The Golden City - Style Issue SEPTEMBER 2022
Back to school can mean increased exposure to injuries or illness. Our board-certified emergency physicians are experienced in providing compassionate, personalized emergency care for patients of all ages. Now partnering with KS Pediatrics to provide prompt pediatric specialty care your family deserves. Lab and radiology imaging services on-site. 785-670-6760 topekahospital.com6135 SW 17th St., Topeka, KS 66615 IN NETWORK BENEFITS. OUTSTANDING CARE. ALL PRIVATE INSURANCES ACCEPTED $25 SCHOOL SPORTS PHYSICALS NO APPOINTMENT REQUIRED
Free Hearing Tests • Family owned and operated 3641 Southwest Plass Ave | (785) 266-2000 | topekahearing.com cjonline.com EDIGER HEARING AID SERVICE INC. Preview Arc AI, the best YourtechnologyrechargeablefromAudibelHearingisOurConcern. Hearing Excellence is Our Passion. Schedule a free hearing test today. Hear what You’ve Been Missing In business since 1981 HearingFREETest : 30-DayFREETrial IHS (International Hearing Society) HIS (Hearing Instrument Specialist) Rick Ediger
A retail store featuring CUSTOM FURNITURE | CURATED DECOR ITEMS | CUSTOM ART Curating the Clean and Approachable Look of Thiessen Design @homeatlastco @homeatlastco
September is known as Fashion and Style month in the magazine world, and we are thrilled to participate in that tradition. Styles are ever-changing, and the fashion world continuously brings us exciting new trends as well as fresh takes on old favorites. Each era has its own unique looks, and some cycle back decades later, like bell bottom jeans and tie dye tees today. By the way, I love these blasts from the past because I'm a product of the 70's. Honestly, my friends say that I'm still a hippie at heart based on my personal clothing and style and music preference! LOL In this issue not only are we bringing you fashion tips from three promi nent Golden City men, but we are also sharing unique jewelry, showcasing interior spaces, (including a fascinating living wall trend), and introducing you to seven local artists - each with their own distinct style. I had the pleasure of meeting with and talking to each of these amazing artists, and I was absolutely blown away by their creativity and talent. Wait until you see their Fashion,work! jewelry, and home decor choices all reveal a little bit of our per sonality. It’s a great way to express our inner selves. So take some tips from our pages and bring on Fall in your own best style. We’ll see you around town!
@TOPEKALIFESTYLE PUBLISHER Brian Rodehorst | brian.rodehorst@citylifestyle.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Kathy Graham | kathy.graham@citylifestyle.com STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Thomas Hall | thomas.hall@eagleaerialworld.com Kristol Kumar | kristol@kristolkumar.com STAFF WRITERS Sue Baldani | suebaldani@yahoo.com Linda Ditch | lindaaditch@gmail.com Kelsey Huber | khuber2@gmail.com SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Creative Pathways & Partner@pathwaymeans.comMeans AD DESIGNER Hunter Richie LAYOUT DESIGNER Eva Tucker CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Miranda Chavez-Hazim September 2022 Scan QR code to visit our Instagram LIFESTYLE LETTER Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell LIFESTYLE LETTER Proverbs 3:5-6 Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com/franchise CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKA | Topeka City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Topeka area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Topeka City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.6
Your own best style
EDITORIAL
KATHY GRAHAM, COORDINATOR
STYLE ISSUE -
2827 SW 29th St., Topeka KS, 66614 By appointment • 785-380-4446 • heartandhomedesignco.com 7| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
inside the issue The Style Issue SEPTEMBER 2022 ON THE COVER DEPARTMENTS 6 Lifestyle Letter 10 City Scene 12 Business Monthly 16 Local’s Choice SHOPPING 22 Artist’s Palette ARTS + CULTURE 28 Inspired By HOME + DESIGN 38 Decor Trends HOME + DESIGN 41 Realty Report REAL ESTATE 44 Travel Journal TRAVEL 48 Fashion Forward STYLE + BEAUTY 28 1648 22 FEATURED 16 A Local Gem Add a little beauty and create a little sparkle in your life 22 Meet the Makers: Artist Edition 28 The Accidental Influencer You Never Know Where Sharing Your Passion Will Lead You 48 Diversified Style Fashion that reflects their inner personalities Photography: Thomas Hall Content Creator, Caroline Bevins stunning dinning room decor. 8
great love (785) 217 4603 lisa@theadoptiongroup.com www.theadoptiongroup.com Lisa M. Williams McCallum Attorney & Counselor at Law Infant Adoption Private/Public Agency Adoption Stepparent Adoption Single Parent Adoption Relative Adoption Adult Adoption LGBTQ Adoption Foreign Adoption THERE ARE ALWAY MIRACLES WHERE THERE IS
1-2: Undercover 80’s Band playing at Evergy Plaza’s Envista’s Eats & Beats. 3-4: Fiesta Mexicana Topeka at the Evergy Plaza. 5: V & Don Heiland love date nights in Topeka! Each date we try something new. 6: Sara Schultz making a statement in all red. 7: Kelli Duermeier is getting ready to help people show their best colour. Photo: Emma Highfill 1 3 67542 city scene SEPTEMBER 2022 CITY SCENE Where neighbors can see and be seen. Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @topekalifestyle @SHELBYDPHOTO@SHELBYDPHOTO @EVERGYPLAZA@EVERGYPLAZA@V.HEILAND @HOUSEOFCOLOUR_TOPEKA_KELLI@TOPCITYSTYLED 10
PROFESSIONAL, RELIABLE & CLEAN CHAUFFEURED GROUND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES CORPORATE SERVICES • AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION • WEDDING & EVENTS CONTACT US cortez@corteztc.com | 785.233.5466 | www.corteztc.com 11| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
House of ColourIdentify Your Best You House of Colour Topeka is excited to have a permanent home in the capital city. House of Colour stylist, Kelli Duermeier (associate to Heidi Nowitzke), believes everyone deserves to feel confident in what they wear, and offers both color and style consul tations. She can help you identify your best colors and shapes of clothing, and can help build a capsule wardrobe, where every piece of clothing, acces sories and jewelry speak to who you are. Find her on Instagram @houseofcolour_topeka_kelli TopekaTeam Blake September 11th is the 7th Annual Team Blake Golf Tournament where all proceeds benefit children bat tling cancer. September is Childhood cancer awareness month. Our mis sion is to assist in reducing the bur den of childhood cancer and other life-threatening illnesses on children and their families. We accomplish this by: providing care packages to children who are going through the unimaginable, providing spiritual, emotional and financial support to the families with medical cost and other related expenses. foreverteamblake.com
Scan to read more. Scan to read more. Scan to read more. Want to be featured? Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Topeka 12
BUSINESS MONTHLY SEPTEMBER 2022
Jen's House & Commercial Cleaning follow a 65-point checklist which focuses on kitchens, family and bedrooms, bathrooms, floors and dusting your whole house, or you can request a Special Clean which they will gladly do because you don't have the time or don't want to. These professionals design your house cleaning solution around your needs, where you don't have to worry about anything...they bring all the supplies and equipment and a premier quality control method. For more information visit jenshousecleaning.com
. Be Involved
business monthly
Jen's House CleaningProviding weekly, biweekly, monthly and single-day services!
A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.
785.431.3277 | HEATHERTopeka,safelysunning.comKansasSOUTHER OWNER + SPRAY TAN GUNSLINGER 18 YEARS EXPERIENCE SAFELYSUNNING.COM TO SCHEDULE @safelysunning 785-273-4443 2840 SW Urish Road Topeka, Kansas * Results vary based on starting weight and program adherence. Featured patient success stories did not receive promotional consideration. Join the 30,000+ patients who have lost over 500,000 lbs* with Board Certified Physician & Weight Loss Specialist, Dr. Rick Tague! Personalized, Non-Surgical Weight Loss TreatmentSCHEDULEYOURFREENO-OBLIGATIONCONSULTATION TagueNutrition.com SCAN ME TO LEARN MORE 13| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
“Overall, they encompass so much of your needs, particularly when you get my age or older. You need a network of people who are professionals. It’s nice to have a family around, but family are not professionals, that is why you need PACE,” said Forcade. For more information about PACE, please contact Midland Care at 800-491-3691. The sooner you call; the sooner we can help.
Ten years ago, Michael Forcade made a bet to get on the Midland Care’s Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program and it has paid o . PACE is the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. It helps people 55 and older stay in their home by wrapping services around them. Michael really enjoys the Midland Care sta , and shares, “All of the people are excellent, that is why I’ve stayed with the Forcadeprogram.”credits the PACE program with keeping healthy and helping him stay in his home as long as possible.
14
Jen’s - House and Commercial Cleaning LLC• Home/Office • Carpet/Upholstery Cleaning • Rental Make-Ready • New Home Final Phase • Spot/Stain Removal • Deodorizing • Window Washing • Bio-recoveryjenshousecleaning.com785-286-2463 Apparel & Accessories for the Esteemed, Dignified & Prominent(785)230-5837 117 SW 6th Ave Topeka, Kansas www.facebook.com/DistinqueGentleman66603
Safely with PACE!
Remain at Home
MUDJACKING • FOUNDATION REPAIR WATERPROOFING • EGRESS WINDOWS • DIRT WORK HOMES, BASEMENTS, SIDEWALKS, GARAGES, PORCHES, PATIOS, SLABS, AND MORE! VETRAN OWNED AND OPERATED KEEPING YOUR HOME AND FAMILY SAFE WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION Call for a estimate!FREE(785) CNCFOUNDATIONREPAIR.COM246-2023 SHOP LOCAL. SHOP BROOKWOOD. WE OFFER FULL SERVICE NAIL, HAIR, SPRAY TANNING, BROW AND WAXING SERVICES. BELLAVITA PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN SALON. 2910 SW OAKLEY AVE. SUITE G | 785.272.1677 Located at 29th & Oakley shopbrookwood.com BETOPEKAINVOLVED Local StoriesNon-ProfitHere SPONSORED BY MODERN MASONRY LLC Our mission is to assist in reducing the burden of childhood cancer and other life-threatening illnesses on children and their families. foreverteamblake.com 15| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
LOCAL’S CHOICE | SHOPPING A LOCAL GEM Add a little beauty and create a little sparkle in your life ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTOL KUMAR 16
This high-level training also allows Calhoun’s to do repairs on jewelry, especially precious heirloom jewelry, so they can be worn again instead of just sitting in a drawer. These pieces, of course, have to be handled with extreme care.
“We work with people we trust. So when having something as valuable and sentimental as our jewelry repaired, it’s important to know that it’s going to be taken care of right.”
“CJ is the only certified bench jeweler in Topeka, and our creative director, Annie Degenhardt, is taking courses with the Gemological Institute of America to become a graduate gemologist,” says Curt.
Buyers often need guidance when choosing particular pieces of jewelry and rely on the expertise of those in the store to assist them. “Our team is very knowledge able,” says Doug Calhoun, who started the business with his brother Curt in 2004. Their staff, which includes Curt’s sons CJ and Alex, is top notch.
CONTINUED > 17| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
Adds Curt, “With family heirlooms, a lot of times the designs are very worn down and many jewelers can't fully restore it or bring it back to its initial look like CJ. He also does hand engraving, so he can actually carve the design back in place. And, for something like a platinum ring, you have to be careful because if you don't have the right equip ment, you can contaminate it with other metals. All jewelry is repaired in house, which gives customers peace of mind that these pieces they treasure will be kept safe."
“Many of us won't let just anybody into our home to repair the refrigerator or the heating and air conditioning, or have anyone fix our cars,” says Doug. “We work with people we trust. So when having something as valuable and sentimental as our jewelry repaired, it's important to know that it's going to be taken care of right.”
When a business has been successfully operating for over 18 years, you know it’s doing something right. In the case of Calhoun’s Jewelers in Topeka, the family who owns it is doing many things right.
“Jewelry often symbolizes a special day or event, a passage of time, or the remem brance of loved ones,” says sales associate, Beverly Hall. “Jewelry is passed down from generation to generation to signify how much a person meant to someone.”
“All jewelry is repaired in house, which gives customers peace of mind that these pieces they treasure will be kept safe.”
Calhoun’s also buys jewelry. Select pieces are refurbished and resold to cus tomers in its estate section, which is filled with a variety of unique and reason ably-priced jewelry from every era.
LOCAL’S CHOICE | SHOPPING18
For the last five years, Calhoun’s Jewelers has been voted the Best of the Best by the people of Topeka and surrounding areas. It’s easy to understand why. “Being a family business and having a philosophy of always making our customers happy has definitely helped us to succeed,” says Curt. “When customers need things done and tell us what they want to have done, we almost never have to say ‘no.’ We do everything we can to meet their needs.”
To find out more about Calhoun’s and find a perfect piece of jewelry that you will cherish for many years to come, go to calhounsjewelers.com .
Thanks to its talented designers, Calhoun’s also offers beautiful custom-made jewelry. They have integrated computer design software that can bring cus tomers’ ideas to life. “We can create whatever they can imagine,” says Curt. “We can also 3D print the model so they can actually hold it before we cast it.” Some popular requests right now are colored stone jewelry as well as “paper clip” style chains. “For engagement and wedding rings, oval diamonds are very popular and white gold is still the leader of the pack, with yellow gold running in second place,” says Doug. Watches are also still in demand, especially with men. “They tend to get a collector mentality,” says Curt. “They start seeing different designs and the next thing they know, they have five, six or seven different watches. They often also pick up a certain brand that they like to collect.” Adds Doug, “We sell pre-owned Rolex watches, as well as Seiko automatics for people who are watch enthusiasts and like a watch that doesn't have a battery, but will instead run by the movement of their wrists. There's also the more basic models that have a battery which we can replace right here in the store. All of them are very fashionable.”
19| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
1 8 0 1 S W G a g e B l v d . T o p e k a , K S 6 6 6 0 4 c a l h o u n s j e w e l e r s c o m Hand Crafted and Locally Made! 725 S Kansas Ave Topeka, Kansas 66603 (785) 246-6890 || leapingllamas.com Masonry done the modern way. One dream at a time. (785) 845-6068 • www.modernmasonryllc.com • chriscazier@modernmasonryllc.com 20
YOUR CLEANINGEXTERIORLOCAL Specialists! Call today for your Free EcoFreshPowerWash.com785.806.1388Estimate| B @EcoFresh-Power-Wash-LLC Residential Commercial& GUTTER CLEANING HOUSE WASHING WINDOW CLEANING DRIVEWAY CLEANING LoriOwnerGiftsBoutiqueHomeFlowerFull-ServiceShopDécor&MoreMcNorton Sometimes real estate decisions aren’t based on location but timing. Contact me to learn more. CATHY LUTZ (785) Cathy@CathyLutz.com925-1939 21| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
MAKERSMEETTHE
Karen Voorhees
@KAREN.PAINTS 22
ARTIST’S PALETTE | ARTS + CULTURE
Topeka is a haven for artists. Some paint using oil or watercolors, while others create with oil pencils, clay, wood, metal, and glass. Meet these local artists who gift a piece of themselves in each work of art.
After retiring from a career at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Karen Voorhees took up oil painting. She eventually decided to market her work so her children wouldn’t have to figure out what to do with hundreds of paintings when she dies. “I think that would be cruel, she says with a chuckle. A perfect day for her is spending time in her basement studio painting while listening to audio books. She explains, “Having worked in sort of an abstract field, I didn’t always see a finished product. When I paint, I have a finished product, and I’m solely responsible for it, good or bad. I’m able to do it the way I wanted.” Voorhees’s work displays at Milk and Honey Coffee Shop and AMUSED Art Gallery. OIL PAINTING
ARTICLE BY LINDA DITCH PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTOL KUMAR
editionartist
Phyll Klima
MJ King's painting, Resilience, may appeal to Kansans with its majestic sun flower, but the Ukraine war inspired the creation since it's also their national flower. She burned the edges of the paper and the frame to show the damage eating away at the country. Finally, she used forged nails to finish the piece to symbolize the bullets flying around those who only want to go home. "I am inspired by the unexpected in the world around me," she says. "It might be the message in a sermon, a lone granite pebble on a beach being polished by the waves, or the tiny details found in the blossoms of a Bradford Pear. I want people to see the unexpected and realize there's beauty hiding in plain sight." King's work is shown at the Stephen Smith Gallery in downtown Topeka.
OIL PENCIL
ETSY.COM/SHOP/EMMAPPOTTERY
A friend asked Phyll Klima to join her at a Lincoln, Nebraska, community col lege pottery class for moral support. She was hooked and has made pots ever since. "From all the media in art you can work in, clay is one that there's fre quently no tool between you and the medium," she says. "It's very tactile, and I'm a very tactile person. I like to feel things and experience that smoothness of the clay running through my hands at the wheel." Klima also makes her pieces functional. She notes, "The greatest compliment I get from customers is, 'I use your work every day.' They can put it in the dishwasher, microwave, or oven and understand it will come out just like it went in." Klima's work is displayed at Fire Me Up Ceramics in Topeka, Gallery 12 in Wichita, Lincoln Art Center in Lincoln, KS, and SNW Gallery in Manhattan, KS.
POTTERY
STEPHENSMITHGALLERY.COM CONTINUED > 23| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
MJ King
Ptr Sponseller
Though Stacey Utech loves her work as an interior designer, she loves the pro cess of layering glass pieces, developing a mix of texture and color, and then seeing the result when it comes out of the kiln. She explains the firing process changes the texture and sometimes even the colors of the glass. “It’s exciting to see the final product!” Utech feels an innate need to work with her hands. She explains, “Designs and ideas run through my mind constantly, and I just have to get them out! But the fact that others enjoy it enough to buy one of my pieces is still just so amazing to me. I mean, that art piece is a piece of me. It’s very personal. It’s an amazing feeling, very difficult to describe.” Utech’s work is shown at Stephen Smith Gallery in downtown Topeka.
COPPERSNOB.COM
CLOVERGEARNOTO.COM ARTIST’S PALETTE | ARTS + CULTURE24
Chances are you’ve enjoyed one of Ptr Sponseller’s metal sculptures without knowing it was his. For example, if you attended the 2021 Topeka Zoo Lights event, he created the metal sculpture frames displayed in the Japanese Garden. “For me, I just want to make sure I don’t create anything that looks like anybody else’s work,” he says. “A lot of my inspiration lately has been Mother Nature. I like taking mechanical stuff and making it look organic. I love making it look like it has movement when it’s actually just a bunch of metal welded together.”
RECLAIMED METAL SCULPTURE
Sponseller also points out the difference between a handmade piece of art and what’s available in a store. He explains, “You’re really buying a piece of a person when you buy a handmade piece of art. You’re getting a piece of that person for the rest of your life.” Sponseller’s work can be seen at Clover GEAR Reclaimed Art Studio and Gallery in NOTO (by appointment).
GLASS Stacey Utech
WOOD INLAY WATERCOLORS
SUEMERSMAN.COM STEPHENSMITHGALLERY.COM 25| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
Sue Mersman discovered the art of marquetry in her early 20s while trying to come up with inexpensive Christmas present ideas. She used the technique of cutting thin wood veneers to create scenes to make wooden belt buckles and inlaid combs. Forty years later, she now works with more than 185 different woods. Her pieces feature only the woods' natural colors—no paints, stains, or dyes. "I enjoy the way people kind of catch their breath when entering my booth and see the beauty of the different woods," she says. "The changing grains and highlights and the variation that comes from tree to tree is what has kept marquetry so interesting for me all these years." Mersman is the featured artist at the Kansas City Plaza art fair in late September.
Ye
Though Washburn University art professor Ye Wang works with many mediums, his career started as a watercolorist. In 2019, he created a painting series follow ing in the footsteps of famous impressionist artists. Visiting sites in Europe and China, he painted more than 30 watercolors at the places made famous by the likes of Monet and Van Gough. Wang's early watercolor inspiration came from the Chinese cornfields where he grew up. However, he lost that feeling when he moved first to Canada and then to Kansas. "You need the environment to inspire you," he says. "What is around you motivates you better." In Kansas, Wang became fascinated by the spring prairie burns. He found a way to paint fire with watercolor with better results than with oil paint. Now he teaches his method to his Washburn students and has conducted prairie fire painting workshops for Topeka Art Guild and Mark Arts in Wichita. View Wang's work at Stephen Smith Gallery and Beauchamp Gallery in Topeka, and SNW Gallery in Manhattan, KS.
Sue Mersman Wang
• Independent Living • Assisted Living • Home Plus • Skilled Nursing • Memory Care • Short-Term Care • Rehabilitation AldersgateVillage.org 7220 Southwest Asbury Drive | Topeka, KS (785) 478-9440 ASH BOUTIQUE A WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE OFFERING CONTEMPORARY WOMEN’S FASHION. 921 SOUTH KANSAS AVENUE | TOPEKA, KS shopashboutique.com785.438.2345 bvf 26
3109 SW Huntoon • Topeka • 785-357-5194 /patiopoolandfireside • patiopoolandfireside.com Enjoy Late Summer with a Visit to ... THERE IS A FRAME FOR EVERY FACE. 785 271 8989 | 1107 SW GAGE BLVD | FECTOPEKA COM LET US HELP YOU FIND THE PERFECT FRAME! 27| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
INSPIRED BY | HOME + DESIGN THEINFLUENCERACCIDENTAL ARTICLE BY KELSEY HUBER PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS HALL You Never Know Where Sharing Your Passion Will Lead You 28
CONTINUED > 29| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
INSPIRED BY | HOME + DESIGN30
Meet Caroline Bivens, Topekan, wife, mom of four, designer, entrepreneur, influencer. Her home decor designs have been featured in popular magazines like Better Homes and Gardens, and Country Living. Her popular Instagram account has over 166,000 followers. Brands like Woodwick, Balsam Hills, Arhaus, and Lenox have reached out to her to showcase their products. Despite her apparent success, Bivens says, “I don’t think of myself as an influencer. I think of myself as a content creator, showcasing style and design tips.”
Her first opportunity to be creative with home decor came when she decorated her daughter’s nursery back in 2006. “I don’t have any formal training in design, but I’ve always loved it,” Bivens said. “I’ve always had an eye for it.” Over the years, her friends encouraged her and she continued to define her style which she describes as “vintage modern”. She started her Instagram page (c.b._designs) simply to share photos of projects she had done and home decor trends that caught her attention. “I gained a lot of Instagram followers that first year and it was very exciting,” she said.
About five years ago, she had gained enough confidence that she decided to really challenge her interior design skills by par ticipating in a Designer Showhouse - an annual fundraiser where local designers decorate an entire home and the public buys tickets to tour the house. Proceeds from ticket sales that year went to Child Care Aware. Lately, she’s been busy remodeling her new home that she and her husband bought a little over a year ago in Auburn, just on the edge of Topeka. The home was about 20 years old and they planned to update the kitchen. Though they were only going to
“I realized not too long ago that I’m actually living my dream. I’m doing exactly what I love!”
CONTINUED > 31| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
INSPIRED BY | HOME + DESIGN32
do a light refresh, when they found mold, it turned into a complete gut and remodel. Luckily, Bivens had lots of product manufacturers to reach out to and she was able to collaborate with many and feature them on her Instagram account.
Her new kitchen features Naturally Aged Hardwood Floors from Southern California, Schmidt Custom Cabinets from Olpe, KS, and Sarto Countertops from St. Mary’s, KS. “From floors to doors to fire places to art…I reached out to anyone I thought would be interested,” Bivens said. “I really love promoting great products and I can intro duce them to new audiences in a fun and exciting way.” She also enlisted the help of another local designer, Cyndi Haines from Heart & Home in Topeka, to create the new kitchen island. The old island was a triangle shape and didn’t allow her family to all sit together and chat easily. The new square island also allows Bivens to tuck her chairs underneath out of the way. “That was important,” Bivens said. “because I’m always taking photos, so having the chairs hidden under the island creates a much cleaner, less cluttered look.”
Her favorite piece in the kitchen, though, is the Italian range. ILVE is an Italian luxury brand with an antique style. “They just came to
CONTINUED > 33| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
INSPIRED BY | HOME + DESIGN34
the U.S.,” Bivens said excitedly. “I chose the stainless and gold and I just love it. It adds so much character. It’s just so fun!”
Bivens believes that her gifts are given to her by God and that it’s important to share them with as many people as possible. “My dream job was to style for Pottery Barn,” she said. “But I realized not too long ago that I’m actually living my dream. I’m doing exactly what I love!”
For more design inspiration, visit her Instagram page at c.b._designs.
Her favorite spot to decorate are the brass and glass shelves near the corner window. “I’ve decorated them for the holidays, turned them into a coffee bar, a cocktail bar,” she said. “Maybe I’ll try a mini-succulent garden next.” Look for more photos of her kitchen this month, when her new home will be featured in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine.
Care for your winning smile at Fox Family Dental SHINE! IT’S YOUR TIME TO SHINE! 2300 Southwest 29th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66611 785.267.6120 | jaredfoxdds.com L I F E ' S HEALING JOURN E Y Hop����������������������������������������H����������������������������������������������������������������o������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������o���� 785.608.3000 Monica Fowler, IPTF lifeshealingjourney.com 2930 Southwest Wanamaker Drive Topeka, Kansas 66614 Learn to build a strong emotional core. Whether you are painfully aware of experiences from your past that are in need of healing; or just are simply interested in releasing stress IPT is a healing practice that creates life-changing results. Back to School Special for September $10 OFF 1 SESSION (Regularly $80/session) 9/1/2022-9/30/2022 IPT HELPS WITH: ANDCO-DEPENDENCYANGER/RESENTMENT,SELF-ESTEEM,MARRIAGE/RELATIONSHIPS,PARENTING,DEPRESSION,ANXIETY,SELF-DISCOVERY YOUR BEGINSHEALINGHERE. 6032 SW 29th St Topeka, KS shamantopeka.com785-215-823366614 Come in today for free samples. 35| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
Let’s get started on your next project. Get $100 off your next design.landscape valid thru 11.1.22 for a limited time (785) 286-0015 schendellawn.com Your Jeweler for Life Shop for the perfect piece of jewelry or have one custom made. We’re also experts in jewelry repair. Dave Horn Owner / Jeweler (785) 273-5080 | donaldsonsjewelersks.com 902 North Kansas Avenue; Topeka, Kansas 66608 Freshly roasted beans in small batches. Organic and natural ingredients. Allergy friendly pastries and milks and/or creams. 785.783.8307 | 2120 SW Brandywine Ln, Suite 110 in Topeka ComeElevationCoffee&Roasteryseeourfallflavors! 36
KEEPING SMILES STYLISH DR. JULIE C. SWIFT • 785.233.1756 • TOPEKAPERIO.COM SOLUTIONS FINE ART AND COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY Architecture, Landscape, Real Estate, Drone, Portraits, Headshots, Custom Work Fast Service • Tailored Personal Work • Satisfaction Guaranteed Aerial Photos available now with no altitude restrictions. 785.260.6476 | EAGLEAERIALWORLD .COM 37| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
Humans have always had a penchant for propagation. Since king Nebuchadnezzar II built The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the original Seven Wonders of the World) in the sixth century BC, artful gardening has fascinated folks. Today, there is a growing trend (pun intended) in home design that echoes that need to nur ture, albeit on a much smaller scale. It goes by many names. Environmentalists refer to them as “green walls” or “ecowalls”. Gardeners may prefer “garden wall” or “edible wall”. Designers have dubbed them “statement walls”. But for our purposes here, we will refer to them as the architects do - as “vertical gardens”.
A vertical garden is essentially a wall, or part of a wall, that is covered with plants growing in soil or another type of medium. Though they began as outdoor architectural attractions, these wonderful wallscapes are popping up indoors, and their benefits go beyond a fancy facade. The most obvious benefit of a vertical garden is the visual beauty it brings to the room. Its unexpected pres ence adds surprise and drama, while its living tenants, with their varied textures and individual personalities, add energy and a bit of charm as well. Beyond the aesthetic advantages, living walls have health benefits. They improve the air quality by adding humidity, trapping dust particles, and absorbing many harmful gasses, replacing them with oxygen. They can help with cardiovascular issues like blood pressure as well as breathing problems associated with allergies and asthma. Because they lend a sense of calm and well being, they can even improve concentration, elevate mood, and reduceBecausestress. these living walls are becoming more popular, demand is driving the price down making them more
Moving Indoors DECOR TRENDS | HOME + DESIGN38
ARTICLE BY KELSEY HUBER
Vertical Gardens Are
THE HOME DESIGN TREND THAT WILL HAVE YOU SAYING, “OH, GROW UP!”
39| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
affordable for the average homeowner. Kits are available and most feature an inte grated water delivery system which makes them low maintenance as well. As for which types of plants to grow, succulents, mosses, grasses, and ferns are all good choices. Tropical vines work well also as they can trail down or climb up. Pothos and philodendrons have great climbing capabilities, are fast growing, and low maintenance. The design possi bilities are as endless as the plant combi nations. So bring the outside in! Simply choose a location with bright, indirect light, and turn your wall into a living piece of artwork with a vertical garden.
T O V I E W A L L T H E P R O P E R T I E S I M A G E S , A V I R T U A L T O U R , A N D A L L T H E D E T A I L S , P L E A S E S C A N T H I S Q R C O D E O R V I S I T W W W S T O N E A N D S T O R Y C O M H O W W E H E L P E D T H E S E S E L L E R S G E T T H E I R H O M E F I N A L L Y S O L D : S T A G I N G T H A T C O M P L I M E N T E D T H E H O M E L I S T E D O N 4 M L S ' S S U C C E S S F U L M A R K E T I N G T O L O C A L E M P L O Y M E N T R E C R U I T E R S
realty report A sample of recently sold properties in Topeka. SEPTEMBER 2022 WE BUILD MORE THAN NEW HOMES, WE BUILD NEIGHBORHOODS. Annette Stahl 785-383-3157 | annette@stoneandstory.com | www.dultmeierhomes.com From your vision... to reality This reflects a 30 day time period prior to our print deadline. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and not a complete list of all activity. *DOM=Days on Market NEIGHBORHOOD LIST PRICE SOLD PRICE %SOLD/ORIG DOM BDRMS BATHS Tallgrass #2 $367,000 $367,000 100% 3 3 3 Westboro $310,000 $343,000 111% 4 3 4 Knollwood $259,500 $265,000 102% 1 3 3 Westboro $335,000 $335,000 100% 6 4 2 Wood Valley Hills #3 $275,000 $260,000 95% 0 4 3 Prospect Hill Addition $285,000 $285,000 100% 2 4 2 Shawnee County $399,900 $385,000 96% 13 4 2 West Indian Hills #2 $524,950 $489,000 93% 56 4 3 Shawnee County $450,000 $455,000 101% 3 4 4 Knollwood $390,000 $380,000 97% 0 4 3 Westboro $400,000 $400,000 100% 0 4 2 Timber Ridge $440,000 $440,000 100% 2 4 3 Clarion Woods $564,900 $485,000 86% 23 5 4 Shadywood South $475,000 $465,000 98% 2 5 3 Sherwood Estates $499,000 $451,018 90% 58 5 4 Greenhill Pointe $489,900 $486,400 99% 182 5 3 Quail Run $610,000 $610,000 100% 0 5 4 Westboro $835,000 $800,000 96% 13 5 5 Kuhn-Smith $325,000 $305,000 94% 30 5 3 Pleasant Ridge $299,000 $310,000 104% 7 5 3 Spring Hill $336,000 $327,000 97% 4 5 4 Shadywood $419,000 $424,500 101% 4 5 3 Southboro #2 $250,000 $268,000 107% 1 5 2 Sterling Chase #1 $395,000 $430,000 109% 8 5 3 South Pointe Bay $699,000 $665,000 95% 38 6 5 41| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
2200 SW Eveningside Drive, Topeka topekacollegiate.org785.228.0490 Schedule your tour today! www.topekacollegiate.org Celebrating 40 years of academic excellence! Prekindergarten through Eighth Grade 2120 Southwest Brandywine Lane #120 | Topeka, KS midwestfloat.com785-783-8307Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or burned out? WE CAN HELP! RELAXATION | PAIN RELIEF | PEACE OF MIND NEW! $99 MONTHLY UNLIMITED MEMBERSHIPS Float as often as you’d like for one low price. Limited Offer! Sensory isolation tanks provide crucial rest to the mind and body. Leave feeling rejuvenated and peaceful. Many report relief from anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, and much more. FLOTATION THERAPY | INFRARED SAUNA nativestonecompany.com | (785) 478-9359 sales@nativestonecompany.com Limestone Veneer, Natural Thin Stone, Custom Cut Stone. Kansas limestone building products since 1988. CHOOSE NATURAL. CHOOSE TIMELESS. 42
0 % Interest for 18 Months 785.272.1633 bluedotkansas.com 3365 Southwest Gage Boulevard | Topeka, Kansas Mention this ad and receive special pricing. Use keyword: TOPEKALIFESTYLE charlies.com | (785) 783-0795 | 1251 SW Ashworth Pl. (corner of Wanamaker & Huntoon) for the first 3 months! * SIGN UP FOR Choose the best, choose Charlie’s! *Only available on-site in Topeka; not available online. Offer available for a limited time only. 43| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
ExperienceScottsdale This Sprawling Luxury Hotspot in the Stunning Sonoran Desert is Total Vacation Inspiration Photography by @coupleyfitt @lindsayborgphotogrpahy+ TRAVEL JOURNAL | TRAVEL44
• 3 nights at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia ($2,000 value) $150 resort credit to Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia 2 Spa Day Passes at Joya Spa at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia Hot Air Balloon Flight for 2 with Rainbow Ryders ($550 value) General Admission passes to Desert Botanical Garden ($60 value)
Escape to Spanish-inspired luxury at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia , a premier destination for luxury and romance, relaxation and recreation. Take a climb on Camelback Mountain, relax at Joya Spa , kick back at the pool or tempt your tastebuds with culinary delights inspired by Spain and Mexico.WIN A 3-NIGHT GETAWAY TO SCOTTSDALE!
• 2
You’ve heard of Scottsdale, you’ve dreamed of Scottsdale, and now it’s time to go to Scottsdale. From the breathtaking beauty of the magnificent Sonoran Desert (and all the outdoor adventures it spawns) to the luxury resorts & spas, shopping & dining, golf courses & botanical gardens, and award-winning museums & arts scene, this central Arizona city is the total package for your new vacation inspiration. This month, our City Lifestyle family of travel enthusiasts are thrilled to collaborate with Experience Scottsdale to introduce an exclusively curated guide to this lively city paired with a GIVEAWAY* opportunity to win a threenight trip for two! Here are some quintessential experiences you won’t want to miss.
City Lifestyle and Experience Scottsdale are giving one lucky winner and a guest the chance to explore Scottsdale, AZ with a uniquely curated hospital ity itinerary filled with three days of complimentary hotel, food, entertain ment and shopping experiences. This giveaway closes on September 30, 2022. The trip must be taken by September 30, 2023. For a chance to win, follow @citylifestyle and @scottsdaleariz on Instagram and tag unlimited friends and family on the September 1st giveaway post for additional entries to win.
$2,610 SCOTTSDALE GETAWAY FOR 2 INCLUDES:
Scottsdale’s famed Sonoran Desert is the perfect backdrop for outdoor activities and adventures like hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, off-road Hummer and ATV tours, river rafting, kayaking and more. Scottsdale enjoys more than 330 sunny days each year, which means pool season runs year-round. Go up, up and away in a hot air balloon with Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Company. And, The Desert Botanical Garden’s trails introduce you to thousands of arid-land plants from around the world, as well as chang ing exhibits of large-scale art.
•
•
Old Town Scottsdale is the heartbeat of this city. You’ll find a wide selec tion of shops, restaurants, art galleries, bustling bars and nightclubs, as well as contemporary public art installations, world-class museums and historic sites from the late 1880s. With more than 200 golf courses in the area including high-caliber competi tive courses like TPC Scottsdale, Troon North and Grayhawk, you’re sure to enjoy the round of a lifetime in "The World's Finest Golf Destination.”
•
Photography by Chris Banks Scan the code to ENTER to WIN on@citylifestyleatInstagram!
45| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
ADVERTISE WITH TOPEKA CITY LIFESTYLE™ IF YOU ARE READING THIS... SO IS YOUR BEST CLIENT. 2 OUT OF 3 of our readers regularly purchase from our ads. LEARN MORE AT CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/ TOPEKA B E A U T I F U L E V E N T S W W W . A C A E V E N T R E N T A L . C O M made easy LOCATED AT FORBES FIELD SHOWROOM OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ( 7 8 5 ) 7 7 0 - 5 4 0 8 46
:: Home Organizing / Moves & Relocations :: Attics | Bathrooms | Closets | Garages Home Office/Den | Kitchen/Pantries Laundry Rooms | Mudrooms Kids Rooms | Storage Areas 785.213.5781 | celsie@neatmethod.com | neatmethod.com • Celsie Sneden Owner, NEAT Method Kansas City Also serving Lawrence + Topeka Contact your Farm Bureau agent to learn more. Yana Ross 6028 SW 29th St. | Topeka Office | 785.266.9262 Mobile | AgentYana.com785.215.1102 PR-H-B (3-22) Get access to a U.S. board-certified physician 24/7, by phone, web, or app from anywhere for common medical conditions. Teleadoc is another benefit of your Kansas Farm Bureau Health Plans traditional coverage. Teladoc. It’s a doctor visit without the waiting room, cost or the drive. The Topeka CounTry Club KTOPE A C.C. EST. 1905 www.topekacc.org (785) 354-8561Love Where You Play! Join Today! 47| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
“I like to match my tie with my handkerchief, and have all different color suspenders,” he says. The suspenders are not just a style preference though. “They’re a part of our teaching, our protocol,” says Richard. “As pastors, when we take a big guff of air, we don't want to lose our pants, which has happened to some pastors!”
Richard Rounds
PASTOR THEIR
FASHION FORWARD | STYLE + BEAUTY
Style 48
FASHION THAT REFLECTS
INNER PERSONALITIES
Diversified
Pastor Richard has been married to his wife, Marsha, for 48 years. “I call her my living doll and she’s the love of my life,” he says. “When we got married, I bought her a ring that had the word ‘sweet’ on it, and that was when I started calling her ‘sweet.’ That's what she is.” She was also a wonderful military wife, he says, which was not always easy. “I was in the United States Air Force for over 20 years, so we moved a lot. We just made our home wherever the military sent us.”
As a pastor with Abiding Love Church of God in Christ in Topeka, Richard Rounds believes in dressing conservatively. But, that doesn’t mean he can’t infuse it with some style.
A fellow clergyman recently commented on how Pastor Richards’ shoes are always shined. “I dress for the occa sion, whatever the occasion is, and how we dress is how we present ourselves to others.”
A man in uniform always makes a statement, and Pastor Richard continues to do so in civilian life.
He believes his classic style encourages others to listen to his message and receive what he has to say. “I enjoy putting smiles on people's faces, but I also like to give them something hard to think about so they can refocus on what makes life, life. I talk not to who they are, but instead to who they can be.”
FAMILY PRACTITIONER
Dr. Borchers’ style is also reflected in the eyeglass frames he chooses. “That's probably the only part of me that I would consider fashionable,” he says, laughing. “I mean, I have my own style, but I would certainly never say I'm fashionable. I don't wear jew elry other than a wedding ring, so glasses are some thing I can accessorize with. They’re unique, fun, and stylish and I usually have a few pairs in rotation.”
Dr. BorchersTim CONTINUED > 49| CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/TOPEKASEPTEMBER 2022
In practice for 25 years, he and Kim, who have been married for 28 years, love spending time with family watching movies and playing table games.
Family practice doctor Tim Borchers wants his patients, whether adults or children, to feel com fortable approaching him with concerns or ques tions, so he prefers to dress lighthearted and fun in the office. At other times, you’ll likely find him in somewhat more rugged clothing that confirms his love of the outdoors.
“It’s great to bond with family around the table,” he says. “Everyone isn’t on their cell phones or off doing their own things.” The couple is also excited to wel come their first grandchild this summer.
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIRANDA CHAVEZ-HAZIM
“The clothes I wear often have a deeper meaning than just being a shirt or just being a pair of socks,” he says. “I have a lot of socks and most have a time and a place associated with them.” He and his fam ily, wife Kim and three kids, Hannah, Sydney and Jude, go to Florida every year, and that’s where he acquired his manatee socks. When his kids sang at the local zoo, he picked up some animal socks at the gift shop there. He likes to be able to look down and be reminded of past experiences.
When Sawab “SJ” Hazim buys an outfit for a special occasion, he puts it together from the hat to the shoes. The total look is one people will not soon forget.
“I want to give people an experience when I show up,” he says. “How you dress is often an expression of how you feel.”
In his red tuxedo jacket, black silk pants, red shoes with gold spikes, and feathered hat, stand out he does. “It’s all from a local shop called the Distingue' Gentleman because I like to support local,” says SJ. “As soon as I saw the jacket, I knew I was going to put the rest of it together for an outfit that had a shock factor. I'm all about being able to wear things that are unique that peo ple are going to remember.” He likes to dress casual too. “The other outfit I wore here is my retirement look. They always say you're supposed to dress to where you're going, although I'm not planning on retiring anytime soon. I love what I do.”
SJ and his business partner, Connor England, are the founders of Top Teer, which helps volunteers and organi zations, and Creative Pathways & Means, that empowers people by equipping them with cutting-edge information, tools, and experiences.
He and his wife, Miranda Chavez-Hazim, just celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary and have two grown children, son TI and daughter Aliya, and a new grandchild. Not to be left out, they also have two bunnies – Claddius and Cinnabun.
FASHION FORWARD | STYLE + BEAUTY
SJ was not always comfortable drawing attention to himself, but that changed over the years. “I've developed a lot of confi dence throughout my life and realized life was about being out standing and standing out in your field,” he says. “If you don't step out from behind the curtain, you'll never be recognized.”
CO-FOUNDER OF TOP TEER AND CREATIVE PATHWAYS & MEANS
Sawab “SJ” Hazim
50
www.pathwaysmeans.com/cps ‡ ‡ Made
Creative problem-solving Cskills reative problem-solving skills are the #1 athing re the #1 thing** employers eare mployers are seeking in job scandidates eeking in job candidates over the coming odecade. ver the coming decade.
With major technological and cultural shifts coming to the working world faster than ever before, companies are courting candidates who can prove they have what it takes to think outside the box. Looking for tools that can help you keep climbing, no matter how much the world around you changes? Check out the new "Creative Problem Solving" certificate program by Creative Pathways & Means, with blockchain verified credentials provided upon completion to proudly display on your resume, smartphone wallet, LinkedIn, & more Economic Graph Global Skills Study (2022) Possible by Kansas Health Foundation Impact Grant (2021)
785-431-9351 630 South Kansas Avenue | Topeka, Kansas emmy.fischer@spectraxp.com | thiskeepLookingefischer@oakviewgroup.comevergyplaza.comtocoolsummer? Weekly Hours * Sunday: 12 PM – 5 PM Monday: 10 AM – 1 PM Tuesday: 11 AM – 2 PM Wednesday: 4 PM – 9 PM Thursday: 12 PM – 3 PM Join us at the Evergy Plaza splash pad! *Note: Hours are subject to change due to weather and scheduled events. Visit our Facebook page or website for additional hours.
