Spending many years in various facets of the home industry, California native Matt Blashaw, owner of Blashaw Residential, loves the challenge of incorporating a dash of Golden State design influence where one would least expect it—Kansas City, Kan.
Blashaw explains his process as seeing the potential in every corner and breathing new life into it. “By reimagining what’s possible, we’re able to create spaces that not only surprise homeowners, but also enhance the character of the environment they are in. It’s about unlocking a hidden treasure trove of possibilities.”
In Fall 2023, Blashaw was tasked with a unique project in the heart of Mission Hills, Kan. (part of the Kansas City metropolitan area): Transform an underutilized backyard into a luxurious outdoor living space focused on entertainment and relaxation.
Mission Hills is well known for its distinct charm and breathtaking historic estate homes. Like most outdoor renovations on an older residence, the main challenge lies in ensuring the renovation blends seamlessly with the other homes in the neighborhood.
“The homeowners had ambitious goals for this project. They wanted to completely transform their once unused backyard into a beautiful outdoor space that checked every box,” Blashaw recalls. “I always love to inject a little bit of modern design with traditional. And, in this case, I was working with a very traditional home. I didn’t want to lose that aspect of it.”
AN EFFICIENT AND STUNNING DINING EXPERIENCE
The large outdoor space served as a blank canvas for the team to reimagine what could be. “I always encourage my clients to think outside of the box,” Blashaw states. “There are so many ways to transform your outdoor living space.”
The dining space includes an impressive custom-made cedar table, large enough to comfortably seat 14 people. Bringing in modern elements, Blashaw added a pergola for the ultimate dining experience.
“We added louvers and intentionally angled them on the lattice to provide partial shade, no matter the time of day,” he recalls. “By angling half the louvers one way, you’ll get shade when the sun moves from the east. By positioning the other half on an opposite angle, you’ll still get shade when the sun sets in the west.”
estate homes. Like most outdoor renovations on an older residence, the main challenge lies
in ensuring the renovation blends seamlessly with the other homes in the neighborhood.
The striking cedar adds the right amount of warmth to complement the fusion of blue cobblestone pavers and white limestone veneer used in the outdoor kitchen space.
“Serving as more than just a culinary hub, the kitchen area is a visual and social focal point to any living space,” Blashaw notes.
The outdoor kitchen consists of high-end, stainless-steel appliances, including a propane-powered grill, perfect for hosting. Blashaw says although aesthetics and appliances are important considerations in a kitchen build, so is choosing the right energy source to support those appliances, especially in the Kansas City area, which is nationally known for its barbecue.
“The use of propane in outdoor appliances really leans into that KC barbecue enthusiast state-of-mind with its precise temperature control, allowing for a perfectly cooked meal, every time,” Blashaw shares.
Propane is efficient and clean, making it easy to work with. It releases less carbon monoxide and harmful particulate matter than that of a charcoal grill.
This grill relies on a 40-pound propane tank, conveniently hidden in the storage area of the island. Now these homeowners can enjoy delicious food with minimal cleanup.
Other design considerations in the space include a stunning quartz countertop, durable for every season, and several juniper dwarf trees directly behind the cooking area to create a natural backsplash.
WEST COAST LUXURY MEETS MIDWEST LIVING
The original enclosed screen porch was practically unusable. Besides being a small space, the brick floor was crumbling, leaving it nearly impossible to enjoy or entertain guests.
“Typically, when there’s an older, more rundown part of a home, it’s easy to just say ‘let’s knock it down and start over’,” Blashaw comments. “I approach all my projects the same way: by seeing what elements are still usable, especially when working on a historic home like this.”
When approaching the enclosed patio, Blashaw knew he wanted to incorporate a California element to seamlessly merge the interior living space with the outdoors.
“In California, we would literally keep our doors open all day,” Blashaw reminisces. “You can’t necessarily do that in the Midwest, but there are ways around it.”
With a nod to California-inspired living, collapsible bifold doors were installed and adapted to suit the Midwestern climate. Tempered glass partitions, framed by modern metal grids, serve as a design statement and a practical barrier against the elements.
The brick flooring was replaced with a lighter paver to mimic the same feel while complementing the contrasting pavers outside. Two new skylights were added to provide additional natural light. And with the final touch of cedar to the ceiling, outdoor gable and custom-made cabinets, the indoor space seamlessly connects with the outdoor space.
FINAL TOUCHES
Privacy and greenery were vital components in rounding out the beautiful backyard oasis. Blashaw’s team redid the entire fence line by strategically planting several Arborvitaes, commonly nicknamed “green giants”. These fast-growing evergreens can grow up to two feet a year and create a lush backdrop for the yard that provides privacy and depth to the large outdoor space. This gives the homeowners and their guests more privacy to enjoy the newly constructed outdoor oasis.
“It was important to incorporate a selection of greenery that required minimal upkeep and offered year-round beauty,” Blashaw shares. “The homeowners were very particular in wanting beautiful scenery that was durable for Midwest weather.”
To complement the Arborvitaes, hydrangeas were added to the shaded areas of the yard to offer a pop of color and texture; hydrangeas are beautiful flowers that can thrive in areas with limited sunlight.
Lemon verbena and lemongrass also were introduced around the patio and dining area for more than their striking beauty. “These plants are fantastic around the yard,” Blashaw adds. “I always tell homeowners, before you go enjoy your meal outside, run your fingers through the plant to activate it. It infuses a wonderful citrus scent into the air while acting as a natural repellent.”
The team added a variety of evergreens, flowering shrubs and ornamental grasses that can quickly regenerate in the spring. These strategic landscaping choices not only minimize maintenance efforts for the
homeowners, but also enhance the beauty of the space throughout the changing seasons.
By leaning into a modern and traditional design, this Mission Hills home now offers an oasis that flawlessly blends the benefits of indoor and outdoor living while keeping the charm of the historic neighborhood intact.
“This project had a lot of ‘trust the process and your designer’ moments. It wouldn’t have been possible without our wonderful partners who helped bring the vision to life,” Blashaw remarks.
PHOTOS: India Love Photography
Energy for Everyone
Learn more about the benefits of propane in outdoor kitchens.
Retrofit Team
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Blashaw Residential Inc.
LANDSCAPE COMPANY: SiteOne Landscape Supply
CUSTOM METAL DOOR FABRICATOR: Dane Fabrication, (402) 590-7291
Materials
OUTDOOR PAVERS: RICHCLIFF in Smoked Shale from UNILOCK
PATIO WALL: White Limestone Ashlar from Jacobs Stone Products
SANDSTONE WALL CAP: Techo-Bloc Pure Pavers from ASP Enterprises
STAINLESS-STEEL APPLIANCES: DCS Appliances
QUARTZ COUNTERTOP: Florida Wave from MSI
INTERIOR PORCH PAVERS: RICHCLIFF in Dawn Mist from UNILOCK
SKYLIGHTS: Velux
