2009 Home of the Year Gold Winners

Best Custom Home over $2 million
Anderson MacAdam Architects  ~  Ambassador Construction  ~  Lisa Jensen Design

Old World, European design best describes this home, located on a hill overlooking the 18th green and the clubhouse at The National. Designed with the family in mind, the home features six bedrooms, a Mizzou-themed sport court and enclosed media room. Covered terraces with fireplaces and limestone fountains offer a resort-type atmosphere, and attention to detail was the driving force in the construction process. Brazilian cherry wood flooring, mahogany custom doors and railing combined with cherry wood cabinetry add warmth to the spaces. 

Resources:
Kitchen Design & Cabinets: Quality Wood Products • Excavation: JKE • Foundation: J.G. Creten • Framing: S&S Construction • Lumber: Teague Lumber • Windows: • Loewen Windows & Doors • Sheetrock: Ferguson Drywall • Roofing: Jaberian Roofing • Trim Work: Metro Trim • Painter: Capital Painting, Miguel’s Painting • Specialty • Painting: Patina Studios • Countertops: Carthage Marble • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Hardware: Locks & Pulls • Tile Installer: Mike Brown Contractors • Hardwood Flooring: Acme Floor Co. • Carpeting: Designer Carpet Library • Glass & Mirrors: KC Glass & Mirror • HVAC: United Heating Cooling & Plumbing • Plumbing: • Grabill Plumbing • Plumbing Fixtures: Steve Knox Gallery • Electrician: Superior Electrical • Light Fixtures: Western Chandelier • Fireplace: Complete Home Concepts • Home Theater: Drake Intellihomes • Home Security: Atronic Alarms • Landscaping: Naturescapes • Flatwork: Tri D Concrete • Sprinkler System: Epic Landscape Productions • Cast Stone: Farthingale Stone • Stone Paving: Intileigent • Computers/Sound System: Axiom Solutions

Best Custom Home $1 million-$2 million
Bickford + Company  ~  Cornelius Homes  ~  Madden-McFarland Interiors

The owners of this home capitalized on natural drainage by creating a dry creek bed that actually runs underneath a bridge connecting the garage to the home. In addition to integrating the surrounding hillside into the design, it accommodated the owners’ goal of a diminished presence on the landscape.

The interior style of this 7,000-square-foot home was a compromise between the husband’s affinity for a contemporary look and the wife’s love of traditional style. They happily settled on what they refer to as a “Pottery Barn” look. The main level includes a large mud room, with a half bath and plenty of storage. The heart of the home is the kitchen and family dining room, including the two-story adjacent hearth room. A covered lanai is located off the kitchen, while the master suite features a sitting room and fireplace. The majority of the trim is painted, with a glaze on the kitchen cabinets, along with dark stained beams and an entertainment center in the hearth area.

Resources:
Kitchen Design & Cabinets: Quality Wood Products • Excavation: Overland Grading • Foundation: Louisburg Foundation • Framing: K.A. Brown Framing • Lumber: Teague Lumber • Windows: Kansas City Building Supply • Sheetrock: Wallboard Specialties • Roofing: Jaberian Roofing • Trim Work: K & L Construction • Concrete Flatwork: Jeff Hoge • Painter: Davco • Specialty Painting: Renaissance Painting • Countertops: Midland Marble & Granite • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Hardware: Wilson Lighting Locks & Fans • Tile: Young’s Tile Co. • Hardwood Flooring: Acme Floor Co. • Carpeting & Furnishings: Madden-McFarland Interiors • Glass & Mirrors: Olathe Glass • Heating & Cooling: United Heating Cooling & Plumbing • Plumbing: Grabill Plumbing • Plumbing Fixtures: Ferguson Supply • Electrician: Tee and Bee Electric • Light Fixtures: Wilson Lighting Locks & Fans • Fireplace: Midwest Fireplace • Custom Closets: Kansas City Closet Co. • Home Theater: Integrated Electronics • Home Security: Atronic Alarms • Landscaping & Hardscaping: Next to Nature • Cleaning: Building & Home Maintenance • Subdivision: Briarcliff West

Best Custom Home $750,000-$1 million
Team 3 Architects  ~  Baldwin Properties  ~  Madden-McFarland Interiors

Built a year ago, this custom home was created for empty nesters and the young at heart. Surrounded by wildlife, it’s nestled on 20 acres (and 200 more surrounding acres) with five Paso Fino horses, a five-stabled barn, and is only five minutes from Liberty shopping and 10 from Zona Rosa. The open, Tuscan-style home exudes Old World charm characterized in the art. The comfortable floor plan lends itself to entertaining, with the interior designed so that no matter which room the family is in, there is a full view of the acreage. The home is equipped with state-of-the-art appliances, heated tile floors, a five-car garage with a suspended floor, and a recreation area with a steam sauna and walk-in pantry with preparation area. The home is gated and includes more than two acres of surrounding iron fence and 24-hour surveillance.

Resources:
Excavation: KC Excavating • Foundation: Bill Long Foundations • Framing: GHD Framing • Lumber: McCray Lumber • Windows: McCray Millwork • Sheetrock: NEI Drywall • Roofing: Bordner Roofing • Trim Work: Dave Hawkins Trim • Paint: Sherwin-Williams • Painter: Five C’s Painting • Specialty Painting: Scott Williams • Cabinets: Superior Wood Products • Appliances: Nebraska Furniture Mart • Tile, Hardware & Countertops: Kenny’s Tile & Floor Covering • Hardwood Flooring & Carpeting: Kenny’s Tile & Floor Covering • Glass & Mirrors: Complete Home Concepts • HVAC: Lancaster Heating & Cooling • Plumbing: Kinney’s Plumbing • Plumbing • Fixtures: Ferguson Plumbing • Electrician: Scott Hagen Electric • Light Fixtures: Rensen House of Lights • Fireplace: Complete Home Concepts • Furnishings: Madden-McFarland Interiors • Garage System: Renner Garage Door • Home Security: Liberty Protection System • Landscaping & Hardscaping: Epic Landscape Productions • Sprinkler System: Heartland Sprinklers • Realtor: Reece & Nichols • Subdivision: Northview Valley

Best Custom Home $500,000-$750,000
iCON Architecture  ~  RM Contracting  ~  Lisa Jensen Design

An existing, simple 3,000-square-foot ranch house was razed and rebuilt as this modern work of architecture, while not just recovering but enhancing the panoramic view of tree- and stream-filled valleys on this one-acre corner lot in Fairway. Additional square footage was added by going up two stories and cantilevering rooms out from the existing footprint of the house. The main level is centered around the existing fireplace, which the homeowners consider the heart of the home. An open floor plan for entertaining allows for movement throughout the living room, kitchen and formal dining room, all of which have a multitude of balconies, patios, framed and full-height windows that open up the interior space to the outdoor views.

Resources:
Excavation & Foundation: Custom Contracting • Framing: Spencer Framing • Lumber: McCray Lumber • Windows: H-Windows • Sheetrock: Ferguson Drywall • Roofing: Industrial Roofing • Metal Work: Sculpturehaus • Paint: Benjamin Moore • Cabinets: TimberLab Furniture Works • Countertops: Top Master • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Hardware: OMNIA • Tile: Eddie Cummings Tile • Hardwood Flooring: Acme Floor Co. • Carpeting: Interface • Glass & Mirrors: Gaylord & Sons • Geothermal: Evans Geothermal • HVAC: Ladd Service • Plumbing: Chris Henderson Plumbing • Plumbing Fixtures: Dorfman Plumbing Supply • Electrician: John Wymore • Light Fixtures: Mercer Zimmerman • Custom Closets: Affordable Closets • Home Theater: Continental Video • Home Security: Atronic Alarms • Landscaping: RM Contracting • Hardscaping: iCON Architecture • Sprinkler System: RM Contracting • Subdivision: Bryantwood Estates

Best Custom Home $300,000-$500,000
Spiotta LLC  ~  Susan Sommers Design

State-of-the-art design and technology come together to create this Tuscan-style home in Kansas City, Mo., with Old World charm. Italian hand-forged iron railings, Versailles-pattern travertine floors, plaster wall treatments and massive stone columns greet guests as antique interior furnishings pay homage to the homeowner’s ancestry. The main level has two separate gourmet kitchens, with an eight-burner range, copper farmhouse sink, hand-glazed custom cabinetry, scrolling iron accents and a large walk-in pantry. The master suite is bathed in luxury with a rain head shower and eight body jets, in-line heated Jacuzzi tub with full granite surround and dual vanities, while the exterior is decorated with a covered lanai, stone fireplace, TV and outdoor cooking options. The lower level is the ultimate entertaining area with audio and video, large granite bar, complete kitchen with access to the outdoor living space, and large wine cellar and tasting room. Two additional bedrooms with private granite and stone baths, a game room, home office and suspended garage storage areas complete the lower level.   

Resources:
Excavation: Brinkler Construction • Framing: BMF Construction • Lumber: McCray Lumber • Windows: Pella Products of Kansas City • Sheetrock: Russ Buckner Drywall • Gutters: Royal Seamless Gutters • Trim Work: Scott Swift • Paint: KWAL Paint • Painter: M & A Painting • Specialty Painting: BG Graphics • Cabinets: Miller Cabinets • Countertops: Sophisticated Stone • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Hardware: Locks & Pulls • Tile: Tile & Stone Warehouse • Carpeting: Signature Flooring • HVAC: AFC Heating & Cooling • Plumbing: Full Nelson Plumbing • Plumbing Fixtures: Ferguson Enterprises • Iron Railings: Jones Iron & Metal • Fireplace: Henges Insulation and Fireplaces • Home Theater & Security: Factory Direct Appliance • Landscaping & Sprinkler System: Perfect Turf • Realtor: GMAC Realty • Subdivision: Carriage Hill Estates

Best Green Home
Lakeside Construction

Located on the serene Prairie Lee Lake in Lee’s Summit, this custom-built 5,600-square-foot log-style home has many green features. The manicured lawn is watered by a sprinkler system that draws directly from the lake. Inside the home is an all-radiant floor system and vapor barrier blanket that keeps away radon gas. The entire home has been wrapped in Tyvek paper and insulated with Icynene, which is mold-, mildew-, insect- and fire-resistant and increases the strength of the home’s frame by 30 percent. It also has a 50-year Timberline roof and double-paned, maintenance-free Andersen windows.

The interior is decorated with a cobblestone entry, hemp wall coverings, a hand-crafted staircase and a 22-foot-tall stone fireplace with a 35,000 BTU system and heat-a-lator. The upstairs features three bedrooms with a master suite that includes a whirlpool tub, double vanity and private covered patio. The kitchen displays custom knotty pine cabinets, granite countertops and dual ovens. A dumb waiter takes guests from the kitchen to the large insulated garage. An outdoor patio features a rock-surrounded hot tub overlooking the lake and private covered boat dock with lift.

Resources:
Lumber: Owen Lumber, Schutte Lumber • Windows: All Weather Windows & Doors • Sheetrock: Wallboard Specialties • Paint: Sherwin-Williams • Cabinets: Bystone • Countertops: Midland Marble & Granite • Appliances: Nebraska Furniture Mart • Tile: The Tile Shop • Carpeting: S & S Carpet Mill • Glass & Mirrors: All Weather Windows & Doors • HVAC: Climate Control • Plumbing Fixtures: Ferguson Enterprises • Light Fixtures: Western Chandelier, Lowe’s • Sprinkler System: Innovative Creations

Best Model Home over $1 million
Studio 605  ~  Gahagan & Eddy Building Company  ~  Shelley Preston, design consultant

Keeping things simple was the goal of this Prairie Village home — it needed to fit in with the aesthetics of the existing neighborhood but be worthy of golf course views. The traditional 6-inch cedar-lap siding and divided-light windows reflect this desire. Its architectural form is a straightforward “H” floor plan that incorporates many of the latest sustainable materials and products, such as a highly efficient heating and cooling system with filters that guarantee a higher quality of indoor air, a re-circulating hot water pump to provide almost instant hot water throughout the home, and integrated smart home wiring systems to allow for the programming of all heating and cooling systems, hot water usage and electrical output. Hardwood floors, custom cabinets, professional-grade appliances, natural stone and glass surfaces round out the interior design — all were chosen with an eye on quality and an overall reduction of indoor off-gassing from paint, carpets and stains.  

Resources:
Surveying: Land Survey • Demolition & Excavation: Downing Construction • Foundation: Mid-State Forms • Waterproofing: Gordon Energy & Drainage • Backfilling/Grading: Downing Construction • Lumber/Steel/Framing: McCray Lumber, Paul Hudson Construction • Exterior Siding: Brotherton Masonry, Excel Stucco • Energy Seal: D.R. Nelson • Exterior Windows & Doors: Kansas City Millwork • Concrete • Flatwork: K & E Flatwork • Roofing: Bordner Roofing  • Plumbing: Paul Vielhauer Plumbing • Electrical: CRH Electric • Smart Home Wiring & Components: Data Unite • Light Fixtures: Wilson Lighting Locks & Fans • HVAC: Air Pro • Insulation: Williams Insulation • Fireplace: Brotherton Masonry • Drywall: D.A.D. Painting • Trim Material/Hardware/Labor: Kansas City Millwork • Cabinets: d.Anne Designs • Countertops: Graniteworks • Painting: D.A.D. Painting • Flooring & Tile: Kenny’s Tile & Floor Covering • Appliances: Regarding Kitchens • Mirrors & Shower Doors: Top Line Construction • Garage Doors: Overhead Door Co. • Gutters: Town and Country • Landscaping & Sprinkler System: Eden • Exterior Patios: Brotherton Masonry • Cleaning: Mori Enterprises, Castle Enterprises • Insurance: The Sloan Agency

Best Model Home $750,000-$ 1 million
Bickford + Company  ~  Lambie-Geer Homes

This English Country-themed home in Wilshire Farms imparts an inviting and warm atmosphere. Providing comfort in everyday living and high style when entertaining, the amenities encompassing the home fit today’s lifestyle — from rustic floors, rich colors, and eye-catching granite and tile, to a wine bar and comfortable outdoor entertainment area. Thirteen local designers participated in decorating the home, which was open to the public as part of the Touched by Cancer Foundation fundraiser. Spacious living areas and cozy nooks offer the best of both worlds, while the flow from one room to the next is uncluttered and seamless. Here, function and luxury are blended into one. 

Resources:
Developer: Ashner Development • Marketing/Real Estate: Reece & Nichols • Bank Loan: Metcalf Bank • Survey: Phelps Engineering • Excavation: Jim Schlagel Excavating • Foundation: Doug Rieke • Steel: Chaney Steel • Water Proofing & Silt Fence: Gordon Energy & Drainage • Windows: Pella Products of Kansas City • Doors & Trim Materials: Morgan Wightman • Lumber: McCray Lumber • Framing: Prier Construction • Exterior Stone: AAA Stone Cutters • Fireplace Faux Stone: Canyon Stone • Mirrors, Shower Doors & Fireplace Units: • Complete Home Concepts • Stucco: Bordner Installation Group • Interior/Exterior Flatwork: Fasching Brothers • Concrete Mix: Geiger Ready Mix • Plumbing Rough-In/Finish: Fred Pflumm Plumbing • Electrical: Teague Electric • Home Audio/Security: Elite Technologies • HVAC: • Midwest Heating Cooling & Plumbing • Roofing: Metro Roofing Services • Insulation: Kansas Home, Williams Insulation • Garage Doors & Garage Openers: Accent Garage Doors • Drywall: Wallboard Specialties • Cabinetry: Quality Wood Products • Granite: Midland Marble & Granite • Painting: Painting Innovations • Trim Labor: RW Trim • Iron Spindles: Bill Ruckdeschel • Tile & Bath Vanity Tops: Kenny’s Tile & Floor Covering • Exterior Tile: Hall’s Tile • Hardwood Flooring: Works of Art Hardwood Flooring • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Lighting: Wilson Lighting Locks & Fans • Carpet: Weber Carpet • Clean-Up Crew: Blubaugh Enterprises • Gutters: Olathe Sheet Metal • Landscaping & Sprinkler System: Earth Designs • Fountain Rock Material: Riverview Stone • Exterior Concrete Patio: Will’s Concrete Concepts

Best Model Home $500,000-$750,000 in Missouri
Don Julian Builders

The Cambridge Ranch model, situated at the entrance of new Italian-inspired community Forest Ridge Estates, showcases the latest design trends with a focus on exquisite style and Old World charm. The architectural details, all-stucco exterior, red barrel-tiled roof, and pave stone front porch and sidewalk reflect that. Warm tones, arched doorways, niches, random-width oak floors and richly stained woods all add to the feel of this comfortable and elegant home. A beautifully tiled wall with a water feature is welcoming, but it’s not the focal point of the fabulous great room — it’s a cut-stone fireplace wall with built-ins and niches that grabs everyone’s attention. A gourmet kitchen features a butcher block top work island, eating counter, granite countertops and a cabinet-front walk-in pantry. The large suite boasts a see-through aquarium built into the wall separating it from the bath. The closet, built for two, has many nooks for storage, a dressing bench with clothes hooks and a full-length mirror. A covered deck with a fireplace adds the perfect touch for outdoor entertaining.  

Resources:
Interior Design: Gail Morse • Excavation: Brinkley Construction Co. • Foundation: William G. Curth • Framing: Julian Construction Co. • Lumber: Teague Lumber • Windows: Pella Products of Kansas City
Sheetrock: John Davis Drywall • Roofing: Jaberian Roofing Co. • Trim Work: KC’s Construction • Painter: Childress Painting • Specialty Painting: RL Falkner • Cabinets: Quality Wood Products • Countertops: Cutting Edge • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Hardware & Lighting Fixtures: Wilson Lighting Locks & Fans • Tile & Carpeting: McIntyre Mann • Glass & Mirrors: Complete Home Concepts • HVAC: Midwest Heating Cooling & Plumbing • Plumbing: Jim Robertson Plumbing • Electrician: Teague Electric • Fireplace: Midwest Fireplace, Woodbrooke • Waterfall: Midwest Fireplace • Landscaping, Sod & Sprinkler System: Garden Gates • Shutters & Drapery: Superior Drapery & Interiors • Flatwork Labor: Ernst Brothers Construction • Pavers: Embassy Landscape Group • Engineer: Apex Engineers • Surveyor: Land Survey North • Waterproofing: Gordon Energy & Drainage • Garage Doors: Accent Door • Insulation: AIC Insulation • Marble Tops & Tubs: Master Marble • Deck: Jim Bentley/Quality Ornamental Iron • Gutters: Royal Seamless Gutters • Interior Iron: Bill Ruckdeschel • Structural Steel: Jones Iron & Metal • Wallpaper: McIntyre Mann, Wall Paper Pro • Wood Flooring: Acme Floor Co. • Low Voltage: Safe Haven, Custom Connections • Subdivision: Forest Ridge Estates

Best Model Home $500,000-$750,000 in Kansas
Cecil & Ray Homes  ~  Lori Kettering Interiors

This reverse story-and-a-half, overlooking green space at Polo Fields, has curb appeal with its all-stucco exterior, decorative beams and trim, extensive landscaping and veranda with fireplace. The spacious first floor includes a family room with 14-foot ceilings and arched openings with up-lighting. The rustic American cherry hardwood floors lead into the kitchen with custom-built alder cabinetry and a 14-foot island. The master suite is accented with a barrel vault ceiling and fireplace, while the bath has his-and-her vanities as well as a large walk-in shower with two shower heads. But it’s the lower level that  represents the ultimate in entertaining space, with a pool table, bar and theater. The large horseshoe-shaped bar with granite countertops is showcased by a substantial bar rail and accent lighting throughout. It also includes a microwave, dishwasher and bottle cooler. Down the hall are two additional bedrooms that share a Hollywood bath.

Resources:
Home Designer: EL-J Originals • Excavation: Overland Grading • Foundation: Doug Rieke Foundations • Framing: T.R.I. Construction • Lumber: McCray Lumber • Windows: Kansas City Building Supply • Sheetrock: Wallboard Specialties • Roofing: Century Roofing • Trim Work: Adams Custom Trim • Painter: R.T. Painting • Cabinets: Shamrock Cabinets • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Hardware: Kansas City Building Supply • Tile & Carpeting: Weber Carpet • Glass & Mirrors: Fountain Glass • HVAC: United Heating Cooling & Plumbing • Plumbing & Fixtures: Kinney’s Plumbing • Electrician: B.A. Burnes • Light • Fixtures: Wilson Lighting Locks & Fans • Fireplace: Kansas City Building Supply • Landscaping & Sprinkler System: R.W.R. Exteriors • Realtor: Nottingham Realty • Subdivision: Polo Fields

Best Model Home $300,000-$500,000 in Missouri
C&M Builders

Located in the Hills of Chapel Ridge Estates in Lee’s Summit, this reverse story-and-a-half was designed for today’s families. The exterior boasts a lifetime tile roof and a warm stucco-and-stone color scheme that’s welcoming to everyone. Inside, the first floor is decorated with warm brown tones and tile floors throughout, except in the carpeted living room. The kitchen’s state-of-the-art custom cabinetry, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances make it a room built for more than just cooking. The spacious master bedroom and bath offer an inviting retreat, while the lower level is for the entire family with a custom entertainment center, bar and access to an outdoor living space. A screened deck includes an exterior fireplace with space for a TV above. 

Resources:
Interior Designer: Melissa Buck • Excavation: Borer Excavation • Foundation: BW Foundation • Lumber: McCray Lumber • Windows: Mid States Millwork • Sheetrock: Star Drywall • Stucco/Stone: Bordner Stucco • Roofing: Bordner Roofing • Insulation: (Icynene) The Hayes Co. • Trim Work: Eulinger Trim • Trim Material: McCray Millwork • Painter: City Wide Painting • Specialty Painting: Melissa Buck, Norma Jones • Cabinets: Walsh Boys • Countertops: Graniteworks • Appliances: Manley’s Appliances • Hardware: Home Hardware of Kansas • Tile: Kenny’s Tile & Floor Covering • Hardwood Flooring: First Pace Flooring • Carpeting: Weber Carpet • Glass & Mirrors: Deco Design • HVAC: A&D Heating and Cooling • Plumbing: Tri-County Plumbing • Plumbing Fixtures: Warren Supply • Electrician: George Electric • Light Fixtures: Rensen House of Lights • Fireplace: The Hayes Co. • Home Theater & Security: Select Living Systems • Landscaping: Colonial Nursery • Realtor: Reece & Nichols • Subdivision: Westbrook at Creekmoor

Best Model Home $300,000-$500,000 in Kansas
Starr Homes

This home is reminiscent of an upscale Colorado lodge with its dramatic two-story entry and hearth room. The spacious hearth room opens into a large kitchen and breakfast nook, providing plenty of room for living and entertaining. The home also highlights a comfortable master suite with a sitting area, large closet, jetted tub and oversized master shower, upstairs laundry, a true Jack-and-Jill bath and large linen closet — basically everything needed to live well at home. The study is at the back of the home where it can also be used as a functional office or library, and the oversized mudroom incorporates large boot benches, ample storage, a desk and extra closet. The covered porch, deck, breakfast nook, hearth room and study all take advantage of views from the back of the home.

Resources:
Gutters: American Gutter & Sheetmetal • Plumbing: Kinney’s Plumbing • Cabinets: Branaman Cabinets • Roofing: Century Roofing • Electrical: Double S Electric • Shower Glass: Fountain Glass • Painter: JL Painting • Foundation: Johnson County Basements • Windows: Milgard Windows • Trim Material: Kansas City Building Supply • Hardware: Home Hardware • Cleaning: Julie Hirt Construction Services • Faux • Finish: Mona Kurtz • Landscaping: Next to Nature • HVAC: Prairie Center • Tile & Carpet: ProSource • Lumber: Teague Lumber • Cultured Marble: Tiffany Marble • Appliances: Nebraska Furniture Mart • Insulation: AIC • Engineering: HD Engineering

Best Empty Nest in Missouri
Brighton Builders  ~  CB Designs

The Birchwood, located on a private cul-de-sac in Fairfield Woods Villas in Lee’s Summit, is loaded with amenities for the empty nester. The single-level living design features high ceilings with 8-foot doors, extensive crown molding and a Country French flavor with rich, inviting colors and elegant decor. The kitchen and dining area, with custom cabinetry, island, granite countertops and walk-in pantry, adjoin the large great room with its cast-stone fireplace and built-in shelves. The master suite features a sitting area with whirlpool tub, large shower, double vanity and walk-in closet. Storage is plenty in the flex and laundry room, while easy access through 4-foot hallways and 3-foot-wide doors was included for universal design purposes. Green features include low-e glass and a high-quality HVAC system. This low-maintenance home also features all stucco and has lifetime warranties on the windows and roof. The maintenance-provided community provides lawn service, irrigation, snow removal and trash pickup. 

Resources:
Home Designer: Cotton Custom Home Plans • Excavation & Foundation: ABI Corporation • Lumber: 84 Lumber • Windows & Hardware: Morgan Wightman • Sheetrock: Donnie’s Drywall • Roofing: Larry Vaught Roofing • Trim Work: Mike Case • Paint: Sherwin-Williams • Cabinets: Paramount Wood Products • Countertops: Canaan Stone Works • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Tile: ProSource • Hardwood Flooring: SVB Wood Floors • Carpeting: ProSource • Glass & Mirrors: Hutton Glass Products • HVAC: McDaniel Furnace & Sheet Metal • Plumbing: Bright Plumbing • Plumbing Fixtures: Moen • Electrician: C.D. McClain • Light Fixtures: Premier Lighting • Fireplace: Complete Home Concepts • Home Security: Quality 1st Services • Landscaping: Precision Creations • Sprinkler System: Exclusive Lawns • Realtor: Reece & Nichols • Subdivision: Fairfield Woods

Best Empty Nest in Kansas
Elswood Smith Carlson Architects  ~  B & F Homes  ~  Madden-McFarland Interiors

Part of a small enclave of villa homes just   minutes from shopping and dining venues, this maintenance-provided home boasts 4,000 square feet of luxurious, open living space. Adorned with 5-inch Chinese elm hardwood floors, the home also features exotic granites and faux-painted walls. The equally impressive custom cabinetry and woodwork throughout includes an awe-inspiring kitchen ceiling. The spacious main-level master suite comes with vaulted ceilings and a roomy master closet. The main floor also boasts a gourmet kitchen, nicely sized second bedroom/office space with an adjoining bath, bar area just off the kitchen and a dining room seemingly built for entertaining. The (optional) lower level has an enormous recreation room with its very own custom bar area, game room, fireplace and custom wine cellar as well as a couple more bedrooms and bathrooms.

Resources:
Cabinetry: Built to Fit • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Carpet & Furnishings: Madden-McFarland Interiors • Closet Systems: California Closets • Drywall: Renner Drywall • Electrician: Elite Electric • Excavation: K & D Fireoved Enterprises • Faux Painting: Renaissance Studios • Final Clean: Castle Enterprises • Fireplace, Shower Doors & Mirrors: Complete Home Concepts • Flatwork: Jeff Hodge Concrete • Foundation: Robert Van Lerberg Foundations • Framing: Advantage Framing & Componants • Garage Doors: Accent Door • Tile: Russell Stone & Tile • Granite: Stoneworld • Hardwood: Kopp’s Carpet, • Woodworks Contracting Hardwood Floors • HVAC: Midwest Heating Cooling & Plumbing • Insulation: 31-W Insulation • Hardware: Home Hardware of Kansas • Landscape: Greener Summers • Light Fixtures: Wilson Lighting Locks & Fans • Low Voltage: Naturally Wired • Painting: D & L Painting • Plumbing: Mike Cox Plumbing • Roofing: Metro Roofing Services • Stone: Fuendling Masonry • Stucco: Excel Stucco • Trim: D & Z Construction • Vanity Tops: New Surface • Wallpaper: Dan McVay Wall Coverings • Windows: Teague Lumber • Wrought Iron: Bill Ruckdeschel • Realtor: The Scottie Broderick Team • Subdivision: Villas of Highlands Ranch

Best Modern Architecture in Missouri
Davison Architecture + Urban Design  ~  Jamie Jeffries Construction

Within the West Plaza neighborhood, a lot was transformed to reflect the homeowners’ desire to live in a sustainable, open, loft-like home. Located within easy walking distance to the Country Club Plaza, the home    features recycled, salvaged and rapidly renewable materials, low-VOC finishes and responsibly   harvested woods (FSC-certified). A tight building envelope was achieved using blow-in insulation with R values that exceed building code standards by up to 50 percent, helping to create an energy-efficient 2,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, 3 ½-bath home. A major design feature is the roof deck, which offers 360-degree views of the Plaza and surrounding urban tree canopy. The interior lines are clean and minimal and feature natural materials, such as concrete counters, custom bamboo cabinetry, linoleum flooring and local hardwoods. 

Resources
Lumber: FSC Certified Altruwood, Schutte Lumber • Windows & Doors: Shelter Windows, Loewen Doors • Roofing: Huttinger Construction • Cabinets & Countertops: SLAB • Appliances: JennAir • Tile & Plumbing: Greg Grim • Hardwood Flooring: Tim Griffard • Plumbing Fixtures: Dorfman Plumbing Supply • Masonry: Mike Smith Masonry • Custom Stairs: Jamie Jeffries Construction

Best Modern Architecture in Kansas
iCON Architecture  ~  RM Contracting  ~  Lisa Jensen Design

This site, once containing a ranch design from the 1960s, was the inspiration for a completely updated design by new owners. The indoor/outdoor dialogue of this Fairway home is reinforced by a large limestone wall element that identifies the home’s entrance, subdivides the interior’s public and private spaces, and ultimately leads homeowners and guests back outdoors to the scenic view that surrounds them. The 2½-story foyer allows natural light to stream in, making the space more inviting and energized. Modern shapes and forms were used to create a contemporary-style home interjected with warm natural materials to respect the vernacular of the neighborhood, which resulted in a contemporary space that “feels like home.”

Resources:
Excavation & Foundation: Custom Contracting • Framing: Spencer Framing • Lumber: McCray Lumber • Windows: H-Windows • Sheetrock: Ferguson Drywall • Roofing: Industrial Roofing • Metal Work: Sculpturehaus • Paint: Benjamin Moore • Cabinets: TimberLab Furniture Works • Countertops: Top Master • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Hardware: OMNIA • Tile: Eddie Cummings Tile • Hardwood Flooring: Acme Floor Co. • Carpeting: Interface • Glass & Mirrors: Gaylord & Sons • Geothermal: Evans Geothermal • HVAC: Ladd Service • Plumbing: Chris Henderson Plumbing • Plumbing Fixtures: Dorfman Plumbing Supply • Electrician: John Wymore • Light Fixtures: Mercer Zimmerman • Custom Closets: Affordable Closets • Home Theater: Continental Video • Home Security: Atronic Alarms • Landscaping: RM Contracting • Hardscaping: iCON Architecture • Sprinkler System: RM Contracting • Subdivision: Bryantwood Estates

Best Condo
Kirkwood Realty  ~  Slaggie Architects  ~  The Weitz Company  ~  Caroline McCallister Interiors

At the end of the day, residents returning home park in a private underground garage and take a convenient elevator ride straight up to their condo’s own living room — no hallways needed. Those are just two perks of the lifestyle routine at The Park, where abundant space and generous bedrooms and bathrooms come together to create the luxurious harmony found at this   community. Each condominium includes three bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms and 3,000 square feet of open and inviting space. The hearth kitchen has custom cabinets, while the rest of the home is decorated in hardwood floors and sumptuous carpeting, all under 10-foot ceilings. The building’s brick and cast-stone construction with slate roof is all within walking distance of the Plaza and Loose Park. 

Resources:
Structural Engineer: Leigh & O’Kane • Civil & Landscape Engineer: MKEC Engineering Consultants • Grading & Excavation: J.A. Lillig Excavating • Waterproofing: S&W Waterproofing • Steel: Liberty Erection • Foundation & • Flatwork: Lithko Contracting • Framing & Drywall: Allied Construction Services • Lumber: Heartland Wall Panel • Masonry & Stone: Heartland Masonry • Windows: Pella Products of Kansas City • Sheetrock: Michel Drywall • Shingled Roofing: Bordner Roofing • Flat Roofing: Boone Brothers Roofing • Synthetic Shingles: Cedar Ridge Roofing • Concrete: Overland Concrete • Painter: Color Inc. • Cabinets: Quality Wood Products • Granite Countertops: Fabricor • Doors & Trim: Kansas City Millwork • Stucco: Reyonds Construction • Asphalt Paving: Little Joe’s Asphalt • Pavers & Retaining Walls: VF Anderson Builders • Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance • Hardware: American Direct Procurement • Tile: Metro Tile • Hardwood Flooring: Acme Floor Co. • Carpeting: Weber Carpet • Storefront & Glass: Jim Plunkett • Shower Doors: Complete Home Concepts • Garage Doors: Overhead Door Co. • HVAC: Metro Air Conditioning • Plumbing: Rodriguez Mechanical • Electrician: Faith Technologies • Utilities: Kissick Construction • Fireplace: Complete Home Concepts • Landscaping: Audrie Seeley & Co. • Fire Sprinkler System: American Fire Sprinkler

Best Community: The Residences of Kirkwood
Kirkwood Realty

Located one block south of the Country Club Plaza, The Residences of Kirkwood, owned by Highwoods Properties, is a new community that offers many styles of living within a common experience. The brick and cast stone exteriors fit well into the older neighborhood for a timeless look but with plenty of alluring modern amenities, which include a private park, pool, fitness center, 24/7 security, property manager on site, all utilities paid and maintenance-free living.

The array of building styles and sizes, from  single-family homes to a high-rise condo, offers pleasant diversity complementary to the midtown location. Phase I features a mid- and a high-rise condominium building, townhomes, and 1½-story single-family park villas facing Central Park, with prices ranging from the mid-$400,000s to $1,990,000. Phase II has two concepts new to Kansas City: the coach home, which is a two-story Georgian Colonial townhouse with a finished, daylight lower level; private courtyard; and two-story carriage house, and mid-rise park condos with elevator access that goes directly to each unit from the secure underground garage. Prices in this phase range from the mid-$800,000s to $1.3 million plus.

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