‘Bargain Mansions’ Unveils Upgrades That Can Double a Home’s Price

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On “Bargain Mansions,” designer Tamara Day renovates cheap, old homes so they fetch a hefty profit once they’re sold. In the latest episode, she lists one for more than twice what she put in. Will it pay off?

In the “On the Wings of a Dovetail” episode, Day buys a home in Mission, KS, for just $220,000. She sets aside $75,000 to fix it up, which boosts her total investment to $295,000. Once the work is complete, she lists the property for $615,000.

That’s quite a markup! To find out which upgrades merit such a sizable return in her mind, read on. You might be inspired to do a few budget-friendly renovations around your own home!

Dovetail counters help a kitchen stand out

Double islands make all the difference in this large kitchen.

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When Day first sees the kitchen, she thinks it has potential. It has two large islands, fun green cabinets, and lots of space. But she wants to give this house a relaxing, natural look—and the kitchen doesn’t have it.

So she paints the cabinets a more subtle green and installs new quartz countertops. Then, for a little something extra, she adds a dovetail edge on one of the islands. The dovetail on the white counter with a walnut slab brings together the earthy tones of the wood with the elegant look of the countertop.

This dovetail design gives the kitchen a unique look.

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When Day is finished, she loves how the counter augments the kitchen’s natural yet sophisticated look.

“I’ve had a very intentional design throughout this entire home to bring that earthy, Zen-like feeling from the front door all the way through the house,” Day says. “And now this countertop married with the walnut is exactly the thing that sets it over the edge.”

A unique tile design adds personality

This kitchen was roomy, but it needed some style.

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Day loves the idea of putting marble tile around the new built-in banquette in the kitchen, but she wants to do it in a unique way.

On the day the tile is being installed, she notices that the unfinished, jagged edge actually looks great against the wall and decides to leave it exposed.

“That’s really unique and fades it into the living room in kind of a cool way,” Day says.

This tile is both elegant and edgy.

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She has the tile installed so that it fades from the kitchen into the living room wall, giving the space a transitional look and unique charm.

Small changes to a fireplace make a big difference

Tamara Day knew this fireplace needed a refresh.

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Day likes the size of this home’s fireplace, but she doesn’t love the style.

“This is the first impression of this home,” Day explains. “When you open the front door, it needs to be a ‘wow’ statement of something really beautiful, but not over the top.”

This limestone fireplace is a fresh update on the old look.

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Day decides to tweak the look to make it look more modern. She replaces the white tile, which had aged and yellowed, with a textured, white limestone tile.

It’s a subtle change, but it makes all the difference. The limestone makes the fireplace look brighter and gives the entire living room an elevated feel.

Bold wallpaper transforms a bedroom

Why not brighten a room with some wallpaper?

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Wallpaper doesn’t have the stodgy reputation that it once had. In fact, Day depends on wallpaper in this flip when she wants to bring some serious style to the main bedroom.

“I chose to put wallpaper on the main headboard wall, because I wanted it to be a statement that adds that fun element that I was looking for,” Day says.

While the floral design she chooses may not be everyone’s style, it makes this space really stand out—and Day knows it’ll impress the right buyer.

Plus, when paired with the soft-green paint Day chooses for the other walls and the green bedspread, this room has a fresh, nature-inspired look, which is exactly the style Day wants for this home.

No room for a swimming pool? Do the next best thing

This backyard was a great space, but it wasn’t being used.

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Day knows that many buyers would love to have a pool in their backyard, but this house simply doesn’t have the space. So she comes up with a creative idea to add a stock tank, which is traditionally used for feeding livestock, as a fun water feature.

She brings in the tank, but in order to make it look less farmlike, Day paints a beautiful copper patina on it and decorates the area with flowerpots.

This is an interesting alternative to a small pool.

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When the back patio is finally finished, Day explains that she wanted this tank to be “one of those elements that make it a fun space for adults and kids alike.”

It seems like she succeeds: When buyers come to tour the house, one young girl is just as delighted by the tank pool as her parents are.

Although this episode of “Bargain Mansions” ends before they can announce whether the house has sold, if it goes for anywhere near asking price, Day has clearly earned her keep.

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