Katie’s Kitchen

Winter 2024/2025

December 27, 2024

Words by Corinne L. Casazza | Photos by Josie Benefield

Inspired by the family dog, a Northland couple invests in an outdoor space everyone can enjoy for cooking, entertaining and relaxing.

ward-winning builders Chris and Roy Ragland of Homes by Chris have built more than 350 homes in the Northland, won 40-plus awards, and placed numerous homes in Kansas City’s Parade of Homes.

The couple landed in the Northland unintentionally after college and have been in their Liberty home more than 30 years.

“The Northland is convenient to the city but still has a small-town feel,” Roy says.

They considered building a new home for themselves, but many of their friends live in the area, and their dog, Katie, a mixed-breed of Great Pyrenees and Border Collie, enjoys roaming the woods behind the couple’s home, so they decided to stay. Katie, who has always encouraged the couple to go outside with her, inspired them to build a full-scale covered outdoor space on the back of their home where they can all be together. They call it Katie’s Kitchen.

For the Raglands, outdoor living has always been a priority—they enjoy cooking, entertaining and sharing their space with family and friends. They wanted a space built to last, so they started the process with a focus on practicality, longevity and aesthetics.

For starters, a four-foot perimeter foundation ensures that the structure is as solid as their home. Material selections needed to be sturdy, as well.

“You have to use a natural product or concrete, but we don’t live in a modern home,” Roy notes.

So, in keeping with their home’s traditional style, they chose a leathered-finish granite for the perimeter countertops and island top. The matte surface hides dirt, and granite’s durability is strong enough to withstand the elements.

The MDF cabinetry, specifically designed for outdoor use, provides plenty of storage while resisting weather and wear.

On the floor, large-format porcelain tiles offer a clean, polished look that’s easier to maintain than concrete.

Overhead, the knotty pine ceiling is stained gray. The two-tone stain—darker on the beams and posts than on the ceiling—adds depth and provides a rustic yet elegant feel.

It also provides sources of comfort for the family’s year-round use—four ceiling fans and three heaters, making the kitchen an all-season space. Last Christmas, the couple hosted their family out there.

“If it’s 45 degrees or above, we can sit comfortably,” Roy notes. “And those four fans move a lot of air and keep us cool even on a 90-degree day.”

If it’s 45 degrees or above, we can sit comfortably.”
~ Homeowner and builder Roy Ragland

The gas fire pit offers warmth and mood, enhanced by genuine stone columns and gas lanterns.

When not exploring the woods, Katie relaxes in the space she initiated for her owners.

Katie’s kitchen boasts a granite island, outdoor-grade MDF cabinets and a porcelain tile floor. Guests can enter from the side yard, where Roy relaid bricks from the former patio. The kitchen window remains in its original place, connecting the two spaces.

The covered area extends to an uncovered patio, where planters enjoy the sun and bring color to both outdoor and indoor spaces.

Builders Chris and Roy Ragland, who could build a new home of their dreams, prefer their Northland neighborhood, where they added on this luxury outdoor kitchen, dining and entertainment area to their 30-year-old home. With views of the woods around their property and nods to their home’s existing architecture, the couple created this year-round haven for the long run.

The covered addition seamlessly merges with the 30-year-old home while updating its amenities significantly.

During the design phase, the Raglands planned for a seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors. The addition’s natural stone columns and stucco exterior complement the existing architecture of the home, creating the feeling of a natural extension. They decided against removing the kitchen window in order to maintain a visual connection between the spaces.

The couple also repurposed bricks from their original patio to lay a pathway from the driveway to the kitchen, lit by sconces, ensuring that guests can easily navigate the outdoor area at night.

The seven gas lanterns surrounding the space were an expensive challenge but well worth the mood-lifting glow they provide. Pendant lights add a decorative touch, as well.

“We can really light up the space, but we can also dim it,” Chris adds.

Katie’s Kitchen boasts an array of cooking appliances, including a Traeger pellet grill, BBQ grill, gas range and flat-top griddle. A high-output gas burner allows them to cook with a wok, and a pizza oven can be fired up on special nights. The kitchen also includes a sink, which is integral to meal preparation, and an ice maker for chilling sodas and cocktails.

Chris grew up cooking for farmhands from a young age and, weary of the job, has since turned over her chef’s hat to her husband.

“I just ran out of meals in my body, and Roy sort of became the cook of the house,” she says.

Roy makes all the house specialties, from beer-braised brats finished on the grill to country-oriented meat and grilled veggies.

Besides the tasty food that gets served up, the Raglands’ favorite thing about Katie’s Kitchen is how comfortable it is. The couple’s interior designer, Julia Haseltine, helped them curate a casual yet sophisticated seating area behind the island that fits the space’s laid-back, welcoming vibe. At the center, a gas fire pit calls them out to overlook those woods that Katie so enjoys. And Katie is happy because her people are outside all the time. For humans and their canine alike, Katie’s Kitchen is more than just a place to cook—it’s a space to connect, celebrate and enjoy life.

Builder: Homes by Chris, @homes_by_chris