Summer 2026

Cali Vibes in Kansas

June 15, 2026

Featured

A Southern Johnson County home is staged for summer fun and year-round function.

Words
Susan Cannon
@susancannon1

Photos
Josie Benefield
@josiedell_photo

Interior Designer
LaMira Interiors
@lamirainteriors

ith a shift in strategy—from building new to finding the right existing home—the path forward for these homeowners took an exceptionally positive turn. Already living in the Mills Farm development in southern Johnson County and loving the area, they quickly seized the opportunity when a well-situated 2011-built home on a large lot came to market.

“We had planned for out-of-town designers to do the build out, then we found the fantastic team at LaMira Interiors at their shop and design studio. They are so talented and have a very sophisticated yet understated, comfortable aesthetic that I gravitate toward,’’ the homeowner says.

LaMira’s shop and studio at Hawthorne Plaza offers a curated collection of high-end furnishings, lighting, wallpaper, fabrics, and finishing accessories. It became a natural resource for the project, with standout pieces sourced from Palecek, Hickory, Arteriors, Visual Comfort, Hudson Valley, and Made Goods.

With the homeowners’ vision for timeless, elevated beauty and LaMira’s quality of expression and execution, every detail was thoughtfully realized. Complemented by the outdoor expertise of Banks Pools and Skyton Landscaping, the year-long renovation resulted in a home that exceeds expectations at every turn.

Designed to accommodate a busy family of five—plus two beloved pups—the home balances relaxed living with effortless entertaining. The airy living room, anchored by a cathedral ceiling and a striking chandelier, opens to a two-story wall of windows overlooking the backyard. It is conveniently open to the kitchen, where beautiful surface materials and lighting create both function and visual impact. Nearby, an intimate dining room can be enclosed with curtains for more private gatherings. Its floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the backyard’s pool and chic furnishings, which look especially pretty lit up at night.

A true residential resort, the pool features an integrated hot tub and waterfall spouts by Banks Blue Valley Pool & Spa, surrounded by marble pavers, fire pits, and landscaping by Skyton Outdoors.

This indoor-outdoor lounge embraces laid-back California style. A Mediterranean-tiled kitchenette includes a grill, pizza oven, and fridge, paired with durable Made Goods pendants and Palecek furnishings.

Adjacent to the bar, a cozy TV room features custom velvet chairs, an L-shaped Hickory sofa, and lighting by Visual Comfort for a relaxed retreat.

Distinctive design continues downstairs, where chandeliers with an eggshell resin finish add texture, complemented by Weitzner grasscloth and reeded paneling.

The living room balances light and comfort with custom arched millwork and a carved limestone fireplace. Furnishings, including Hickory sofas and the Lorelei chandelier by Julie Neill, enhance the inviting atmosphere.

Overlooking the backyard and pool, the dining room offers a serene setting that can be enclosed with patterned curtains. A sculptural Cicero chandelier by Palecek adds texture and interest.

The kitchen flows seamlessly into the lofted living room. White oak and glass cabinetry surround a painted island topped with Cristallo quartzite by Rocktops, paired with Hudson Valley pendant lights and Palecek stools.

Even pets are considered in the design, with a cozy sleeping nook and a feeding station featuring a Cristallo base and brass water faucet.

Off the foyer, this relaxed sitting room layers texture and light tones. Art from Artvista Gallery, grasscloth walls, and a Palecek Quinn chandelier create a welcoming retreat.

Layered details—fringed stools, a gilt Frame TV, custom bookcases, and floral wallpaper—create a spirited space for gathering or quiet reading.

Multiple reading spots invite relaxation, including a window seat framed by pom-pom trimmed shades. Furnishings from Made Goods, Arteriors, and Kelly Wearstler complete the look.

Playful and inviting, the library features a pink tea bar with Calacatta Rose marble, floral wallpaper by Morris & Co., and a cozy reading nook tucked into a former closet.

A hand-carved Danby marble fireplace by Material Bespoke Stone & Tile brings warmth and quiet luxury to the primary bedroom, all while maintaining visual access to the surrounding landscape.

A luxe detail in the primary bedroom, the custom coffee bar features a Calacatta Monet marble top, reeded millwork, and refined cabinet knobs by Modern Matter. Right: Bathed in natural light, the dressing room features a custom dresser painted in “Proposal” by Benjamin Moore, topped with vintage Calacatta marble. Above, the Jacqueline two-tier chandelier by Aerin adds a soft glow.

The shower is clad in Calacatta Monet marble and lined with handmade Moroccan Zellige tile from Zia Tile across both walls and ceiling. The brass shower fixtures are by Brizo.

Calacatta Monet marble from Carthage Stoneworks continues into the double vanity. Hand-rubbed antique brass Dresser Rod sconces by Thomas O’Brien add warmth, while the swivel vanity seat and accessories are sourced from LaMira’s shop at Hawthorne Plaza.

Soft, soothing tones define the primary bath. Textural fiber art from Artvista Gallery adds tranquility, while a Chapman & Myers Cora alabaster chandelier and Calacatta Oro marble flooring from Bedrosian elevate the space. The brass bath fixtures are by Brizo.

“This project was especially meaningful because it began with such an organic connection,’’ says LaMira Interiors co-owner Roxanne Baker. “It was clear we shared a similar design language and vision. The homeowner’s relaxed, yet elevated California vibe perfectly complements the way we love to design, making this collaboration with her feel incredibly natural. Creating a home that embodied layered textures, breezy sophistication, and that seamless indoor-outdoor lifestyle made this one of my favorite projects to design and style.’’

One of the most technically demanding—and visually striking—elements of the project was the extensive use of Cristallo stone.

“This high-end material is as delicate as it is breathtaking,” Baker explains. “Known for its luminous translucence, Cristallo is notoriously difficult to fabricate and install without damage. Incorporating Cristallo throughout the kitchen, from the dramatic full-height wall applications to the thickened island edge detailing and fully integrated sink, required an exceptional level of precision and craftsmanship. Rocktops worked through every intricate detail, and transforming this space is a true statement of artists.”

Customization carries throughout the home, from a charming closet-turned-reading-nook oozing charm in the library to every marble-clad bathroom and thoughtfully selected lighting fixture and material. The indoor-outdoor lounge area, complete with a bar and cooking space, further enhances the home’s livability.

“A library was on my ‘must-have’ list, and boy did LaMira deliver,’’ the homeowner says.

This richly layered space features velvet furnishings, Morris & Co. wallpaper, distinctive lighting, a fireplace, and a tea bar. Multiple seating areas, custom upholstery, and detailed window treatments create an inviting retreat.

Also on her request list was a sumptuous, beautiful primary bathroom, which scored on every level. Calacatta marble and statement lighting extend into a feminine walk-in closet, creating a cohesive and elegant suite.

The family spends much of their time in the indoor-outdoor living area, which flows naturally to the backyard. They’ve mastered pizza-making using the oven behind the bar, a favorite for enjoying across two outdoor dining areas and multiple lounge spaces.

While the homeowners have had pools before at previous homes, they opted for a distinctive approach this time: a darker, reflective pool with an integrated hot tub, in-pool loungers, and even underwater speakers—an element that always surprises guests who take a dip. Marble slabs surround the exterior spaces, including a fire pit area near the lower-level entrance and along the front walk-up.

Now settled into their home, the homeowners couldn’t be more pleased.

“The ladies of LaMira—Roxanne and Kimbra—delivered above and beyond our expectations, remodeling every single inch of our home into an elevated, sophisticated, sumptuous oasis,” the homeowner says.