Background of Touch of Distinction Principal

Paul Helmer, Principal – Touch of Distinction, is a decorative artist and architectural designer with his Kansas City, Missouri, based company. With over 35 years of experience in the study of historical preservation and restoration he has been involved in virtually every era of design and color. Having grown up in St. Joseph, Missouri, the city of the Pony Express, Aunt Jemima, and Jessie James, his efforts were effective to help save the: Buchanan County Courthouse, The Warehouse Row, the former Immaculate Conception Church, and a number of residential properties. His first love of preservation led him down the path to his current offerings of renovations and color consulting for: residences, commercial properties, and churches. His passion for doing renovations the correct way and interest in fine arts has warranted his background study of period color usage both interior and exterior of vintage properties.

Today his business is the only Midwest Company focused on color consultation which makes use of period appropriate colors and architectural design work. Elaborate and simple faux finishes and murals are a major part of Paul’s abilities. As with any artist he adapted his faux finishes to represent natural products such as wood, marble, stone and brick. His murals are of the highest detail and certainly one of a kind. As a decorative artist, Old World techniques with modern products and innovation are used. This same interest in designing the best is also used with Period Landscaping design.

He teaches UMKC outreach classes on exterior and interior color usage, and curb appeal renovations. Paul is often seen leading historical bus tours. With this wide range of interest Paul blends the technical expertise of an architect, the acumen of an experienced artist and the passion for well done renovations and ability with well thought out design.

Accomplishments:
  • Bachelor of Architecture degree has given Paul the credentials and knowledge that started him on a career resulting in the most accomplished of renovations. Residential modifications are based up
  • on well educated and superior design abilities which often win prizes and neighborhood acclaim.
  • Near degree in Fine Arts which rounded existing talent for art to the point of a fanatical appreciation of the existing design environment and learning the skills to retain, preserve, restore and enhance our heritage of art and architecture. 
  • Theology Classes have enlarged a fertile mind to encompass dramatic spiritual designs. These respond to congregation's: ethnicity, form of worship and create a sense of inspirational art and architecture. The result is a positive response from the worshiping community. (These include: Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, and interdenominational communions.)
  • City Planning Degree classes and 11 year Architect/ Engineer position City Planning Department – City of KCMO has developed a strong knowledge about City Planning principals that creates sustainable neighborhoods and what are harmful pitfalls.
  • Founding Manager of the Building Reuse Program where he brought together developers/ interested parties and owners of derelict properties. This resulted in a typical yearly savings of close to $300,000 in non-demolition costs for the City. This effort not only brought new life back into ethnic and deteriorating neighborhoods but also helped fed county and city tax rolls and has cut the costs of wasted electrical, gas, water and other utility infrastructure.  
  • Past Preservation Architect of the Kansas City Landmarks Commission has enabled Paul to gain vast training from national conferences and classes that have merited his recognition as a historic preservation designer. During this time, he was one of the two co-writers in the Historic Kansas City Foundation Gazette’s column FROM THE DRAWING BOARD. Here articles were published about the technologies of restoration and renovation. Two of Mr. Helmer’s articles were saved as reference material in the National Trust for Historic Preservation library in Washington. Several in the Kansas City region refer to him as Mr. Preservation. 
  • As a Charter board member of Friends of Sacred Structures Paul was the Chair of Advocacy. This organization helped to influence the preservation of many aesthetic details in the Conception Abbey. Also this group helped to foster additional use and promotion of several churches in the Midwest region to the point where their usage has stabilized and brought about support for existing religious properties. 
  • Working in private practice for well known architectural firms has resulted in the further development of superior skills resulting in major renovations of homes, business buildings, churches and historic sites. Among historic sites are: The Bingham Wagner Freight House in Independence, The Thomas Hart Benton Home, The Ante-Bellum McBurney Home in Arrow Rock and several more.
  • He has received a number of local and national awards and has been published in a number of design magazines. The Kansas City Star often quotes Mr. Helmer in reference to design and color questions and answers. The Chicago Tribune has also quoted Mr. Helmer in reference to color.  As well, he has being filmed on 5 television programs.

Associates - Background
Touch of Distinction is a Design Consortium of artists and designers of the highest quality and with many varied backgrounds. Upon the installation of any decorative art project qualified artisans are called upon to install Faux painting, murals and decorative arts. These artist are expert in the creation of stencils, color washes and the installation of well designed color schemes to make their appearance the best possible. Our aim is to always satisfy the customer.

Brief Background:
Professional Architecture registration
Licenced & Insured
Membership – National Association of Remodelers (NARI)