French Country

Mission Hills, KS

PWA was commissioned to design a new house on a one acre site in Mission Hills, Kansas, an affluent suburb of Kansas City.  The existing 1940s house on the site of the proposed new house, was dismantled and the salvaged construction materials were donated to Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a division of Habitat for Humanity.

Our design for this Country French Manor style house is essentially “L” shape in plan.  A major goal was to break-down the massing of the form of the house to blend with the surrounding neighborhood.  To accomplish this, the roof lines and shapes vary, and the plan form of the house steps in and out across the front elevation. 

The exterior building materials include “slush & brush” stone veneer, with cut Cottonwood limestone window and door surrounds; traditional stucco; custom designed and hand-made copper dormers; copper gutters, collection boxes and downspouts, and Vermont Slate roofs.

A cabana, overlooking the pool area and a formal garden, is connected to the main structure.   The paving around the pool and garden is an ashler pattern limestone field with cut limestone edging.

The interior of the house is detailed in a traditional Country French style with an ashler pattern limestone floor throughout the first floor, except for the master suite which has parquet de Versailles wood floors of antique reclaimed wood. Stone casing and jambs are used at the window and door surrounds at the front entry hall.  A grand curved stair with limestone steps and custom iron rails is the focal point of the two story entry hall.

Interior Design: By Owner

General Contractor: Hensler Homes, Leawood, KS