BY
Jennifer Oldridge
PHOTOGRAPHY
James Maidhof

Bob and Karen Gould live in a relatively modest home nestled in a dale of their Mission Hills neighborhood. Karen describes the residence as an "empty nesters'" haven, a two-bedroom home with a third room lofted for their grandchildren. The dwelling easily could be swallowed up in the shadows of the surrounding mansions that boast double the square footage, lofty turrets, sprawling yards, and garages that shelter more cars than family members, but the Goulds' home is a perfect of example of form following function. And rightly so. Bob is one of the founders of Gould Evans Architects, now with locations across the country, from Tampa to San Francisco, and Karen has been an interior designer with the firm for 20 years.

Their extraordinary home fits together like a puzzle piece, utilizing every nook and cranny. Surprise hideaways lurk behind built-in bookshelves, a secret sauna tucks neatly into a loft space, an outdoor star gazing area tops the roof, and a dual office work retreat fills the space that was once a gulf.

When Karen and Bob decided to move from Lawrence to Kansas City 11 years ago, their first instinct was to purchase a loft, but the loft boom had yet to explode and none were available. So they turned a traditional ranch home into a study of light and fluidity. From the exterior, the home remains true to its original architecture, an unassuming cottage front, with one exceptional hint at the playfulness to be found inside: a cat-shaped boxwood. The larger-than-life kitty cat, with back haunches tucked under his belly, seems to watch every move from his delightful perch, while Paisley, the actual family pet, poises in the entry, mewing and ushering company inside.

The Goulds were ultimately able to achieve a contemporary, breezy space reminiscent of a loft, with the added benefit of indoor-outdoor living. Many of the walls never meet the ceiling, and the Pencil Cactus and clivia plants give the allusion of having sprung from the floor, layered against the dividers of glass that separate the sunroom from the side porch.  

For Karen, plants are an essential element to design. "The garden for a house is like jewelry adorning a woman; it just completes the outfit and makes everything polished," she states.

Art does the same. The Goulds clearly have a fine appreciation for all forms of it, whether functional, beautiful, colorful, iridescent, matte, in motion or stagnant. The walls are adoringly situated with colorful paintings and lighted to enhance each individual masterpiece. The lighting fixtures themselves are amusing steel images of people cart-wheeling through the air. But the Goulds' art goes deeper than that — into the heart of the home's design.

For instance, the kitchen showcases a massive, curving, adobe wall that separates the dining area from the cooking space. Double dining tables appear round and black, but upon further inspection, they fold out and cleverly join into one mammoth rectangular, cherry wood table. A hand-carved wood banister with moveable parts leads visitors' eyes up the stairs to the new third bedroom addition. Even the master bath faucet is, in essence, art as it flows from a spigot in the ceiling into the tub. 

Karen and Bob have an uncanny ability to see everyday utilitarian objects and add a twist to them, making items seem as if they belonged in the MOMA or Nelson-Atkins rather than in their bathroom.

Their secret for creating a totally unique space is really commonsensical: Choose items you adore.

"As long as you keep the color palette compatible, you may mix various styles from any era with furniture, art and accessories and surround yourself with items you love, but be sure to have some fun in the process," Karen says.


Architect: Bob Gould, Gould Evans Architects

Contractors: Pete Douglas, Larry Favro

Interior Designer: Karen Gould, Gould Evans Architects

Windows: Marvin 

Cabinets: T&M Woodworks

Countertops: Top Master 

Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance (Viking, Sub-Zero)

Hardware: Locks and Pulls 

Custom Closet: California Closets 

Kitchen/Bath Tiles: Case Supply (Crossville) 

Flooring: Anderson 

Carpeting: FDC (Karastan) 

Plumbing: Prairie Village Plumbing

Plumbing Fixtures: Dorfman (Kohler, Hans Grohe, Cherry Creek)

Electrician: Tech Electric

Fireplace: Fireside Shop

Light Fixtures: Gould Evans/Bruce Yarnell

Audio/Video: Natural Images

Home Security: Easy Living Store 

Landscaping: Greensman Landscape