Measurable Change - Kansas City Homes & Style

From Top to Bottom and Every Inch In Between, this Large Scale Renovation Results in A Massive Transformation

Story by Joan Bellinghausen | Photography by Matt Kocourek

To say this renovation was a big undertaking is an understatement. Perhaps more fitting, this project can best be described as a dramatic transformation touching every inch of space throughout this 8,000-square-foot house.

Homeowners Laura and Bobby Hennessey initially built the Tuscan Villa-style house in 2003 for their growing family. When they moved into the new build located in the Overland Park neighborhood of The Links of Lionsgate, they had three children. Later, their family grew to a total of five children.

Fast forward two-plus decades, the Hennessey’s have one high schooler still under their roof while their other children are grown and flown. The homeowners wanted to update their space to better serve their family’s current needs, improve functionality, and give a cosmetic facelift to the architecture look and feel of the home.

The couple retained Interior Designer Kendra Miner, principal with Evolve Interiors, and Renovation by Starr Homes to set their desire for an update in motion. Starr’s Tim Mika, project manager, and Lisa Tagmeyer, project coordinator, rounded out the team.

“They were willing to take on this big, big project,” says Kendra. “It truly was a full house remodel. We touched every room in the house.”

Architecturally, plans called for the removal of all Tuscan-inspired elements such as numerous arched windows and doorways, columns, heavy-looking iron light fixtures, and large front doors with scrolls. In their place, the renovation squared off doorways and windows and lightened up the space, trading darker shades of caramel and brown for lighter whites and creams throughout the house with pops of blue on the lower level. Now, the house looks updated with a transitional feel.

“In doing the renovation, we really wanted something comfortable,” says Laura. “We’re very happy with how the entire renovation turned out.”

The renovation created the perfect gathering space spanning the entire length of the back half of the main level. In this improved layout, the kitchen seamlessly flows into the dining area, which flows into the living room. Previously, the space has been broken up with a music area sandwiched between the kitchen and living room while the formal dining room sat separately at the front of the house.

“Now, when we have 25 people over, everyone can be in the same area,” says Laura.

The homeowners wanted to improve the functionality in the kitchen, which ultimately meant shuffling around the location of the range/hood, refrigerator/freezer, and sink.

“We are in the kitchen all the time,” Laura explains. “It’s the heart of our home so we wanted more space.”

To help achieve more space, the project modified the kitchen’s eat-in dining area “to function like a butler’s pantry”, according to Kendra. Open to the entire kitchen, this space now features a second island, more cabinetry, added counterspace, a second sink and another dishwasher.

Aesthetically, the kitchen showcases a blend of light and dark tones, elegant brass accents and a beautiful walnut hood with gold strapping. The refrigerator and freezer columns covered in antiqued mirroring provide an eye-catching and truly unique element.

Nearby, natural light floods the dining area with sliding doors opening onto the lanai. Previously, this wall had two sets of French doors flanking an exterior fireplace on the lanai. Removing the doors and the underused fireplace gave way to the 16-foot span of doors with a seamless view of the outdoors.

“It’s a much better view having the fireplace removed,” says Laura. “Now we have a big open view of the golf course.”

In addition, the dining area now accommodates an oversized table with seating for 12. A pair of beautiful light fixtures anchor the space.

“I really enjoy having the dining table in the center of the home,” she says. “Now, we can all gather around the table.”

Other major changes on the main level involved converting an office into a “hers” custom closet and adding a coffee bar, both accessible from the primary bathroom. A reworked laundry room now accommodates a dog wash for the family’s four-legged friend. The music area with its grand piano, moved to the former dining room at the front of the house.

Also noteworthy, the project built a new office in an area previously occupied by an old exterior deck on the back of the house. The office gives the homeowners an elegant workspace overlooking the golf course.

“The old deck was wasted space,” Laura explained. “I love the location of the office.”

Upstairs, the renovation freshened up the four bedrooms, four bathrooms, laundry room and media area.

“Just renovating the paint, tile and light fixtures made the bathrooms look so different,” she says. “These changes brought everything up to date.”

On the lower level, the renovation took advantage of some unfinished storage space. Tapping into these adjacent spaces allowed the bar area to be converted into a full kitchen and the media area to increase significantly in size. In addition, the powder bath became a multi-use space with a full bath, laundry housing a washer and dryer, and a changing room for the outdoor pool.

The kitchen’s gorgeous back-lit quartzite island with its waterfall edge steals the show. Laura credits Kendra with suggesting this eye-catching element.

“It’s so pretty even when the light isn’t turned on,” Laura says.

Renovating the living area created a more immersive and luxurious experience. Laura says her sons wanted a dedicated theater room, but the family decided on designing a media room with the “look and feel” of a theater room.

This media room features ample comfortable seating, two side-by-side televisions, and floating cabinetry with underlighting to create a warm ambiance. The design also wove in a touch of whimsy on the black painted ceiling, featuring lighting that mimics twinkling stars.

Down the hall, the new bath / laundry room / pool changing room maximizes functionality. Now swimmers can come and go from the outdoor pool to change and shower. Laura appreciates that she no longer has to “carry all the wet pool towels upstairs” to launder.

“The wood and paint are all waterproof,” according to Laura. “It’s a very purposeful space.”

On the lower level, Kendra encouraged Laura to use pops of color to deviate a bit from the more neutral palette of the main level.

“Kendra opened my eyes and got me out of my comfort zone, especially with all the blues,” says Laura.

Various shades of blue have been sprinkled throughout in furnishings such as the barstools and pillows, as well as painted cabinetry and tile. The shower, in particular, sports a bold blue glass tile providing a crisp contrast to the room’s white walls.

A custom-made dining table features live edges and a river of blue epoxy running through the center of the table.

In a project that literally left no stone unturned, Laura says she enjoyed the renovation process and credits Kendra and the Starr team with making things go so smoothly.

“Kendra was the one who pulled everything together,” says Laura. “We worked well together. She listened to me and was there for every single decision in this house.”

Likewise, Kendra shares that sentiment.

“They were a great couple to work with,” says Kendra. “Laura has amazing taste. We used some fun and unique materials to fit her personality.”