Making Memories at Home - Kansas City Homes & Style

A Kansas City couple transforms an outdated Tuscan-style property with splendid views into a lavish modern home made for entertaining family and friends.

Story by Jeanne de Lathouder | Photography by Matthew Anderson

Tucked into The Links at Lionsgate, this exquisite Overland Park dwelling backs up against the 17th green of the golf course, offering fantastic views up the 18th fairway to the clubhouse. When homeowners Susan and Brett Bogan purchased the property in 2020, they could immediately envision its possibilities. The home’s original Old-World Tuscan style didn’t quite mesh with the couple’s casual, transitional aesthetic. Still, it offered the potential for an updated, open floor plan that would better suit the family’s lifestyle. Working with interior designer Marci Knoff and the Renovations by Starr team, they were able to come up with a plan that opened up the main floor. This allowed them to design an amazing kitchen and hearth room, providing plenty of space to host and entertain.

“One of our passions is bringing our family and good friends together for Jayhawk basketball, Chiefs football, Sunday family dinner, and really, any reason to spend time with one another,” says Susan. “Having worked with Marci on a previous renovation project and other décor updates, we trusted her opinion, expertise, and vision. So, we called her right after our Realtor, Pat Manza, showed us the house.

The kitchen and hearth room were the starting points of their renovation. They first removed an awkward structural post between the two spaces to create a larger island and a better flow. Next, they created a custom eight-foot wall of refrigeration in the kitchen, and in the hearth room, they added a beautiful bar with paneled refrigerator drawers to expand entertaining capacity. In addition, they updated both fireplaces on the main level with transitional-style finishes and transformed a dated wet bar between the kitchen and dining area into an elegant wine room.

“I have worked with the homeowners on various projects, so they involved me from the very beginning,” says Marci. “We have a great working relationship, and they had their own ideas to help drive the design — it was an amazing collaboration.”

During the renovation, Marci utilized 3D renderings created by Tim DiCesare of Vizhouse Studio to help envision the new spaces. “The wine room is one of my favorite features we created out of the old pass-through from the kitchen to the dining room,” notes Susan. “I had a vision that wasn’t super easy to execute. And between Marci, Tim, and the Starr team, they brought my idea to fruition. The space allows us to display all the wine from our trips to Sonoma and Napa.”

The original home included a gorgeous pool — a key feature on the couple’s must-have list — with an incredible golf course view. “When they purchased the home, everyone was adding swimming pools, and the wait to get one was incredibly long,” Marci recalls. “So, this was a sort of immediate gratification for them, and they were able to use the pool for two seasons before construction ended.”

Throughout the course of this one-and-a-half-year endeavor, the team redesigned the basement to allow easy access to the backyard and pool. In addition, they updated the space with a new bar and flooring to accommodate all the pool visitors. The lower level also provides plenty of storage for towels, sunscreen, and other outdoor essentials, while an added bathroom and laundry ensure guests a smooth transition from a day at the pool to an evening of dinner and fun.

“We love being able to enjoy the sweeping views of the golf course from every room on the back of the house,” says Susan. “Plus, the backyard is an amazing oasis with a swimming pool, hot tub, and lots of spaces to relax and recharge. It’s also been fun to experience the seasons change, and we’ve seen and heard all kinds of wildlife — rabbits, birds, foxes, and even a few coyotes.”

The one feature the Bogans loved at their previous home was a washer and dryer in the primary bedroom closet. The layout of their new bedroom closet wasn’t quite as large, so the plan underwent several iterations before Marci and the Starr team made it work. “The primary bathroom had a dated corner tub that was removed to create an expansive shower,” says the designer. “We removed odd angles in the original bathroom layout to modernize the new plan. We were then able to add a washer and dryer to the primary closet, as requested by the homeowners. The renovation also included two additional laundry areas — one on the second floor for kids and guests, and one on the lower level to service the pool area.”

Bathed in soothing pastel hues and calming neutrals, the primary bedroom offers an oasis of relaxation for the couple. Sumptuous draperies frame the light-filled expanse of windows displaying a panoramic view of the lush landscape outside. “We absolutely love our bedroom and bathroom — it’s like waking up in a luxury resort every day,” says Susan. “The views of the backyard and golf course are stunning, and the new bathroom design, especially the shower, is simply amazing.”

To suit their casual lifestyle, the Bogans wanted warm and welcoming home furnishings. The couple truly embraces the idea that a home is meant to be lived in, and because Marci knows them so well, she was able to select finishes and furnishings that matched their philosophy. “Our personal style definitely comes through in the overall aesthetic of the spaces,” Susan notes. “We know what we like and don’t like —and we’re not afraid to problem solve and come up with ways to get to the right answer. Marci and the Starr team were great to work with in that regard, and it felt like everyone was always working together to find a solution, which is remarkable for a project that lasted almost 18 months.”

The newly renovated home allows the family endless options for spreading out and taking in the spectacular golf course views. Avid cooks and entertainers, the couple wanted their home to emanate a warmth where family, friends, and guests always feel welcome.

“There are so many things we love about our new home and the overall design,” Susan adds. “I still come home and say, ‘Wow, this is really a cool place.’ We love sitting out on the balcony with friends enjoying a glass of wine or crowding around the kitchen table and island for Sunday dinner. And we especially love summer weekends spending the day in the pool watching the golfers come by. We’ve already created so many memories here—our annual Fourth of July pool celebration, Chiefs Super Bowls, and countless family dinners. And we look forward to creating so many more in this incredible home.”