These Southern homeowners refreshed their world when they created this new, open, airy abode.
Story by Judy Goppert | Photography by Laurie Kilgore
As life evolves, so does our desire for ease and comfort in our homes. Dr. Kim Megow and her husband, Jim, have found the right balance in their world, and it is reflected in their new home in Meadowbrook Park in Prairie Village, Kansas.
“When my Realtor, Lindsay Schulze, showed me this new home, I was happy to make the move,” noted Kim. “Lindsay actually found our home for us in Leawood five years ago on 89th between Mission and Lee. It was a much bigger house than this one, and when my youngest son went away to college, I needed to downsize to a smaller home with less upkeep. Lindsay helped me sell my old house and buy this one. She is a phenomenal partner to work with on these transactions. She is very engaged, and I have enjoyed that relationship.”
This Georgia girl is Chief Medical Officer for HCA Midwest Health, a division of HCA Healthcare. She operates out of HCA hospitals and other entities within the Kansas City area.
“I travel some for work, and when I’m not working, I enjoy participating with a local choral group, William Baker Festival Singers. I also ring hand bells with that same group, called the Kansas City Bronze, part of the umbrella organization of the William Baker Choral Foundation,” she explained. “I’m currently Chairman of the Board for them. In addition to the music I’m involved in, I also enjoy spending time outside and reading.”
Kim was born and raised in Brunswick, Georgia, and raised her four children in Valdosta, Georgia, then worked there 20 years prior to joining HCA. She worked down in Corpus Christi, Texas for two years, prior to coming to Kansas City five years ago.
“My older two children are married, and I have very small grandchildren, all in Georgia. Jim and I still own a home in Georgia where his business is and commute back and forth. He owns a big wholesale plant nursery, and a commercial landscape design company,” she enamored. “It’s nice, and the last time he was here, he was out trimming the rose bushes. He helps me keep our landscaping nice.”
A welcome aspect of Meadowbrook is that the neighborhood is maintenance provided so they don’t have to worry about cutting grass or snow removal.
Lindsay Schulze also paired Kim with interior designer, Marianne Mayer, senior designer with ML Designs, who helped her achieve the dreamy esthetic in the home.
“I really was ready for a kind of refresh of my personal décor and am attracted to clean lines with a lot of lights. I am a little more minimalistic than I was in my past and wanted things more up to date with lots of color,” she smiled. “I absolutely love the bathroom wallpaper in our guest bathroom! It is so bright and always makes me smile. I like the pop of color. Then the grass cloth wallpaper in the common living dining room wall has gorgeous navy grass cloth. I like the navy and white combo of the kitchen, and the white marble countertops are special to me. Marianne was so helpful when the home was under construction. She helped me select light fixtures, hardware for doors and cabinets, flooring, everything. Together, we got all that put together.”
“Kim is a very busy professional who appreciates quality and detail,” Marianne commented. “Her style is ‘sophisticated Southern,’ and she likes white, curvy lines and sparkle. You’ll see a lot of sparkle in the lights we selected. She also enjoys having her family pictures, original artwork, and other personal items on display in her house. Those items were incorporated in the design to remind her of family and friends.”
She also noted that one of Kim’s preferences was for curvy lines. So, when selecting lighting fixtures, fabric, and wallpaper she made selections that incorporated curves.
Marianne added to the comments Kim made, noting, “The lighting throughout the home is phenomenal, but my favorite rooms are the hearth room and kitchen. In the hearth room, we introduced a punch of color with the multi-colored ottoman coffee table. She had swivel chairs that were not very old but were in a gray plaid, not fitting for Kim at all. We re-covered those chairs to bring in the blue and trimmed them with coral tape. Colorful floral pillows were added to the chairs to bring in color, and navy scrollwork pillows were added to the white sofa. The navy deco hemp wallpaper in that room is a showstopper. Pictures don’t do it justice. Everyone that walks in that room always comments on the wallpaper. We just applied it to one wall to create a focal point, while keeping the room bright and light. We placed a picture Kim had over the dining room window. That window just looked out on to the patio, and the stucco on the other side of the house. Placing the picture over the window really highlights the picture and creates a more interesting view.”
She mirrored Kim’s thoughts about the beautiful marble on the kitchen countertops and mentioned how the navy blue from the dining room ceiling is repeated on the kitchen island and the apron of the range hood, which provides continuity throughout the main floor and adds another layer of interest in the kitchen. Which is why it is Kim’s happy place!
“Kim was a great client!” Marianne revealed. “The end design incorporated both new and existing pieces to give her a collected look. The final look truly reflects her personality and lifestyle.”
Kim noted that the other thing she enjoys about her Meadowbrook home is the neighborhood.
“It is an awesome place to live,” Kim continued. “The park is literally outside my front door, there is a walking/running path around the neighborhood, a pool, and lovely ponds. It’s a fun place to live, my neighbors are great and it’s safe and convenient to work and shopping and other things. This is what I wanted…I love it here!”
First thing in the morning she often relaxes on her downstairs porch with coffee or listens to the rain on her additional small porch off the second floor that looks out over the park. Adjoining this porch is her den area, complete with a big TV and sectional couch.
“It’s a great place to watch TV, read and gaze over the porch out into the natural, wooded park,” she reflected.
Now, that’s a ‘room with a view!’
Resources
- Builder/Contractor: Tom French Construction
- Development: Meadowbrook Park
- Interior Designer: ML Designs
