Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Lush Oasis in a Modern Indoor-Outdoor Family Home
Houseplants, white walls and floors, and metallic accents lend a West Coast vibe to this midcentury ranch in Kansas
Finding this home, Gina says, “was like the heavens saying ‘You can’t physically be in California right now, but here’s a close second.’” She’s pictured here with Frankie, Addison and Jared in their living room. The family enjoys the laid-back, breezy, indoor-outdoor vibe of California and tried to capture that feeling in decorating their interior.
That breezy oasis vibe is enhanced by Gina’s impressive collection of houseplants, including mother-in-law’s tongue, cacti, jade, aloe and various other succulents, that thrive in every room. “They are cleaning our air too!” Gina says.
Bond dining table: Jonathan Adler; dining chairs: All Modern; cork bench: Sinnerlig, Ikea; wooden bench: West Elm
Bond dining table: Jonathan Adler; dining chairs: All Modern; cork bench: Sinnerlig, Ikea; wooden bench: West Elm
The houseplants, including this dramatically sweeping fiddleleaf fig tree, are especially happy basking in the abundant sunlight provided by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living area.
Each plant is thoughtfully sourced. “There’s a story behind each plant,” Gina says. “The fiddly fig was a Mother’s Day gift from Jared four years ago and started out no bigger than 3 feet tall. Since moving into this home it has taken off. It is such a great house for plants because of all the light,” she adds.
The three tall floor planters and the coffee table were found at one of Gina’s favorite local shops, Coveted Home.
A custom arrangement of Bestå storage units from Ikea helps optimize space while sticking with the home’s modern and clean style.
The kitchen is the centerpiece of the main living area.
The bar height stools from All Modern are great for the kids and guests to socialize around the kitchen-centered home.
Even more plants are perched on the kitchen bar. “I love propagating plants from ones I already have and trading with friends and family,” Gina says. Doing this makes her growing collection even more special.
The planters she uses are a mix of vintage and new. She especially likes to source them from Kansas City local makers like The Object Enthusiast and Convivial Production.
The planters she uses are a mix of vintage and new. She especially likes to source them from Kansas City local makers like The Object Enthusiast and Convivial Production.
A leather sofa has been a durable family-friendly choice for seating. The pillows were handmade by MINNA and were purchased locally at Golden & Pine.
Meurice chandelier: Jonathan Adler; Souk wool rug in Ivory: West Elm; coffee table: West Elm
Meurice chandelier: Jonathan Adler; Souk wool rug in Ivory: West Elm; coffee table: West Elm
The Antipatico vase from Fornasetti on the entry console was a wedding gift to the couple. It’s Gina’s favorite piece.
The mirrored wall in the living room is original and, in Gina’s words, “we don’t hate it.” She feels it creates a more spacious feeling in their main living area.
“Someday we plan to take down the mirrors and build an addition. As the kids get bigger we’ll want to have more space for company,” Jared says.
“Someday we plan to take down the mirrors and build an addition. As the kids get bigger we’ll want to have more space for company,” Jared says.
“We try to source vintage as much as we can,” Gina says in finding items to use in decorating their home. Thrift stores and estate sales are where Gina likes to find knickknacks.
Features like the fireplace and front door previously were painted orange. Repainting them black was a quick fix to better fit the clean and minimal style of Gina’s decor.
Three-tiered accent table: Target (no longer available); see more plant stands
Three-tiered accent table: Target (no longer available); see more plant stands
The maser bedroom is a calm retreat, highlighted by a platform bed.
More houseplants can be found throughout the master bedroom.
Mattress: Sleeping Organic; bedding: Coyuchi; find more organic bedding
Mattress: Sleeping Organic; bedding: Coyuchi; find more organic bedding
Gina says that seeing toys all over the house used to really get to her. After witnessing their son and daughter’s creative minds build villages and putting together parties and different imaginary scenarios, she realized she wanted them to play freely throughout the house. “Plus, someday we will miss the mess, so we let them have it,” she adds. Everyone helps clean up though, and designated bins help keep things organized.
Both her daughter’s and her son’s bedrooms are glittered with personality. Lofted beds and smart organizational pieces from Ikea help maintain a clean space and, as Gina says, “in the words of Tom Yorke, ‘everything in its right place.’”
Beneath their son’s lofted bed is a space to do homework.
More houseplants can be found on their outdoor table, which is a popular family hangout spot throughout the summer. The couple painted their existing backyard fence gray.
Outdoor table: Falster, Ikea
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Outdoor table: Falster, Ikea
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Jared and Gina Holmberg; their son, Addison, 8; and their daughter, Frankie, 7
Location: Leawood, Kansas
Size: 1,700 square feet (158 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 1957
Gina and Jared Holmberg bought their modern ranch home in Leawood, Kansas, three years ago. When Gina, a makeup artist and stylist and owner of Within Apothecary, and her husband, Jared, a creative director, bought the house, the concrete floors were painted white but not sealed. “There were a lot of scratches, but we loved the idea of white floors,” she says. After some researching, the couple found a way to repaint and seal the floors throughout the house for a cleaner look. The new finish makes the spaces feel brighter and even more open. The tongue-and-groove ceiling beams are also painted white.