A Painter and Coffee-Lover’s Kansas City Shirtwaist

Lifelong Midwesterners, Jaime and Tyler Rovenstine love the character and architectural details of older homes. As an artist and museum professional, Jaime’s eye for thoughtful contrast and composition is evident in each room of their early 20th-century home and her dreamy work spills color onto the walls. Tyler is an award-winning barista and coffee consultant, so it’s no surprise that the space is full of vintage furniture and soft light to enjoy a cup of comfort. The active couple also owns a coffee bar called Monarch, opening this spring in Midtown, Kansas City, MO. Evenings are often spent at home painting, planning and enjoying time with their spunky two-year-old, Frances, and Merle the dog.

While expecting their daughter, they searched for a longterm space that would provide a studio for Jaime and something within proximity to their jobs and friends. “Because we share one car and often bike to work, we wanted to shrink our circle of living.” They landed a 1900 “Shirtwaist” style house — a residential architectural term that is unique to the Kansas City region. Shirtwaists are marked by a first level made from brick or stone with wood siding on subsequent levels, a steep roof and symmetrical layout, built between 1900 and 1920. This house had all the details they wanted; hardwood floors, wood molding and original pocket doors. But owning an old home isn’t all historical charm and beauty. Jaime and Tyler would love to replace the old windows to improve the energy efficiency of the house and renovate the bathroom that had been added as an awkward addition to the original structure. After painting almost every room, tiling the kitchen backsplash, updating fixtures and a handful of other necessary home improvements like replacing gutters, they still feel like they are in the process of creating a home and have tried to tackle projects at a slower pace that allows them to prioritize time with Frances.

Jaime’s workspace is nestled in only one room, but her palette is carried throughout the house with blushing pinks and a keen balance of shapes and forms. Her goal for every room was to craft a space that reflected their personalities, while generating warmth and comfort for hosting friends and raising Frances. Each object has been carefully sourced from antique stores, handed down, or created by an artist they know to collectively show who they are. Jaime and Tyler love how these meaningful pieces tell their story and wouldn’t mind living in this house forever. “We have a great front porch that overlooks an active block in the middle of the city. The first week we moved in, we ate outside every night and just grinned because we were so excited to be there. We still feel the same way.” —Bethany

Photography by Kaley Cornett

from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2017/02/a-painter-and-coffee-lovers-kansas-city-shirtwaist.html

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/157240731749