Villa Nuova

Spring 2025

March 28, 2025

Words by Susan Cannon | Photos by Nate Sheets

Noble Designs injects a fresh, whimsical spirit into a Tuscan-style villa in the lush, private community of Tomahawk Creek Estates.

ith an abundance of time and a well of creative verve, designer Sara Noble, with the help of colleague Yaneli Avila, embarked on a lengthy pleasure project for a former client: the interior makeover of a sublime, impressively authentic Tuscan-style villa built by Gene Fritzel Construction in 2006. The home is tucked away on a sylvan, undulating plot of land within the heart of Leawood, and the builders painstakingly sought out reclaimed architectural elements from European properties, adding to the dreamy allure of the home.

The redesign project began in 2021, just after the homeowners purchased the estate. Because this unique villa would serve as a second residence for the couple, the luxury of uninterrupted time for ideating in the home’s original state allowed the designers considerable focus on creating what is the best yet from Noble Designs. Its feel is that of a private villa in the countryside that now reflects a casual elegance and cuts through any pretension of grandeur in favor of fresh livability within the authentically-built surroundings.

“I met the homeowner over 13 years ago when she first hired me to design her twin girls’ bedrooms for their 13th birthday. It was the first time a client said ‘yes’ to everything upon presentation,” Noble recalls. “The trust has grown from there, and our working relationship continued into a subsequent room-by-room home redesign. Recently, working on this ‘new-to-them’ home has been a real treat. In the process, we grew a friendship that I treasure.”

Playing off the “fresh, stylish sensibility” of her client and friend, Noble eliminated the cliché Italianate decorative details throughout the interior. By today’s standards, they are unnecessary flourishes that date a home. Instead, she imagined a subtle blend of high-quality custom furniture classics with cool contemporary elements throughout, all while respecting the rustic architectural elements that the husband was attracted to and that make the home so special.

With that mandate, the first call to order was to remove the heavy wrought iron light fixtures throughout and paint the entirety of the home in Benjamin Moore’s China White. Those moves opened up a clear path to a new vision that would bring inviting, breathable vibes to the home while keeping it timeless and instantly appealing.

“I am most proud of how we were able to respect the architecture, but at the same time create a dramatic difference in the feel of the home. The updated finishes truly reflect the clients’ tastes,” Noble explains.

Plaster details remain in the dining room ceiling but are updated in Benjamin Moore’s China White for a more accurate representation of historic European interiors. Noble imbued the space with an antique gilded mirror, velvet dining chairs by Made Goods and large wicker urns (available through Noble Workroom).

One gets the feeling of stepping onto a Nancy Meyers romantic comedy film set when entering the refreshed living room with light and comfy traditional furnishings, stone walls and French doors. Noble injected a nice mix of traditional furnishings with touches of mod in the chandeliers by Arteriors, the Kelly Wearstler sconces by Visual Comfort, and the white arched end tables from Highland House.

The overhauled kitchen—with exception of the original hardwood floors and rustic, reclaimed wooden beams—showcases a custom pulley light fixture that Noble updated with large industrial bulbs. The custom cabinets were built by Gillpatrick Woodworks, the marble is from Carthage Stoneworks, and the brass hood was custom-fabricated by Gieske.

The design of the brass Regulator fixture by Waterworks was inspired by the industrial controls of the early 1900s.

The villa’s front entry is intersected by a long window-filled hallway that feeds to the east and west wings of the home.

Noble created a considerably more comfortable and current downstairs living area that exudes coastal grandma chic. The original rustic French doors lead beyond the loggia to the lush backyard. An antiqued glass mosaic mirror from RH and a dramatic black chandelier by Arteriors add unexpected oomph to the space. The homeowner’s 19th-century Louis XV marble-top side table blends in perfectly.

The powder room received a moody makeover with a clean-lined custom Carthage Stoneworks marble vanity. The original stained-glass window reflects in a large round faux-shagreen mirror by Made Goods.

Indeed, a certain amount of bravery is required when making foundational changes to a home with lovely bones and architectural integrity. So Noble trod gingerly, reimagining most spaces on a surface level but overhauling two critical rooms, including a much-needed kitchen renovation and transforming a banal downstairs home gym into a fabulous “pool” bar and lounge with outdoor access. It is clever, considering it will serve an anticipated pool area perfectly, once completed within the private, classically Italian landscape of one’s dreams.

After the fresh white walls and ceilings transformation, Noble installed all new lighting to add flair against the backdrop of stone walls and floors, wide-planked hardwoods, vaulted, beamed ceilings and ancient wall fountains reclaimed from European architecture. The great room, with its wall of French doors and cozy seating areas, replete with an extra large hide-covered ottoman, feels like entering a decidedly desirable living room from a Nancy Meyers film set, oozing with rustic charm.

The dining room features a blend of velvet, wicker, gold gilt and dark inlaid wood melding with heavy wool plaid window treatments, keeping the vibe easy. The mix feels so natural, yet it was clearly intentional.

Beyond the dining room, a return to the beamed, vaulted kitchen space feels like a natural progression, given an appealing make-under that’s easy on the eyes. In other words, the previously existing dark decorative flourishes were replaced with restrained custom millwork, a clean-lined brass hood, crisp white walls and marble countertops. The result is a much more approachable space to share with friends while cooking. The industrial pulley system light fixture was one of a few furnishings left over from the original home, though Noble replaced its shades with large globe bulbs for a more modern yet authentic feel.

Downstairs, an exercise room was cleverly transformed into a chic pool bar with direct backyard access. Westport Glass fabricated the smoky mirrored wall. Gillpatrick Woodworks built the custom reeded cabinetry, and the marble countertops and island are by Carthage Stoneworks. The pendants are from Hudson Valley Lighting.

The “treehouse” is a transportive, light-filled room just off of the living room, overlooking the home’s private forest land in back. Traditional seating is by Summer Classics.

Italian elegance reigns in the primary bath with its cathedral ceiling delicately trimmed in gold gilt and finished with a decorative Neoclassical alabaster pendant. A heavy 18th-century Italian Baroque case piece was originally installed by the builders in 2006; Noble appreciated its importance to the space and lightened walls around it. The mosaic-style tile flooring is also original to the house.

The architectural details of the primary bedroom sing with charm. The seating nook’s wall of paned windows is subtly flanked by muted seafoam green curtains custom made by M&M Draperies. The accent chairs in a muddy green velvet are by Chaddock. The Kelly Wearstler brass and LED chandelier complements the rustic lofted ceiling with a touch of modernity. The Aerin brass sconces and the streamlined Ralph Lauren floor lamp add character to the nook.

Noble elevated the primary bath by outfitting the original custom vanities with walls and counters in marble by Carthage Stoneworks.

A Kelly Wearstler lamp for Visual Comfort illuminates the front hallway at night.

At the bottom of the winding clock tower stairs is a wine cave and an antique Italian wall fountain. The large blown-glass vase on the wine-tasting table is a vintage find from the West Bottoms.

The original striped fabric wall covering was such a warm feature in the study that Nobel left it, while adding dynamic details to the space. She hired local still life photographer Nicki Griffith to capture some of the homeowner’s personal effects, such as his duck horn collection, hanging over a curved Jules cabinet by Highland House.

There are some real magical architectural moments in the home, treated by the designers with thoughtful vision and care. For instance, the massive stone clock tower with airy, winding stairs leading to the lower living areas carried the heaviness of the Middle Ages, with imposing Medieval light fixtures that, while beautiful in their own antique right, set a melancholy mood. Noble turned to the quality craftsmanship of Ochre Lighting for a dramatic yet ethereal light installation. A delicate cascading Moonlight Murmuration fixture with LED illuminated glass dances through the space; it is accompanied by two Beach Pebble sconces, also by Ochre Lighting, which flank an arched window with subtlety.

Architectural charm and beauty are found in the primary bedroom and bath on the first floor’s east wing. A seating alcove beckons, nestled within an arched opening with sweet plaster molding cornices. Behind it, floor-to-ceiling multi-paned windows overlook the back gardens. In the ensuite bathroom, a stunning cathedral ceiling with delicate gilded trim is swoon-worthy but does not overwhelm. The builders brought in two substantial centuries-old Italian Baroque case pieces, one for the primary bath and another installed in the living area downstairs. These remarkable carved breakfronts in dark walnut are unique and possess an element of seriousness that is played up with an air of whimsy.

Thanks to the eye of Noble Designs’ styling expert Brent Thompson, surprises are interwoven throughout the home, adding a distinct personality that appropriately counterbalances the traditional feel in the furniture, as well as the aged ambiance the architecture brings, all creating a party for the visual senses.

Interior Designer: Noble Designs, @nobledesigns

Resources:

Appliances: Roth Living; Nebraska Furniture Mart Cabinetry: Gillpatrick Woodworks Countertops: Carthage Stoneworks Hardware: Locks & Pulls Lighting: Visual Comfort; Arteriors Draperies: M&M Draperies Accessories: Noble Workroom