Lexington, KY - On an unseasonably crisp afternoon in early September, Carol Jansen looked out on her family's new pool, which was completed earlier in the year, and hoped Mother Nature might be able to muster a few more sweltering late summer days before she, her husband, Jack, and their three boys had to begin the process of shutting it down for the season.
But even if the nippy autumn weather keeps the Jansens out of the water, it definitely won't keep the family inside. To accompany the new pool, a sizable, multi-room (and multi-function) living area was constructed along the breadth of the back of this northern Jessamine County home.
With tall, vaulted ceilings, moveable heat lamps, and a large stone fireplace and hearth anchoring the outdoor space, the new addition will provide the family a comfortable al fresco retreat right out their back door, regardless of the weather.
"We get to enjoy the great outdoors without being exposed to the great outdoors," Carol said.
The new outdoor living area, a project realized under the leadership of David Martin of Residential Renovations and Lawrence Kindred of Kindred Homes Inc., is a continuation of a Jansen home hallmark. At the family's previous residence, also in Jessamine County, Martin and Kindred installed a similar, albeit multi-level, structure in the rear of that home.
"I love this one so much more: single level, no steps. It just makes a huge difference," Carol said. "It lends to our ability to entertain and everybody enjoys the space together."
When the family moved into their current residence over two years ago, Carol said minimal work needed to be done to the interior to accommodate the family's taste, and everybody knew the outdoor addition would be in works soon enough. Instead of a typical back porch, the Jansens wanted actual "rooms."
Though the outdoor space is continuous and unbroken, instances of varying width and ceiling design help designate the four outdoor rooms without any walls; furniture and other features identify their intended purpose.
Immediately adjacent to the pool area, an outdoor kitchen, furnished with a large grill and mid-size cabinet refrigerator, as well as ample counter space and stool-top seating, also serves as a leisurely bar area. Beyond here, a six-top table indicates the dining area. In the middle of the addition, the outdoor living room, embellished with black rattan couch and chairs, skylights and wood-burning fire place, is the centerpiece for the entire space. At the far end of the addition, through a narrower passage, a lounge nook, with a hot tub and small sitting area, is stationed just outside the master suite inside.
Even though the new outdoor living area has only been completed for a few summer months, the Jansens have already put it to good use hosting a number of family and social functions. And as the cooler weather is imminent, Carol insists that her family's time outside is not going to be seasonal.
"We really anticipate using this all year," Carol said. "There will be a Christmas tree out there."