Sunset Construction and Design specializes in creating residential patio retreats, outdoor kitchens with fireplaces and luxurious outdoor living rooms. Our design-build service can turn an ordinary back yard into a natural extension of your home giving you a whole new dimension for entertaining or simply unwinding at the end of the day. Today, almost any activity you enjoy inside your home you can bring to the outside. Depending on your budget, your outdoor room can be simple, with a stamped concrete patio, a grill and a table for dining, or more elaborate with a fully functional outdoor kitchen complete with concrete countertops for preparing and serving food, a sink and a refrigerator. You can take the concept even further by adding such amenities as a concrete pizza oven, a fireplace or fire-pit, a concrete bar-top for serving cocktails, an architectural concrete fountain, landscape lighting and concrete statuary. Cooking Something to cook with, such as a barbecue grill or wood-fired pizza oven, and countertops for food preparation and serving are key elements in a well-designed outdoor kitchen. Concrete countertops offer the advantages of weather resistance and versatility, since they can be formed into any shape you desire to suit the space. A coat of sealer will simplify cleanup by protecting your countertop from stains. Other amenities, such as concrete bar-tops and outdoor sinks with plumbing, can expand your entertainment options. Hearth Wood-burning or gas fireplaces, fire pits, chimineas and portable patio heaters extend the enjoyment of outdoor living well into the evening while creating a cozy conversation area for people to gather around. If you’re interested in converting a boring back yard or starting from scratch in a new home, look us up! A great patio and outdoor living area can easily be yours. Greg, Sunset Construction & Design in Fresno, CA.

Nicolock oyster blend rustico pavers being sealed in Huntington NY 11743. The sealing process begins with pressure washing the entire patio, removing all dirt/debris from the stone surface and in between the joints. Next, Nexgel Techniseal synthetic sand is applied in between the pavers joints and vibrated with a mechanical plate compactor. The plate compactor has rubber rollers to prevent the stones from cracking or scratching. This vibrating process allows the sand to fall in between the joints and density. Then, we clean the pavers with brooms and landscape blowers, to clean the excess sand from the pavers surface and to evenly spread the sand in between the pavers joints. The next step is to wash the pavers by misting water to penetrate the synthetic sand into the paver joints all the way down below the pavers. The sand and water activate a chemical reaction of the pollen that’s in the sand to cause the sand to harden. Finally, the application of the sealer, two parts components urethane dealer, specially formulated for Gappsi, is applied to the pavers surface and the sand joints to prevent stones from staining, extend their life cycle and further enhance their texture, color, and surface. Call Gappsi at 631-543-1177 for any cleaning, sealing, paver driveways/patio restoration and repairs in Huntington Bay NY.

For this modern master bathroom, we worked extensively with the client to capture his vision of the bathroom and brought our expertise and finishing touches to bear. The master bathroom features floating SOLLiD Cabinetry Frameless Series – Elegante II Satin X cabinets. We added the central stacked cabinet for additional storage since there was minimal space in the bathroom and existing closet. The cabinet pulls are Key West Jeffrey Alexander by Hardware Resources and the countertops are Pental Quartz Misterio. The modern effect is finished off with motion activated under cabinet lighting For the rest of the space, we removed the water closet to open the space and bring in more natural light from the existing window. We also removed the existing glass block and added a larger bathroom window for more natural lighting and a larger feel for the space. We replaced the tub deck and bathtub with a Whitehaus free standing tub and used two framed columns in the shower to add separation without closing off the space for the dual shower heads the client wanted. The clear frameless glass finishes off the shower enclosure while still maintaining sightlines through to the back of the space. Finally, a barn door was added to lend privacy to the space without sacrificing active areas. The finishes are all geared toward a modern aesthetic with Alfi Brand plumbing fixtures (we love the large square rain head!), LED Recessed lights, subway tile and grey wood plank tile. The barn door is a Rustica Hardware 5 Panel door with a stainless steel Industric handle and a stainless steel Bent Strap track painted to match the cabinets. Shane Baker Studios

A safe kid's play area, viewed from the house, very low maintenance design, beautiful colors and multi-use patios, long season of bloom, changes through the seasons, providing privacy and entertaining patios were goals for this home. The backyard had been entirely unusable. The three little boys needed a safe place to play, out of the front yard. involved removing existing sheds, vaious concreteCatherine L Kauer

The Holloway blends the recent revival of mid-century aesthetics with the timelessness of a country farmhouse. Each façade features playfully arranged windows tucked under steeply pitched gables. Natural wood lapped siding emphasizes this homes more modern elements, while classic white board & batten covers the core of this house. A rustic stone water table wraps around the base and contours down into the rear view-out terrace. Inside, a wide hallway connects the foyer to the den and living spaces through smooth case-less openings. Featuring a grey stone fireplace, tall windows, and vaulted wood ceiling, the living room bridges between the kitchen and den. The kitchen picks up some mid-century through the use of flat-faced upper and lower cabinets with chrome pulls. Richly toned wood chairs and table cap off the dining room, which is surrounded by windows on three sides. The grand staircase, to the left, is viewable from the outside through a set of giant casement windows on the upper landing. A spacious master suite is situated off of this upper landing. Featuring separate closets, a tiled bath with tub and shower, this suite has a perfect view out to the rear yard through the bedroom's rear windows. All the way upstairs, and to the right of the staircase, is four separate bedrooms. Downstairs, under the master suite, is a gymnasium. This gymnasium is connected to the outdoors through an overhead door and is perfect for athletic activities or storing a boat during cold months. The lower level also features a living room with a view out windows and a private guest suite. Architect: Visbeen Architects Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography Builder: AVB Inc.

This young, active family lived in Southern California before relocating to the midwest and settling in Columbia, Missouri. They love the outdoors and all outdoor sports, and it was important to them to be near water. Their home focuses on the private lake. We designed the home to be a U shape in order to create fabulous views of the lake from every vantage point. The home is spacious to allow for a private suite for their out of town guests, the homeowner’s private screening room, an indoor underground swimming pool, and a Himalayan salt room while the children each have their own suites. The public rooms flow one into the other. The interior design is subtle, clean-lined, inviting and features an easy lifestyle. Project Partners: 1. Vince Mannino, R. G. Ross, Builder 2. Alise O’Brien, Photography

Saturday, August 8, 9:00 to 10:30am | Aspen | DBX3 by Sheri Sanzone and Christine Shine of Bluegreen A modern residential community with a storied past, the Double Bar X Ranch is steeped in the rich history of Colorado’s mining and agrarian roots. Today the site of a contemporary, ranch-inspired community, this rustic landscape was once part of the largest silver-producing mining district in the U.S. It later supported an array of intensive, agricultural activities. From the gentle rise of tilled-rubble walls and the patterning of open meadow, to the remnants of sculpted earthworks, evidence of the site’s prior use abounds. Winding foot trails allow visitors to experience panoramic views of the timbered landscape and structural features reminiscent of the historic ranch, including the large, wooden water trough that serves as a central focal point of the property. The design of the current landscape celebrates this juxtaposition of past and present; it revels in its contemporary context while embracing a historically minded design intent and honoring its latent history through selected materials and textures. The result of this mindful effort is an expression of thoughtful transition from the bygone, ranch of yesterday to a modern-day interpretation of the agrarian homestead. Photo by Jason Dewey Photography, courtesy Bluegreen

This ​extraordinary home became the "unexpected" vision of our clients. After asking us for a "modern farmhouse" the clients used the phrase "aesthetically jarred" after seeing our concept design model. After explaining how the design solution met, or exceeded, each of their programmatic requirements the clients asked us to continue with the design with only minor adjustments. The end product, forged by shear will and bounded rationalism, became an award winning home that the clients have thoroughly enjoyed.​ This 1,762 SF hime was completed in the Summer of 2010. Honors for this project include being LEED Platinum Certified - 2011, and the USGBC's Green Star Award.

This young, active family lived in Southern California before relocating to the midwest and settling in Columbia, Missouri. They love the outdoors and all outdoor sports, and it was important to them to be near water. Their home focuses on the private lake. We designed the home to be a U shape in order to create fabulous views of the lake from every vantage point. The home is spacious to allow for a private suite for their out of town guests, the homeowner’s private screening room, an indoor underground swimming pool, and a Himalayan salt room while the children each have their own suites. The public rooms flow one into the other. The interior design is subtle, clean-lined, inviting and features an easy lifestyle. Project Partners: 1. Vince Mannino, R. G. Ross, Builder 2. Alise O’Brien, Photography

This young, active family lived in Southern California before relocating to the midwest and settling in Columbia, Missouri. They love the outdoors and all outdoor sports, and it was important to them to be near water. Their home focuses on the private lake. We designed the home to be a U shape in order to create fabulous views of the lake from every vantage point. The home is spacious to allow for a private suite for their out of town guests, the homeowner’s private screening room, an indoor underground swimming pool, and a Himalayan salt room while the children each have their own suites. The public rooms flow one into the other. The interior design is subtle, clean-lined, inviting and features an easy lifestyle. Project Partners: 1. Vince Mannino, R. G. Ross, Builder 2. Alise O’Brien, Photography

This young, active family lived in Southern California before relocating to the midwest and settling in Columbia, Missouri. They love the outdoors and all outdoor sports, and it was important to them to be near water. Their home focuses on the private lake. We designed the home to be a U shape in order to create fabulous views of the lake from every vantage point. The home is spacious to allow for a private suite for their out of town guests, the homeowner’s private screening room, an indoor underground swimming pool, and a Himalayan salt room while the children each have their own suites. The public rooms flow one into the other. The interior design is subtle, clean-lined, inviting and features an easy lifestyle. Project Partners: 1. Vince Mannino, R. G. Ross, Builder 2. Alise O’Brien, Photography

Nicolock oyster blend rustico pavers being sealed in Huntington NY 11743. The sealing process begins with pressure washing the entire patio, removing all dirt/debris from the stone surface and in between the joints. Next, Nexgel Techniseal synthetic sand is applied in between the pavers joints and vibrated with a mechanical plate compactor. The plate compactor has rubber rollers to prevent the stones from cracking or scratching. This vibrating process allows the sand to fall in between the joints and density. Then, we clean the pavers with brooms and landscape blowers, to clean the excess sand from the pavers surface and to evenly spread the sand in between the pavers joints. The next step is to wash the pavers by misting water to penetrate the synthetic sand into the paver joints all the way down below the pavers. The sand and water activate a chemical reaction of the pollen that’s in the sand to cause the sand to harden. Finally, the application of the sealer, two parts components urethane dealer, specially formulated for Gappsi, is applied to the pavers surface and the sand joints to prevent stones from staining, extend their life cycle and further enhance their texture, color, and surface. Call Gappsi at 631-543-1177 for any cleaning, sealing, paver driveways/patio restoration and repairs in Huntington Bay NY.

This is a beautiful natural freeform pool and spa recently shown on HGTV Ultimate Pools located in Dallas, TX. The big thing about this project that was unique was the trees. We were required to save all the trees. There are a lot of areas where the paving is not mortared together to allow moisture and air through to help the trees. There is a 6' elevation change that helps incorporate the boulders and waterfall into the hillside for a more natural look. There was an existing green house that was removed and the existing garage was turned it into a cabana/pool house with a covered area to relax in with furniture by the deep end of the pool. There is a big deep end for lots of activity along with a nice size shallow end for water sports, including basketball. The clients' wish list included a cave, slide, and waterfalls along with a firepit. The cave can comfortably sit 6 people and is cool in the hot Texas weather. We used pockets of plants around to soften things and break up all the rock to create a more natural look with the overall setting. A bridge was built between the pool and the spa to look like an illusion that the water is running from the pool down into the spa. 2013 APSP Region3 Bronze Award - Designed by Mike Farley. FarleyPoolDesigns.com

This young, active family lived in Southern California before relocating to the midwest and settling in Columbia, Missouri. They love the outdoors and all outdoor sports, and it was important to them to be near water. Their home focuses on the private lake. We designed the home to be a U shape in order to create fabulous views of the lake from every vantage point. The home is spacious to allow for a private suite for their out of town guests, the homeowner’s private screening room, an indoor underground swimming pool, and a Himalayan salt room while the children each have their own suites. The public rooms flow one into the other. The interior design is subtle, clean-lined, inviting and features an easy lifestyle. Project Partners: 1. Vince Mannino, R. G. Ross, Builder 2. Alise O’Brien, Photography

The owners of this kitchen had spent the money to upgrade the finishes in their kitchen upon building the home 12 years ago, but after living in the space for several years they realized how nonfunctional the layout really was. The (then) two preschool aged children had grown into busy, hungry teenagers with many friends who also liked to hang out at the house. So the family needed a more functional kitchen with better traffic flow, space for daily activities revolving around the kitchen at different times of day, and a kitchen that could accommodate cooking for and serving large groups. Furthermore, the dark, traditional finishes no longer reflected the homeowners’ style. They requested a brighter, more relaxed, coastal style that reflected their love of the seaside cities they like to visit. Originally, the kitchen was U-shaped with a narrow island in the middle. The island created narrow aisles that bottle-necked at the dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooktop areas. There was a pass-through from the foyer into the kitchen, but the owners never liked that the pass-through was also located so close to the powder room. The awkward proximity was unappealing and made guests feel uncomfortable. The kitchen’s storage was made up of lots of narrow cabinets, apothecary drawers, clipped corner units, and very few drawers. It lacked useful storage for the larger items the family used on a daily basis. And the kitchen’s only pantry was small closet that had only builder-grade, narrow shelving with no illumination to be able to see the contents inside. Overall, the kitchen’s lighting plan was poorly executed. Only six recessed cans illuminated the entire kitchen and nook areas. The under cabinet lighting was not evenly distributed either. In fact, the builder had mis-placed the under cabinet lighting around the decorative pilasters which made for choppy, dark cubbies. Further, the builder didn’t include any lighting over the sink or the bar area, which meant whoever was doing the dishes was always in their own shadow. That, coupled with the steep overhang of the game room above made the bar area feel like a dim, cavernous space that wasn’t inviting or task oriented. The kitchen looked out into the main living space, but the raised bar and a narrow wall (which held the only large cabinet in the kitchen) created more of a barrier than a relationship to the living room or breakfast nook. In fact, one couldn’t even see the breakfast nook from the cooktop or sink areas due to its orientation. The raised bar top was too narrow to comfortably sit to either dine at or chat from due to the lack of knee space. The the homeowners confided that the kitchen felt more like a dark, dirty prison than place where the family, or their guests, wanted to gather and commune. The clients' needs and desires were: ➢ to create a kitchen that would be a space the family loved to be in; to relate to the adjacent spaces all around, and to have better flow for entertaining large groups ➢ to remove the walls between the breakfast nook and living area and to be able to utilize the natural light from the windows in both those areas ➢ to incorporate a functional chopping block for prepping fresh food for home cooked meals, an island with a large sink and drain board, 2 pull out trash cans, and seating for at least the 2 teens to eat or do homework ➢ to design a kitchen and breakfast nook with an airy, coastal, relaxed vibe that blended with the rest of the house's coastal theme ➢ to integrate a layered lighting plan which would include ample general illumination, specific task lighting, decorative lighting, and lots of illuminated storage ➢ to design a kitchen with not only more storage for all the husband’s kitchen gadgets and collection of oils and spices, but smart storage, including a coffee/breakfast bar and a place to store and conceal the toaster oven and microwave ➢ to find a way to utilize the large open space between the kitchen, pantry area, and breakfast nook Twelve Stones Designs achieved the owner's goals by: ➢ removing the walls between the kitchen and living room to allow the natural light to filter in from the adjacent rooms and to create a connection between the kitchen, nook, and living spaces for a sense of unity and communion ➢ removing the existing pantry and designing 3 large pantry style cabinets with LED tape lights and rollout drawers to house lots of kitchen appliances, gadgets, and tons of groceries. We also took the cabinets all the way up to the 9’ ceiling for additional storage for seasonal items and bulk storage. ➢ designing 2 islands - 1 with a gorgeous black walnut chopping block that houses a drawer for chopping and carving knives and a custom double pull out trash unit for point of use utilization - and 1 that houses the dishwasher, a large Blanco Gourmet sink with integrated drain board, woven baskets for fresh root vegetables and kitchen towels, plenty of drawer storage for kitchen items, and bar seating for up to 4 diners. ➢ closing off the space between the kitchen and the powder room to create a beautiful new private alcove for the powder room as well as adding some decorative storage. This also gave us space to include more tall storage near the new range for precision placement of the husband’s extensive oil and spice collection as well as a location for a combo-steam oven the wife wanted for baking and cooking healthy meals. The project is enhanced functionally by: ➢ incorporated USB and standard receptacles for the kids’ laptops and phone charging in the large island ➢ designing the small island to include additional open shelving for items used on a daily basis such as a variety of bowls, plates, and colanders. This set up also works well for the husband who prefers to “plate” his dinners in restaurant-style fashion before presenting them to the table. ➢ the integration of specific storage units, such as double stacked cutlery drawers, a custom spice pull-out, a Kuerig coffee and tea pod drawer, and custom double stacked utensil drawers ➢ moving the refrigerator to the old oven location - this eliminated the bottle neck as well as created a better relationship to the eating table. It also utilizes the floor space between the pantry, nook, and kitchen ➢ creating a banquet style breakfast nook - this banquette seating not only doubles the amount of seating for large gatherings but it better utilizes the odd space between the kitchen and the previous nook area. It also helps to create a distinct pathway from the mudroom room through the pantry area, kitchen, nook, and living room. ➢ the coffee/breakfast bar area which includes the perfect location for the concealed microwave and toaster oven, convenient storage for the coffee pods and tea accoutrements. Roll-out drawers below also house the smoothie maker, hot water kettle, and a plethora of smoothie-making ingredients such as protein powders, smoothie additives, etc. Furthermore, the drawers below the Keurig house measuring utensil, cutlery, baking supplies and tupperware storage. ➢ incorporating lots of wide drawers and pullouts to accommodate large cookware. ➢ utilizing as much vertical space as possible by building storage to the ceiling which accommodates the family’s abundant amount of serving platters, baking sheets, bakeware, casserole dishes, and additional cutting boards. The project is enhanced aesthetically by: ➢ new 5-piece Versailles pattern porcelain tile that now seamlessly joins the entire down stairs area together creating a bright, cohesiveness feeling instead of choppy separated spaces - it also adds a coastal feeling ➢ designing a cabinet to conceal the microwave and toaster oven ➢ the coastal influenced light fixtures over the nook table and island ➢ the sandy colors of the Langdon Cambria countertops. The swirling pattern and sparkling quartz pieces remind the homeowner of black-and-tan sandy beaches ➢ the striped banquet seating whose creamy white background and blue-green stripes were the inspiration for the cabinet and wall colors. ➢ All the interior doors were painted black to coordinate with the blacks and grays in the backsplash tile and countertop. This also adds a hint of tailored formality to an otherwise casual space. ➢ the use of WAC's Oculux small aperture LED units for the overhead lighting complimented with Diode LED strips for task lighting under the cabinets and inside the pantry and glass wall cabinets. All of the lighting applications are on separate dimmer switches. Innovative uses of materials or construction methods by Realty Restoration LLC: ➢ Each 1-1/2” x 3” block of reclaimed end-grain black walnut that makes up the center island chopping block was hand milled and built in the shop. It was designed to look substantial and proportional to the surrounding elements, executed by creating the 4 inch tall top with a solid wood chamfered edge band. ➢ The metal doors on either side of the vent hood were also custom designed for this project and built in the Realty Restoration LLC shop. They are made 1x2, 11-gauge mild steel with ribbed glass. Weighing 60 lbs a piece, heavy duty cabinet hinges were added to support the weight of the door and keep them from sagging. ➢ Under-cabinet receptacles were added along the range wall in order to have a clean, uninterrupted backsplash. Design obstacles to overcome: ➢ Because we were removing the demising walls between the kitchen and living room, we had to find a way to plumb and vent the new island. We did this by tunneling through the slab (the slab had post tension cables which prevented us from just trenching) to run a new wet vent through a nearby structural wall. We pulled the existing hot and cold lines between upper floor joists and ran them down the structural wall as well and up through a conduit in the tunnel. ➢ Since we were converting from wall overs to a gas range it allowed us to utilize the 220 feed for the wall ovens to provide a new sub panel for all the new kitchen circuits ➢ Due to framing deficiencies inherited from the original build there was a 1-1/2” differential in the floor-to-ceiling height over a 20 foot span; by utilizing the process of cutting and furring coupled with the crown moulding details on the cabinet elevations we were able to mask the problem and provide seamless transitions between the cabinet components. Evidence of superior craftsmanship: ➢ uniquely designed, one-of-a-kind metal “X” end panels on the large island. The end panels were custom made in the Realty Restoration LLC shop and fitted to the exact dimensions of the island. The welding seams are completely indistinguishable - the posts look like they are cut from a single sheet of metal ➢ square metal posts on the small island were also custom made and designed to compliment and carry through the metal element s throughout the kitchen ➢ the beautiful, oversized end panels on the pantry cabinets which give the breakfast nook a tailored look ➢ integrating a large format 5 piece Versailles tile pattern to seamlessly flow from the existing spaces into the new kitchen space ➢ By constructing a custom cabinet that jogged around a corner we could not remodel (housing the entry way coat closet) we were able to camouflage the adjacent wall offset within the upper and lower cabinets. By designing around the existing jog in the structural walls we accomplished a few things: we were able to find the space to house, and hide, the microwave and toaster oven yet still have a clean cohesive appearance from the kitchen side. Additionally, the owners were able to keep their much needed coat closet and we didn’t have to increase the budget with unnecessary structural work.

For this modern master bathroom, we worked extensively with the client to capture his vision of the bathroom and brought our expertise and finishing touches to bear. The master bathroom features floating SOLLiD Cabinetry Frameless Series – Elegante II Satin X cabinets. We added the central stacked cabinet for additional storage since there was minimal space in the bathroom and existing closet. The cabinet pulls are Key West Jeffrey Alexander by Hardware Resources and the countertops are Pental Quartz Misterio. The modern effect is finished off with motion activated under cabinet lighting For the rest of the space, we removed the water closet to open the space and bring in more natural light from the existing window. We also removed the existing glass block and added a larger bathroom window for more natural lighting and a larger feel for the space. We replaced the tub deck and bathtub with a Whitehaus free standing tub and used two framed columns in the shower to add separation without closing off the space for the dual shower heads the client wanted. The clear frameless glass finishes off the shower enclosure while still maintaining sightlines through to the back of the space. Finally, a barn door was added to lend privacy to the space without sacrificing active areas. The finishes are all geared toward a modern aesthetic with Alfi Brand plumbing fixtures (we love the large square rain head!), LED Recessed lights, subway tile and grey wood plank tile. The barn door is a Rustica Hardware 5 Panel door with a stainless steel Industric handle and a stainless steel Bent Strap track painted to match the cabinets. Shane Baker Studios

This young, active family lived in Southern California before relocating to the midwest and settling in Columbia, Missouri. They love the outdoors and all outdoor sports, and it was important to them to be near water. Their home focuses on the private lake. We designed the home to be a U shape in order to create fabulous views of the lake from every vantage point. The home is spacious to allow for a private suite for their out of town guests, the homeowner’s private screening room, an indoor underground swimming pool, and a Himalayan salt room while the children each have their own suites. The public rooms flow one into the other. The interior design is subtle, clean-lined, inviting and features an easy lifestyle. Project Partners: 1. Vince Mannino, R. G. Ross, Builder 2. Alise O’Brien, Photography

This young, active family lived in Southern California before relocating to the midwest and settling in Columbia, Missouri. They love the outdoors and all outdoor sports, and it was important to them to be near water. Their home focuses on the private lake. We designed the home to be a U shape in order to create fabulous views of the lake from every vantage point. The home is spacious to allow for a private suite for their out of town guests, the homeowner’s private screening room, an indoor underground swimming pool, and a Himalayan salt room while the children each have their own suites. The public rooms flow one into the other. The interior design is subtle, clean-lined, inviting and features an easy lifestyle. Project Partners: 1. Vince Mannino, R. G. Ross, Builder 2. Alise O’Brien, Photography