Home Feature: Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house in Iowa City undergoes renovations

The large brick home on the corner of Washington and Lucas street in Iowa City has seen its fair share of changes over the years. First built in 1925, the structure has always been the home of Kappa Kappa Gamma, which first became a sorority on the University of Iowa campus back in 1882.

The three-story home - with more than 20 bedrooms, two common bathrooms, a beautiful foyer, a large TV room, a chapter room, two study rooms, a kitchen, a dining area, and a patio - has been a home away from home for hundreds of collegiate women over the years. But most recently, it has undergone some major renovations to not only maintain the integrity of the home but also give it modern appeal and enhanced functionality.

Kristen Mueller, president of the organization's House Board - a committee of undergraduate and alumni (from chapters all over the country) members who oversee the operation of the home - said that after completing large structural projects, like replacing the home's windows four year ago, the House Board made it a priority to focus on enhancing and updating some of the cosmetic and design features of the home.

With the help of Rhonda Staley, Interior Designer with The Mansion in Iowa City, the board gathered input from the sorority members and went to work updating the décor and layout of each room. 'We talked to the girls to find out what they wanted to see happen in the house,” Staley said. 'But it's also important for us to highlight the history. We had to bridge the gap between 1925 and 2017,” she said, noting that at times that meant working around radiators.

Staley, who has worked on other sorority houses in the Iowa City area, was delighted to have taken on the challenge of bringing fresh style to the Kappa house - which she noted has some elements of both Italianate and craftsman style - while keeping in mind the necessarily durability of the design.

The sitting room just to the right of the main entryway, for examples was a previously under-utilized space by women living in the house. It was redesigned to accommodate more seating, including a distinctive large round table that serves as a great group meeting spot. The addition of new comfortable couches has made it a TV viewing spot as well. 'This arrangement sees a lot more involvement from the girls,” said Staley. Plus, new fabrics and pillows - in the Kappa signature color of blue - brightened the space. 'Having light colors with the punctuation of deep dark blue is really fun,” said Staley. 'This is a bright and beautiful home. And we really wanted the design to be fresh, fun and unexpected. Now it really invites the girls into the space and it functional for these women.”

'She really did a great job of pulling out the blue all over the house and it's done so tastefully,” added Mueller.

The first floor great room is another popular gathering spot that recently got a facelift. 'We were thrilled to be able to reupholster some of the existing pieces to compliment the new furniture we purchased,” said Staley, pointing out the large inviting couch in front of the big-screen TV and the additional couches in the adjacent sunroom space.

'When the girls are here, these areas become study spaces and meeting spots for small group work. They kick back and watch a show or just hang out here,” Mueller added. 'And it's wonderful to see them really using and enjoying these spaces.”

During the renovations, they also put in new flooring throughout the first floor, selecting a luxury vinyl plank for its durability while being aesthetically pleasing. 'It had to be able to handle a whole lot of high heels walking across it,” said Mueller, noting that it also needed to withstand the changing weather of the seasons in Iowa.

The kitchen was also completed gutted and renovated last summer, Mueller said. The spacious, restaurant-size kitchen got a complete overhaul, with input from the Kappa chef, making it more efficient for preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner daily as well as dinner for the chapters' total of 140 members who all gather on Sunday evenings for chapter dinner.

'It originally had a capacity for 40 women,” Mueller explained of the Kappa chapter house which has undergone several expansions over the decades. Today, the house sleeps 64 women - mostly sophomores and juniors - and also features a full apartment space for the house director, a full-time employee who manages the day-to-day operations of the home.

The second and third floors - essentially long, non-descript hallways - of the home feature a whole host of bedrooms, all of which are either double or triple rooms. While Mueller said the rooms aren't quite all universally sized, they do all include the same modular furniture - a new investment in the last couple of years as well - which is artfully arranged in each space. The undergraduate Kappas aren't shy about injecting their own personal style to make the rooms feel like home.

Of course the home, which is listed on the Johnson County Historic Register, can present the House Board with challenges as each renovation project unfolds.

'We are always surprised with each renovation,” said Mueller, noting they've discovered old elevator shafts in the walls that were once used for transporting dishes, along with other nooks and crannies. And of course they have other projects on the horizon, such as updating the dining room tables and chairs and dealing with an aging heating system, which will be addressed in upcoming summers when the renovation work takes place.

But Mueller said she and her follow alumni volunteers feel passionate about their role in taking care of the UI's Kappa Kappa Gamma Chapter house.

'In all that we do, we want to maintain the integrity of the house,” she said.