Blog Post

Building a home from the ground up is one of the most personal journeys a family can take. It's not just about square footage, finishes, or floor plans. It's about creating a space that holds your family's story, supports your daily rhythms, and nurtures your well-being.

That's why we're thrilled to introduce a new blog series that takes you behind the scenes of a real home-building journey. Over the coming weeks, we'll be following Lindsey Wolski and her family as they share what it's actually like to build with Starr Homes, from the first vision to the moment they turn the key in their new front door. Lindsey and her family just completed their build and are settling into their new Overland Park home!

Lindsey brings a rare and valuable perspective to this experience. As a Kansas City-based interior designer who has designed and built two custom homes of her own, she's mastered the art of blending creativity with analytical precision. Her unconventional background of 15 years in fintech followed by a decade as a holistic health coach has shaped a distinctive approach to home design that prioritizes function, family life, and wellness-focused intentional living.

Whether you're considering a custom home yourself or simply curious about what goes into creating a space designed around wellness and lifestyle, this 3 part blog series offers an authentic inside look at how vision becomes reality.

In Part 1: Plan & Design, we're starting at the very beginning, at that pivotal moment when dreams start taking shape on paper. You'll discover the emotions, the priorities, and the collaborative process that turned one family's hopes into a tangible plan.

Because at Starr Homes, we believe the best homes aren't just built. They're thoughtfully crafted around the people who will live in them.

From Lindsey: 

Our Custom Home Journey: The Plan Design Phase

"In April 2024, we got the call that put our world on tilt. We were getting transferred from St. Louis to Kansas City. Originally from Chicago, we had lived in St. Louis for the previous 5 years and it was there that we thought we had a once in a lifetime opportunity when we built our custom dream home. Leaving behind the home that we had poured our hearts into designing and building was a punch to the gut not only because every detail reflected our family, but also because we understood what it felt like to live in an environment that we designed specifically for the way we live. 

While house hunting in KC, we stumbled upon the parade of homes tour and found ourselves at a Starr home. We saw many homes on the parade, but the Starr home was our favorite — not just because of the way it felt and looked, but because of the conversation we had with the Starr team member. It felt like we were talking to an old friend who cared about giving us advice on areas to consider living. 

The universe seemed to align and sent us all the signals to move forward with building again — this time in Overland Park, with Starr Homes. 

(Lindsey, Ryon, and their daughters at the site of their future home)

What inspired us to build a custom home?

We knew we wanted to create a home that truly supports who we are: a busy, active family who values wellness, connection, and beautiful-but-functional design.

For us, the inspiration came from two places: experience and aspiration. We had built once before, and that build taught us exactly how much power there is in crafting a home around the rhythm of your family.

We wanted a space that reflected the things we value most — functionality that allowed for organized living, an environment that supported our focus on wellness and a home that would allow us to host and entertain our out-of-town family and friends. 

More than anything, we wanted a home that felt like an anchor—somewhere our kids would always remember as the place where family happened.

How we approached the plan design process with Starr Homes:

From the very first meeting with the Starr Homes team, we approached plan design collaboratively with Gerry Starr. Watching him craft our floor plan in real time as we gave feedback and brainstormed every nook and cranny of our home was wild. We took things we loved from our last home and improved upon things that we realized could have been better. 

Some spaces were non-negotiable for us:

• A kitchen layout optimized for wellness and efficiency, including space for organized nutrition systems and plenty of counter workspace for meal prep.

• A fitness room with space to grow to help keep us focused on our daily wellness routine.

• A mudroom built for real family life—sports gear, school bags, everything having a home.

• Spaces for connection, from the game room in the lower level, to the pool deck and lower lanai — we envisioned making memories as we host our friends and family. 

The Starr team listened deeply. They never forced a template. Instead, they helped us translate lifestyle into layout.

(Early sketches during the plan design process)

What it felt like working with the Starr Homes team at this stage:

This is the part where I can’t say enough good things. Designing a home can feel vulnerable—you’re sharing how your family lives, what stresses you out, what brings you joy, what habits you want to support. But from day one, we felt seen.

There were moments that made us feel:

• Supported: when they asked thoughtful questions about how we actually move through mornings, evenings, and weekends.

• Confident: when the first draft of the plan incorporated both beauty and practicality.

• Excited: every time a new idea sparked—like re-configuring a hallway to bring in more light or expanding the mudroom functionality.

It truly felt like a partnership rather than a transaction.

The plan design phase wasn’t just a step in the process—it was the foundation for everything that will follow. This is where the heart of our home took shape, and it set the tone for the build journey ahead."

Stay tuned for Part 2, where Lindsey takes us through the building process and the moments that mattered most along the way!

About Lindsey

Lindsey Wolski is a Kansas City–based interior designer, providing her clients with the end-to-end experience of rendering and visualizing a space or home, designing it and then organizing it upon move in. Having designed and built two luxury custom homes, she found a love for blending creativity with a deeply analytical background. After 15 years in fintech and a decade of holistic health coaching, Lindsey brings a uniquely well-rounded perspective to home design—one that prioritizes function, family life, and intentional living that’s wellness focused.

Lindsey and her husband, Ryon, just built their second custom home in Overland Park with their daughters, Harper (11) and Sloan (7). Originally from Chicago, their family has lived in Kansas City for over a year.

As a client and collaborator with Starr Homes, Lindsey loves sharing her experience and helping others feel empowered and inspired during their own home-building journey. 

Learn more at: https://www.instagram.com/create.calm.studio?igsh=czdmdW50MTFudGMy&utm_source=qr