“It’s truly a team effort,” Bickford says. “The clients go through a period of exploration as the team brings all these ideas to the table.”

“I design the structure. Laura figures out how it will look. And Bryan builds it,” Bickford describes. “We end up with something completely new and original, unlike any other house.”

“My gift,” adds McCroskey, “is to envision what it will all look like before it’s done.”

For this home, the clients wanted a graphic black-and-white palette, with clean lines and no clutter.

“This seems, on the surface, very simple to do, but it is anything but,” McCroskey says. “Everything must be crisp, clean, and exact. And that is where Bryan’s sub-contractors do such a great job.”

One of the challenges was the glass-enclosed staircase going down to the lower level that had to be precisely cut and assembled. It allowed light to flood from one floor to another, creating interesting patterns throughout the day.

To amplify the graphic interiors, McCroskey guided the clients in their choice of art throughout the home, giving each room a focal point. Much of the art is by Kansas City artists and photographers. Some of the art comes from artists that McCroskey’s design firm handles. A black-and-white photograph by Dutch artist Bastiaan Woudt was a starting point in the overall design. 

To soften the square and rectangular shapes in each room, she used curved furniture, pendant lighting, and area rugs that you can sink your toes in.

The husband loves to cook, so McCroskey pulled out all the stops in the kitchen. Marble sliding panels provide hidden storage within easy reach of the Wolf professional range. A five-foot chef’s sink is the perfect place to rinse and prep vegetables. A butler’s kitchen corrals the mess out of sight, keeping the main kitchen tidy.

What keeps clients and the dream team connected is the builder. “Bryan is so good with clients,” say McCroskey and Bickford. “He is an exceptional communicator.”

But Cecil knows a home doesn’t come together with the work of just one person. The architecture captures the landscape, the interiors celebrate the owners’ style, and the construction ensures every detail performs as beautifully as it looks.