Getting Into the Grooves

April 2, 2025

Experimenting with plaster and Roman Clay makes a suburban home renovation sing.

Words by Christine Emming | Photos by Nate Sheets

“We always start by asking our clients how they live their daily lives and how they envision using each space once the project is complete,” says Nate White. He and his partner, Jessica, operate Trove Homes, a full-service design and build company. The couple spends a full day in the home they’ll be renovating, analyzing the home’s function and structural engineering firsthand before tackling its flow and aesthetic appeal. This practice is central to planning their strategy.

While this client’s home sat on a beautiful suburban lot, its dated interior and stilted layout made no sense to the Whites. The homeowners wanted a bespoke space tailored to entertain guests who, like themselves, work in the home remodeling and new-build industries.

The home’s flow was disrupted by a centrally located staircase, and an off-center fireplace cramped the living space. Relocating the staircase to the back of the home opened up the living area, allowing natural light to pour in from the expansive windows. A custom handrail with brass details became an instant focal point for the entire main floor. The staircase shift also created space that the team used for a butler’s kitchen with softly arched openings.

Now the kitchen opens up to a pergola-covered deck, breakfast nook, locker boot bench, and two hall areas leading to the new prep kitchen and the pantry. The new hardwoods flow seamlessly from the kitchen into surrounding spaces. On-site, Nate hand-made transition strips with a little-known technique that allows a seamless flow from the hardwoods to the taller Arto tile.

The shape of the vent hood is gently suggested in the dining room chairs and the railing that floats across the upper level.

Nate drew the hood idea by hand then helped frame it on-site.

“Working closely with some of our subs, we used thin concrete board as a substrate over the framing and then applied multiple layers of premixed Venetian plaster on top,” he explains.

The Venetian plaster hood design weaves together the essence of the home, while a striking knife edge on the island inserts a counterpoint of masculine energy. Custom, bronze-mirrored cabinet door panels in the kitchen and prep kitchen add a sense of spaciousness. The rich stain color stands out against the muted flooring, and the island’s mossy undertone lends an earthy vibe.

“The reeded plaster was something we dreamed up, so the homeowner had to put some trust into us being able to pull it off,” Nate says. “There were no inspo pics for that part, specifically.”

After showing hand drawings to the local plaster company they’d used in the past, Nate and Jessica were referred to third-generation plasterer Mike Ballerini of Ballerini Plastering, who agreed to take the project. This was the first time a Kansas City artist had crafted such a piece, and the result is truly stunning. For cohesiveness, they also used reeded plaster in the kitchen, framing a custom brass insert above the buffet area.

Additionally, they used oversized plaster crown molding in the breakfast nook to help pull in the reeded plaster fireplace around the corner in the living room.

In the powder bath, a custom Calacatta Viola marble vanity takes center stage. This warm-toned vanity was designed with painstaking precision to fit the limited space, and its vertical cuts echo the home’s artisan plasterwork. Using Roman Clay on the walls adds an organic warmth and curbs the austere look.

“Cohesiveness between spaces is paramount at Trove Homes,” says Nate, noting that the team uses plumbing fixtures, lighting and cabinet hardware that gel together to create a gorgeous, unified whole.

Contractor/Designer: Trove Homes, @trovehomes