Words by Savannah Rieke Newson
Cozy up your home this winter with mellow neutrals and woven textiles from two nationally acclaimed and locally loved artisans.
Stark Carpet KDR Designer Showrooms
Photos by Brynn Burns
long-awaited arrival, Kansas City’s July 2022 gallery debut of the premier, eight-decades-strong carpet brand STARK is a dream come true for many local design professionals and luxury textile connoisseurs.
KDR Designer Showrooms of Lenexa, the new home of STARK’s first brick-and-mortar gallery in the metro area, is thrilled to showcase the brand’s expansive selection of products, including artisanal rugs, carpets and the new Ashley Stark Home line.
“Designers used to have to travel to Chicago, New York or Atlanta to see STARK products,” explains Kelly Specht, KDR’s senior sales associate and STARK representative. “Now we have a large sampling right here in Kansas City!” From its stunning multi-line showroom to its multi-decade reputation for style and service, it is no wonder why KDR Lenexa is the chosen destination for more than 150 luxury lines of home interior products.
For designers seeking a warm and cozy feel this winter, Kelly recommends checking out STARK’s Sorina line. Elegant and understated, this style comes in various beiges and grays reminiscent of comfy cable-knit sweaters. She also recommends exploring the Ashley Stark Home rug collection—an innovative, modern-meets-classic lifestyle line curated by STARK’s creative director, Ashley Stark. Samples of both lines can be viewed on-site.
Kelly raves about the STARK exclusive products, calling the possibilities “limitless.” “If you can dream it, STARK can weave it!”
STARK CARPET KDR DESIGNER SHOWROOMS
The Bauer (alley entrance)
8510 Marshall Drive
Lenexa, Kansas
@StarkCarpet
@kdrshowrooms
Happy Habitat By Karrie Dean
Photo by Tarmine Guichette
co-conscious meets chic and cozy at Happy Habitat—a homegrown Kansas City shop made famous for its fabulous and functional throw blankets
A thriving success story over 11 years in the making, owner and designer Karrie Dean’s journey as a small business owner has been colorfully woven by humble beginnings, endless creativity and strong ethical values.
“I had a great corporate job, got laid off,” Karrie says. “I thought I should do something awesome with my love of patterns and with my life in general…I didn’t want to settle for average.”
Eventually, she found her joy as an artist and business owner by doing something that inspires joy in others: designing unapologetically fun and far-from-average blankets—“giant cozy art that stands the test of time.”
From soft and natural to assertive and geometric, Karrie is constantly inspired by and experimenting with various colors, patterns and textures to devise new, one-of-a-kind throws for her customer base, including adorable minis for the little ones. Regardless of size or feel, each piece is boldly designed and sustainably produced by a small knitting mill in the USA.
Right now, the India throw in ochre (shown far right) is on rotation between rooms at Karrie’s house. “The rich gold color feels cozy but with a modern graphic touch,” Karrie says.
Her other must-have wintertime picks include the light and snowy It Takes a Villa throw in neutral and the soft and textural Xact-oh in ochre.
HAPPY HABITAT BY
KARRIE DEAN
In-Store Locations:
Golden & Pine in Prairie Village, Kansas
Jorjy in Kansas City, Missouri
House on Scott in Parkville, Missouri
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