Modern Comfort: Design for Ease of Living and Luxury

Suburban chic may not be a thing, but it’s hard not to think so taking in this single family home kitted out by twin sisters, Elizabeth Van Maanen and Emily Contrucci, who together operate the design firm Little Black Dresser in Overland, KS. This four-bedroom, four-bath show house built by Starr Homes stands smartly contemporary but unmistakably comfy thanks to the design duo's expert way with color, materials, and furnishings.

The best kitchen designs support homeowners’ busy lifestyles while also fostering tranquility and beckoning you to relax. Van Maanen and Contrucci’s approach to the hardest working room in the house was to pair the honesty of pure wood tones—white oak flooring and lower cabinets—with glass-fronted upper cabinets painted black. The contrast brings a visual depth to the space and helps offset the reality that storage is front and center in any kitchen. “We knew we needed a wow factor countertop to finish everything off,” says Van Maanen, “one that was light overall to balance the darker tones of the cabinets, but also brought in some black and gold color to really help tie everything together.” The sisters chose Cambria’s Clovelly design, with its light veining of copper and brown against a cream background, not only for the island and countertops but as an eye-catching backsplash as well.

Steps away from the kitchen, in a sunlit corner of the many-windowed room, is a dining area set with a round pedestal table.

The moody vibe established by the dark kitchen cabinetry carries over to an adjacent great room, centered around a fireplace with a custom, telescoping surround that is framed by tall shelving. “We wanted to create a balance with the black of the kitchen cabinets across the way,” says Contrucci, “so we went with a full wall drenched in beautifully rich deep green.”

The attention the two designers gave to the living spaces is equally evident in the more private areas of the home. “We wanted the primary bath to have the same look and feel as the rest of the main level, bold and moody,” says Contrucci. “We also wanted to subtly incorporate a built-in arch with shelving for additional storage, similar to those in the great room. Arches are a great way to add architectural interest in a space while also breaking up the straight lines of all other standard elements. And if you are trying to be budget-conscious, arches provide an elevated and visually appealing component without adding a huge cost.”

Working with family is too close for comfort for many people. But not for this duo. “It feels like we truly share a brain as the same overall design aesthetic,” says Van Maanen. “We rarely ever disagree on a design idea, and on the few times we have slight differing opinions, one of us usually easily folds if the other is more passionate about a particular idea. Overall, we couldn’t be more thankful that we get to do what we love with each other every day.”