Prairie Village residents Joanne and Bob Faulkner watched with intrigue as the architect-designed home they now inhabit was constructed in 1964. At the time, they were living in a home just down the hill.

"I loved the presence of the home and the location of the lot, which afforded lots of steaming sunlight to the home and surrounding grounds," said Joanne. "So when the home eventually became available for sale in the late '80s, I couldn't wait to look at it."

Joanne remembers touring the home, then calling her husband and asking if they could make an offer.

"I just knew that the property would not be on the market long due to its uniqueness," she said.

Its modified contemporary design has always attracted exceptional interest, and many people have contacted the couple over the years, offering to buy the home if they ever decide to sell. Its appealing exterior features include an expansive wraparound deck, four skylights, a glass-encased side, and a site offering almost total privacy. An intimate deck off the master bedroom further engages the home with the outdoors and the complementary landscaping.

The home is one of several contemporaries custom-designed by architects, including a neighboring home designed by Bruce Alonzo Goff, a Kansas native who designed a number of public buildings and many residences in the Midwest. The architect for the Faulkner home is Lawrence Jones, who designed residential properties before transitioning to commercial structures.

"Light is extremely important to us," said Joanne, "and the architect provided a wealth of light through large expanses of glass. We added skylights to further open up the spaces and bathe the interior in light, along with paint colors that would enhance an open, airy feel."

The Faulkners have shaped their home into a unique personal space with the addition of artifacts and treasures brought back from their world travels, art from Plaza Art Fair shows, and pieces "unearthed" at local garage and estate sales.

Bob worked for a division of Westinghouse and other firms during his career, and Joanne worked in marketing with the American Royal. Both have enjoyed the worlds that travel opened up to them during breaks from their work and following retirement.

Natives of Joplin, Mo., the duo has hopped the globe over the years. Destinations included Brazil, Peru, China, Italy, Egypt, New Zealand, Mexico, and boat trips down the Amazon in South America.

During those travels, they accumulated colorful and intriguing items that are artistically arranged on walls, tables, and shelves. The carefully chosen items, lovingly brought back from exotic places, include drawings, native sculpture and art, masks, weavings, and other decorative and functional items.

When they were in Shanghai, they visited a senior center. To their amazement, the members entertained them by performing ballroom dances to American music and singing songs in English.

The seniors were selling art objects they had made. One was a large scroll with Chinese lettering, now decorating the wall between the couple's living and dining areas; another was an ink-brush depiction of a fish, which hangs near the kitchen.

Framed photographs the Faulkners took during their travels hang in the foyer, a constant reminder of their many explorations together.

The two enjoy sharing travel stories and anecdotes with their three children and extended families, including four grandchildren, who range in age from 2 to 12.

Many of their memory-making sojourns have been through the Extended Trip offerings of the 50 Plus Travel Program through the Johnson County Park & Recreation District and through Elderhostel (now called Road Scholar), an education and travel adventure for those over 55.

"I have always enjoyed learning about other cultures and meeting people with diverse backgrounds," said Joanne, who volunteers with the English as a Second Language (ESL) program with the Johnson County Adult Education Program sponsored by Johnson County Community College. "It's culturally fascinating to work with such wonderful and inspiring individuals in my volunteer capacity," said Joanne. "Learning about other countries and cultures and exploring their uniqueness is a passion for me."

To have your home featured in this series, e-mail Gordon.Davis@jocogov.org or call 913-715-8862.