The Fosters were able to turn their master closet into a desk because they now use the second main floor bedroom as a wardrobe with recycled shelving, seating and plenty of room for style ... both home and fashion.
house—a bedroom converted to a walk-in- closet—wouldn’t be possible without a little creativity and repurposing. “Someone once brought this shelving into RE, and we had it sitting in the warehouse
for a long time,” Jackie says. “I knew immediately that it would work per- fectly in our closet, so when RE moved into a new building, we snatched up the shelving and got to work putting it in the house.” As it turns out, those shelves weren’t just from some random space, but rather, they were remnants from the North Kansas City Library. Jackie is thrilled that she could extend the life of the shelves, while in turn making her closet functional and historical. “The greatest thing about this closet is that the shelves fit perfectly,” she says. “In fact, I have a little bench in there that fits so tightly be- tween the shelving units, we didn’t even have to screw or nail it in place. It’s literally in there like a glove. Like it was supposed to happen.” The color palette for the Foster’s hobbit home is uncharacteristic compared to Jackie’s previous track record. In her past homes, color took center stage, revolving around rich greens, golds and reds. Now, she is content with a neutral palette of grays with an occasional pop of a bluish- green, found in the curtains of her dining room. The neutral background allows her to swap out pieces and try new things without having to paint
“I feel like this house is more ‘me’ and ‘us’ than any other home we’ve owned,” she says. “It’s a reflection of our true selves. A chip on the old dining table adds character rather than an ‘oh no, we have to fix that!’ moment.” It may be hard to imagine now, but when first moving in, Jackie started with an almost entirely blank slate. Now, each and every corner of space has been decorated and filled with great thought and precision. A few family heirlooms, however, will always take center stage in the home. “My mom and dad bought the vanity in my master closet when they were married. When they got into a bit of a financial bind, they sold it to my aunt, and she used it for years. Then, when she passed away, the vanity was willed back to my dad, and he gave it to me. I use it to hold my jewelry, and I love that it’s made its way throughout our family and will stay there.” It’s stories like this that keep Jackie feeling connected to her family and her home. She intentionally chooses pieces that speak to her design aesthetic and sensibility, even if those pieces may not be used the way they were originally intended. For example, Jackie’s favorite room in the
25 vintagekc spring 2015
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