A Regal Retreat

Randy and Shelly Belles’ home at Watercress blends Old World with Southwest style.

Neighbors call them “the king and queen on the hill.” Really, Randy and Shelly Belles reside in a 2,200-square-foot abode that sits on more of a mound than a hill. But standing out was the whole idea when the Belles couple broke ground on their new house last April. “We didn’t want anything cookie-cutter about our home, such as siding or the normal roofing applications,” says Shelly.

From an Old World-theme upstairs and a raised porch in back to a Southwest décor downstairs with a stuffed buffalo named Buffy Belle, the couple accomplished their goal.

After living in a 1,500-square-foot town home for the past several years, Randy and Shelly decided in early 2007 that it was time build their dream home, with quality in the details. So they chose a corner lot in Watercress, a new housing development in Maize, and began making plans. As vice president of operations for Robl Construction, a custom home builder in the Wichita area for more than 30 years, Randy already had a firm grasp on what goes into building a new home. “We had a pretty good idea what we wanted to do before the building process,” says Randy. But it was Shelly, a global customer relations representative at Spirit Aerosystems, who laid out the home’s blueprints with Robl’s vice president of design, Jeff Wiens. In only five months, the home went from concept to completion.

The Belles home’s entire layout builds from the kitchen. “We started with a kitchen concept and designed around it,” says Shelly, who enjoys cooking with Randy when she’s not traveling abroad for her job. A vaulted 20-foot ceiling opens up the space and provides a large ceiling for the hearth room. Two islands with granite countertops from Quality Granite add plenty of room for cooking. A bronze, diamond-shaped backsplash is a composite tile used in Boeing’s 787. On the walls is a textured design, consisting of plaster with glaze over it. Above the stove is a large black wooden façade that houses the exhaust system and adds height to compliment the tall ceilings. Off to one side of the kitchen is a butler’s pantry, a narrow area with counter space for hosting and serving dinners. Below the counter is a packed wine fridge for the Napa Valley Wine Club members. The other side of the kitchen flows into a cozy office, where Randy and Shelly spend many weekend mornings drinking coffee.

The rest of the upstairs follows an Old World design, with primarily Earth-colored tones and floral arrangements brought in by Twigs of Wichita’s Iven Kelley. Throughout the upstairs rooms are tall arched windows and wooden trim. “We wanted to incorporate arches all throughout the house,” says Shelly.

Doors on the north side of the living room and master bedroom provide access to a raised patio. Elevating the patio added privacy, security and a prime view of the large backyard. The alfresco area includes a stone fireplace, iron railing and a large Jacuzzi next to the stone and stucco walls. The backyard’s large lower patio and beautiful landscaping make it an inviting place to spend warm evenings. There are also picnic tables and chairs inside a tree line at the edge of the property. “We really wanted to utilize every inch,” says Shelly.

Back inside, the master bedroom has a king-sized bed from Havertys and memorabilia from Shelly’s travels around the world, including India and Russia. The large master bath includes a walk-in shower with rainshower heads and heated floors.

Transitioning between two distinct décors—from Old World upstairs to Southwestern downstairs—was no easy task, but the stairway off the kitchen pulls it off nicely. Black iron railing and a chandelier from Accent Lighting provide a style fitting for both design themes.

Downstairs, in the finished basement, are 9-foot ceilings. “We didn’t want it to feel like a basement, so we raised the ceilings,” say Randy. The downstairs living room has a stone fireplace built into a wooden hearth. One-inch-thick rock on a winding bench protects the wood, and four leather chairs provide great comfort for watching movies. Shelly, who is part American Indian, wanted to pay homage to her roots with the Southwest décor. A poster of Mesa Verde hangs on one wall, and a painting of American Indians hangs on another. Animal mounts with names like Buffy Belle (a buffalo), B.B. Belle (a bear), Armadee Belles (an armadillo) and Ducky Belle (a mallard duck) decorate the room. A shuffleboard in a large nook provides a place for Randy and Shelly to unwind. “We wanted to bring in a fun addition, but we didn’t want to get something obvious like a pool table,” says Shelly.

A large kitchenette with multicolored slate tiles, knotty alder cabinets, granite countertops and a tumbled-stone backsplash. “Shelly went and picked out all of the tile at The Design Gallery in two hours one evening,” says Randy. “The guys at the tile place couldn’t believe it.” The bar area allows the family to entertain without ever leaving the basement.

The rest of the downstairs follows the same Southwestern theme, with a cow skull, pottery from Colorado and a boat-shaped bookshelf in Jack and Jill-style guest rooms. “We wanted our guests to have plenty of privacy when they come over,” says Shelly.

From the large ceiling in the kitchen to the Southwestern-themed basement, the Belles’ home provides a cozy setting for the busy couple to unwind. “I travel a lot for work and Randy keeps busy, so we really appreciate just spending time together at home,” says Shelly. “For us, this house is our vacation.”