Kansas City's barbecue is world famous, and the tradition extends into the backyard wherever there is a quality grill fired up. Backyard landscapes in town may feature more kitchen components such as a power burner, beer cooler and plenty of prep space. Lee's Summit, a bedroom community of Kansas City offers homes well away from the city center so the slower pace yields time to enjoy warm evenings under the stars and days by poolside. This is swimming pool country where this amenity will be in continual use throughout the blistering summers.

Small town America is alive and well in St. Joseph to the north, perched on the Missouri River. Smaller homes in this community are for family life and there's no better way to upgrade your lifestyle than to create a great space for everyone to gather in your own backyard. Whether it's a whole outdoor kitchen or just a shaded harvest table to feed the entire family, such improvements pay off in convenience, safety and quality of life.

Across the river is the state of Kansas where Topeka lies due east, followed by Manhattan, where commuting distance is minimal. These communities are rich in post war subdivisions where family life is key. This is great country for sports lawns, vegetable gardens, ponds and perhaps a spa that welcome you home at the end of the day. To the north is Leavenworth and farther south is Emporia, two small towns that include beautiful vintage homes where landscaping brings them into contemporary outdoor living trends.

This region is at the edge of Tornado Alley, so it's vital to build everything to code to ensure high winds won't devastate your investment. Summer rains require solid overhead structures to wait out the afternoon thunderstorms that cool down the heat of the day. Persistent winds in some areas may require Plexiglas wind screens, or wind breaks and shelterbelts. All of this demonstrates how important it is to hire a local designer to create a backyard living environment laid out to your very personal expectations.