Fall 2022

Singular Statement

Words by Kimberly Winter Stern  |  Photos by Brynn Burns

A passion for curated estate sale finds and solid design infuses a 22-year-old Shawnee home with a remarkable wow factor.

T

ucked away off K-7 in Shawnee—and situated on three acres in a lushly wooded neighborhood—is one couple’s little piece of nirvana. Drawn to the area’s gently rolling topography and sense of solitude 12 years ago, Kelly Krehbiel and her husband, Scott, purchased a spacious home custom built in 2000. Despite the overall ambience of living in an oasis, she had grown weary of the home’s clunky layout, especially a main level that no longer served the couple’s lifestyle.

“When this home was built, it was trendy to have a formal dining room and other spaces that were typically underutilized, squandering valuable square footage,” Kelly says. “Over the years I did a few minor cosmetic facelifts in the house, just so I could live with some of the quirkiness and lack of function. It was okay for a long time—and then one day, something needed to change.”

Kelly considered moving, listed the family’s home and embarked on an arduous and monotonous self-directed tour of homes. These were mostly new builds where she continually encountered design features intended for the masses—features that didn’t align with her vision and distinct style.

“It was repetitive, seeing the same ideas over and over just in different floor plans,” she admits. Kelly finally realized that she, Scott and their two sons didn’t need to move but that their current home needed redefining. “Also, I grew up in the country and appreciated the serenity and beauty we are fortunate enough to experience in our neighborhood. I wasn’t sure I could find that again.”

Kelly, an avid collector of objects, accessories and art discovered from scouring estate sales, followed Overland Park–based Brasstacks Design + Build’s Instagram account and liked the firm’s design approach. “It was something I’d never seen before, rule number one for me.” She appreciated Brasstacks’ juxtaposition of warm style and modern living, prompting her to contact founders Molly and Kevin Jarvis to inquire about transforming her kitchen, hearth room and living room.

“I knew they would need to vet the project because I wanted anything but the typical pretty white kitchen with stainless steel appliances that’s common on Pinterest,” Kelly says. Her existing kitchen was white, but she knew there was enough natural light in the room to pull off a moodier color palette. “When the Brasstacks team visited, saw the existing space and listened to more of my must-haves, Kevin immediately hit upon what would become the centerpiece of my new kitchen: a long, asymmetrical island.”

Brasstacks Design + Build senior designer Regan Romero and designer Madison Armbruster were tasked with reimagining the main level public spaces in the Krehbiel residence—and achieving the homeowner’s aspiration of “relevant design, incorporating old and new.”

For Regan, the process started with the hip black leather jacket that Kelly wore to their first meeting.

“Kelly’s aura oozes creativity, beginning with how she dresses,” Regan says. “That stand-apart-from-the-crowd attitude inspires and motivates me as a designer—I’m fueled by highly innovative individuals. Her vibe is ‘let’s mash up modern with vintage, but keep it sophisticated, elegant and timeless.’ With Kelly, I felt empowered to think out of the box and was eager to do the next big thing to accomplish her goals.”

Kelly knew the project was complicated from a design-construction perspective.

“Things had to be moved, walls taken down,” she says. “I can decorate anything, but I couldn’t envision the floor plan that would ultimately make sense. Brasstacks presented me with three different renderings, and we ended up meshing two of them. It was a highly collaborative exercise and inspiring to work with Regan, who pushed me in directions I wouldn’t have necessarily gone.”

The biggest compliment I get when friends come to the house is ‘I’ve never seen anything like this before!’”
~ homeowner Kelly Krehbiel

Madison loved seeing the fine details of the Krehbiel project unfold, including the island by cabinetmaker Brian Halverson—a beautiful piece of furniture topped by Belvedere granite in leather finish—and the spice racks that he created on either side of the Thermador range. “Kelly has an adventurous spirit and an excellent eye for design,” she says.

Kelly found Brian’s meticulous attention to detail and the final results to be extraordinary.

“If you hire a good design-build company like Brasstacks, you know the tradesmen they work with are on their level of excellence, too,” she says. “I wanted the feel of built-in furniture, not only in the kitchen but also in the hearth room, to give that space a more loungy feel with the custom banquette. It took a long time, but that was expected. Everyone wants things quick today—instant gratification. This was slow design.”

The living room’s focus was to balance the height of the soaring ceiling and to create warmth. One solution was to add stunning ripple-fold draperies, which Regan says add “drama, fluidity and a softness” to the room. Kelly’s collected furniture—including a pillowy, deliciously tufted sofa, a pair of swivel chairs and one-of-a-kind art—adds a brilliant stroke of modern elegance. Portola Paints’ Lime Wash in Kingdom was used on the walls in the kitchen, lounge and living room, creating a subtle patina that adds movement and interest throughout the space.

But the living room’s pièce de résistance is a breathtaking custom fireplace wall with a large niche for a rotating display of Kelly’s coveted estate sale finds. The gorgeous still-life is one that Regan and Madison fangirled over when it was completed—and still adore today.

Kelly shares the designers’ obsession with the fireplace and all the atmospheric touches of the entire design project, calling it “warm and inviting, but a very cool, well-executed space.” 

“Everything is unique, from the built-in cabinetry, banquette and fireplace to the treasures I’ve procured over the past 15 years,” Kelly says. “The biggest compliment I get when friends come to the house is ‘I’ve never seen anything like this before!’”

 

@brasstackskc

Resources

General Contractor: Brasstacks Design + Build
Project Manager: Gabe Battis 
Interior Designer: Regan Romero 
Plumbers: iPlumb KC
HVAC: Rasmussen Air & Gas Energy
Countertops: Carthage Stoneworks

Cabinets: Halverson Carpentry 
Painters: Santos Painting 
Flooring: DCQ Wood Flooring 
Electrical: Wire It Up
Framing: Bowlin Construction 

You may also like these articles.

Not Your Traditional Nursery

Colonial Gardens in Blue Springs is not your traditional nursery. The largest producer of landscape trees in North America is a combination of garden center and agritourism destination.

Read More »

Homes by Architects Tour

If you dare to step out for more than takeout, go snuggle up in a corner with your spouse—or be seen solo at the bar—at some of our favorite coziest and design-forward establishments.

Read More »

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Keith Sauro

Publisher

What is your publishing background? 

My father was in printing with GSA as I was growing up and I was able to spend time at his plant. I never met anyone that took so much pride in his job as my father. This was my first introduction to printing.

At the age of 24 I answered an employment ad for an account executive position with Relocating in Kansas City magazine. This company also published Kansas City Homes Gardens. I found that I loved working with small businesses and learning I had a good ear in listening for problems and helping to solve them. I then was asked to help the company expand. My wife and I moved to Las Vegas to launch relocating in Las Vegas magazine during the boom. My first Publisher role. I continued to sharpen my skillset and understanding for Publishing. In Las Vegas my son Evan was born and we wanted to find a way to get back to KC  and I was approached by the Ashley group a division of Cahners Publishing, to launch The Kansas City Home Book, a hard cover annual luxury design book. After two years, and a very successful launch, I was asked to come back to KCH&G as Publisher. My life had now come full circle. These experiences and design products I managed and created help formulate what design KC is today. 

What is your favorite issue?

Every issue is always exciting. When I pick up the first issue at the printer, it still feels like Christmas every time. However, for me our premier issue will always be my favorite. To take something from concept to actual inception is an amazing feeling, and it was always have a warm spot in my heart!

What is your home’s design style?

I am a minimalist…. I hate clutter (although you can’t tell that from my office always), I even have a hard time putting things on the walls… I like clean and simple, and lots of color.

Where and how do you like to spend time at home?

I absolutely love my primary bedroom, bath, and shower. Not that I spend all my time there, but every morning it makes me happy getting ready for the day.

If you could live anywhere, where and what would your dream home be?

Laguna Beach, CA right on the water. When I lived in Las Vegas we would drive the high dessert several times a year and enjoy Laguna

If you could make your current home better, what would you do? 

Raise my basements ceiling so I could have a golf simulator.

What are your best memories of home when growing up? 

I was born into an Italian family in Boston. I was raised in East Boston, and my memories of Sunday dinners with my whole family are some of the fondest memories of my life. As a result, I love to entrtain and cook. Growing up, we didn’t have much, but we didn’t do without. My parents were great providers.

Do you have a personal motto or life philosophy? 

The World is very round. You get back what you put out. I live and die by that motto.

Jared Webb

Director of Sales and Digital Marketing

What is your publishing background? 

From a fairly young age, around age 10 or 11, I had always wanted to work in publishing, especially in news publishing. I wanted to be a journalist but quickly discovered in college that my skill set was better suited for the marketing and advertising side. I started my publishing background with a community newspaper called the Northeast News, in Historic Northeast Kansas City, Mo., then moved up to The Kansas City Star for more than 18 years. 

What is your favorite DKC issue? 

It’s always the next issue coming up! As a team, we are always trying to push the envelope and improve. The features continue to get better and better! However, if I had to choose one that has already been published, it would be Summer 2022. I love the cover and the trend-setting articles!

What is your home’s design style?

A mess—ha, just kidding…kind of. It is a mix of a farmhouse and a lodge. The focal point is the living room fireplace that extends up in a vaulted ceiling. My wife handles the interior of the home; the exterior is where I rock—literally, I love landscape rocks. The front exterior has a Cape Cod-style landscape—think Table Rock Lake/Ozark mountains campfire feel. My jam is outdoors!  

Where and how do you like to spend time at home?

In front of the fireplace or in the backyard around the fire pit near our water fountain. I love water, earth and fire.

If you could live anywhere, where and what would your dream home be?

A 1.5- story timber home in the woods near a lake—Lake Tahoe, perhaps?  

If you could make your current home better, what would you do? 

Add an addition to expand our dining room for hosting dinner parties. And a bigger walk-in closet for my wife. 

What are your best memories of home when growing up? 

I grew up in the best home and best floor plan ever, in my ever-so-humble opinion. It was a 1.5-story home with a finished basement in DeSoto, Kansas! It had a wraparound porch, an attic fan, and killer entertainment in the basement for 1990s standards! It was great.  

Do you have a personal motto or life philosophy? 

Motto: Do your best at whatever you do, don’t sweat the small things, and all things are small things. Life philosophy: The Lord God is sovereign and in control—let go, surrender your life to Him and allow Him to work in your life.  

Lonny Cohen

Senior Account Executive

What is your publishing background? 

Being a housing geek comes naturally to me because of my background in publications involved in the housing and design industry. I’ve been with Kansas City Homes & Gardens and RELO Magazine—and for many years, as a staff vice president of the Home Builders Association, one of my responsibilities included the design, editorial, implementation and sales of the two Parade of Homes guidebooks that the association produced each year.

What is your favorite DKC issue? 

I fell in love with designKC two years before we started publishing it, and each time a new issue comes, I’d say that the new issue is my favorite!

What is your home’s design style?

Having grown up with antiques, I still like the clean lines of American antiques, but I love the eclectic touches that I continue to find for my home.

Where and how do you like to spend time at home? 

As the weather gets nicer, my favorite place is reading on the patio while my dog sleeps.

Are there any home goods you can’t live without? 

I love to cook, but like so many of us, I need to rely on shortcuts, so in my kitchen I need my slow cooker and my food processor. While they’re just basic, I save so much time when I cook and couldn’t live without them.

If you could live anywhere, where and what would your dream home be? 

A beachfront home somewhere in Florida. While my style in Kansas City is an eclectic mix of American antiques and new, the home on the beach would be very beachy, light and open.

What are your best memories of home when growing up? 

My favorite memory of home was the end of each day when our family of four would have dinner and share our stories from our day’s experiences. When I was in high school, my mom went to work as a designer, and the world of design became part of our family and the conversation around the dinner table.

Do you have a personal motto or life philosophy? 

“Never assume anything except possibly a two percent loan!”

Denise Carver

Production Coordinator & Circulation

What is your publishing background?   

None! My background was as a lead dental assistant for more than 20 years. This has been an exciting and fun journey for me.

What is your favorite DKC issue? 

That’s too hard to answer as they’re all wonderful. 

Which of our features have resonated most with you?

I would have to say there are two:  “Home or Museum” in Winter 2021 and “Captivating Mix” in Fall 2021.

What is your home’s design style?

I’m a simple country girl, so I love the rustic, western country feel of a home!  

Where and how do you like to spend time at home? 

Outside, anytime I can, relaxing on my deck or playing in the dirt—I love to garden. Or in my craft room, creating pyrography art (the art of wood burning)—it’s my Zen me-time!

If you could live anywhere, where and what would your dream home be? 

On acreage in the country with a Victorian-style home, featuring a big wraparound porch, and, of course, lots of farm animals, especially horses, as I love to ride! And I wouldn’t forget all my pups, goats and chickens!

If you could make your current home better, what would you do? 

Remodel the primary bathroom and expand the deck to a second lower level, with a fire pit as the central attraction.

What are your best memories of home when growing up? 

Our family camping lake trips. Summers at my grandmas. Swimming in the creeks.   Digging for crawdads in the ditch in front of our house. Raising rabbits and chickens with my daddy.  

Do you have a personal motto or life philosophy? 

Motto: Faith over fear! Philosophy: You can have excuses or results, but you can not have both! 



Andrea Darr

Editor-in-chief

What is your publishing background? 

I have always loved reading books and magazines—I got my first subscription to Architectural Digest at age 17—and knew as a kid that I wanted to be in publishing. I earned a degree in Magazine Journalism from the University of Kansas in 2001. Shortly after graduating, I got my first job at Kansas City Homes & Gardens, and stayed for a decade, only leaving the position of Editor-in-Chief once my first daughter was born. I worked as a freelance writer for other local publications for the next decade while raising my girls and running a successful Airbnb on my property in KCK. When Publisher Keith Sauro called me in 2021 to launch DesignKC, I was ready for a new challenge and excited to use full creative license to create a publication—a full brand—that best represents KC from my experienced perspective.   

What is your favorite DKC issue? 

I think of all of them as my babies and can’t choose one over the other! Whatever the next one is always excites me the most. 

Which of our features have resonated most with you?

Everything in these pages resonates with me on some level! No matter the topic or design style, I most appreciate stories where homeowners are true to themselves and create just-right homes that express their personalities and make for a beautiful and functional life. 

What is your home’s design style?

I live in a 1922 bungalow and also own a twin 1933 bungalow next door that we rent out as an Airbnb on 18 acres near The Legends. Both houses have similarities in floor plan, but mine is more modern and cluttered with family life; our inn has mid-century modern influences and feels more like a retreat, as we designed it exclusively for guests. 

Where and how do you like to spend time at home? 

I am a homebody who loves to putter around the house in my slippers. We often leave the doors wide open and transition between indoors and outdoors often and easily during good weather. I love to lounge in the hammock on the back deck with a book and a glass of wine, watching the sunset from our clear view of the horizon line and sometimes getting out our hefty telescope to ponder the moon and stars. 

Are there any home goods you can’t live without? 

A hand vac for the debris that blows in from said doors being open all the time and the shed fur from our four cats. 

If you could live anywhere, where and what would your dream home be? 

As a lifelong Kansan, it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else. I love to travel and I love the easy access to anywhere that living in the middle provides. I am definitely happy at the bay of a beach or cozied up among the pines in the mountains, and I feel a strong pull toward the Southwest. No matter where I live, I don’t need a large house, just a functional one, somewhat minimal, with only the things and people I love most in it. 

If you could make your current home better, what would you do? 

Add a primary suite and give my girls each their own bedroom and bathroom—it’s getting tight in here! 

What are your best memories of home when growing up? 

My parents made a hobby of moving or building houses every few years, so I grew up with constant change—always picking new floor plans and tile, visiting job sites and refreshing my own room. It was fun to always have a project! And that experience was where my love for home design blossomed and embedded itself into my soul to this day.

Ryan Litts

Art Director

What is your publishing background?

I have been doing graphic design for nearly 25 years. I had my own business for 11 years working on websites, graphic design and publications. I have published countless magazines and periodicals over the years.

What is your favorite DKC issue? 

The first issue. It was the culmination of a vision, dedication and a lot of hard work. It is great to work with a group of passionate people all pulling together in the same direction. We strive to make each issue better than the last and have fun while we are doing it.

Which of our features have resonated most with you?

Not a feature, but I loved “The City Farm Girl” featuring chicken foot stools in our Creative Type department in Summer 2022. I just loved those things. 

What is your home’s design style?

“Country Comfy.” Is that a style? I like for people to walk in and feel cozy and right at home when they are at our home.

Where and how do you like to spend time at home? 

Outside. I love to be outside as much as possible since I spend the majority of time in my office. 

Are there any home goods you can’t live without?

A coffee maker. I love to start my day with a good cup of coffee.

If you could live anywhere, where and what would your dream home be?

I would love to have land overlooking a lake, pond or stream where I could fish anytime I want. Also, there needs to be trees and nature—kind of where we are now. 

If you could make your current home better, what would you do? 

Recreate our downstairs living area. I would love to take out the wall in our kitchen and open it up to our living room so we could have a friendlier space to entertain. Probably the bedroom and bath area, too. 

What are your best memories of home when growing up? 

I grew up having my grandparents as our next-door neighbors. Their front door was always open, and aunts, uncles and cousins were always stopping by. Also, the land we had was great—it was about five acres of mountain terrain and a boy’s paradise.

Do you have a personal motto or life philosophy?

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.