Sometimes, entering a new phase of life is just what it takes to bring a home up to date-or change the look completely. Leawood couple Jan and Tim did just that as they grew deeper into their empty nest years.
From the outside, this sprawling, old Leawood home looks warm and in viting. Once inside, guests won't be disappointed. Jan called Design Connection, Inc. founder and Interior Design professional Arlene Ladcgaard to update her dining room and kitchen. With her kids grown and living on their own, Jan wanted to repurpose the look and feel of the two rooms something that would suit the couple on a daily basis, while still providing the perfect space for visits home with the kids and entertaining friends.
"I wanted to update the rooms wi thou t making any structural changes," Jan says. "Neither the kitchen nor the dining room were inviting. Because of that, we didn't really even use the dining room except for holidays when we had to. I had worked with Arlene before, so I asked her to help me update it, change colors and rethink the placement of furniture."
In keeping with Jan's newly developed interest in a contemporary look, changing the furniture in the dining room was a necessary first step. According to Ladegaard, Jan had too many pieces in her dining room,
much of it bulky and oversized. She removed the china cabinet and other more formal pieces, eventually stripping it down to a table and chairs. Ladegaard also refaced an existing fireplace in the room with porcelain tile, added two floor-to-ceiling mirrors to the walls, as well as Venetia n plaster and marble to the two walls and shelves that flank the fireplace. Ladegaa rd also refi nished Jan's peg wood flooring in the dining room to give it a darker, richer look. Jan says she is thrilled wi th the new look, and Ladcgaard says it better suits Jan 's new tastes.
"When you have younger kids, you're really not thinking about the decor of your home as much," Ladegaard says. "Then, when your children are gone, you look at it with new eyes and start focusing on the look and feel that makes you happy."
Moving to the k i tchen, Ladegaard agai n followed the contemporary feel Jan wanted to achieve. Jan and Tim had already updated their kitchen several years earlier, but Jan wanted to change the finish of the cabinets instead of replacing them and take advantage of the home's greatest asset -a beautiful view of Somerset Lake through the room's expansive bay wi ndows. Prior to Ladegaard's guidance, the view was obstructed by heavy drapes.
The design team repainted the kitchen cabinets and added a distressed, brushed silver edge ro tie in with the new beige and black swivel chairs in tl1e bay window seating area, sheer shades and contemporary valance. With the changes, guests are immediately drawn to the view of the lake when entering the kitchen.
Jan's former country kitchen table had no place in the new design, so Ladegaard paired a unique angled pedestal with a heavy granite top. She added chairs with a bronze, vinyl-like upholstery to pull together the brushed silver trim from the cabinets. A large, flat-screen television is mounted on the wall and now the room beckons guests to sip coffee, read tl1e paper or spend hou rs talking around the table.
"I love the new look. It's our primary living area because it reflects my tastes and lifestyle," says Jan. "Over the holidays when my kids were in, we
sat here all the time just catching up or watching the news. We never spent that much time i n the kitchen before."
Both women say it was a good worki ng relationship because L'ldegaard had good ideas and Jan wasn't afraid to speak her mind on what she liked and didn't like. Together, they created a new purpose for the family home and new ways to enjoy it.
"The project turned out so well because Jan doesn't rush i nto a decision," says Ladegaard. "She really thinks about everything we're doi ng and we explored the possibilities together." L.L.
For more information about A1ienc Ladcgaard, certified designer, and Design Connections, visit DcsignConnectionlnc.com or 913.851.8776.
