Livable & Luxurious - Kansas City Homes & Style

With a mix of modern, traditional and lavish textures, this outdated Glen Eagles home gets glammed up from top to bottom.

Story by Jeanne de Lathouder | Photography by Matthew Anderson

Their idea started small—like so many ideas do. When Traci and John Peterzalek’s Overland Park home turned 10 years old, the couple decided they would update just one room. But once they started on their remodeling path, a domino effect took hold and what began as one room quickly turned into a top-to-bottom transformation of their entire home. Nestled at the back of the Glen Eagles subdivision on a heavily wooded lot just steps from walking trails and the St. Andrews Golf Course, the home captivated the couple for its beautiful location, comfortable appeal, and spacious rooms. But when their home gradually became outdated, they started assessing whether they should find something new or redesign what they had.

“The redesign won,” says Traci. “Our original inquiry was to start small and create only a new master bath. But when asked the question ‘what part of your home do you enjoy spending the most time in,’ our plans changed drastically, and a sweeping, stunning remodel of our entire first floor began.”

So, Traci and her husband, two dogs, and a cat moved into an apartment for nine months while walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doors were torn out. Over the next few months, their home was transformed into a transitional open, warm, and inviting space. But the domino effect continued, and then the basement level had to be brought into the same decade as the couple’s main living area.

“It felt like entering two entirely separate homes when walking down the stairs to the lower level,” says Traci. “So, we made the decision to bring the basement up to date — it was very important to us that our home flow easily from one room to the next.”

After the upper level was complete, the couple loved their new bright home with its gray, white, and cream color scheme and a mixture of warm woods. However, there was not a piece of furniture, art, or décor they owned that fit the style of their brand-new space. “It began to get very frustrating having this beautiful space that felt completely cold and empty,” Traci recalls, “so my search for design help began, and it led me to Heather Heizman.”

Owner of Heizman Designs, Heather quickly became an instrumental inspiration in helping design both levels of the home. Traci immediately connected with her professionally and personally. She was very in tune with what the couple wanted the outcome to be, and when she entered their “blank slate,” her artistic vision took over. Heather’s outstanding attention to detail allowed her to select pieces layer by layer for each room.

“The style is transitional,” says the designer. “It’s a mix of traditional lines with a modern twist. We used lots of cool textures and metals to achieve the look and chose a color palette of warm grays and neutrals. For texture, we added several shagreen pieces — a faux stingray print with a mix of smooth and rough patterns — and incorporated a blend of brushed nickel and champagne gold metals throughout the home.”

Traci and John’s primary goal for the renovation was to bring more natural light into their house. For a significant enhancement, they removed the single doors and side windows leading to the deck and patio and replaced them with large glass sliders. They also added height to cased openings and installed taller doors.

“One of the key reasons we chose to remodel our home was to create an openness and functionality that it lacked before,” says Traci. “We also tried to incorporate a warmth that made the space comfortable — a house with stunning features yet was relaxing and livable. We wanted our family and grandchildren to feel welcome coming in and putting their feet up.”

From the entrance to the basement, no room was untouched. In the entry foyer, the team implemented new front doors with windows to bring in light and painted them black on the interior to add further dimension. In addition, they embellished the sleek, curved staircase with black iron spindles and created a focal point at the top of the stairs with a compelling Arhaus mirror.

The dining room emits a glamorous ambiance with a spectacular Rensen House chandelier. “The reflection from all the crystals makes it moody at night,” says Heather, “and the custom cabinet hides away dishes but adds an attractive pop of warm wood to the predominantly gray room.”

The chic palette continues in the living room with a luxurious gray sectional and a soft brown round coffee table that both echo the hues of the fireplace tile. Mixed metals elevate the stylish modern vibe, and a built-in bar creates a sophisticated space for effortless entertaining. An extra-plush shag area rug anchors the room, and a sparkling chandelier overhead provides an artful touch of glam.

Mirroring the living room’s modern aesthetic, the kitchen boasts a spectacular custom island paved in Taj Mahal quartzite and complemented with a trio of light-catching Lucite pendants. A faux silver-leaf range hood trimmed with warm woods that match the island base creates satisfying visual continuity. “One of our favorite features is the kitchen island,” says Traci. “It really is a piece of art in and of itself and is always the first place where friends and family gather.”

The master suite takes glamour to the next level with a gleaming silver wallpaper that backdrops a luxuriously layered bed. Embedded in the recessed ceiling treatment overhead, glittery gold and silver wallpaper shimmers in the light at night. “We added the wallpapers to create some glitz,” says Heather. “The metallic and mirror bed frame and nightstands amplify the glamorous feel.”

Adhering to the master bedroom’s opulence, the master bath emits a spa-like elegance with a glass shower featuring decorative tiles and a generously sized white soaking tub. “If there is one thing I have learned from Heather, it’s all about textures,” says Traci. “The different textures she combined create a stunning visual appeal that draws the eye to each piece in the room when you enter.”

To make the basement more visually appealing, the team decided to implement a wooden feature wall crafted with geometric shapes for a three-dimensional treatment. A pair of massive modern artworks embellish the adjoining walls and generate a dramatic impact. To create another wow factor, they added a waterfall-edge bar counter and barstools fashioned with an elegant mix of leather, gold, and acrylic. Heather collaborated with Seville Home for most all the furnishings, including a sectional sofa, console table, and coffee and side tables.

“Our basement no longer feels like a basement,” Traci adds. “It has an amazing bar, a large sectional for watching movies with the grandkids, and spaces to play pool, darts, and shuffleboard. The new slider patio doors open to an expansive patio where we can enjoy sitting around the fire pit.”

Surprisingly, the couple began their remodeling journey in February 2018. When Traci started working with Heather, nothing felt rushed, and they both took time to find the perfect furnishings for the look they envisioned. “Traci was amazing to work with, and we have become very close throughout this process,” says Heather. “She was patient and open to all my ideas — and luckily for me, one room turned into an entire house.”