Artisan Homes Tour features premier Kansas City area home builders

From Sept. 12 to 20 the general public will have a unique opportunity to experience one-of-a-kind, artisan homes from 10 of Kansas City’s finest custom home builders during the new Artisan Home Tour, presented by The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA) and sponsored by Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

The homes, scattered throughout the Kansas City area, highlight a wealth of impeccable interior and exterior design, craftsmanship, state-of-the-art building processes and specialty products.

Don Julian Builders and Lambie Custom Homes Inc. are among the 10 featured Artisan Custom Home Builders.

For the past 40 years, Don Julian with Don Julian Builders has set a new standard for design, quality and outstanding customer service in the home-building industry, and his unique architectural designs and innovative, award-winning floor plans have become a Julian trademark in metropolitan Kansas City.

An example of his spectacular homes is evidenced with his “Fire, Water and Ice”-themed home in Parkville (Tour No. 1 at 6049 Southlake Drive). A peaceful oasis inside and out, this reverse 11/2-story, four-bedroom, 31/2 bathroom, 4,452-square-foot home highlights an open floor plan concept showcasing a vaulted ceiling with beams and two-story windows in the great room; an iron and glass-panel interior stair railing; a spa-like master suite with a slipper-type freestanding tub and high-end polished nickel finishes; and Smart Home Automation including surround sound throughout the living spaces.

“My passion is design and discovering the latest trends, in addition to incorporating new twists on floor plans,” Julian said. “Here, my desire was to create a soothing and relaxing place to call home by featuring elements like a lower level bar, perfect for entertaining, with an illuminated waterfall accompanied with suspended glass tops, hanging lighted display shelves and two sinks, and in the outdoor living area, a floating fire pit encased in hand-made stone pillars with a cascading water falling from the stone into a reflecting pool.”

The home also features a U-shaped wine cellar filled with cabinets, a custom-built furniture cabinet with a motorized lift that exposes a concealed large screen TV, and a bubbling water feature flowing underneath the front walk bridge with a dry river bed surrounded by lush and vibrant landscaping.

According to Jim and Steve Lambie, Lambie Custom Homes Inc. is not just a business, rather a lifestyle dedicated to bringing each and every client the lifestyle they envision in a “dream-come-true” home.

Led by award-winning master builder Jim Lambie and his son and lead project manager, Steve, the company is featuring a gorgeous, five-bedroom, 51/2-bathroom, 4,659-square-foot home in Leawood, with a transitional design highlighted by natural elements and clean lines (Tour No. 7 at 14703 Rosewood St.).

Once inside tour participants will find a dramatic two-story entry with a formal dining room; a state-of-the-art kitchen with a walk-in pantry and transitional second office space; and a large hearth room entertainment space and walk-up wet bar that opens onto a serene covered lanai overlooking a lower patio and waterfall feature.

There is a main-floor master suite with an additional formal study/guest quarters with a full bathroom on the first floor, an additional rear deck off the breakfast nook, a second-floor loft leading to three additional bedrooms with separate bathrooms, and a second-floor laundry.

“With your first step into this truly exquisite family home, you will see that every attention to detail has been met,” Jim Lambie said. “There is great versatility of being able to entertain both inside and out here with a seamless transition, and the home is built to celebrate living and to provide quality for a lifetime.”

The other Artisan Custom Home Builders and Artisan Home Cities are:

▪  Craig Eymann, Ambassador Construction, Leawood.

▪  Russ Groshans, Casa Bella Construction, Parkville.

▪  Michael and John Menghini, Covenant Homes, Overland Park.

▪  Chris and Roy Ragland, Homes by Chris, Kansas City, North.

▪  Jeff Robinson, J.S. Robinson Fine Homes, Overland Park.

▪  Brian Rodrock and Jeff Gifford, Rodrock Homes, Overland Park.

▪  Kit and Gerry Starr, Starr Homes, Lee’s Summit.

▪  Patrick and Bob Willis, Willis Construction, Village of Loch Lloyd.

This story was originally published September 5, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Artisan Homes Tour features premier Kansas City area home builders."