The Makerista
Gwen Hefner, known as the Makerista, is a local influencer with a passion for home and design. She’s a Jane-of-all-trades sharing her tips and tricks for a variety of projects, including how to renovate a room, thrift, throw a party, and make a house a home with some flair. Whether it’s something for herself, her children or her Leawood home,…
Simplistic Beauty
The homeowners were able to combine textile inspiration from all over the world to create this cozy and eclectic space. Warm red kilim and Persian rugs ground the space and add warmth and texture while the traditional patterns impart a sense of familiarity and timelessness. Indigo-dyed throw pillows add a bohemian flair inspired by African mud clothes and indigo dying…
Fixer Upper
We moved into our 1972 Leawood fixer upper in 2015 and have spent the last few years remodeling and updating nearly every room in the house. It has character galore, which is what drew us to the house. Some unique features include a finished attic with an observatory and “secret passageway” bookshelf door, built-in Murphy beds, and more. If you’re…
At Home with Becky Hillyard
Creative Becky Hillyard showcases her love of a neutral color palette, rich textures and workhorse statement pieces that will grow with her family on her lifestyle site, Cella Jane Blog. Named after her grandmother, the internationally popular blog is a place where Hillyard finds connection and shares inspiration on topics of fashion, beauty, fitness, baby, motherhood and more.
Lyric Opera
Lyric Opera of Kansas City has been creating transformational opera experiences for more than 60 years. Lyric Opera currently performs in the heart of the city at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts with Tracy Davis-Singh as the director of production. “I coordinate all members of the production team, from costumes and scenery to lighting and makeup,” says…
Introducing Tara Kesner
Tara Kesner is a local artist and active mother and wife who lives in Leawood with her three young daughters and husband, Carmen. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and was heavily involved in the performing arts both during childhood and college. She had a passion for art at an early age, but pragmatism led her…
Art Around Leawood
The mission of Leawood’s Public Art Program is to integrate highly visible art into the Leawood community for the purpose of creating a legacy of works to be enjoyed by current and future generations, and they are doing just that. This is just a small collection of some of the exquisite pieces of art that can be enjoyed around Leawood.
Artisan Kombucha
Artisan Kombucha is Kansas City’s craft kombucha brewing company with a passion for healthy holistic living. Using organic and local ingredients for the highest quality kombucha, it is proudly brewed in small batches using organic loose-leaf teas, herbs, spices and real fruits and vegetables without any juices, concentrates or chemical additives. The result is a satisfying raw unfiltered beverage full…
Cold Winter Weather Blues
Keep your skin hydrated with these DIY skin products Audrey Kuether is a creative director, designer, DIYer, KCTV5 DIY contributor, photographer, interior stylist, and blogger. Her work has been featured on Houzz, Apartment Therapy, Better Homes and Gardens, Buzzfeed, Brit+Co, Marie Claire, Disney Baby, Zillow Blog, and more. She lives in Leawood in a fixer upper home with her…
Holiday Bunch Bowls
The holidays grant us with a unique opportunity to bring friends and family together. If your family is anything like mine, gathering around the dinner table to share a meal and a few cocktails is a revered tradition. Being the only person in my family with a cocktail background, I am constantly playing barkeeper when I would much rather be relaxing…
Holiday Decor Trends
Megan Mosier is the designer behind Megan Gensky Interiors. After working for Magnolia in Waco, Texas and winning awards while working for a local builder, she decided it was finally her time to start her own design company. She stays busy during the holiday months setting up clients’ homes and offices for the holiday season. Besides holiday decorating services, she…
Steps of Faith
For Billy Brimblecom music has been an essential piece of his existence. It has become a melody played on a continuous loop -- giving him comfort during personal storms, opening doors that seemed perilous, and providing him with an irreplaceable tool that has helped him to live out his wildest dreams.
Not Home for the Holidays
While the rest of us are gathering around the Thanksgiving table and decking our halls, some of our fellow community members are leaving behind their own families to work long shifts where they will care, protect and serve. This holiday season, we give thanks for their service and sacrifice.
Leawood Officers Inspire Hope
Leawood Officers Inspire Hope To be a cop, you need to pass a physical ability test. You must be fast, agile and ready to run. That means muscle endurance and upper body and core strength. You must also have the emotional and intellectual capabilities required to deal with heated situations. Leawood police officers meet all of those qualifications. They possess…
Home Sweet Home
Four years ago when this Leawood family was house hunting, they were originally looking for a traditional Colonial-style house, but instead found a Cape Cod style house where they pictured their daughters playing basketball in the driveway and swinging on an old-fashioned rope swing in one of the enormous trees in the backyard. Today those dreams have come to fruition…
Local denim manufacturer believes Kansas City is poised for revival of once-thriving garment industry
Article Alan Goforth | Photography Paul Versluis The bustle of workers and hum of sewing machines have long since left the old Kansas City Garment District. At one time, however, garment manufacturing was the city's No. 2 industry, employing more than 4,000 people. An estimated one in seven American women wore a garment that was manufactured in Kansas City.
Like Mother Like Daughter: Fashion through the Ages
Article Angela Broockerd | Photography Paul Versluis It all begins with those three little words, “It’s a girl!” Visions of dressing a little girl can be a mother's dream (or nightmare), and what used to be all frills and lace has now turned into a variety of options for mothers today. The styles are endless, and even infant outfits are…
Meet the Stylist: Amani Skalacki
Article Allison Swan Amani Skalacki is the local stylist and artist taking over the fashion scene in Kansas City and beyond. She turned her interest in fashion and knowledge of accessories into a successful career in fashion, editorial and advertising in local and national magazines and advertising campaigns. Her portfolio includes jewelry and accessories design, wardrobe, prop and set styling,…
Houndstooth
Photography Paul Versluis Tell us a little bit about how Houndstooth got its start. I am a third generation tailor. My grandfather owned a tailor shop in Brookside, and my father's shop was located in Overland Park. While running my father's business, I always would keep an eye on downtown real estate for what I thought was the perfect spot…
Thoroughly Mentionable MADI
Article Lisa Moyer It has all the makings of the latest Netflix series set in the heart of KC – a city with an emerging reputation as a hub for socially conscious urban startups. The main character is Hayley Besheer Santell -- a gorgeous, loveable, hardworking millennial entrepreneur with a wide smile and even wider heart. She embraces challenges, takes…
Fashion Trends for the Family
Article and Photography If there's anyone who know what it's like to be a busy, working mom, it's Cella Jane Blogger, Becky Hillyard. Sure, her life may look perfectly primped on Instagram, but underneath it all she's a mom, just trying to get by and look good doing it. That's why we enlisted her style expertise.
Line. Light. Beauty.
Photography Paul Versluis Distilling emotion from a shadow, a gesture, a turn of the wrist has intrigued Susan P. Wilson for as long as she can remember. Pencil and sketch pad in hand, she loves to capture simple moments. If “art is not what you see, but what you make others see,” as Impressionist Edgar Degas said, then Susan wants…
Prepare to be Floored:
Article Lisa Moyer | Photography Provided Carpet Direct takes the stress out of choosing flooring from a myriad of ever-evolving options. As one of the nation’s largest dealers in premium flooring, Carpet Direct Kansas City provides free in-home consultation for the largest selection of flooring available at price points to meet every budget. Whether carpet, ceramic tile, genuine hardwoods, engineered…
Cordial Craft
Article Allison Swan | Photography Paul Versluis Cordial Craft is Kansas City’s newest craft cocktail catering service specializing in fresh, made-to-order seasonal drinks using locally sourced produce. Brandon and Alyssa Burke, the bar-savvy couple behind the beverage business, traded their belongings for a motorhome and made the journey from California to the Midwest seeking adventure. “Cordial Craft was started almost by…
Backyard Oasis
Photography Paul Versluis When this Leawood family moved into their gorgeous home eight years ago, they knew they wanted to create a backyard space that would be the ideal backdrop to create family memories for years to come. With a very large extended family and two teenaged daughters, they wanted a space that was welcoming and enjoyable to host get-togethers for…
Keeping It Real:
Article Lisa Moyer | Photography Paul Versluis VanBrock respects that a fine jewelry collection doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the culmination of a lifetime of celebrating life’s happiest moments. “Not every occasion is a jewelry occasion, but when it is, we hope you will think of us,” says VanBrock associate Kristina Klug.
Darryl Burton
Article Adriane Taylor | Photography Paul Versluis There is a calm and gentle spirit about Darryl Burton. He is both self-assured and reassuring, confident and unassuming. He wears the smile of a man who is steadfast in his faith and the gleam in his eyes hint of an awe-inspiring future. And he tells a story so awesome its weight is…
Blue River Cycling Club
Article Alan Goforth | Photography Paul Versluis The world's top cyclists will compete in the prestigious Tour de France early next month. Leawood residents, however, can check out skilled road racers, mountain bikers and cyclocross competitors, and gravel grinders without ever leaving Kansas.
Reinventing Your Kitchen
Article Natalie Fieleke A plethora of reasons draws clients to Arlene Ladegaard for their kitchen reinventions. Some homeowners seek improved function for their kitchens, others want to freshen up the style of their home on a budget, while some clients pursue a completely new kitchen within their existing space which allows for endless possibilities.
Hermann, Missouri, is Flowing with Every Ingredient Necessary for a Memory-Making Girls Trip
Article Judy Goppert | Photography Provided Hermann, Missouri, is a lush piece of Missouri history, just a short drive or Amtrak trip away. Originally settled in 1837, this community of wineries maintains its quaint, unique feel with a never-ending array of activities to enjoy—namely, wine tasting! Wineries are all in close range of walking or the trolley or shuttle. There…
Let the Adventure Begin
We didn’t set out to be campers. In fact, after a crazy remote Colorado experience, my husband knows sleeping in a tent isn’t an option for our family—mostly me. We enjoy city dwelling and artisan coffee and spend much of our weekends watching our kids thrive in their activities. Even though we like our comforts, we don’t want them to…
Pink Bee Lady
If you ever stop to wonder where the food you eat comes from, it might surprise you that a significant proportion is provided by bees in one way or another. Unfortunately, honeybees are disappearing in record numbers, but people like Kristin Simeroth, of Leawood, are avid beekeepers, and their efforts help save these pollinators.
Scraps KC: repurposing the community
Kansas City is a community with an essence of giving, a populace that acts when presented with a need, and a sodality that embodies lifting others up when they are down. Pair this with people willing to take a progressive approach in developing creative ways that honor the environment through the reuse of everyday materials, the repurposing of supplies, and…
Leawood Garden Club
The mission of the Leawood Garden Club is to beautify our homes, gardens and surroundings; exchange ideas in gardening; stimulate and encourage the love of gardening; and encourage civic beautification. We are a fun-loving group, and the club is a wonderful place to learn about gardening with our excellent garden program speakers and our Horticultural Hints. In addition, we have the Show of the Month that covers many eclectic topics.