45th and Wornall, Wornall Park, Third Floor

Ask anyone interested in home design who Frank Lloyd Wright is and what he's about and they'll be able to tell you some of the architect's well-known contributions to the profession. Made famous in the first quarter of the 20th century, his Prairie style offers distinctive features, such as use of natural materials and clean lines with an Asian influence. You'll find all of that on this tour stop, first evident by the building's stone entry, topped by a curved pagoda-like roof line and, above that, two stories of grouped windows in the interior's stairwell. The Prairie influence continues into the featured unit, which features quarter-sawn oak floors and trim, as well as built-in bookcases around a stone fireplace. A warm color palette is lit by surrounding divided-light windows and access to an outdoor patio.

This condo, however, has been updated with today's favored open living plan rather than boxed-in rooms for individual purposes, such as found in older homes. The living room is demarcated by an area rug and positioning of furniture; the dining room the same way. For private seating, bubble glass French doors enclose a small sitting room.

The kitchen is a gorgeous interpretation of the era, featuring three finishes on furniture-quality pieces. Fronting the space is a light marble-topped island with a black base and legs that angle outward. It's lit by three vintage-style pendants and should be frequently occupied by guests sitting on low barstools. In the spirit of simplicity, the perimeter wall features only a few cabinets but plenty of storage in an adjacent pantry closed off by a pocket door. At the center is a mass of cherry wood cabinets and a substantial cook top surround that reaches up to the ceiling, acting as a dramatic focal point. Flanking the preparation area are identical golden cabinets with very different functions — one is a refrigerator, the other hides the oven and microwave.

"We did everything we could to make it look like a 1920s kitchen," notes designer Todd Morris.

Other areas of the unit also were carefully considered for retro style, such as the hall bath with its pedestal sink, guest bath with wainscoting and the master bath with subway tile, marble countertops and vintage pulls on distressed cabinets.

A guest bedroom is outfitted with antiques and double entry doors, while the master bedroom offers a soothing, Zen-like retreat with softly diffused light framed by floor-to-ceiling drapes. Though it's grounded in the past, this unit's style is presently highly desirable and will always be considered a timeless classic.