Our Featured Family’s Point of View

Anecdote 1: Hesitation

Gene and Janice Bode have lived in their Kansas City home for more than 17 years.  A family who is active, fit and on-the-go, they found themselves increasingly frustrated with the choppy floor plan of their home that had awkward and limited access to outdoor living spaces. 

In August 2004, the Bodes decided they would remodel their home and contacted remodeling designer Billie Deatherage after having several friends recommended her and seeing her work on past NARI Remodeled Homes Tours and features in Kansas City Homes & Gardens.

Billie met with the Bodes to look at the house, listen to their frustrations with the old, and hear a “wish list” for the new: The house was full of charm, detail and character but not very comfortable to work, live or entertain in. Gene was especially interested in having a screened porch addition and a comfortable and attractive connection to the future outdoor living space. Janice wanted a kitchen more open to the indoor living spaces, where the family could comfortably convene.

They discussed three design options: 1) Redesign all the service spaces into a new kitchen, mud room, powder room, breakfast room and back hall; 2) Remodel just the existing kitchen within the same space; and 3) Design a new screened porch room addition. After reviewing the design proposal and considering the investment, the Bodes decided to put the project on hold until spring because of concerns about the large investment and the impact on their property value. Would they be over-investing? Would the new design make the house their “dream home” — one they would want to spend the rest of their lives in — or would it be easier to move?   

After much deliberation and angst, the Bodes decided to move forward — a full year later, in August 2005. The Bodes reconnected with Billie, who created a new design proposal that divided the design process into two parts: preliminary design and final plans. By breaking down the process into smaller “bites,” the Bodes felt comfortable moving forward. They could get fairly accurate budgetary numbers from the preliminary design that would help them determine how and if they would move forward.