Bargain Mansions

★ 3 · 2016 · Reality

For home restoration expert Tamara Day, there's no such thing as a home that's too big! This Kansas City native and mother of four specializes in restoring the neglected large homes that others are too scared to take on. She brings these big beauties back to life so that new families can move in and love them again.

Episodes

▶1. The Heart of the HomeTamara tackles the battered kitchen of her new property, an 1897 bungalow; she enlarges and modernizes the space while preserving traditional elements of the bungalow kitchen; Tamara and her father hunt for a suitably sized island.▶2. How Suite It IsTamara transforms a bedroom as she continues renovating a bungalow; knowing buyers expect a master suite, Tamara annexes a second room to enlarge the tiny closet and add a bathroom; Tamara and her father find the perfect tub, but it's painted black.▶3. Double Dutch DilemmaTamara Day gets the opportunity to renovate a French chateau she’s wanted to tackle for years. She finds that a recent renovation left the kitchen looking outdated and tacky, but she’s determined to create a home full of authentic details. Tamara and her dad go shopping for a Dutch door, then she restores plantation shutters to preserve the home’s vintage French e ▶4. The Trouble with CobbleTamara Day continues work on a French chateau as she overhauls a large master suite covered in the tackiest wallpaper she’s ever ripped out of a home. She plans to move an entire bathroom to create an additional bedroom and extend a hallway with floor boards saved from downstairs. But to preserve a backyard kitchenette and cobblestone pavers, she will be forced to make decisions that may wreck her budget.▶5. From Studs To SpindlesA previous contractor ripped an 1890s Craftsman-style home down to the studs before abandoning it, and Tamara Day is stepping in to finish the renovation and save the house. She repairs substantial structural damage and tears down a load-bearing wall to enlarge the tiny kitchen. An exterior iron staircase presents problems for both the curb appeal and progress on the renovations, and missing spindles from the original staircase send Tamara to the wood shop to create exact replicas.▶6. Book Lamps and Bubble GlassRenovations continue on Tamara Day’s 1890s Craftsman home, as she enlarges the master bedroom and creates a beautiful study with a unique light fixture. She runs into a hiccup when she can’t salvage enough antique tiles for the bathroom floor, but after needing to replace numerous windows, Tamara finds an uncommon way to reuse the old glass in the master bath.▶7. All Bricked OutTamara takes an 1892 brick Craftsman that was converted into three apartments and tries to restore it back into a single-family dwelling while keeping original details. She and her dad attempt to recover a vintage pocket door that was enclosed inside a wall and update the home's electricity without destroying the brick walls or using conduit.▶8. The Swing of ThingsTamara continues working on an 1892 Craftsman and struggles to add a master bathroom. Then, she finds a way to repurpose floor boards into a porch swing, but her plan to reuse a clawfoot tub hits a snag because of a narrow doorway.▶9. The Mural of the StoryTamara Day works on restoring a 1909 Craftsman home, opening up its meandering layout and ripping out the tacky additions that have stripped this house of its original charm. She saves vintage light switches and a wallpaper mural that could be the showpiece of the dining room if she can keep it from being destroyed during renovations.▶10. Clowning AroundTamara Day continues renovating a 1909 Craftsman home, transforming a small bedroom into the master bath. She saves and refurbishes French doors, vintage sinks and a tub from the house, while adding modern elements like a sauna. During the walk-through with her contractor, Tamara discovers the creepiest thing she's ever found in a home.▶11. Fireplaces and Wired SpacesTamara Day annexes an oversized dining room to enlarge a tiny kitchen in a 1926 English Tudor. She rips out an outdated and tacky mantel to create a stunning fireplace surround. Using a piece of reclaimed walnut, she then creates a large desktop for an in-home office. Tamara also restores an original mail slot from the home and solves a problem with the old knob-and-tube electrical.▶12. Two-Deck Tudor30m · Tamara Day struggles to create a more spacious master suite until she decides to add a second deck to a 1926 English Tudor. Tamara strips off numerous coats of paint to restore original doors in the home. In the backyard, she adds an outdoor living area with a fire pit. Tamara and her dad then realize the height of the garage doors may cause a problem.▶13. Move That KitchenTamara renovates a single-story ranch and tackles her biggest challenge to date, transforming the former master bedroom into a stunning, open kitchen. However, she and her dad run into problems during demolition.▶14. Copper ShowstopperTamara Day continues renovations on a one-story ranch by creating a new master suite. To enlarge the tiny bath, she must first tear out a wall and move the door. While polishing the copper fireplace hood, Tamara and her dad use a familiar solution that has unusual results. Her plans to create a sunroom and patio then run into problems due to weather.

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