Serving 4 to 40

Fall 2024

September 18, 2024

Words by Meghan Craig | Photos by Matthew Anderson

A series of “outdoor rooms” increases a Leawood couple’s backyard experience for various parties and seasons.

aving just wrapped up a full-home remodel, homeowners Kelli and Andrew Martin decided the finishing touch would be to extend their living experience outdoors with additional space for relaxing and entertaining.

Kelli discovered Lorax Design Group while researching companies who are well-versed in hardscape design.

“Once we saw some of Kurt Kraisinger’s finished projects, we knew Lorax would be a good choice for the aesthetic we were looking for,” she says. “We wanted clean lines that fit well within the contours of our property, few or no railings, and the ability to keep our two mature oak trees and incorporate them into the design. Lorax excels at this type of design work.”

Kraisinger, founder and president of Lorax Design Group, ensures that all his outdoor projects feel natural, with free-flowing circulation.

“We also wanted the design to feel comfortable for a family of four yet also when entertaining a group of 40,” he says.

The Martins started with a clear picture of what they wanted the backyard to look like, which minimized the time spent on design and revisions. Contractor Taylor Erickson of Erickson Build Co. was involved from the beginning. In total, the design process, permitting and actual renovations took around 18 months.

The Martins originally wanted more of the structure to be fully enclosed as part of the interior of the home, but due to HOA restrictions, they could only have an additional 300 square feet “under roof.”

This backyard project included the addition of a covered porch, an outdoor built-in grill and bar counter, a deck lounge, a sunken fire pit and seating area, and a harvest table patio—all without disturbing a 40-year-old pin oak tree near the house.

Integrated LED lights add to the ambiance of the fire pit and offer wayfinding around the built-in seating. Behind the pillows, you can see the decorative drain cover.

The large outdoor sofas and chairs on the main level are from Yardbird, forming a cozy, conversational environment.

“Our vision for the project changed over the course of the design phase,” Kelli says. “We had to pivot with the design because we wanted to be able to use the space for as many months out of the year as possible.”

This led to the addition of an open-air, heated lanai that could be used for at least three seasons.

Lorax designed four unique areas that seamlessly flow one into the next: the lanai, a dining space, a lounge space, and a large wood-burning fire pit that became the center of the project.

This layout accommodates several “outdoor rooms” to disperse groups of people into separate seating areas that are comfortable without feeling overcrowded.

“We listen to our client’s needs, learn about what is most important for their vision, and then apply a comprehensive design that is consistent with their wishes and desires,” Kraisinger says.

The entire space is surrounded by a lush, green backdrop of trees and plants, creating a calming and beautiful space for relaxation, family time or hosting larger groups.

Lorax used natural materials like stone and wood to unify the vision of the outdoor space and reference the architecture of the house, giving the appearance that the entire project was built with the house. And with heating elements to allow for use during colder months, the Martins got the highly usable space they were hoping for.

“Our favorite thing about the outdoor space is that every space is used and has purpose for exactly what we imagined, and we get to enjoy the outdoors in KC about 10 months out of the year,” Andrew says. “We use the space for parties for our girls’ volleyball teams, graduation parties, happy hours with friends, watching football games outside with 15 people sitting around the fire pit, cards under the lanai, or dinner for two. We love it and look forward to spending as much time outside as possible.”

Landscape Architect: Lorax Design Group, @loraxdesigngroup

Contractor: Erickson Build Co., @ericksonbuildco