Old World Elegance – Vacation brings Rushings home to Lake of the Ozarks
Jason and Anna Rushing give new meaning to the old adage — The family that plays together stays together.
The Rushings lived most of their lives in California where Jason owns and operates a septic system company.
Jason was born and raised in Ventura County and Anna, who was born in Krakow, Poland, moved to California when she was 8. Although they were neighbors, Jason and Anna met on a blind date and married in 2003. The couple came to the Lake of the Ozarks on a two-week vacation in the summer of 2006. Before they went home, Jason and Anna bought a lot in Porta Cima. They didn’t want to build a second home; they wanted to move to the Lake permanently. However, both sets of grandparents lived in California.
“We weren’t going to take the kids away from both grandparents,” Anna said. “We all come or nobody comes.”
And so it was decided. Jason’s mother and step-father were the first to make the move. Jason’s father, sister and grandmother now also live at the Lake, as do Anna’s brother, his wife and two children. Anna’s parents, who own two lots in Porta Cima, plan to move next fall.
Jason and Anna stayed in California where Anna delivered their second child. Jason’s mother, Cheryl Conroy, oversaw the design and construction of the home. Cheryl, who is ASID certified designer, worked as the liaison between Anna and Dan Lind of Thomas Construction. Anna’s vision was of Old World elegance without the home being showy or trendy.
The exterior façade is a combination of stucco and stacked English ledge stone. Behind the knotty pine double front doors is an open floor plan. The foyer features a barrel ceiling and recessed lighted ledges.
“At night they give off a wonderful glow,” Cheryl said. The living room features a 22-foot vaulted beamed ceiling. The stone fireplace mirrors the suede stacked stone on the exterior. There are custom-made pieces throughout the room from the mantle to the cabinetry that flank the electric fireplace, to the hand-crafted dry bar on the opposing wall.
An oversized archway defines the living and dining room areas. The dining room table, which doubles in size to seat 12 when unfolded, was originally in Jason’s grandfather’s lake house in Laughlin, NV. Anna commissioned a hutch to match the table while living in California. “We made sure there was room for the hutch when we designed the home,” Anna said.
The kitchen features a custom-made granite island with seating for four. The working island also has a double farm sink of hammered copper and oil-rubbed, Old World faucet. There is a commercial-sized Thermador stove set in a tiled alcove that features a pot filler.
The pantry behind the kitchen has a washer and dryer, granite counters and one wall of custom-made cabinets, which open to reveal pull-out drawers.
Off the living room is a guest powder room that features one wall and the floor covered with smooth stone pebbles similar to river rock.
“Wherever we could, we wanted to bring the outside in,” Anna said.
The master suite completes the main floor living space. The highlight of the room is the custom-made cabinetry that encases the electric fireplace and flat screen television. A door opens onto the main-floor balcony.
Anna said the décor of the master bath was inspired by the medieval romantic movies she was watching at the time. The tiled floor resembles Roman stone and smooth stones run along two walls reminding one of a lazy river winding around the room. The bath also includes a large jetted tub and state-of-the-art shower encased in a clear-glass enclosure.
Old World twisted wrought iron spindles are attached to the railing leading to the lower floor. The carpet runner on the steps matches the rugs in the living and dining rooms. The pale yellow walls leading to the living have a soothing effect. On one side of the room is what Anna calls a huge wet bar. The unique under-mounted double sink is hand-crafted granite that matches the bar. The attention to detail is evidenced in the large hand-carved Old World braces below the bar. Once the children are older, she said the space will become a second kitchen. But for now, Anna doesn’t want to worry about a stove or microwave. Off the family room is a half-bath, combination exercise/home office space and laundry room.
There are three bedroom suites on the lower level. Each suite opens onto the screened balcony. The 16-foot ceiling in the guest suite has recessed lighting. Anna designed the magnificent medallion in the guest shower. The artsy piece is made with small stones in grays and shades of cinnamon. The vanity has copper fixtures and features a granite counter top resembling aged leather.
Morgan’s bedroom is decorated in pony motif with colors of pale yellow, green and pink with accents touches of hot pink. The 4-year-old blonde proudly points out the “diamonds” (iridescent glass mosaic tiles) that surround her mirror in the bathroom. There is a computer in the bedroom that Anna said her daughter uses regularly, and a door that opens onto a screened balcony. The inquisitive Morgan said she likes to watch ladybugs and ants when she is on the balcony.
Derrick’s bedroom is decorated in a sports theme. The 2-year-old’s room is painted red, blue and camel and features team pennants over the bed, a large area rug bordered with bats and various balls, and a ceiling fan with a soccer ball light fixture.
The lowest level is at present the home of the family dog, Max, who is recovering from several pulled ligaments. Anna said she wasn’t in the dog shopping stage of her life when she saw two puppies being thrown out the window of a passing car. She immediately stopped her vehicle and went to attend to the puppies. Another man also stopped and said he thought he could find a home for one but not both. She decided she would take the other. She started to walk away and said “Whoever wants to go with me, come on.” Without hesitation, Max followed her and jumped in the car.
When not needed as a makeshift recovery room, the main room in the lowest level features a full kitchen. The sliding glass doors open wide to the deck of the swimming pool so the space serves as a covered outdoor kitchen. The 20 x 40-foot pool features fountains on two sides and multicolored lights. Because the home faces east, the children can swim in the shade by 2 p.m.
The lowest level floor is wine-colored stained concrete. The granite bar in the kitchen area looks like a topographical map of the earth. Stainless steel martini glass penlights hang topsy turvy over the bar.
In addition to a full bath on the lowest level, there is one room that Anna insisted be part of the home. And although the family calls it their wine cellar, in reality it is a storm shelter. The 10 x 10 room is framed with cinder blocks filled with concrete and reinforced with rebar. The solid oak door features a whimsical speakeasy window but has a serious steel frame. Anna said it is one of her quirky ideas in her efforts to protect her children.
“You have to be prepared,” she said.
There is a generator stored in the lower level just in case. And the swimming pool is filled with salt water which Anna said is much kinder to the skin than chlorine. On the side of the home is her garden split into two areas outlined with rock. In one she grows vegetables and herbs and in the other several types of fruit which she grows without pesticides.
Jason and Anna enjoy taking the children to Frankie and Louie’s and the adults rave about Baxter’s Lakeside Grille. “The food is great and the atmosphere is always upbeat,” Cheryl said.
The Rushing family, which owns a 38-foot Fountain, loves the Lake life. “I can go to work and at the end of the day, I come home and still have three hours to play,” Jason said.
[...] There is a commercial-sized Thermador stove set in a tiled alcove that features a pot filler. The pantry behind the kitchen has a washer and dryer, granite counters and one wall of custom-made cabinets, which open to reveal pull-out drawers . … There are three bedroom suites on the lower level. Each suite opens onto the screened balcony. The 16-foot ceiling in the guest suite has recessed lighting. Anna designed the magnificent medallion in the guest shower. …More [...]