Featured Homes
JCYM Tour Homes
Get a little taste of what to expect from this year's tour

  10410 Mohawk Road — Mission Farms
Three magnificent mahogany doors form the impressive entry of this Mission Farms’ house faced with
cottonwood stone. Entering the foyer, your eye is immediately drawn to a spectacular view of the serene lake. The house was built by John Gyllenborg.

The interior is a charming backdrop for an impressive collection of antiques, heirlooms and treasures collected by the family and lovingly displayed. Above the fireplace, three angels on ceiling tiles from a 16th-century Italian church represent the family’s three children. A turn-of-the-century desk is from a grandfather who was CEO of International Paper Company. Another fond remembrance is one of the homeowner’s grandmother’s grandfather clock.  

A shadow box in the hallway that leads to the master suite displays a treasured baptismal gown embroidered with the names of the babies who wore it. The peer mirror in the master bath is a Roman antique brought from the homeowner’s former St. Louis home. 

Hardwood floors warmed with hand-woven rugs cover most of the first-floor rooms. The fireplaces throughout the house are cast stone. The walls are heavily textured with a skip-trowel technique, then painted, stained or glazed to suit the ambiance of each room.

In the kitchen, a rope accent above the tumbled marble backsplash reflects the rope-style hardware on the cabinets. Certain to be a tour favorite is the pot filler faucet above the Viking range, grill and griddle. The unusual concave kitchen island reciprocates the convex curve of the cabinetry.

An impressive four-story stairway with continuous railing takes you to the second-story children’s bedrooms. For sports enthusiasts, the first bedroom displays autographed balls, bats and shoes. The second bedroom showcases an alternative flair — the clever use of skateboards as display shelves. A Shaun White autographed poster keeps company with soccer memorabilia in the third bedroom.

The lower-level recreation room and home theater features 12 cushy leather recliners. Again, sports memorabilia sets the mood, and if the party calls for action, air hockey, pinball machines and skee ball are nearby. A fully equipped workout room and guest bedroom with bath completes this level.  

Holiday Decor: Brown Wrappings, Overland Park, Kan.
Tablescape: Rooms That Bloom, Kansas City, Mo.
Food Display Theme: Sweet Land
10417 Howe Lane — Mission Farms
Are we in Kansas or cozy New England? The Dutch Colonial exterior of this home exudes New England charm, yet it fits beautifully on its oversized, heavily treed lot situated on the lake at Mission Farms.
 
This home’s entry incorporates stone from the original caretaker’s cabin on the site in tribute of the historical setting. The whimsical philosophy of the homeowners is reflected in the art throughout the home. Note the fisherman perched on the hall tree in the entryway.

The open design of the home creates rooms that flow gently into each other. The owners specifically designed the working kitchen, with long countertops and an abundance of cabinetry, to open into the dining area so the chef, family and friends can easily enjoy each other. This family loves to entertain, and the dining table comfortably seats 10.
 
Behind the kitchen, relaxing is the order of the day in the screened porch or on the brick patio with built-in seating and an eye-catching stone outdoor fireplace for those crisp fall days and nights.  
From the kitchen, follow the brushed nickel railing up the steps to the master bedroom and bath overlooking the lake. You will discover the closets — lots tucked in every corner.  A few more steps up, and you’re on the second level with four bedrooms connected by Hollywood baths. Each bedroom has its own window seat for relaxing.  Unique to this home are computer stations at either end of the second-floor hallway, ensuring easy access to today’s technology. 

On the lower level is a project studio designed especially for the talented homeowner. She creates much of the artwork seen throughout the home, particularly in the step-down living room, where neutrals provide an excellent backdrop to showcase her original pieces. Creative flair is the signature of this home.

Holiday Decor:  Nelson & Taylor, Weston, Mo.
Food Display: On Golden Pond
  10412 Howe Lane — Mission Farms
Curvaceous, flowing flowerbeds set off the chiseled stone front of this Mission Farms home. Floor-to-ceiling mullioned windows in the foyer provide a breathtaking view of the forest. Oriental rugs and a crystal chandelier highlight the foyer. On the right is the dining room, where striking crown moulding and chair rails contrast with brick red walls and an airy bay window overlooks the flowerbeds.

This house is definitely home to an active family. Welcoming leather couches beckon family and guests
to relax in the hearth room in front of the cast stone fireplace. A gigantic clock frames the fireplace. Spacious bookshelves flanking the fireplace display family treasures and favorite books.

Nearby, the kitchen’s granite countertops are complemented by a travertine tile backsplash above the
six-burner Thermador range and wall ovens. The butler’s pantry, bar and kitchen cupboards are distressed alder wood to maintain the home’s casual attitude. The cozy glassed and screened sunroom with brick floor is a great spot for entertaining, especially with the convenience of an outdoor kitchen and bar. The outdoor kitchen is complete with a Viking cook top, grill and smoker, as well as a refrigerator, sink and bins for bar condiments.

Ten-foot-tall ceilings and eight-foot doorways create a luxurious feel throughout the house. The master bedroom and bath continue that feel with heated floors, Jacuzzi, stone sinks, tile countertops and a walk-in circular shower. Perhaps most convenient of all are the his-and-hers walk-in closets.  

Holiday Decor: Friends of JCYM
Tablescape: Williams-Sonoma, Leawood, Kan.
Kitchen Tablescape: Jan Rosche
Food Display Theme: No Reservations
Santas: Seasonal People
  11413 Canterbury Circle — Hallbrook Farms
Sitting two flights above the street, this home’s stateliness belies the welcoming feel that overtakes you the moment you enter the front door. Exquisite faux-painted walls and special touches by accomplished artist Jennifer Bertrand create the perfect one-of-a-kind backdrop for the warm woods and lovely bronze tones of the decor. The hardwood floors are covered with luscious silk Oriental rugs that extend throughout the first floor.

One of the owner’s favorite features is a unique floating staircase that can be viewed from the living room. The large mirror above the fireplace was a gift from the homeowner’s parents, and a Marge Carson coffee table anchors the room. European flair abounds. Even the home office reflects a love of Italy. Murano glass pieces and paintings of Venetian scenes evoke Old World charm.
 
The sleek master bathroom boasts a TV screen disguised in an oversized mirror and viewable from the spa tub or the dressing area. A magnificent Marge Carson armoire perfectly balances the elegant four-poster bed, flanked by matching complementary nightstands.

The hearth room and kitchen further showcase the owner’s European taste. A Tuscan scene sets the mood in the hearth room, while an exquisite Jennifer Bertrand painting above the gas range evokes the Italian
countryside. The new kitchen island is Tropic Brown travertine and includes a breakfast bar and work area. On the lower level, the home theater and bar, complete with a mini kitchen, 110-inch TV, pool table and wine cellar, lie in fun-loving juxtaposition to the Old World main level. Note the “pool shark,” the clever grid ceiling camouflaging ductwork and Michael Goddard’s amusing paintings, “Olive Party” and “Nervous Grapes.” A fully equipped gym completes this fabulous house.

Holiday Decor: Belle Maison, Gladstone, Mo.
Dining Room Tablescape: Pottery Barn, Leawood, Kan.
Kitchen Tablescape: Belle Maison
Food Display Theme: My Big Fat Greek Wedding
11701 Manor Road — Hallbrook Farms
This home has the unique distinction of being the first home built in Hallbrook Farms and has been virtually rebuilt by the present homeowners. The rugged brick exterior belies the contemporary feel of the newly remodeled interior. In the open, high-ceiling foyer, native limestone complements striking marble floors. Your eye is immediately drawn to the original art created by homeowner Jamie Laven.

Contemporary style continues in the dining room, where original Peter Max art delights guests. A custom-made cherry/ebony table seats 12. In the study, family history is captured in an antique desk, which paternal family members have used for more than 100 years. Also hanging in this room is the original Homestead Farmland Acquisition certificate reflecting the homeowner’s ancestors’ relocation to the USA from Germany.

Perhaps the most unique feature in the living room is the hidden fireplace. Another Jamie Lavin piece of original artwork gives a hint. Also, look for the “lady with two faces” chair and notice how kinetic sculptures enhance the liveliness of the room. This home sits on the dogleg at the 11th hole of Hallbrook Farms Golf Course. 

Upstairs are the family bedrooms, a cedar closet and a video/computer loft featuring artwork created
by the children.

The lower level is where this family plays. It includes the daughter’s dance studio, the husband’s woodshop and car shop, the home theater, game room area and easy access to the frequently used outdoor room. Also displayed is a striking painting of a stadium designed by one of the homeowners.

Holiday Decor: Craig Sole designs, Overland Park, Kan.
Tablescape: Crate and Barrel, Leawood, Kan.
Food Display Theme: All That Jazz