Tamara, Take The Wheel

September 17, 2025

An Overland Park couple turn to TV host Tamara Day to transform their project into a personal and punchy lake home.

Words
Amy Thurston
@amytkc

Photos
Paul Versluis
@paulversluis

Designer
Tamara Day Design
@tamaradaydesign

nn and Larry Hartley are seasoned house flippers. For as long as they can remember, they have been drawn to the challenge and adventure of turning a project into a prospect.

Their home is situated on a quaint neighborhood lake in Overland Park; living lakeside has always been a bucket-list item for them. Once they purchased the house, they immediately got to work demolishing the main floor.

But as they moved deeper into the project, an idea occurred. As fans of Tamara Day and her show Bargain Mansions, they wondered: what if we reach out to see if this project is a good fit for the show? After making contact via social media and working through the logistics, they decided to let Tamara take the wheel while they took a back seat to the remodeling experience. It turned out to be a win-win.

During Tamara’s initial walk-through, the Hartleys showed her a wall where all their friends had written wishes and sentiments during a pre-renovation party. For the event, they had concocted a cocktail recipe called the Old Fashioned (House Party). You could see the wheels turning as Tamara read the words.

Plus, the home’s awkward layout, lack of light, and need for opening up the stairs would all be good touch points for the show. The great room, everyone agreed, would have the most significant transformational power.

“In the living room, the view is our hero,” Tamara says. “But we wanted to create a statement with the fireplace.”

Once the demolition was complete, Tamara began implementing her concept. For the great room, she selected a black marble mosaic tile with alternating flat and polished surfaces. The curvature and reflective value of the stone pieces have a tonal impact and somehow feel light, while the scale gives substantial visual weight that anchors the room. The large windows on either side of the fireplace provide a calming view of the lake. The room is finished with furnishings in a soothing mix of greens and neutrals against the backdrop of a quiet beige wall color.

The kitchen received more of Tamara’s magic. She replaced the bay windows with glass doors and added a pass-through window, which not only doubles the amount of natural light but also makes the deck more user-friendly and accessible.

In another creative turn, Tamara customized a quartz-topped storage island with the addition of a walnut slab that pivots to serve as a buffet. Tamara worked with KC Custom Hardwoods to select and fabricate the slab, which was once a tree here in the metro. Encased in a smoky black epoxy, it’s a stunning focal point that adds warmth and originality to the space. Above it, three woven brass light fixtures add more texture and interest.

Another beautiful addition to the space is the backsplash, whose curves carry through from the fireplace, visible in the adjoining great room, albeit in a neutral mix of cream and taupe. On the length of wall behind the stove, Tamara chose a charcoal quartz slab finished with a small shelf to place favorite finds and keep key ingredients handy.

In the primary bedroom, a praline color punctuated with black trim creates a comfortable and tailored foundation for the custom pieces that Tamara made for the space. First, a graphic zebra wood desk climbs a corner on one side of the windows, affording a beautiful view to work by. Additionally, Tamara built a wall-to-wall channeled velvet headboard with two zebra wood nightstands. To save surface space on the nightstands, she hung a pair of modern brass and black pendants, threading in the black detail to tie in the trim.

The roomy ensuite bathroom features a stunning pebbled bathing nook with a ceiling faucet and live moss installation. Tamara wanted this space to feel transportive, incorporating as many natural elements as she could.

“We took advantage of the fifth wall to create a true oasis vibe,” she notes.

Two floating wood cabinets and a double rain shower wrapped in large-format tile complete the space.

For the Hartleys, the thoughtful and engaging design reflects their adventurous spirit and new life on the lake. For Tamara, the collaboration created an opportunity for a fresh take on what a lake house can be. As a closing gift, she gave the couple a framed cutting from the wall that had the recipe for their cocktail. What a fun renovation—it’s personal and punchy and ready for a post-renovation party.