Kelly Caldbeck and Ted Thoms hired Neumann Monson to design a sleek home that complements its natural setting. Writer: Bryce Jones Photographer: Chris Boeke When Kelly Caldbeck and Ted Thoms couldn’t find their dream home in Des Moines, they decided to build it themselves. After tearing down an ol der house on a wooded property near Water Works Park, they worked with a design team to create a sleek, modern house that blurs the boundaries between indoors and out. “Nestling the views between the trees was very critical,” said architect Khalid Khan, a principal with Neumann Monson. “So it’s almost like the house emerges from the ground.” That connection begins at the entryway, where a water feature and transparent glass draw the eye through the house and toward the plunge pool and wooded trail beyond. In the summer, dense foliage provides privacy; in the winter, the bare trees allow more sunlight inside. Nature is visible from virtually every corridor, and the primary bedroom feels like a treehouse. Caldbeck said one of her favorite aspects of living there is being able to watch the seasons change, to see the flowers bloom and fade, to notice how the light shifts throughout the year. The couple wanted a clean, contemporary look from the beginning — a flat roof, integrated gutters and no overhangs. Inside, they wanted the layout to flow easily from one room to the next, so they cut pieces of foam board, like a puzzle, and experimented with various floor plans. The resulting design separates private spaces (bedrooms, work studio) from the public ones (living room, dining room, kitchen) in the east and west wings. Khan and his team at Neumann Monson were involved in every step of the process, from the overall structure to details like built-in cabinetry. They also worked with Morris Lare Interior Design to carry a consistent vision throughout the house. But the owners didn’t want all of those clean lines to make the home feel cold. Interior designers softened the modern architecture with colorful, textured fabrics, and Caldbeck added personal touches, too, including a botanical print the couple received as a wedding gift and a photo of a table in Greece they found at an art fair. “That was something I was struggling with during the design process,” she said. “Ted and I have the same taste, but I wanted to make sure there was a way we could find warmth with all of the clean lines and some of the simpler design aspects of it.” The home was also designed with company in mind. Caldbeck and Thoms asked themselves, “How can we encourage people to stay?” The answer includes plenty of amenities, from well-stocked beverage coolers to accommodations for overnight guests. Over the past year, the couple has hosted dinner parties, family holiday gatherings and community events, including a Ballet Des Moines reception and a WineFest Prima Dinner. The house is so welcoming that the owners don’t even need to be there. Once, while the couple was out, a friend called and asked when they’d be home — because he was already inside. The security system can grant access through facial recognition. “He said, ‘[We’re] watching TV and helping ourselves to a cocktail,’” Thoms recalled. “And that, man, that’s exactly what I want: people who want to just stop by, and they can help themselves and make themselves at home.” Beneath the hospitality and indoor-outdoor beauty is another layer of design, one that emphasizes energy efficiency and durability. Thoms had learned about passive-house design strategies through his contacts in the building trades, and the approach appealed to him as a way to build for the long term. With good insulation, controlled ventilation and other intentional elements, well-built houses can be comfortable, durable and energy-efficient for decades — even centuries — to come. At the new home, the roof and floor panels are insulated with Havelock Wool, a nontoxic material made from sheep’s wool. A permeable driveway reduces runoff and erosion. Trees removed during construction were milled into lumber for the home’s hardwood flooring. Khan said passive design is catching on nationwide as energy costs rise and interest in sustainability grows. For Caldbeck and Thoms, their house offered an opportunity not only to create a home for themselves but also demonstrate what’s possible. “It’s not using anything revolutionary or out of the ordinary,” Thom said. “With just a little bit more attention to detail in the construction process, you can create a home that will last 100, 200, 300 years because of how it’s built.” The new home was custom-built for entertaining, with a roomy kitchen that flows into space for dining and lounging. Sunlight moves through the house throughout the day, and some rooms feel like an airy treehouse. With a thoughtful skylight, even the bathroom offers a connection to the outdoors. The architects and interior designers teamed up to create a cohesive style throughout the entire home. A plunge pool juts off the back balcony, while picture windows pull sightlines through the building to the woods outside. Natural light illuminates even interior spaces, upstairs and down. Artwork from the homeowners’ travels adds a touch of personal style. Contributing writer Bryce Jones grew up in Cedar Rapids and writes about design, culture and beauty. Contributor Chris Boeke is the principal photographer at Chris Boeke Studio and specializes in architecture and design. ...read more read less