Luxury home overlooks Blue River

Those looking for a unique home in a natural setting have an unprecedented opportunity to purchase a custom-built home in Stilwell at 2602 W. 160th Terrace. This luxury home in Oakmont Estates sits on 1.5 acres in a treed and landscaped retreat overlooking the Blue River.

It was built in 1992 for the current and only owners. “My husband, the engineer, and myself, the artist, embraced the opportunity and dove in,” said the owner who was involved in designing the home. “This is a one-owner house and we were the general contractors. We were young, talented and energetic, wishing to bring expression to our vision of contemporary living. Working with well-known commercial architect, Herman Scharhag, we came up with this custom, one-of-a-kind design.”

Visitors immediately notice how amazing this home is, from the brick driveway leading to the cedar exterior highlighted by a turret to the entryway with sweeping staircases. The home boasts 5,830 square feet of space on three finished levels with ample room to entertain while still having private space when needed.

“This has been our friends’ and family’s gathering place for events and holidays for the past 23 years,” the owner said. “With two kitchens and two bars, a billiard room and two media entertainment areas, guests can talk, play, watch sports and movies all over the house plus enjoy a barbecue in the outdoor grilling area on the back deck.”

The lower level is finished and has 9- and 10-foot ceilings as well as two double outside entry doors. The kitchen on this level, as well as the bar, are prefect for entertaining. The circular room here features a wood-burning fireplace with a tile and rock design. In fact, tile and rock work is found throughout the lower level.

The round room on the main level houses the kitchen. Tile floors and walls provide an artistic dimension to this level, enhanced by a built-in fish tank and starry chandelier in the great room, where the fireplace adds a cheery warmth.

The spacious master suite of this five-bedroom home is on the top floor, a sanctuary after a long and busy day. The entire room is 1,300 square feet with a huge walk-in closet, bathroom and laundry. The master bathroom with a vaulted ceiling features two sinks, a jetted tub and unusual shower. The bedroom also has a vaulted ceiling, a gas fireplace and solarium, as well as an entrance onto the private wrap-around deck.

“Out on the deck, you feel like you are in the trees because the beautiful lush foliage is all around you,” the owner said.

In fact, nature is a major attraction of this home which boasts two newly refurbished wrap-around decks. The main-level deck has an acrylic ceiling, so when it rains you can still enjoy the natural setting.

The expansive home site allows you to stroll along the Blue River or grow your own produce. The 2,000-square-foot raised organic garden has produced tomatoes, peppers and other produce. The owners recently added an area for raspberry, blackberry and blueberry bushes. There’s a strawberry patch, asparagus and rhubarb as well as a variety of herbs.

“It even has a spot for camping and building a fire, if the kids feel like roughing it, on the terraced landing below the garden,” the owner said.

Behind the house, tucked into the hill, is a two-story, 1,200-square-foot out building the owners use for storage, working on cars and yard equipment.

Although this home has a private and natural setting that feels like living in the country, it is near Blue Valley schools, grocery stores, a hospital and the Blue Valley Rec Center.

The home is listed by Ann Taylor, broker associate with Coldwell Banker Good Life, and is priced at $725,000. To make an appointment to see what makes it so special, call Taylor at 913-345-9999 (office) or 816-830-8435 (cell).

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Luxury home overlooks Blue River."