Cover Story March 2025
Planning Pays Off
Design by Cindy McCord Design and Karen Kassen of Kitchens Unlimited | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Ross Group Creative
It all started when Dean Rose decided he wanted to have a woodworking shop. Since that wouldn't be possible at the Germantown house he and his wife Denise had built in 1998, his dream would require a move. Although she admits she wasn't fully on board with the idea from day one, Denise says she became a believer when her husband told her that if they built a new place, she could have a downstairs art studio and it could be as big as she wanted.
The Roses took their time, searching almost three years for just the right place. Dean knew it the minute he saw it. The 15-acre parcel in Eads had plenty of room for a house and a shop. There was even a pond to accommodate his other hobby—fishing.
They bought the property in 2019 and assembled a tried-and-true team they had used when building their Germantown home: architect Brad Shapiro, Kitchens Unlimited designer Karen Kassen and contractor Hank Hill. Cindy McCord, a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience in residential and commercial interior design, brought a wealth of experience to the project as she joined the team.
Having lived in their previous house for over 20 years, the couple had definite ideas about what they wanted in a new one. They also knew that careful planning on the front end would be crucial to achieving their very distinct vision. Says Kassen, "Because we'd done her other house, Denise realized that we had to start working on specifics early. We went through each room in her Germantown house, and she pointed out favorite features and shared ideas for the new place.”
The tour not only helped the pros understand what their client had in mind, it gave them the chance to customize the project to a degree rarely found. Says Kassen, "Denise wanted a sewing area in her studio, so I measured all of her sewing equipment and designed a space just for it," says Kassen.
McCord and Kassen collaborated closely, as they often do, to make sure that the cabinetry materials and finishes would mesh perfectly into the broader design plan. "Before we ever met with the Roses, Cindy came in and we put our heads together," says Kassen. "She brought her vision for the colors and the fabrics, and then I made choices that would fit with it." That degree of planning resulted in a home that is filled with purposeful, beautiful spaces.
Moreover, the house is perfectly suited to its owners. From siting the home to maximize views of the pond to drawing walls to accommodate specific pieces of furniture, Shapiro delivered exactly what the Roses had in mind.
Examples of just how personalized the home is are evident from the first step inside the entryway. The walls are paneled in quarter-sawn white oak; handsome stained and paintwashed beams sourced from Gates Lumber grace the ceiling. Those choices, along with other details concerning the woodwork, were important to master craftsman Dean. An ingenious concealed door hides a stairway down to the partial basement that houses utilities and plumbing.
The main living space, though grand in scale, feels cozy thanks to three distinct areas McCord created. Denise didn't want a formal dining room or a table and chairs in the kitchen. Instead, she envisioned a spot to gather a large group for family meals in the main room. McCord delivered with a custom double-width table that seats 12 in contemporary upholstered chairs. The dining furniture serves as a natural divider between the TV viewing area on one end and a conversation nook with four swivel chairs near the stone fireplace.
Off to the side, the handsome bar has a decidedly masculine feel. Dark stained cabinetry gives the space weight, while a glass mosaic backsplash and coppery-finished bar top add Craftsman-style elements that blend perfectly with the home's overall casual feel.
The bar connects to the scullery, a room designed to have "a place for everything and everything in its place," and in a beautiful manner, to boot. One wall's glass-front cabinets and drawers hold Denise's large collection of dinnerware; another was designed to keep her assortment of small appliances at arm's reach. On a third wall are open shelves with all shapes and sizes of pottery serving pieces. Kassen even designed a custom spot for Denise's folding step stool, a must-have in a room with cabinets all the way to the 10-foot ceiling.
Purposeful, organized spaces abound in the adjacent kitchen, a chef's dream with every convenience imaginable. The centerpiece, located in one of two large islands, is a specialized work station called The Galley. Thoughtfully designed for all-in-one food preparation and serving, the unit is housed in a custom case called a dresser. Inside are all the tools necessary to create any meal. The included cutting boards, bowls and trays fit on top of the oversized sink, allowing Denise to prepare food, serve and clean up in the same space. The rest of the kitchen is just as organized, thanks to much pre-planning. Denise says nothing was left to guesswork when it came to storage. "I knew where everything was going to go when I moved in because we had worked so long on the plan.
The kitchen is as beautiful as it is organized. Kassen and McCord masterfully mixed walnut, white and deep blue cabinets in different areas, in keeping with the palette established in the living area into which the room opens. White Lavezzi quartzite counters surround the perimeter, allowing a bolder pattern stone, Celeste, to take center stage on the center island.
Just a few steps away are the rear entry and pantry, and their placement is definitely by design. "I wanted to walk from the garage right into the kitchen with the groceries. At my other house, it was a long way from where I came into the house," Denise says. Among the pantry's design elements is a specialized rolling cabinet section that allows the Roses to move their family's beloved double frozen drink machine easily when it's party time.
A wide hallway leads from the family room past the large laundry room, complete with a built-in dog washing area, to what Denise calls her favorite part of the home. Her studio is roomy, comfortable, and gives her room to paint, sew, exercise or relax. It's no wonder she admits, "I could stay in here all the time!" A fireplace and a pair of armchairs create a comfortable vignette just inside the door. Paintings by Denise and several of her favorite artists grace the walls. Complete with a sink for washing brushes, the art area is lined with shelving units to hold a multitude of supplies.
The home's three guest bedrooms are inviting and beautiful, an artful mix of pieces brought from the Roses' previous home, new acquisitions sourced by McCord, and original furniture created by the woodworker in the family. Every bedroom has an adjoining bath, each with an elegant yet different look curated by Kassen.
The primary bedroom's bay window overlooks the pond, creating a serene feel. Soft grays and neutrals on the walls, bedding and upholstery further the tranquil mood. A wall of built-in shelves holds family photos, mementoes, pottery and books.
"My last bathroom was very feminine—yellow with roses on the wallpaper. I wanted this one to be more of a mix, with some masculine touches," Denise says, pointing out the reeded detail on the quarter-sawn white oak cabinetry. Kassen and McCord made sure the primary bath was not without feminine touches, including elegant marble countertops and floors and a pair of scalloped pendant light fixtures with linen shades. The bathroom cabinets are just as specialized as those in the kitchen, with an assortment of purpose-built features.
The home's outdoor spaces received the same careful attention as the interior, and the results are spectacular. The plan created by landscape architect Marley Fields added even more natural beauty to the pastoral setting. An infinity pool, built by Jay West Pools, spills into a waterfall on the patio area below, creating beauty and soothing sound.
The Roses can enjoy their large screened porch year round thanks to the addition of vinyl coverings that can be automatically lowered in place of the screens in bad weather. A fireplace and heaters chase the cold away so the family can relax, watch TV or dine comfortably. Hidden away behind barn doors when not in use, the nearby outdoor kitchen includes everything necessary to prepare a meal al fresco.
Each area of the home is a study in how beauty, comfort and purpose can combine at the highest level. These qualities don't just come together by happenstance, however. As McCord says, "So much planning had to be done beforehand to accomplish all this." Clearly, planning pays off.
