Artisan Aspirations - Kansas City Homes & Style

Combining classic Old-World architecture with modern technology, legacy home builder Lauren Browne crafts a magnificent bespoke masterpiece that embraces the soul of its site.

Story by Jeanne de Lathouder / Photography by Matt Kocourek

Few professionals would have more experience delivering an architectural gem of this magnitude than one steeped in the home building profession since childhood. But this high-level endeavor comes naturally for Lauren Browne, a deft third-generation home builder and founder of Grace & Nell Homes. So, when the developer of the Mills Ranch subdivision requested her to transform a jewel of a homesite into the neighborhood’s premier gateway, she responded with nothing less than a grand estate. It was so grand, in fact, that the property debuted at the 2024 Kansas City Artisan Homes Tour. The extravagant custom-built home sprawls across 7,600 square feet, encompassing a luxurious half-acre lot that Lauren has since transformed into a veritable landmark.

“Inspired by a fresh, modern take on English Arts and Crafts architecture, we embraced asymmetrical design elements to create Laurel Hill Manor,” says Lauren, “a residence blending timeless elegance with contemporary luxury. It sits behind a custom retaining wall crafted with an elegant palette of brown, gray, and neutral stones reminiscent of the English countryside.”

As a legacy home builder mentored by her father, a leader in residential construction, Lauren is passionate about designing homes that stay true to timeless architecture with modern adaptations. Since this dwelling would serve as an entry into the community, conceptualizing a captivating architectural design was essential. “The English Arts and Crafts style was perfect for this homesite,” notes Lauren. “I worked with C3 Studio, an architecture firm in Knoxville, TN, and they captured my vision beautifully.”

To overcome a challenging lot with a dramatic 14-foot slope, the creative team embraced the unique elevation by integrating it into the design. This decision allowed them to install corner daylight windows in the lower-level bedroom, beautifully framed by the custom stone retaining wall and the home’s striking two-story staircase windows. At the back, a sunken patio bordered by a matching stone planter wall houses an elaborate built-in grill station surrounded by plush landscaping. “By using retaining walls in both the front and back, we were able to set the home beautifully on the site, creating a gentle approach to the flat driveway and level walkway to the front stoop,” says Lauren. “This design improves accessibility while accentuating the home’s impressive architecture.”

The lower level’s ten-foot foundation walls and the added two-story staircase windows embellished with custom windowpane dividers flood the space with sunlight. Descending the classic wainscotted staircase, a custom iron wine display with a painted brick backdrop leads guests into a gallery room that invites conversation. Adjacent to the family room, a wet bar includes built-in banquette seating, while secret paneled doors lead to a hidden golf simulator room and separate mechanical room. An adjacent hallway leads to a powder bath, exercise room, and what has been deemed a sixth bedroom that enjoys abundant natural light through large windows mirroring the staircase design. Comprising five ensuite bedrooms, 6.2 baths, dual home offices, a second-floor bunk room and loft with a 3/4 bathroom, and a four-car garage, the home design features flexible rooms and spaces to accommodate multiple needs. For example, the front room can serve as an office, formal sitting room, or dining room, and the spacious upper-level bedrooms can transform into a second primary bedroom for a multi-generational family.

An inviting design story unfolds throughout the interiors, evoking the grandeur of English manors with hints of warmth and gracious Southern hospitality. Every room reveals curated details — sophisticated blends of ironwork, unlacquered brass, and polished nickel, complemented by handmade English fixtures, Italian marble, and European wide-plank white oak floors. Stone accents and custom wainscoting complete the refined aesthetic.

“We’re beginning to see a move away from overly open concepts and back to more traditional spaces,” says Lauren. “We thoughtfully designed every room in this home for functionality, livability, and beauty and carried the English aesthetic throughout by incorporating bespoke metal work, muted tones, warm whites, and rich natural finishes elevated with a mix of lustrous fixtures and hardware.”

Other key home features include custom handmade leaded glass in the front office/sitting room, the great room’s distressed beams, and a cast stone wood-burning fireplace with built-in surrounds and invisible speakers. A gourmet kitchen crafted for avid chefs has become a favorite space with a custom Lacanche range imported from France, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, and a prep kitchen. “The European white oak flooring combined with luxury appliances emanates Old-World appeal with a cutting edge,” says Lauren’s client. Designed to ease the challenges of home entertaining, the prep kitchen includes a caterer door for easy access away from the main kitchen.

“When we featured this house in the 2024 Artisan tour, literally thousands of people came through,” notes Lauren, “and it was so fun to see it through their eyes.” The tour guests loved the home’s standout spaces, especially the resort-inspired primary suite and spa-like bath. To achieve the wow factor she envisioned, Lauren transformed the primary bath into a breathtaking “water room” boasting dual showers and a volcanic resin soaking tub encased in floor-to-ceiling glass and clad entirely in marble. Her innovative design solution allowed space for an oversized vanity with dual linen cabinets. By continuing the marble along the vanity wall in a smaller size, she enhanced the luxurious feel and delivered the desired stunning impact.

Lauren’s client’s favorite spaces also emerged, including the whimsical secondary bedrooms, the upstairs laundry and craft room, and a custom-built bunk room with a bathroom entirely finished in marble. “I love Lauren’s attention to detail,” they remarked, “and even the base trim is outfitted with molded marble.”

This multifunctional upper level quickly became one of the most admired areas. Custom cabinetry flanks each side of the room, with the stacked washer/dryer and a sink positioned on the narrower left side. Lauren added a pull-down drying rack that seamlessly integrates into the window casing to create visual balance. On the opposite side, she designed a crafting hub with a wrapping paper station, a built-in desk, and ample storage. To achieve harmony in this asymmetrical space, a custom wood-topped island on casters for laundry folding and crafting serves as the centerpiece. An alluring Thibaut wallpaper brings a stylish finesse to the cabinetry and trim painted in an accentuating hue.

“Lauren excels in getting to know her clients well so she can design an authentic home that not only reflects their tastes but also offers them functionality befitting their day-to-day lifestyle,” says her client. “That is her superpower—and it definitely shows.”

Lauren’s bespoke, unified look throughout this home brings all the furnishings together in a delicious blend of warm whites, custom textiles, and rich wood tones, seamlessly merging traditional and contemporary elements. A Crestron smart home system adds the ultimate modern touch with Horizon lighting and distributed audio and video control, making Laurel Hill Manor a luxurious sanctuary at every turn. “Having been in the new construction space for decades now and witnessing all the trends that come and go, I have become a firm believer in using timeless designs and finishes,” say Lauren. “There are so many stunning options you can implement without getting caught up in fads that will likely feel dated in 5 to 10 years. My love of intuitive, classic design and passion for blending the old with the new truly guide me in building homes that people can cherish for generations.”