French doors lead out to the patio and pool area. Visual Comfort glass chandelier, Baker furniture in performance fabrics, and Arabescato Carrara marble mix chic with practical.
Two busy Kansas City physicians had a vision of how and where they wanted to live. She dreamed of a French chateau-inspired stone-built house suitable for modern family living. She also wanted a community where their children could play outside with neighborhood friends. He wanted to be in the country.
With detailed planning and the help of local design professionals, the family now lives in their new French-forward stone house sitting on 1.8 acres in Loch Lloyd.
Left: Bleached white-oak floors in a herringbone pattern run throughout the house. Right: The husband’s office features work by Kansas City photographer Joseph Lorusso.
“When we started this process, we had one child. Now we have three boys—ages 4, 6, and 9,” says the wife. That comes with all the attendant muddy footprints, sticky hands, and general little kid mess. However, you would never know it, thanks to smart design choices and their desire for a house that “is beautiful, no matter what,” she says. “We wanted our home to be warm, sophisticated, and family friendly. French design doesn’t have to mean super formal. And we definitely did not want anything trendy. Twenty years from now, we want our house to still look timeless, not dated.” Three years on, they couldn’t be happier.
A pair of tall doors reclaimed from an 1800s chateau set the design tone. The wife’s father, who works for Builders FirstSource, replicated the doors’ design in custom millwork, trim, cabinets, and doors using special carpentry tools. “He touched a little piece of every part of the house, and that also makes it special to us,” she says.
Left: The husband’s office features work by Kansas City photographer Joseph Lorusso. Right: Custom bleached white-oak cabinetry has a signature stain by Devon Himes.
Early in the planning process, the homeowners found McCroskey Interiors, known for their blend of couture and classical inspired by European design. Laura McCroskey describes the couple as ideal clients. “She was so detailed and had so many great ideas,” McCroskey says. “It was a pleasure for me to help her put it all together. With its marble craftsmanship and modern comforts, this home is a tribute to living beautifully while blending history with modernity. The result is a welcoming and timeless retreat.”
Above: The large Calacatta Vagli marble island has protective coating that stands up to three active boys. The Lacanche range is dual fuel. Below: Custom marble vent hood and sliding marble panel with storage behind it work hard yet look elegant.
She designed the custom marble vent hood in the kitchen and the sliding marble panel on the back of the cooktop that offers hidden storage. Mirror backing highlights the herbs and spices kept there. “We added many tailored details like these that elevate this design,” McCroskey says.
“Laura was so great to realize our vision and improve on it,” says the homeowner.
They collaborated on the design elements that run through the house, including pale colors (such as Benjamin Moore’s White Dove) on walls, but with a sheen so that it’s easier to wipe down; performance fabrics that clean up well; bleached white-oak floors and cabinetry that appear calming, but also don’t show scuffs and marks; and elegant marble coated with a surface protectant.
Left: Deep butler’s sink and Armac Martin solid brass hardware lend an old-world look to the scullery. Right: The primary bath continues the style conversation with exquisitely detailed cabinetry and a herringbone-patterned marble floor.
It all works to make chic French style eminently livable.
Three sets of tall French doors lead out to the patio and pool area, where fountains splash and the panoramic view makes you wonder whether you’re in Missouri or the heart of France. Curvilinear Baker furniture pieces form a conversation area in front of the fireplace that’s topped with an oversized Victorian mirror. Whether you’re enjoying a cocktail with the view or a soda while keeping an eye on the kids, it’s a wonderful space to be, lighted with a contemporary take on a crystal chandelier.
The husband’s office, with its cast limestone fireplace, is a masculine room where he can work or escape the hubbub of the household. McCroskey helped her clients choose original art and giclée prints from local and national artists that she represents. “Thoughtfully curated design elements inject warmth and personality into each area,” McCroskey says.
The patio and pool area is where the family hangs out in the summer. The property sits on almost two acres of rolling Missouri land.
The kitchen is the family gathering space, where the kids can eat or color on the generous island in Calacatta Vagli marble. The dual-fuel Lacanche range is sophisticated enough for the husband to roast a chicken à la française and entertain guests yet simple enough for the wife to make spaghetti and tacos for family meals.
The scullery, with its deep butler’s sink, is where they brew morning coffee, prep meals, and where the husband bakes bread, keeping the everyday mess out of sight.
Set in Loch Lloyd, the home marries French chateau style with modern American living.
The elegant primary bath, an example of quiet luxury, features bleached white-oak cabinetry with reeded detailing and marble floors in the same herringbone pattern as the bleached-wood floors.
Because their property is on a slope, the couple enlisted Utah-based Ryan Talbot of Northland Design Group, which specializes in challenging terrain, to design the patio and pool. “We’re outside all summer. This is where we hang out. The kids love it, so we wanted to make sure the covered patio and pool were done right,” adds the wife.
“When we come home after a long day, as soon as we drive through the gates, we relax. It feels like we’re on vacation. It’s so special to live here,” she says.
The It List
Interior Design
McCroskey Interiors
Cabinetry
Cabinets by King
Exterior Stonework
KC Stone
Tags:
Baker furniture, Benjamin Moore, Builders FirstSource, Calacatta Vagli marble, Devon Himes, Joseph Lorusso, Lacanche, Laura McCroskey, loch lloyd, McCroskey Interiors, Northland Design Group
Dining and Cooking