The goal for this project was to completely transform a home in Leawood to reflect its true potential. As it stood, the first priority was determining the scope of structural and functional improvements needed to restore the home and establish a clear design direction. Taking cues from Hampton-inspired architecture mixed with vintage and old-world themes, the design team created a one-of-a-kind home.

The home never reached the real estate market because a broker deemed it unsafe for showings. Numerous hazards existed: the sunken basement living area lacked step indicators and caused frequent falls, the deck was deteriorating and pulling away from the house, and wood rot near the primary shower had weakened the floor. The driveway had settled more than 12 inches below the garage slab. In addition, the home suffered from typical 1980s-1990s layout issues—limited pantry storage, no drop zone or boot bench, exposed and undersized appliances, and no second-floor laundry. The primary suite layout was particularly inefficient, filled with awkward circulation and wasted square footage.

An auxiliary staircase to the second floor and basement was removed to reclaim valuable space. This allowed the team to create a secondary garage entry leading to a boot bench, drop station, and prep kitchen with a sink and window. A second walk-in pantry was added, and the kitchen expanded with taller windows to introduce natural light. Custom doors, carved island legs, and a marble-clad hood enhanced the design.

Additional features included plaster crown and ceiling detailing in the dining room, a marble checkered tile inlay in the entry, custom welded stair railings, new wood treads with integrated step lighting, decorative moulding, and a cast stone-style fireplace mantle. The basement bar became a speakeasy-style lounge, while a new powder bath and mother-in-law suite were added. Outside, an arched glass and mahogany entry door, gables, shutters, cupola, and herringbone paver walk created a Hamptons-inspired exterior.