My Houzz: Airy Style in a Ceramist’s Downtown High-Rise
Houseplants and pottery help a simple, bright aesthetic come together in this couple’s Kansas City rental apartment
Both Stephen and Chentell, pictured, list the north-facing view and windows that fill the space with light as a favorite feature of the apartment. One of Stephen’s favorite pieces of decor is the map hanging above their love seat.
“When we first got married, we had nothing, which was actually wonderful because it allowed us to start from scratch and build our style cohesively, and he was adamant on having a map to keep up on his geography,” Chentell says. “Additionally, while we can’t see the whole world from our home, the windows allow us to see more than the standard place. We get to look out and see the building lights changing throughout the day, the cars racing by, and the fog settling in and out.”
“When we first got married, we had nothing, which was actually wonderful because it allowed us to start from scratch and build our style cohesively, and he was adamant on having a map to keep up on his geography,” Chentell says. “Additionally, while we can’t see the whole world from our home, the windows allow us to see more than the standard place. We get to look out and see the building lights changing throughout the day, the cars racing by, and the fog settling in and out.”
Chentell remembers being young and hunting for bargains with her grandfather. “We would go to the flea market looking for wicker baskets, brass canisters and old hats,” she says. Now that she is older and has a home of her own, every time she visits her grandfather, he lets her rummage through his place and take something home. Most of the round wicker wall hangings and the brass pieces are sentimental items from Chentell’s grandfather.
Mörbylanga dining table and Preben dining chairs: Ikea
Mörbylanga dining table and Preben dining chairs: Ikea
“I approach my work at Convivial, both when designing new items and when setting up our workshop, in the same way that I approach setting up our home,” Chentell says. “I want our items to be simple, functional and inspiring. I want our production space to be simple, functional, inspiring.”
Tufted armchair and Erik leather wing chair: West Elm; Reverse throw in black and linen: Happy Habitat
Tufted armchair and Erik leather wing chair: West Elm; Reverse throw in black and linen: Happy Habitat
Many of Chentell’s handmade Convivial Production ceramic pieces are displayed throughout the apartment. Her dishes, planters and bowls are thoughtfully designed and made to be practical and refined.
With all the natural light, houseplants thrive in their space, and Family Tree Nursery is Chentell’s favorite local place to shop for them. The thing Chentell misses most about their previous home is the garden. “I love the idea of decreasing the number of visits to the grocery store by supplementing our daily greens with produce from the garden. Living in a skyscraper doesn’t allow for this, unfortunately. It’s a trade-off for sure,” she says.
The dining area shares the same view as the living area. “I love watching the weather wash over the city and seeing it change throughout the day. We are on the 17th floor and have windows that overlook the north end of the city. My husband and I have never been so in tune with the weather,” Chentell says. “The brightness of the sunrise wakes us up each morning, inspiring us to get going earlier than normal. And when it’s storming, we turn on Bach cello suites and watch the lightning from our windowsills. It all feels so magical.”
One windowsill doubles as a bookshelf. The couple have a deep love of books, and Chentell styled them with the pages facing out. “The variations in color, graphics and fonts of all the different book covers can make a space feel a bit cluttered,” she says. “My husband loves to have them out, and I prefer to read them and then put them away.”
“When choosing items for our home, I often come back to this thought: I want my space and, in turn, my life to be one of intentionality. I want it to be simple, warm, inspiring and, of course, functional. I want our guests to feel the same when they visit.”
Bistro counter stools: Cost Plus World Market; browse similar bar stools
Bistro counter stools: Cost Plus World Market; browse similar bar stools
Tucked into the corner, the kitchen remains open to the views while allowing for interaction between the couple or with guests when preparing meals.
The apartment’s existing dark wood cabinets work well with the couple’s primarily wood-and-white aesthetic.
V1 hanging planter: Convivial Production; Montana acacia-and-glass jars: Crate & Barrel; find similar kitchen canisters and jars
V1 hanging planter: Convivial Production; Montana acacia-and-glass jars: Crate & Barrel; find similar kitchen canisters and jars
The bedroom also features light-filled downtown views. The bathroom is accessible through a sliding door.
Moon art: Coveted Home
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.
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Moon art: Coveted Home
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: Stephen and Chentell Shannon
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Size: About 1,000 square feet (93 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Chentell and Stephen Shannon recently settled into a 17th-floor rental apartment in the heart of downtown Kansas City, Missouri, after relocating from a nearby suburb. Chentell is the founder and designer of Convivial Production, a ceramics company, and Stephen is a graduate student at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Although they miss their previous garden, they, in Chentell’s words, “love walking straight out of the front door into the rush of the city.”
They also love the other perks of living downtown. “I typically run in the mornings before work and love watching the people that are out and about. I love being close to the farmers market. I love being close to a handful of local cafes,” Chentell says.
The planter on the coffee table is an original piece by Chentell.
Area rug, coffee table and Crosby midcentury love seat: West Elm; wall map: WaterColor Maps, Etsy; Minimal curved planter: Convivial Production