Since moving in nearly 40 years ago, Phyllis and Ron Kogan’s house has transformed from a basic living space into an eclectic composition of personal tastes, memories and history. The Overland Park home stands out among its neighbors with its unique elements, created through the couple’s ideas, talents and hard work.

“It has evolved over the years,” Kogan explains. “It changed as my tastes matured, and I can see growth within myself and my surroundings. The house also reflects a lot of who I am, and my history.”

Kogan, a decorator, says that she and husband, Ron, have identified colors they like and a sense of style, and are comfortable with the way their home flows. Balance of a room is important to her, as all furniture and items are positioned not only to be visually attractive, but functional.

“Some people might say I have a lot of ‘stuff,’ but it all means something to me and has been placed in its location for a reason — it is not clutter,” she says. “I’m very selective about what goes out, and where.”

Upon entering the house, eyes go to the dining room, the opening of which was expanded dramatically several years ago. The room is filled with an assortment of personally historical pieces, including a china cabinet from Phyllis’ parents, a buffet from the couple’s original dining set in their first apartment and a colorful rug from a flea market in Santa Fe. Though nothing seems to match exactly, it all fits together.

“It’s a compilation of eras and meaning, and together I think it is pleasant,” she says. “It makes the room rich because there are memories and history here.”

Opposite the dining room is the highlight of the Kogan home — the formal living room, which features a combination of old and new, from an antique butter dish and drawing of it done by Phyllis, to a candy dish given by Ron’s mother and pink chair from Phyllis’ father. Walls are dotted with large colorful pieces of artwork, which the Kogans have collected for years, accenting the large white couch and other collective furniture pieces.

A mirrored element is created by an octagonal table with chairs and a similarly styled buffet from France on opposite ends of the room, along with a large baby grand piano with a miniature piano juxtaposed underneath for the Kogans’ grandchildren’s use. The pianos fit into the “music room,” offset by furniture placement and featuring a black-and-white-stripped settee and painting of musicians.

“It all works together, and though it is a large space, it’s balanced,” Kogan says.

The adjacent kitchen was remodeled in the mid-1980s with Corian countertops, an Italian import tile backsplash, white cabinetry, hardwood floors and ceiling beams, on which Phyllis exhibits items while preventing counter clutter. Two years ago, another addition was made, when a second oven and new range were installed. Despite all this, the kitchen retains both its original hood and historical significance, as an entire wall is tied to both spouses’ mothers, with oil paintings done by one and prints from the other. A chandelier with black and white shades overlooks the diagonally placed kitchen table, and a pot rack filled with cooking items and dried bouquets of hydrangeas hangs above the cooking space.

Standing out among the master bedroom, office and baths upstairs are the two guest rooms, which contain a mixture of eras and color palettes. Adjacent to the master bedroom is the first guest room, featuring a classic brass twin bed with red and white quilts, complementing the toile wallpaper, which portrays what Kogan calls “whimsical fairy tales,” and reminds her of her childhood friend’s bedroom. Childhood toys like cradles and dolls fit playfully with more elegant pieces like glass side tables, a large mirror over the bed and an antique crystal chandelier. Special to Kogan are three photographs of her and her daughters as brides, as well as a portrait of her as a 19-year-old woman.

On the opposite end of the upstairs is another guest bedroom, unique with its two wicker tea table sets — one for adults and a miniature one for grandchildren — and pink wallpaper with topiary illustrations. A dark wicker dresser and safari mirror complement the assortment of accessories from various eras and genres, as personal items such as framed photographs and a collection of David Winter houses dot the room. Aside from the tea tables, the focal point of the room is the twin bed piled high with fluffy pillows and colorful quilts, with a hidden trundle bed for additional guests.

Given their detail, neither guest room is typical, something Kogan says she strove for when designing them. “I wanted to offer something other than a sterile room to guests,” she says. “A lot have a dresser, maybe a lamp, but usually nothing personal or any accents. I added those because I want guests to feel cozy and happy to be here.”

The location with perhaps the most development is the backyard, set with three separate garden areas and what Kogan describes as “a profusion of blooms.” Double glass doors in the kitchen lead onto a large, wraparound deck, reaching what used to be a plain concrete slab. Now, that slab has evolved into a beautiful patio area extended beyond its original dimensions and refinished with a stamped concrete finish that complements the cedar deck.

Kogan has integrated flowers with special meaning into her garden. In the patio garden hydrangeas relocated from houseplants given by visiting guests bloom along with sedum that began as cuttings from her grandmother’s garden. Coneflowers remind the Kogans of their visit to Monticello, and Lilies of the Valley were inspired by her parents’ use.

“The gardens have been a true evolution,” she says. “We wanted color all season long, and incorporated fun accent pieces into the mix.”

Inspired by the work on her own home, Phyllis started her own decorating business, Rejuvenations, Inc., last year. Moving from corporate executive to self-employed decorator, she can now take the ideas from her home and assist others in finding special meaning in their space.

“My philosophy about space is that the home should be a haven, a safe place, and you should be surrounded by things with meaning that evoke love and fond memories,” she says. “If I can help other people feel as content in their homes as I do, that’s wonderful.”

Phyllis says her next big project in her house is the family room, along with remodeling the upstairs bathroom. She would also like to add more color to her living room, proving she’s not done yet, and, as she says, the evolution of her home will probably never cease.

“In different times in our lives, different things are right, but things change and individuals change,” she explains. “My house evolves as I do.”