Resort-style pool and backyard amenities order up fun for everyone!
Story by Joan Bellinghausen ~ Photography by Matt Kocourek
Stepping through the gate into this suburban backyard feels a bit like checking into a resort and making a beeline outdoors to survey a beautiful pool with an array of outdoor amenities.
This backyard oasis, tucked out of sight behind a house at the end of a cul-de-sac in Overland Park, radiates a vibe of fun, beckoning visitors to kick off their shoes and dive into what the space has to offer.
That’s the feeling homeowners Sarah and Matt Miller set out to capture – to create a “hang out” space that appeals to young and old and everyone in between.
The result speaks for itself as the eye tries to take in everything packed into the backyard.
The transformation encompasses three inter-connected but distinct areas – a lanai and adjacent patio on the back of the house, the expansive pool and related features including a sunken firepit, hot tub, sun shelf, diving board (can you say “Cannonball!”?) and slide, and an area dedicated to sports with a small basketball court, trampoline and a grassy space for kicking around a soccer ball.
The couple purchased the house in August 2020 when they and their young son relocated from Seattle to the Kensington Manor neighborhood to be closer to family during the COVID pandemic. They intended for the move to be temporary, planning to return to Seattle, but, over time, decided to plant roots in this community.
“Once we decided we were staying, we wanted to do something with the outdoor space,” says Sarah. “I grew up with a pool and have so many childhood memories tied to backyard fun.”
She wanted the same for their son, Evan, now 10 years old.
So, the Miller’s gathered a team of professionals to design and build their dream. They collaborated with Interior Designer Amy Migliazzo with Amiglia Design Group, Landscape Designer Adam Lang with Next to Nature Landscape, the Renovations by Starr Homes team, Architect Rob Marshall of Marshall Home Design, and Complete Pools.
“It all began with our desire to have a giant fun pool,” says Sarah.
Fortunately, the large backyard provided the ideal starting point.
“Before, the backyard basically was a wide open lawn area with an old deck on the back of the house,” explains Adam. “So, we really had a blank canvas.”
The homeowners had an extensive “wish list” of elements they wanted incorporated.
“To get everything to fit into the backyard and have it look nice and not too busy, we married everything to the pool itself,” says Adam.
One side of the pool features a landscaped wall of rocks that houses a ledge for jumping off into the 9-foot deep end, a waterfall, and access to the slide, which is mostly hidden from view. The pool area, landscaped with drought-resistant plants, is equally beautiful after the sun goes down when fire bowls and ambient lighting in the pool and hot tub exude a quiet relaxation.
As for the lanai, Sarah knew exactly what she wanted.
“I wanted it to have a nightclub type of vibe, something that feels more upscale,” Sarah says. “I didn’t want it to feel like ‘grandma’s screened in porch’. Amy understood my vision from the get go.”
Amy’s creativity brought that vision to life. She designed a bar with gorgeous green quartz countertops, ambient lighting, and a large smoky mirror at one end of the lanai, incorporated a seating area in front of a fireplace and large TV, and flanked the opposite end of the lanai with a dining area. A half bath rounds out the space.
In addition, Amy wanted to make sure the lanai would provide ample “flex” space for the family’s entertaining needs. A wall of large sliders can be opened to connect the lanai to the home’s family room, providing overflow space for entertaining. Heaters on the lanai allow the space to be used in the fall and winter.
“The whole space is for year-round fun and living,” Amy says.
The family spends a lot of time on the lanai, especially in the spring and fall, according to Sarah.
“We watch a lot of football and soccer games out there,” she says.
Overall, the pool, lanai, and surrounding outdoor space provide the perfect setting for small and large gatherings of family, friends, and neighbors. In early August, the Miller’s hosted their annual backyard barbecue party for more than 75 people.
“Everyone was able to spread out,” says Sarah. “We never felt crowded.”
Yet, on any given day, a small bunch of 10-year-olds can be found splashing in the pool, jumping off the rock wall, zipping down the slide, and jumping on the trampoline.
“I feel like my son is having a perfect suburban childhood,” she says. “He’s living the dream.”
As for Sarah, she says she’s “in the pool literally every single day”.
“It’s my dream come true to have a pool of my own,” she smiles.
resources
- Builder/Contractor: Renovations by Starr Homes
- Pool Contractor: Complete Pools
- Interior Designer: Amiglia Design Group
- Project Designer: Next to Nature Landscaping
- Architect: Marshall Home Design
