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Before the remodel; see the newly remodeled kitchen above

Three KC Contractors Take Top Regional Awards

NARI’s Regional CotY awards draw the attention of contractors in seven regions throughout the country. The judging, based on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty and entry presentation, took place in mid-January at NARI’s national headquarters in Des Plaines, Ill., by experts in the industry and associated fields. Representing the Kansas City area and taking home a Regional Contractor of the Year award was Brown Restoration for its kitchen remodel under $30,000, HISCO Design/Build for its interior remodel under $100,000, and Starr Homes for its entire house remodel $250,000-$500,000. With 537 binders submitted and only 158 regional honorees, it’s truly an honor for these contractors.

Find Your Ancestors

Genealogy is a popular hobby for individuals and families throughout the country, so it’s not uncommon for Independence, Mo., to welcome thousands of visitors each year to its branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library in search of family history. With many visitors each year, the board decided to expand the genealogy department, offering the new Midwest Genealogy Center to the public at the end of May. “It’s going to be something worth traveling to visit and a spot for people to come and comfortably research genealogy,” says Steve Potter, assistant director of the Mid-Continent Public Library. “It’s going to be a beautiful site and the one thing we’re known for coast to coast.” The $8-million, 52,000-square-foot facility will be the largest public genealogy facility in the U.S. With a collection that started in the 1970s, the Center also will house microfilm and microfiche sources, including biographical archives, black family history records, Civil War histories, U.S. census records and Native American records, along with a large variety of state records for Missouri and other states, computer labs, classrooms for video conferencing, microfilm reader-printer rooms, seminar rooms and high-end vending options for those who spend numerous hours researching. “We also have scores of rare books you just won’t find anywhere else,” Steve says. 816.252.7228 or midwestgenealogycenter.org 

Landscape Perfection

Photo courtesy Jason Meier

Everyone knows curb appeal draws the attention of neighbors, friends and passers-by (and ups the resale value). So, when you want to dress up a worn-out lawn, go to the landscape experts. Matt Adam Development Company Inc., developers of Mills Farm, recently added the Design Studio, operated by professional landscape architect Jason Meier. Jason, who has worked on projects all over the world, is Matt’s vice president, and through the new Design Studio, offers creative designs to builders and developers as well as to the public: community masterplanning, home landscape masterplanning and design, retail/commercial site design, monument design, park design, community amenity center design and computer renderings. Some of his recognizable works around Kansas City include Tuscany Reserve, GlenEagles and Seven Bridges. “I’ll design for anyone anywhere,” he says. “I absolutely love what I do. It’s the best job in the world.”  913.661.1467 or mattadamdevelopment.com 

NARI’s Best Locals

Photo courtesy Creative Remodeling Photo courtesy Schloegel Design Remodel Photo courtesy Outdoor Environments

The Kansas City chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) announced the 38 winners of its 2007 Remodel of the Year (REMY) competition. The competition, judged by members of NARI’s Chicago chapter, recognizes contractors for their craftsmanship, professionalism and commitment to excellence in the remodeling industry.    The 11 categories judged were kitchen, bath, interior, lower-level finishes, room additions, interior specialty, exterior structures, exterior specialty, entire house remodeling, commercial/tenant finish, and design and plans. Out of the 38 winners, four received the ‘Best of Show’ award. In the under $75,000 category, CHC Creative Remodeling won for the interior remodel, and Schloegel Design Remodel won for the design and plans. Schloegel Design Remodel also won in the $75,000-$150,000 category for its bath remodel; and the exterior structure by Outdoor Environments made it the top runner for the Over $150,000 category. More winners:

Bath Remodel under $20,000 Winner Mission Kitchen and Bath     Bath Remodel $20,000-$40,000 Winner & All Star RARE Construction      Bath Remodel $20,000-$40,000 Honorable Mention & All Star City Wide Remodelers Inc.      Bath Remodel over $40,000 Winner & All Star Schloegel Design Remodel      Bath Remodel over $40,000 Honorable Mention & All Star Lifestyles Custom Homes & Remodeling Inc.      Commercial/Tenant Finish over $50,000 Winner & All Star Lyon Construction + Design

Designs and Plans Winner & All Star Schloegel Design Remodel Designs and Plans Honorable Mention & All Star Deatherage Home Designs Inc. Entire House Remodeling under $250,000 Winner & All Star CHC Creative Remodeling      Entire House Remodeling under $250,000 Honorable Mention Lyon Construction + Design      Entire House Remodeling $250,000-$500,000 Winner & All Star Ashley-Lavender Builders LLC

Hire a Green Cleaner

Originally a full-time, stay-at-home mom, Dee Ferguson started cleaning homes three years ago. As the green   movement took off, she jumped on the bandwagon. “I switched to green cleaning in February and decided to open my own business,” she says. After getting licensed in March, her new business, A Greenway Home Cleaning LLC, was off to a clean green start. An environmentally friendly, all-green housekeeping company, Dee uses Earth Friendly, Greening the Cleaning and Ecos cleaning products — true green, all-natural products — and she’s turned in paper towels for recycled 100-percent plastic microfiber cloths. All cleaning products are biodegradable and free of formaldehyde and toxins. And, Dee says, they all smell good, too. 816.876.3750 or agreenwayhome.com 

Skincare Essentials

Photo courtesy Modern Essential Skincare

Many people aspire to own their own business — a goal not everyone ends up achieving. “It’s always been a dream of mine [to own my own business], even in beauty school, I was planning my own place,” says Stacey Gonzales, owner of Modern Essential Skincare. So, for some, dreams do come true. With 12 years of   experience under her belt, Stacey worked the last five years for Terry Binns Skincare in Kansas City, Mo. She is an internationally licensed CIDESCO aesthetician who went out on her own and opened her Overland Park-based business in January. “I just wanted it to be low-key so people can feel comfortable and keep themselves up,” she says. “That’s why our prices are so competitive.” Services include facials, waxing, custom spray tans, a variety of massage therapies, body exfoliation, detoxifying and mud body wraps, eye revitalization treatments, eyebrow/eye lash dyes, reflexology and aromatherapy. She also carries a signature organic skincare line, Visage, created by herself and Preston Laboratories. 913.341.7546 or modernessentialskincare.com 

Design Expansion

Arlene Ladegaard, certified interior designer and owner of Design Connection Inc. in Overland Park, brings her 30 years of experience to each and every one of her design projects, which are inspired by her life experiences in Southern California and Switzerland. But no matter what the client’s personal taste might be —  contemporary, traditional, eclectic or “KC casual,” as she calls it — she can make it work, which is why business has flourished within the past few years. Since business referrals have been overwhelming, Arlene and Lisa Davis, Allied Member ASID, decided more staff was necessary to meet their clients’ needs. After moving to a new office location in 2007, Anita Starke, Allied Member ASID, joined the design team. Business continues to run smoothly, thanks to the firm’s increased collective design expertise. 913.851.8776 or designconnectioninc.com 

Mission Farms Relocation

After 40 years in business at Corinth Square in Prairie Village, Kan., Noel’s Fine Gifts and Interiors relocated in mid-February to the Mission Farms community. “We needed to totally revamp, modernize the interior,” says Ruth Barone, interior designer, IIDA, and part-owner, along with her daughter and son-in-law, Alicia and Brian Stewart. “We also like the fact that we’re now on one level.” To update their previous Corinth Square location would have required gutting the entire store, plus their basement wasn’t appealing to customers anymore. The store features fun gifts, home accents and accessories, baby boutique, floral designer on staff and interior design services, and since Mission Farms is going to be a lifestyle community, the shop’s new location (in the old Saddle & Sirloin Club spot) is in the middle of a developing area with more local establishments coming soon. “We live close, so we have been watching the development and liked what we saw,” Ruth says. 913.648.3550 or noelsllc@yahoo.com

Outdoor Living

With the craze in outdoor living, homeowners have extended their homes beyond the walls, incorporating interior features outside. In order to meet these demands, stores are opening their doors and making room for durable furniture, fabrics and accessories that can withstand the weather. “We put more emphasis on indoor/outdoor accessorizing for patios and porches this year, plus we’ve added more garden items than what we’ve had because many new homes have made space for outdoor living areas,” says Greg Brandjord, owner of Featherstone Home Accents in Overland Park. Featherstone added numerous new outdoor living accessories, including items like outdoor bar stools and pub tables, along with end and accent tables. The store also carries outdoor lamps, iron decor and fans. Garden accessories include frog statues, metal signs and everything in between. 913.469.1954 or featherstonehomeaccents.com 

Making Room for More

“Making the most of your space” is what Chris Rayfield, owner of Kansas City Closet Company, intends to accomplish with each client and project. The company’s newly remodeled showroom, open in May 2008 and located in the Waldo neighborhood, allows customers to finally have the opportunity to see first-hand the possibilities for the space they’ve always wanted to organize or customize, Chris says. The showroom will display custom closet accessories, finishes and hardware, along with the popular Wallbed display. If you’re looking to upgrade, remodel or add to a blah space in your home, this new showroom’s right around the corner and ready to help you out (and you can grab a piece of pizza, too). 816.333.1292 or www.kccloset.com