An outdoor living space beckons, “Let’s have a party.”
Even though they are empty nesters, Michele and Tom Brown of Clive added a whole new living space to their lovely two-story home a couple years ago. It has a kitchen and bar area, a dining space, and a welcoming living space with a big-screen TV over a floor-to-ceiling fireplace. They did it all without opening up walls in their home.
Say what?
The additional space is nestled in the middle of their parklike backyard. It centers among mature evergreen trees and berms that hold interesting plantings and a so-soothing waterfall and pond with goldfish.
“A few years ago we decided that we loved being out on our deck so much that we wanted to expand the experience,” says Michele. “We love to grill year-round, so considered the idea of an outdoor kitchen. We had seen them elsewhere, but not too much around here at that point. We contacted Ted Lare Design Build, and Ted designed this fabulous project for us. We love it.”
“The idea of outdoor kitchens is growing around here,” Lare explains. “We have actually done quite a few, and I have four or five in the planning stages right now.”
With good reason, to be sure. The Browns have found that the new structure is perfect for nearly any reason to entertain. It measures 30x30 feet and offers a two-level granite counter for cooking and serving. On two sides, there is room for bar chairs for casual seating. And there’s also room for a long dining table and chairs, plus a counter-high bistro table and chairs.
A floor-to-ceiling angled stone fireplace anchors one corner; casual couches and chairs with pillows invite visitors to sit and visit or watch the flat-screen TV, which is hidden behind stainless-steel doors above the fireplace.
The door blends with the stainless appliances in the kitchen area, including the oversize grill—Michele calls it the “giant man-grill.” There are two gas burners for cooking and warming, a fridge, and drawers that can be filled with ice for serving beverages.
“Needless to say, our son, Taylor, and daughter, Stephanie, weren’t too happy that we did all this after they left for college,” Michele states, “but they enjoy using it to visit with their friends when they come home.”
The pavilion-style structure has a wide roof overhang to keep out wind and rain, so it can be used at most times. Even during the winter, Tom, owner of Brown Nationalease, has been known to go out there to watch TV. When it’s really nippy outside, such as during fall football parties, the Browns have two tall heaters to cut the chill.
Besides football gatherings, the Browns have used the area to host spring break reunion get-togethers, along with martini-tasting nights. Michele enjoys inviting friends for book club, a lunch group, birthday, July 4th, and SmartTalk parties (for friends to discuss the SmartTalk series of speakers in Des Moines).
“Ted Lare had such a wonderful vision and changed the whole look of the yard, even beyond the outdoor kitchen area,” Michele explains. He put in a new waterfall and pond, and, with the help of a heater, lots of goldfish survived a rough winter. Interesting Japanese maples and a shagbark birch tree add texture to the berms. For color all season long, there are ornamental grasses, daylilies, Korean boxwood, azaleas, rhododendrons, and a variety of other perennials.
“It really has opened up our yard. We absolutely love it. We call it our ‘extra-big’ grill cover,” Michele says with a smile.
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