Cape Cod-Metology

Summer 2024

June 13, 2024

Words by Gloria Gale | Photos by Nate Sheets

Collected Living Design revives a classic Cape Cod in Fairway with a cosmetic makeover.

istinctive neighborhoods abound in the Kansas City metro—some burgeon with elegance and stature; some are notably historic. Many homes are built on land worth more than the home itself, while many are situated on sprawling landscapes. None of those situations, however, apply to the resilience and character of the Fairway neighborhood. With its 1950s-era collection of modest-sized homes in a prized location, a Fairway address is so desirable that properties for sale are a rarity.

Luck was on buyer Reid Rosen’s side as he and his wife found their dream home—one of the neighborhood’s signature Cape Cod residences. Though the three-bedroom, four-bath home checked all the boxes, upon closer inspection, Reid admits their new residence “was going to need work, especially after a walk around revealed the home definitely had character but lacked the charming decor of a traditional Cape Cod style that [he] envisioned.”

Reid reached out to Liberty-based Laurie Champ, lead designer of Collected Living Design, and brought her on board during the 2021 remodel. Together, they agreed that the 3,000-square-foot house had good bones—all of the hallmarks of a Cape Cod were in place, including a shingle-clad exterior, the requisite dormers and a steep-pitched roof—but its design needed an aesthetic and functional revival. Hampered by low ceilings, drab-looking stained floors and walls, and a previous homeowner’s decorative additions of barn wood and corrugated sheet metal, the project’s goals pointed to a complete cosmetic revamp.

“Our first task was removing the gray color and weathered barn wood found on many surfaces,” Laurie says.

The preexisting plank hardwood floors were stripped and replaced with a deep walnut-toned stain that continues throughout the house.

To optimize the kitchen’s role as a central hub of everyday life, Laurie replaced the old cabinetry with new, more functional Shaker-style cabinets. She painted over the gray on the walls with a lighter, creamy tone and installed quartzite countertops that elevate the overall look, giving the space a timeless appeal.

An original stone facade on the wall above the stove appeared splotchy and overly masculine—clearly in need of an aesthetic facelift. “By limewashing the stone, it acted like bleach, unifying the overall appearance,” Laurie describes. “All of these elements made a huge difference in the style of this area.”

That authentic detail and more delighted Reid. “I’m a perfectionist, plus I love history,” he says. “Anything we added to accentuate Old World charm was a positive.”

Another case in point was Laurie’s addition of brass hardware throughout, as well as wood beams on the kitchen and living room ceilings. She even touched on the landscape design by incorporating a vintage brick footpath leading up to the home.

Given that Fairway is known for its abundance of mature trees, Reid appreciated that the backyard was previously finished with a patio and fireplace accentuating the surrounding lush foliage. “Because we like to spend time outdoors, we also redesigned a tack shed for my wife,” he adds.

Even the basement got a makeover. The new stone fireplace and bookshelves—two features any gentleman would love—enhance the comfort and ambiance of the expansive space, making it a perfect spot for entertaining family and friends.

Slowly, over a five-month renovation, a classic Cape Cod home emerged. Nothing had been done to modify its architectural characteristics, from the fireplaces to the central hall staircase, yet everything felt new and transformed.

“That has been so important,” Reid says. “We didn’t need to gut the home down to the studs, if anything. Each room on both the upstairs and [the] main level has the integrity of a cottage we were looking for.”

Laurie used a quiet mix of neutral furnishings throughout the revived home, purposefully avoiding intrusive visuals, such as too much pattern. When asked to pick her favorite place in the house, she replies: “It would be the living room with its classic French doors.”

Adjacent to the living room, the dining room welcomes all with subtle wall art, wood elements and woven cane chairs surrounding an oak table.

“Now the home has a cohesive feel that is perfectly suited to the homeowners,” Laurie says. “It was a team approach between myself and Reid. He’s happy; so am I.”

Interior Designer: Collected Living Design, @collectedlivingdesign