Gerry and his wife, Debbie, had been thinking about a new family home for a while but had not found the right property to build on. Then, in 2020, the Starrs and two friends purchased a 330-acre tract of land on the gently rolling plains east of Bucyrus, Kansas. Construction began in 2022 on three unique estates across the property, and the homes were completed in time for visitors to walk through on the 2024 Artisan Home Tour.

The Starrs imagined theirs as a mix of modern and ranch architecture and knew they wanted the most advanced technology to be incorporated. Before breaking ground, Gerry and Debbie would bring chairs out on the land with coffee and a bottle of Bailey’s, just to take in the views and dream. They contemplated how they would live on the property, how the home should sit within the landscape and how the placement of windows could maximize their views of nature from every room.

“We love natural light and lots of windows,” Starr explains.

They definitely made that aspect come to fruition.

Upon arrival at their 10,000-square-foot, split-level estate, it is impossible to miss the home’s magnificent windows that offer grand views straight through to the verdant property. Of course, the back of the house is equipped for entertaining—like a Midwestern Gatsby. The vista of green plains and trees surrounds a small, tranquil lake just a stone’s throw from the home’s multilevel outdoor living spaces. A large infinity pool is just beyond an entirely glassed-in lanai with a large living and dining space that opens to the outdoors on two sides. The next level down has an Italian bocce court near a hardscape garden and fire pit, complete with lounge chairs and small tables, ideal for sunset drinks with friends.

The home’s fully integrated smart-technology system covers a multitude of actions, from automating the heating under porcelain paver floors to opening and closing a full glass interior wall panel that divides off spaces of the airy interior for privacy. In the open kitchen, a backsplash can raise and lower from behind the range to protect the wall of windows, and the stainless range hood can raise into the ceiling when not in use to make way for a full view of the front of the home.

“We also implemented lots of conveniences in many places throughout the house,” Starr says, referring to both high-quality, high-functioning features, such as full dovetail construction with full inset drawers and doors in the kitchen, as well as the installation of multiple fridges, dishwashers, televisions and so on throughout various areas of the home. “Even though it is a large-scale home, every space has a purpose, and every space is livable.”