanship, making Acme Brass the place to take your tarnished treasure. 816.471.1002 or www.acmebrassplating.com.

Increasing Creativity

Known for his out-of-the-box kitchen (and sometimes whole house) designs, Shawn McCune, CKD, owner of Kitchen Design Gallery, is adding to his creative palette. Jill Painter, CKD, joined the firm in December 2007, with an interior design degree from Kansas State University. She has 13 years of experience as a kitchen and bath designer, earning her certification as a Certified Kitchen Designer from the National Kitchen and Bath Association. April McKay has also joined the KDG team as an AutoCad designer. She holds a degree in interior design from the University of Missouri. For more information on KDG’s creative palette, check out the company’s newly re-designed website, complete with an updated portfolio, staff bios and links to select cabinet manufacturers. It also features a high-energy, flash video introduction of the KDG’s own NKBA nationally award-winning showroom. “The site portrays an energy and personality about how we approach our business,” Shawn says. “With these improvements, we will continue to inform and enthuse high-end remodeling prospects about the type of work we’re doing, not only locally but nationwide as well.” All in all, it’s the royal treatment in innovative kitchen design. 913.492.8887 or www.kitchendg.com.

Noteworthy Contributions

Diana Ingham has been involved in the interior design field for 23 years and is currently the assistant professor at Johnson County Community College, where she’s been teaching interior design since 2000. But her dedication goes far beyond that. Because of her outstanding service to the ASID chapter and the interior design profession, along with significant local, regional and national contributions, and her continued contributions that enrich the human experience, she received the 2007 ASID Chapter Medalist Award, the highest award bestowed to ASID professional members at the chapter level. Diana is also the past president of the ASID chapter, having served several years as committee chairperson, as well as on the Advisory boards for Kansas State and JCCC’s interior design programs. Expanding on her list of awards, she was also honored with the Lieberman Award for Excellence in Teaching and is a Gold Medal winner for Kansas City’s HBA Parade of Homes. www.asidmowestks.org.

Green Achievement

With eco-consciousness settling into our lives, many people are evolving — some more than others. Bob Berkebile, FAIA, is the founding principal of BNIM Architects and a well-known dedicated advocate of sustainable design. Because of his unwavering commitment and contributions to green design, Bob was recently honored with the Kansas City Area Development Council’s OneKC Award, calling attention to his (and his partners) newly developed design standards for resource efficiency for buildings and communities, including human resources, materials and energy. Recently completed projects around town include The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Bloch Building, IRS Kansas City Service Center and the City Hall North Entrance. To shine some light on Bob’s other green efforts, he’s involved with Environmental Building News, The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Global Community and New Earth Organization, not to mention he’s lectured at universities, including Harvard, Cambridge, Stanford and Rice. He currently serves on USGBC’s Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee and has conducted workshops for the White House, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, National Park Service, FEMA and Canadian Provincial Architects. 816.783.1500 or www.bnim.com.