Old Bones, New Beginning - Kansas City Homes & Style

Long-term livability guided every decision in this Brookside remodel.

Story by Mollie Pfeifer | Photos by Angier Photography

When Angie and Tyler Carroll began searching for a home near Kansas City’s Trolley Trail, they were less focused on finishes and more concerned with potential. “We were really looking at functionality of the bones of the house,” Angie explains. Walkability was nonnegotiable. Nestled in historic Brookside, just two blocks from neighborhood shops and steps from the trail, the home offered the daily ease they were seeking.

What ultimately sold them was not just the location, but the logic of the house itself. All the plumbing ran along the back wall, with the kitchen and living spaces already aligned in a way that made a rear expansion feasible. “Expanding back made the most sense,” Angie says.

Architect Adam Pfeifer of apd_studios+ notes that the home’s existing conditions reinforced that approach. Situated on a corner lot with a detached rear garage, the house touched multiple setback lines, making a rear expansion the most natural solution.

The lot size further reassured the Carrolls that the house could grow without sacrificing the backyard. Practical considerations also played a role. As medical professionals who work on call, accessibility mattered. A shared driveway was a deal breaker. “I never wanted to be in a situation where I needed to get to the hospital and could be blocked by a neighbor,” Angie says.

The remodel reimagined the first level to better support modern living. The back half of the house was taken down to the studs and expanded by seven hundred square feet, creating space for a new kitchen, mudroom, pantry, and custom dry bar. The front portion of the home, including the dining room, sunroom, and part of the living room, remains original, with only lighting updated. The result is a first floor that feels open and intuitive while still honoring the home’s historic character.

Long-term livability guided every decision. The original second floor featured a tiny closet and a half bath, far from ideal for a home the Carrolls planned to stay in for decades. “I wanted an en suite we could live with for 20-plus years and be happy in,” Angie says. Storage was equally important. “Storage and functionality are big for me,” she notes, adding that she prefers everything to have a designated place.

Upstairs, the primary suite was expanded to include a new bathroom, walk-in closet, and an upstairs laundry center, eliminating the need to haul clothes between floors. “As you age, it’s more ideal to bring that to the level on which you live,” Angie says. The primary bath was designed as a retreat, featuring earth tones, natural wood, a steam shower, and a concrete trough sink with a large mirror.

The Carrolls worked closely with Pfeifer, whose detailed and communicative approach helped guide the project from the outset. Angie describes him as “clearly very detail oriented” and notes that “his first draft was what we went with, besides a few minor adjustments.” Care was taken to ensure the addition blended seamlessly with the existing home. “The real testament to a project’s success is when you can make that addition look intentional, like it could have been there the whole 100 years of the home,” Pfeifer says.

One of Pfeifer’s ideas became a standout feature: a hybrid butler’s pantry and mud hallway that houses appliances and storage. By combining functions in a compact footprint, the space keeps the public areas of the home feeling calm and uncluttered.

Entertaining was another priority. The open kitchen, living, and bar areas make gatherings easy, with the dining room just around the corner. A Marvin folding door opens to a screened-in, three-season deck, adding three hundred square feet of usable space. “It extends the house and lets fresh air and breeze in,” Angie explains. Complete with a fireplace and television, the porch has quickly become a favorite gathering spot. “It’s cozy,” she says, “especially when the magnolias are in bloom.”

The kitchen anchors the home both visually and socially. A matte raw steel stove hood adds a utilitarian edge without feeling harsh. Adjacent to the kitchen, a custom dry bar reflects one of Tyler’s passions: a thoughtfully curated scotch and whiskey collection. Metal-framed glass shelving showcases favorite bottles, including a Heaven Hill 20 Year and a rare Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year.

Even the family dogs were considered in the design. Jack, a 16-year-old blind dog, has a dedicated, enclosed area where he can safely stay when the Carrolls are away. Millie, their six-year-old dog, was initially wary during construction but now “absolutely loves the house.”

Now settled in, Angie is most excited about the everyday rhythms the home supports and “all the memories that we get to make there.” From walking the Trolley Trail to grabbing coffee or hosting neighbors, the Carrolls are beginning the next chapter of life in a home shaped to fit it.