Gardens
The Gathering Place
A century-old home known for hosting guests continues in the modern day with the addition of a charming new courtyard and studio.
BY
Taylor Engler
PHOTOGRAPHY
By James Maidhof

Lauri and Brian Meyers love to share the history of their Prairie Village home. In fact, they still hold the original deed to the property and trace its roots back to an 1859 treaty President James Buchanan signed with the United Tribe of Shawnee Indians.

In 1903, Homer L. Breyfogle, the first constable of Mission Township, acquired part of the land and built what is now the Meyers’ home. The home became known as “the gathering place,” a center for politics in town.

The Meyers relish carrying on their home’s welcoming legacy, frequently inviting friends and family over to entertain. But as open as their home has always been, the couple had one complaint — their privacy was compromised by the side deck they described as a “fishbowl” to busy West 83rd Street. They knew there had to be a way to maintain the original feel of the property while making better use of the space.

Three years ago, they devised the concept, envisioning an area where they could spend time outdoors without feeling as though every passer-by was part of the party. In order to  create such a space, they needed to demolish the existing driveway that led up to the patio and quarter-off the area with a fence for seclusion.

They called in Terry deFraties of Essential Extras, a Kansas City-based outdoor structures company, to help create the enclosure they sought. Afraid too much fencing would appear more like a stockade and less like a secret garden, Lauri worked with Terry to add detail to the fence to make it more residential. The resulting white-picket fence extends to the side of the home on an angle and includes lattice work and an archway over the gate for small touches of grace.

From the outside, glimpses of bright flowers peek through the fence; trumpet vine growing on the lattice attracts hummingbirds. Also visible, reaching into the sky above the fence, is the anchor of the inner patio: a white-painted, hand-built pergola.

One of the couple’s main ideas from the start, the finished four-column structure features detailed woodwork on the roof, the result of mistakenly creating too many squares. The intricate design turned out to be a fortune-in-disguise, showcasing a wonderful pattern of stars and lattice. Lauri says the overhead protection makes the patio feel cozy and more like a room.

A flagstone floor laid by Outdoor Transformations pulls together the area where the driveway used to be. The masonry work builds up on the sides of the courtyard into planters.

The new design negated the need for a garage, so Lauri and Brian converted it into an art studio for Lauri’s hobby-turned-business, Friends of a Feather.

During one of their summer sales, passers-by stopped for a glimpse of Lauri’s wares and her home.

“People who have driven by stopped in and said, ‘I’ve always wanted to come in here,’ and ‘I just had to see what was behind that fence!’” Lauri recalls.

In keeping with the historical significance of the home as a neighborhood gathering place, Lauri and Brian have welcomed visitors on a tour and have even broken out the barbecue to feed their hungry guests.

Whether they are entertaining an intimate gathering of friends, hosting the entire neighborhood or preparing the patio as a giant playpen for their first grandchild, the Meyers have made their own contribution that is sure to add another page to their home’s history.

Friends of a Feather
Lauri inherited a creative spirit from her mother, who designed home decor items on which Lauri published “how-to” books. The twosome were not only in business together but shared a passion for hunting down unique pieces from antique shops and sales, often bringing home more than they needed.

In 2001, they began selling their handmade treasures and antiques at back-porch sales at Lauri’s mother’s home. Out and about at art stores and quaint shops, they soon met women with similar creative passions and “like-minded souls.”

They formed Friends of a Feather and now host semi-annual artisan sales featuring embellished clothing, vintage-fabric accessories, collage and mixed media art, paper arts, original jewelry, beaded serving ware, repurposed antiques and other treasures. During the sale they serve lunch and home-baked goods and give tours of the studio, which can be used year-round for baby showers, girls’ days out and other special events.

Upcoming Artisan Sale:
Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct.10
from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
6416 W. 83rd St., Overland Park, Kan.
913.963.2985
www.friendsofafeather-artisans.blogspot.com