Lofty Ambitions

A local businessman turns his Old Town abode into a gallery of glass.

When Dave Cavenah moved to Wichita in 2003, he asked his real estate agent to show him the city’s downtown lofts and condos. Her response? “This is Kansas. We live in the suburbs here.” So, Cavenah and his cat followed suit, moving into a large house on the west side for about a year. When he heard the Grant Telegraph building in Old Town was being renovated into condos, however, he jumped at the chance. “It was a wonderful opportunity for me to change my lifestyle and live in this urban environment,” he says.

Cavenah had wanted to try loft living for years, and it has turned out to be all that he hoped for. He dines out frequently, often walking to Hana Café for sushi with neighbors. And when he isn’t taking advantage of Old Town, he often hosts guests. “This is a living environment perfect for entertainment,” says Cavenah, who regularly opens his loft for charity events with about 75 guests.

The two-story, 3,200-square-foot loft includes an atrium and a private rooftop deck. Cavenah, president of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs of Kansas insurance, actively designed his dream space, starting with just a shell of brick and concrete. He hired Key Construction as the general contractor to help renovate the space. The final product mixes traditional and contemporary, while infusing Cavenah’s love for art.

The most stunning part of the one-bedroom loft is an impressive, Chihuly-like glass mural. The red, blue, yellow and green piece of art is the creation of Dennis Mullen, an artist who once served as a gaffer for Dale Chihuly. Cavenah planned for the piece from the beginning as he designed his loft, sending Mullen pictures and measurements in advance. In December 2004, Mullen arrived to install it. Today, the large mural remains the loft’s highlight. Every six months or so, Cavenah climbs up on a ladder to clean it himself, though he always makes sure someone is around in case he should fall to the first floor.

Other beautiful works, including paintings of nature scenes mixed with contemporary glass pieces, line the warehouse loft’s brick walls. “My living environment needs to be filled with art because I enjoy it,” says Cavenah. A Chihuly piece rests on a library table, and a Michael Nourot vase serves as a centerpiece on the dining table. Two of the loft owner’s own glass pieces, a window and a Tiffany-style lamp, round out the first-floor décor. Cavenah spent a lot of time on lighting, an important consideration for any glass art collection. “You’ve got better lighting than most museums,” one lighting contractor told him.

Cavenah’s interest in Mullen and Chihuly is nothing new. He has long been fascinated by glass as a medium and even owned a studio in Sherman Oaks, California, in the ’60s. Tina Turner once bought one of his windows, and actor Jack Lemmon bought a lamp. That wasn’t his first brush with fame, though.

Cavenah grew up in Studio City, California, carpooling to school with Annette Funicello. After serving in the military, he earned degrees in English and journalism from the University of Colorado and then was a courier for the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. Cavenah says glasswork was originally what he called an “income-producing hobby.” It became full-time work when he had the studio, but then he married and had children. Insurance was steadier and more reliable. The business took him to Seattle, Corpus Christi and, most recently, Wichita. “There is a real sense of community here,” Cavenah says. “I love living here.”

Beyond his art collection, it’s easy to see why Cavenah appreciates his downtown loft so much. Cherry wood floors cover much of the space. The entryway calls attention to a dramatic wood-and-metal staircase designed by Cavenah. The staircase also creates a niche for a large raku pottery piece. (Raku is a form of Japanese pottery that utilizes low firing temperatures.) The rest of the first floor opens up into a large space, with the kitchen at the center for entertaining. Exposed red brick walls with old advertising signs surround the warehouse loft. Cavenah chose his particular unit for the old metal fire door, which fills the space behind his dining table. Beyond the mural and the fire door is the kitchen, sitting area and powder rooms. The kitchen has dark granite countertops, cherry cabinets with stainless steel appliances and room for wine storage. The floors are slate tile. Nancy Withers from Kitchen & Bath Gallery helped with the cabinet selection.

Cavenah’s bedroom is on the second floor, requiring another pass by the Mullen glass mural. His spacious room is divided into an office section and bed area. The exposed brick wall has a sign reading “STORAGE.” “I can’t think of a better name for my bedroom than storage,” Cavenah says. The master bath is appointed with upgraded finishes, and he has a large walk-in closet, complete with a washer and dryer for convenience. The staircase continues up to the rooftop deck, the perfect spot to witness Wichita celebrations and Old Town nightlife. The view makes it a popular hangout during charity events.

While Cavenah is enjoying his time in the heart of Wichita, he’ll be sad to leave town—and his dream home—later this year when he retires to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to his grown children. “I think a lot of people who live here don’t know how good they have it,” he says.

Resource Guide
• Key Construction
241 W. 2nd St. N, 316-263-9515

• Kitchen & Bath Gallery
2823 E. Douglas, 316-686-7938

• Art:
    – Dale Chihuly
    – Dennis Mullen
    – Michael Nourot