Historic grandeur meets modern function in this KCSA Showhouse kitchen.

Story by Ann Butenas | Photography by Matt Kocourek

In the heart of Kansas City’s architectural heritage stands a kitchen that exemplifies the delicate dance between preservation and innovation. The Kansas City Symphony Alliance Showhouse kitchen, transformed through the collaborative efforts of Remodel Moore and designer Billie Deatherage, CKD, of Custom Wood Products, tells a story of meticulous craftsmanship and deep respect for historic detail.

For Kevin Moore, owner-operator of Remodel Moore, this project ranks among his most rewarding endeavors. Specializing in historic homes, Kevin’s team took the original kitchen down to the studs, revealing exceptional structural integrity with old-growth lumber, steel supports, and stone walls. Working with homeowners Tim and Julie Steele and designer Billie Deatherage, they struck the perfect balance of old and new.

Design Vision Realized

When designer Billie Deatherage first assessed the 100-year-old kitchen, she found a dysfunctional layout from a 1980s remodel with five doorways and three large windows that left minimal wall space for proper kitchen functionality. Her solution was transformative: removing the wall between kitchen and breakfast room to create one cohesive space, while converting a former window back to its original exterior door configuration.

Deatherage’s approach centered on creating distinct work zones for preparation, cooking, cleanup, and entertainment while anchoring the space with a substantial center island. The design maximized every inch of available space through creative storage solutions, including tall narrow pull-out pantries, roll-out shelves beneath sinks, and a double-bin trash and recycling system within the island.

Deatherage’s masterpiece lies in the coffered ceiling, created using quarter-sawn white oak beams that match original ceilings found elsewhere in the home. This architectural feature required lowering the room’s perimeter ceiling to create the illusion of a raised center section.

“I am most proud of the coffered ceiling and beams, and the herringbone inset floor features which set the architectural tone for entire room,” Deatherage reflected.

The herringbone-pattern flooring, crafted from quarter-sawn oak and bordered with walnut, unifies the formerly separate spaces while honoring the home’s original craftsmanship. This flooring design serves a dual purpose: creating visual continuity while subtly disguising where the wall removal occurred. The attention to period-appropriate details extends throughout, from the beaded, flush inset cabinet doors that echo original built-ins to the preservation of remarkable historic elements.

Preserving Historic Character

The team carefully preserved the home’s original 1903 Annunciator system, which is an early intercom network connecting all rooms to the kitchen console. This pioneering “smart house” technology was refurbished and remains largely functional today. The solid nickel work sink in the Butler’s Pantry was also retained, its soft metal properties ideal for washing fine china without damage.

“When you work on a house with this much history, you feel a responsibility to get it right,” said Kevin. “It’s not about putting our stamp on it — it’s about letting the craftsmanship that’s already here shine, and making sure it’s ready for another hundred years of family life.”

Additional preservation efforts included repurposing the coffee brown granite from the former kitchen renovation. This material found new life as countertops in both pantries, creating continuity while adding functionality. In the Working Pantry, new cabinetry was designed to match the original square shaker flush inset door style, maintaining architectural consistency while providing modern storage solutions.

While respecting the home’s heritage, modern functionality seamlessly integrates through panel-front appliances that blend invisibly with cabinetry. The kitchen features innovative Galley Workstation sinks designed for multiple cooks, including a five-foot double bowl primary sink with dual faucets, an entertaining workstation at the bar, and a HydroStation at the coffee center. Strategic LED lighting illuminates both task areas and elegant displays, while a substantial island serves as the room’s anchor.

“I would want other homeowners of historic properties to approach their kitchen renovation by considering it in the context of the entire house, not just a kitchen, or a separate room with an aesthetic inconsistent with the rest of the house,” Deatherage emphasized.

The Heart of the Home

For Tim and Julie Steele, active Kansas City Symphony supporters, the transformation created the perfect entertaining space. As stewards of their historic home, they regularly host fundraising events for worthy causes, making the kitchen’s enhanced functionality essential.

“The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it is updated to be functional yet honors the rest of the house,” Tim noted. The island serves as their preferred central buffet for frequent family gatherings and philanthropic dinners, while the space accommodates their love of cooking together as a family.

Collaborative Excelllence

The project required over 100 skilled tradesmen working under compressed timelines to meet the Symphony Alliance deadline. Led by project manager David Rouyer and lead carpenter Jon Simmons, with Creative Director Jen Moore coordinating trade partners, suppliers, and inventory management, the team leaned into creative solutions while maintaining uncompromising quality standards.

The lighting design particularly showcases the space’s dual nature — recessed ceiling fixtures and striking pendants provide task lighting, while LED under-cabinet and interior cabinet illumination transforms displays of pottery, china, and glassware into artistic focal points. Original 1903 light fixtures in both pantries were carefully preserved and restored.

Painted cabinetry in a soft “Stone” finish lightens the space while quarter-sawn oak island cabinets in “Mink” stain provide grounding contrast. Timeless Carrara marble mosaic tile, brushed brass fixtures, and Pental “Venus” quartz countertops complete the sophisticated palette.

The breakfast area features chinoiserie mural wallcovering that differentiates the dining space, while vintage pattern wallcovering accents the coffered ceiling panels. In the Butler’s Pantry, bold wallcovering offsets the preserved wood finishes, creating visual interest while housing the owner’s prized antique clock.

B E F O R E I M A G E S

A Timeless Achievement

The transformation represents more than renovation, however. It’s also the completion of a vision that honors 1903 craftsmanship while serving contemporary needs. Through thoughtful collaboration between preservation-minded craftsmen and a design visionary who understands historic architecture, this kitchen demonstrates that the best renovations don’t just update spaces, they perfect them.