What do you do when your master suite addition is limited in width. It is not an issue for the bedroom since it enjoys the full width of the 16' but what about the bathroom and closet that you need to be grand in design as well? In this bathroom you can see the solution to this age-old question, how to make a narrow space look grand. The end of this bathroom boosts a huge 9' wide by 6' deep shower wet area with a freestanding tub on one side and a bench, niche and window on the other. The vaulted ceiling above has 3 large skylights with one of them directly above the shower area. The skylights provide a huge amount of natural light that cancels any need for artificial lighting to be used during the daytime. The main wall is dark Pietra grigio porcelain book matched slabs, while the sides are 48"x48" off-white porcelain tiles. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler Anthem digital control for the minimalistic look. Right before you get into the wet area you will have a niche with a built-in seating area the doubles as a storage/laundry cabinet and two thick shelves made of Alder wood to compliment the vanity, the beam and the water closet door. A 10' vanity with a large 9.5' mirror is a great trick to create a sensation of space in the narrow 5' passageway. The final touch is the hidden water closet, the space was taken from the Walk-in closet entry area to hide the toilet from the beautiful spa looking bathroom. The last item to be mentioned is the heated floor that is controlled by a timer to make sure the flooring is warm to the touch on the cold winter nights. The walk-in closet was custom built to accommodate all the client’s storage requirements, the different deeper and shallower niches that were created by space added to the bathroom are used for shallow wall led mirror or a deeper suites hanger and the crown jewel of this closet the steam closet by LG that provide the capabilities of a steamer / dry-cleaning in your private closet space. A center drawer cabinet with glass top cabinets with built-in LED strips and puck lights create a lovely ambient lighting if needed and show casing the different perfumes and handbags. Talking about show casing, how about the his/hers shoes towers on each side of the cabinets in the middle? The master bedroom is a bit more craftsman and cozy. Whitewashed shiplap on the vaulted ceiling creates a more of a countryside look with vast number of windows and a sliding door to allow both eastern and western light to penetrate the room.

What do you do when your master suite addition is limited in width. It is not an issue for the bedroom since it enjoys the full width of the 16' but what about the bathroom and closet that you need to be grand in design as well? In this bathroom you can see the solution to this age-old question, how to make a narrow space look grand. The end of this bathroom boosts a huge 9' wide by 6' deep shower wet area with a freestanding tub on one side and a bench, niche and window on the other. The vaulted ceiling above has 3 large skylights with one of them directly above the shower area. The skylights provide a huge amount of natural light that cancels any need for artificial lighting to be used during the daytime. The main wall is dark Pietra grigio porcelain book matched slabs, while the sides are 48"x48" off-white porcelain tiles. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler Anthem digital control for the minimalistic look. Right before you get into the wet area you will have a niche with a built-in seating area the doubles as a storage/laundry cabinet and two thick shelves made of Alder wood to compliment the vanity, the beam and the water closet door. A 10' vanity with a large 9.5' mirror is a great trick to create a sensation of space in the narrow 5' passageway. The final touch is the hidden water closet, the space was taken from the Walk-in closet entry area to hide the toilet from the beautiful spa looking bathroom. The last item to be mentioned is the heated floor that is controlled by a timer to make sure the flooring is warm to the touch on the cold winter nights. The walk-in closet was custom built to accommodate all the client’s storage requirements, the different deeper and shallower niches that were created by space added to the bathroom are used for shallow wall led mirror or a deeper suites hanger and the crown jewel of this closet the steam closet by LG that provide the capabilities of a steamer / dry-cleaning in your private closet space. A center drawer cabinet with glass top cabinets with built-in LED strips and puck lights create a lovely ambient lighting if needed and show casing the different perfumes and handbags. Talking about show casing, how about the his/hers shoes towers on each side of the cabinets in the middle? The master bedroom is a bit more craftsman and cozy. Whitewashed shiplap on the vaulted ceiling creates a more of a countryside look with vast number of windows and a sliding door to allow both eastern and western light to penetrate the room.

What do you do when your master suite addition is limited in width. It is not an issue for the bedroom since it enjoys the full width of the 16' but what about the bathroom and closet that you need to be grand in design as well? In this bathroom you can see the solution to this age-old question, how to make a narrow space look grand. The end of this bathroom boosts a huge 9' wide by 6' deep shower wet area with a freestanding tub on one side and a bench, niche and window on the other. The vaulted ceiling above has 3 large skylights with one of them directly above the shower area. The skylights provide a huge amount of natural light that cancels any need for artificial lighting to be used during the daytime. The main wall is dark Pietra grigio porcelain book matched slabs, while the sides are 48"x48" off-white porcelain tiles. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler Anthem digital control for the minimalistic look. Right before you get into the wet area you will have a niche with a built-in seating area the doubles as a storage/laundry cabinet and two thick shelves made of Alder wood to compliment the vanity, the beam and the water closet door. A 10' vanity with a large 9.5' mirror is a great trick to create a sensation of space in the narrow 5' passageway. The final touch is the hidden water closet, the space was taken from the Walk-in closet entry area to hide the toilet from the beautiful spa looking bathroom. The last item to be mentioned is the heated floor that is controlled by a timer to make sure the flooring is warm to the touch on the cold winter nights. The walk-in closet was custom built to accommodate all the client’s storage requirements, the different deeper and shallower niches that were created by space added to the bathroom are used for shallow wall led mirror or a deeper suites hanger and the crown jewel of this closet the steam closet by LG that provide the capabilities of a steamer / dry-cleaning in your private closet space. A center drawer cabinet with glass top cabinets with built-in LED strips and puck lights create a lovely ambient lighting if needed and show casing the different perfumes and handbags. Talking about show casing, how about the his/hers shoes towers on each side of the cabinets in the middle? The master bedroom is a bit more craftsman and cozy. Whitewashed shiplap on the vaulted ceiling creates a more of a countryside look with vast number of windows and a sliding door to allow both eastern and western light to penetrate the room.

Nautical-themed hybrid swimming pool with raised spa, sunshelf, slide, grotto, and pizza oven (September 2013) – Ask the Pool Guy and his team at Legendary Escapes recently unveiled the newest Legendary Escape, a stunning nautical-themed hybrid swimming pool. The hand-carved concrete waterfall, rock slide, and grotto are the focal point of this incredible project, and designer and builder Al Curtis has truly outdone himself this time. Behind the waterfall sits a grotto that seats 8-10 people comfortably. The waterfall, slide, and grotto area come complete with intricate details and additions that perfectly play into the project’s theme. An immense amount of creativity, talent, and skill is required to take ordinary materials like vinyl and concrete and turn them into the outstanding backyards that Curtis creates, but these details allow his creativity to shine in a different light. Curtis immerses himself completely in just one or two projects at a time, which allows him the opportunity to add those intricate details that take his extraordinary projects to the next level. Some of the details in the grotto area of this hybrid project include real ship portholes that open and close, as well as carvings and lanterns to add visual interest inside of the grotto. The project also includes a raised spillover spa and a sunshelf with a bubbling water feature. The sunshelf has steps leading into the main body of the pool, giving swimmers an easy entry point if they don’t feel the urge to jump off the top of the waterfall or take a ride down the hand-carved, hand-tiled slide. The shelf has just enough water to allow shallow wading or lounging, and the pebbled finish provides a perfect place to set a lounge chair without worrying about damaging the vinyl liner. With the spa nearby, this whole end of the pool is perfect for relaxing, talking, or watching the kids while they swim. This incredible hybrid swimming pool also includes a poolside pizza oven, so fresh, stone-fired pizza is never far away. The brick oven can cook a pizza in about 90 seconds, and produces authentic, outstanding pizzas. The homeowners have spent years perfecting their pizza crust and sauce recipes, as well as growing their own tomatoes and basil. The pizza oven adds another element of their own personality, and makes this project even more perfect for them. With a built-in countertop, it’s easy to get a couple of pies going at one time, or to prep ingredients for personal pizzas. The homeowners are very family-oriented and love to have friends and family over to their home. During the construction process, the Legendary Escapes crew met several friends and family members who stopped in for some quality time and to check out the progress of the pool. The finished product is a perfect place for entertaining, and it feels very comfortable and welcoming. With the sunshelf, spa, grotto, poolside seating, and the pool itself, there are plenty of different places to sit or soak and have conversations or splash around. Curtis is incredibly proud of this project, and he has high hopes for it. He was recently named a Master of Design by Pool & Spa News for a hybrid swimming pool he built in Brighton, MI. This new, nautical hybrid pool fits in beautifully with his portfolio, but also stands out as extraordinary. The team at Legendary Escapes anticipates positive feedback and recognition for this project, and looks forward to building more swimming pools that push the envelope and wow clients and fans.

Our client had been living in her beautiful lakeside retreat for about 3 years. All around were stunning views of the lake and mountains, but the view from inside was minimal. It felt dark and closed off from the gorgeous waterfront mere feet away. She desired a bigger kitchen, natural light, and a contemporary look. Referred to JRP by a subcontractor our client walked into the showroom one day, took one look at the modern kitchen in our design center, and was inspired! After talking about the frustrations of dark spaces and limitations when entertaining groups of friends, the homeowner and the JRP design team emerged with a new vision. Two walls between the living room and kitchen would be eliminated and structural revisions were needed for a common wall shared a wall with a neighbor. With the wall removals and the addition of multiple slider doors, the main level now has an open layout. Everything in the home went from dark to luminous as sunlight could now bounce off white walls to illuminate both spaces. Our aim was to create a beautiful modern kitchen which fused the necessities of a functional space with the elegant form of the contemporary aesthetic. The kitchen playfully mixes frameless white upper with horizontal grain oak lower cabinets and a fun diagonal white tile backsplash. Gorgeous grey Cambria quartz with white veining meets them both in the middle. The large island with integrated barstool area makes it functional and a great entertaining space. The master bedroom received a mini facelift as well. White never fails to give your bedroom a timeless look. The beautiful, bright marble shower shows what's possible when mixing tile shape, size, and color. The marble mosaic tiles in the shower pan are especially bold paired with black matte plumbing fixtures and gives the shower a striking visual. Layers, light, consistent intention, and fun! - paired with beautiful, unique designs and a personal touch created this beautiful home that does not go unnoticed.   PROJECT DETAILS: • Style: Contemporary • Colors: Neutrals • Countertops: Cambria Quartz, Luxury Series, Queen Anne • Kitchen Cabinets: Slab, Overlay Frameless Uppers: Blanco Base: Horizontal Grain Oak • Hardware/Plumbing Fixture Finish: Kitchen – Stainless Steel • Lighting Fixtures: • Flooring: Hardwood: Siberian Oak with Fossil Stone finish • Tile/Backsplash: Kitchen Backsplash: White/Clear Glass Master Bath Floor: Ann Sacks Benton Mosaics Marble Master Bath Surround: Ann Sacks White Thassos Marble Photographer: Andrew – Open House VC

Our client had been living in her beautiful lakeside retreat for about 3 years. All around were stunning views of the lake and mountains, but the view from inside was minimal. It felt dark and closed off from the gorgeous waterfront mere feet away. She desired a bigger kitchen, natural light, and a contemporary look. Referred to JRP by a subcontractor our client walked into the showroom one day, took one look at the modern kitchen in our design center, and was inspired! After talking about the frustrations of dark spaces and limitations when entertaining groups of friends, the homeowner and the JRP design team emerged with a new vision. Two walls between the living room and kitchen would be eliminated and structural revisions were needed for a common wall shared a wall with a neighbor. With the wall removals and the addition of multiple slider doors, the main level now has an open layout. Everything in the home went from dark to luminous as sunlight could now bounce off white walls to illuminate both spaces. Our aim was to create a beautiful modern kitchen which fused the necessities of a functional space with the elegant form of the contemporary aesthetic. The kitchen playfully mixes frameless white upper with horizontal grain oak lower cabinets and a fun diagonal white tile backsplash. Gorgeous grey Cambria quartz with white veining meets them both in the middle. The large island with integrated barstool area makes it functional and a great entertaining space. The master bedroom received a mini facelift as well. White never fails to give your bedroom a timeless look. The beautiful, bright marble shower shows what's possible when mixing tile shape, size, and color. The marble mosaic tiles in the shower pan are especially bold paired with black matte plumbing fixtures and gives the shower a striking visual. Layers, light, consistent intention, and fun! - paired with beautiful, unique designs and a personal touch created this beautiful home that does not go unnoticed.   PROJECT DETAILS: • Style: Contemporary • Colors: Neutrals • Countertops: Cambria Quartz, Luxury Series, Queen Anne • Kitchen Cabinets: Slab, Overlay Frameless Uppers: Blanco Base: Horizontal Grain Oak • Hardware/Plumbing Fixture Finish: Kitchen – Stainless Steel • Lighting Fixtures: • Flooring: Hardwood: Siberian Oak with Fossil Stone finish • Tile/Backsplash: Kitchen Backsplash: White/Clear Glass Master Bath Floor: Ann Sacks Benton Mosaics Marble Master Bath Surround: Ann Sacks White Thassos Marble Photographer: Andrew – Open House VC

Can you find the hidden organization in this space? Think storage benches... a great way to keep family treasures close at hand, but safely tucked away! Room Redefined is a full-service home organization and design consultation firm. We offer move management to help with all stages of move prep to post-move set-up. In this case, once we moved the homeowners into their beautiful custom home, we worked intimately with them to understand how they needed each space to function, and to customize solutions that met their goals. As a part of our process, we helped with sorting and purging of items they did not want in their new home, selling, donating, or recycling the removed items. We then engaged in space planning, product selection and product purchasing. We handled all installation of the products we recommended, and continue to work with this family today to help maintain their space as they go through transitions as a family. We have been honored to work with additional members of their family and now their mountain home in Frisco, Colorado.

What do you do when your master suite addition is limited in width. It is not an issue for the bedroom since it enjoys the full width of the 16' but what about the bathroom and closet that you need to be grand in design as well? In this bathroom you can see the solution to this age-old question, how to make a narrow space look grand. The end of this bathroom boosts a huge 9' wide by 6' deep shower wet area with a freestanding tub on one side and a bench, niche and window on the other. The vaulted ceiling above has 3 large skylights with one of them directly above the shower area. The skylights provide a huge amount of natural light that cancels any need for artificial lighting to be used during the daytime. The main wall is dark Pietra grigio porcelain book matched slabs, while the sides are 48"x48" off-white porcelain tiles. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler Anthem digital control for the minimalistic look. Right before you get into the wet area you will have a niche with a built-in seating area the doubles as a storage/laundry cabinet and two thick shelves made of Alder wood to compliment the vanity, the beam and the water closet door. A 10' vanity with a large 9.5' mirror is a great trick to create a sensation of space in the narrow 5' passageway. The final touch is the hidden water closet, the space was taken from the Walk-in closet entry area to hide the toilet from the beautiful spa looking bathroom. The last item to be mentioned is the heated floor that is controlled by a timer to make sure the flooring is warm to the touch on the cold winter nights. The walk-in closet was custom built to accommodate all the client’s storage requirements, the different deeper and shallower niches that were created by space added to the bathroom are used for shallow wall led mirror or a deeper suites hanger and the crown jewel of this closet the steam closet by LG that provide the capabilities of a steamer / dry-cleaning in your private closet space. A center drawer cabinet with glass top cabinets with built-in LED strips and puck lights create a lovely ambient lighting if needed and show casing the different perfumes and handbags. Talking about show casing, how about the his/hers shoes towers on each side of the cabinets in the middle? The master bedroom is a bit more craftsman and cozy. Whitewashed shiplap on the vaulted ceiling creates a more of a countryside look with vast number of windows and a sliding door to allow both eastern and western light to penetrate the room.

Asked by her client to review a typically mundane South Hampton ‘50s saltbox because “the last designer they talked to said they would have to add on to make the house anything,” Ms. Cohen approached the renovation in exactly the opposite manner. To refine the small building footprint, precise architectural gestures were used with a series of finely calibrated moments make the space more gracious and welcoming. Architectural acts were bold in concept but not in actual construction work; such as capturing the car garage to add a hyper modern sunroom/den along with a powder room and laundry. Reconfiguring one side of the house’s roofline to manipulate the space into a sensational master suite saved the north side of the house from remaining an un-useful attic space. This inner sanctum of bedroom and master bath is reminiscent of a Hampton’s beachscape in all its elegance and minimalism. The only square footage actually added was a tiny 4X4 corner as an addition to the front entry, oddly an essential piece of real estate to make an actual vestibule. All these refinements make for a crafted, articulate result rather than bowing to the bigger is better theme, which is more prevalent in the Hamptons. The function of the plan and the accompanying finishes are impressive. The Jack and Jill bathroom, an invention of the American post-war housing boom, was outfitted in handsome walnut Duravit vanity cabinets and neutral finishes. The master bath, with its expansive skylights, might be mistaken for a conceptual art installation due to its evocative marble countertop in striped ethereal hues. Finally, Ms. Cohen uses wallpaper like a museum curator, hanging an iconic Knoll pattern to punctuate the dining/media space. Each room in the house was sculpted via a palette of watercolor blue of varying saturations. Fabrics were culled from the greats of modernist textiles, Maharam’s Quatrefoil pattern in blue and Knoll classic Sway pattern in sea shades. The blue on white “beach” scheme runs from a soft cotton candy sky in the girl’s room to an immersive David Sutherland Park Bark wallpaper in the powder room. This intellectual inquiry as to what are the true colors at the beach belays the sophistication that surpasses the usual nautical curse of the average beach house. Out of the corner of your eye, in almost every quadrant of the house, is a burst of colorful expression and delight; this serves as Ms. Cohen’s painterly gift to the client. Ms. Cohen’s hidden strength is her ability to choreograph a seating area. Whether it is a formal living room or the ultimate hang out spot, each space has the right amount of distance, intimacy and dare I say intrigue to make the arrangements inviting. Each conversation, because it really looks like a fine chat can be had, has an elegant side table ready for duty and all tête-à-têtes are regulated to a sumptuous area rugs. Habitants in Ms. Cohen’s world only work through deep discourse.

Nautical-themed hybrid swimming pool with raised spa, sunshelf, slide, grotto, and pizza oven (September 2013) – Ask the Pool Guy and his team at Legendary Escapes recently unveiled the newest Legendary Escape, a stunning nautical-themed hybrid swimming pool. The hand-carved concrete waterfall, rock slide, and grotto are the focal point of this incredible project, and designer and builder Al Curtis has truly outdone himself this time. Behind the waterfall sits a grotto that seats 8-10 people comfortably. The waterfall, slide, and grotto area come complete with intricate details and additions that perfectly play into the project’s theme. An immense amount of creativity, talent, and skill is required to take ordinary materials like vinyl and concrete and turn them into the outstanding backyards that Curtis creates, but these details allow his creativity to shine in a different light. Curtis immerses himself completely in just one or two projects at a time, which allows him the opportunity to add those intricate details that take his extraordinary projects to the next level. Some of the details in the grotto area of this hybrid project include real ship portholes that open and close, as well as carvings and lanterns to add visual interest inside of the grotto. The project also includes a raised spillover spa and a sunshelf with a bubbling water feature. The sunshelf has steps leading into the main body of the pool, giving swimmers an easy entry point if they don’t feel the urge to jump off the top of the waterfall or take a ride down the hand-carved, hand-tiled slide. The shelf has just enough water to allow shallow wading or lounging, and the pebbled finish provides a perfect place to set a lounge chair without worrying about damaging the vinyl liner. With the spa nearby, this whole end of the pool is perfect for relaxing, talking, or watching the kids while they swim. This incredible hybrid swimming pool also includes a poolside pizza oven, so fresh, stone-fired pizza is never far away. The brick oven can cook a pizza in about 90 seconds, and produces authentic, outstanding pizzas. The homeowners have spent years perfecting their pizza crust and sauce recipes, as well as growing their own tomatoes and basil. The pizza oven adds another element of their own personality, and makes this project even more perfect for them. With a built-in countertop, it’s easy to get a couple of pies going at one time, or to prep ingredients for personal pizzas. The homeowners are very family-oriented and love to have friends and family over to their home. During the construction process, the Legendary Escapes crew met several friends and family members who stopped in for some quality time and to check out the progress of the pool. The finished product is a perfect place for entertaining, and it feels very comfortable and welcoming. With the sunshelf, spa, grotto, poolside seating, and the pool itself, there are plenty of different places to sit or soak and have conversations or splash around. Curtis is incredibly proud of this project, and he has high hopes for it. He was recently named a Master of Design by Pool & Spa News for a hybrid swimming pool he built in Brighton, MI. This new, nautical hybrid pool fits in beautifully with his portfolio, but also stands out as extraordinary. The team at Legendary Escapes anticipates positive feedback and recognition for this project, and looks forward to building more swimming pools that push the envelope and wow clients and fans.

What do you do when your master suite addition is limited in width. It is not an issue for the bedroom since it enjoys the full width of the 16' but what about the bathroom and closet that you need to be grand in design as well? In this bathroom you can see the solution to this age-old question, how to make a narrow space look grand. The end of this bathroom boosts a huge 9' wide by 6' deep shower wet area with a freestanding tub on one side and a bench, niche and window on the other. The vaulted ceiling above has 3 large skylights with one of them directly above the shower area. The skylights provide a huge amount of natural light that cancels any need for artificial lighting to be used during the daytime. The main wall is dark Pietra grigio porcelain book matched slabs, while the sides are 48"x48" off-white porcelain tiles. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler Anthem digital control for the minimalistic look. Right before you get into the wet area you will have a niche with a built-in seating area the doubles as a storage/laundry cabinet and two thick shelves made of Alder wood to compliment the vanity, the beam and the water closet door. A 10' vanity with a large 9.5' mirror is a great trick to create a sensation of space in the narrow 5' passageway. The final touch is the hidden water closet, the space was taken from the Walk-in closet entry area to hide the toilet from the beautiful spa looking bathroom. The last item to be mentioned is the heated floor that is controlled by a timer to make sure the flooring is warm to the touch on the cold winter nights. The walk-in closet was custom built to accommodate all the client’s storage requirements, the different deeper and shallower niches that were created by space added to the bathroom are used for shallow wall led mirror or a deeper suites hanger and the crown jewel of this closet the steam closet by LG that provide the capabilities of a steamer / dry-cleaning in your private closet space. A center drawer cabinet with glass top cabinets with built-in LED strips and puck lights create a lovely ambient lighting if needed and show casing the different perfumes and handbags. Talking about show casing, how about the his/hers shoes towers on each side of the cabinets in the middle? The master bedroom is a bit more craftsman and cozy. Whitewashed shiplap on the vaulted ceiling creates a more of a countryside look with vast number of windows and a sliding door to allow both eastern and western light to penetrate the room.

What do you do when your master suite addition is limited in width. It is not an issue for the bedroom since it enjoys the full width of the 16' but what about the bathroom and closet that you need to be grand in design as well? In this bathroom you can see the solution to this age-old question, how to make a narrow space look grand. The end of this bathroom boosts a huge 9' wide by 6' deep shower wet area with a freestanding tub on one side and a bench, niche and window on the other. The vaulted ceiling above has 3 large skylights with one of them directly above the shower area. The skylights provide a huge amount of natural light that cancels any need for artificial lighting to be used during the daytime. The main wall is dark Pietra grigio porcelain book matched slabs, while the sides are 48"x48" off-white porcelain tiles. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler Anthem digital control for the minimalistic look. Right before you get into the wet area you will have a niche with a built-in seating area the doubles as a storage/laundry cabinet and two thick shelves made of Alder wood to compliment the vanity, the beam and the water closet door. A 10' vanity with a large 9.5' mirror is a great trick to create a sensation of space in the narrow 5' passageway. The final touch is the hidden water closet, the space was taken from the Walk-in closet entry area to hide the toilet from the beautiful spa looking bathroom. The last item to be mentioned is the heated floor that is controlled by a timer to make sure the flooring is warm to the touch on the cold winter nights. The walk-in closet was custom built to accommodate all the client’s storage requirements, the different deeper and shallower niches that were created by space added to the bathroom are used for shallow wall led mirror or a deeper suites hanger and the crown jewel of this closet the steam closet by LG that provide the capabilities of a steamer / dry-cleaning in your private closet space. A center drawer cabinet with glass top cabinets with built-in LED strips and puck lights create a lovely ambient lighting if needed and show casing the different perfumes and handbags. Talking about show casing, how about the his/hers shoes towers on each side of the cabinets in the middle? The master bedroom is a bit more craftsman and cozy. Whitewashed shiplap on the vaulted ceiling creates a more of a countryside look with vast number of windows and a sliding door to allow both eastern and western light to penetrate the room.

Nautical-themed hybrid swimming pool with raised spa, sunshelf, slide, grotto, and pizza oven (September 2013) – Ask the Pool Guy and his team at Legendary Escapes recently unveiled the newest Legendary Escape, a stunning nautical-themed hybrid swimming pool. The hand-carved concrete waterfall, rock slide, and grotto are the focal point of this incredible project, and designer and builder Al Curtis has truly outdone himself this time. Behind the waterfall sits a grotto that seats 8-10 people comfortably. The waterfall, slide, and grotto area come complete with intricate details and additions that perfectly play into the project’s theme. An immense amount of creativity, talent, and skill is required to take ordinary materials like vinyl and concrete and turn them into the outstanding backyards that Curtis creates, but these details allow his creativity to shine in a different light. Curtis immerses himself completely in just one or two projects at a time, which allows him the opportunity to add those intricate details that take his extraordinary projects to the next level. Some of the details in the grotto area of this hybrid project include real ship portholes that open and close, as well as carvings and lanterns to add visual interest inside of the grotto. The project also includes a raised spillover spa and a sunshelf with a bubbling water feature. The sunshelf has steps leading into the main body of the pool, giving swimmers an easy entry point if they don’t feel the urge to jump off the top of the waterfall or take a ride down the hand-carved, hand-tiled slide. The shelf has just enough water to allow shallow wading or lounging, and the pebbled finish provides a perfect place to set a lounge chair without worrying about damaging the vinyl liner. With the spa nearby, this whole end of the pool is perfect for relaxing, talking, or watching the kids while they swim. This incredible hybrid swimming pool also includes a poolside pizza oven, so fresh, stone-fired pizza is never far away. The brick oven can cook a pizza in about 90 seconds, and produces authentic, outstanding pizzas. The homeowners have spent years perfecting their pizza crust and sauce recipes, as well as growing their own tomatoes and basil. The pizza oven adds another element of their own personality, and makes this project even more perfect for them. With a built-in countertop, it’s easy to get a couple of pies going at one time, or to prep ingredients for personal pizzas. The homeowners are very family-oriented and love to have friends and family over to their home. During the construction process, the Legendary Escapes crew met several friends and family members who stopped in for some quality time and to check out the progress of the pool. The finished product is a perfect place for entertaining, and it feels very comfortable and welcoming. With the sunshelf, spa, grotto, poolside seating, and the pool itself, there are plenty of different places to sit or soak and have conversations or splash around. Curtis is incredibly proud of this project, and he has high hopes for it. He was recently named a Master of Design by Pool & Spa News for a hybrid swimming pool he built in Brighton, MI. This new, nautical hybrid pool fits in beautifully with his portfolio, but also stands out as extraordinary. The team at Legendary Escapes anticipates positive feedback and recognition for this project, and looks forward to building more swimming pools that push the envelope and wow clients and fans.

What do you do when your master suite addition is limited in width. It is not an issue for the bedroom since it enjoys the full width of the 16' but what about the bathroom and closet that you need to be grand in design as well? In this bathroom you can see the solution to this age-old question, how to make a narrow space look grand. The end of this bathroom boosts a huge 9' wide by 6' deep shower wet area with a freestanding tub on one side and a bench, niche and window on the other. The vaulted ceiling above has 3 large skylights with one of them directly above the shower area. The skylights provide a huge amount of natural light that cancels any need for artificial lighting to be used during the daytime. The main wall is dark Pietra grigio porcelain book matched slabs, while the sides are 48"x48" off-white porcelain tiles. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler Anthem digital control for the minimalistic look. Right before you get into the wet area you will have a niche with a built-in seating area the doubles as a storage/laundry cabinet and two thick shelves made of Alder wood to compliment the vanity, the beam and the water closet door. A 10' vanity with a large 9.5' mirror is a great trick to create a sensation of space in the narrow 5' passageway. The final touch is the hidden water closet, the space was taken from the Walk-in closet entry area to hide the toilet from the beautiful spa looking bathroom. The last item to be mentioned is the heated floor that is controlled by a timer to make sure the flooring is warm to the touch on the cold winter nights. The walk-in closet was custom built to accommodate all the client’s storage requirements, the different deeper and shallower niches that were created by space added to the bathroom are used for shallow wall led mirror or a deeper suites hanger and the crown jewel of this closet the steam closet by LG that provide the capabilities of a steamer / dry-cleaning in your private closet space. A center drawer cabinet with glass top cabinets with built-in LED strips and puck lights create a lovely ambient lighting if needed and show casing the different perfumes and handbags. Talking about show casing, how about the his/hers shoes towers on each side of the cabinets in the middle? The master bedroom is a bit more craftsman and cozy. Whitewashed shiplap on the vaulted ceiling creates a more of a countryside look with vast number of windows and a sliding door to allow both eastern and western light to penetrate the room.

What do you do when your master suite addition is limited in width. It is not an issue for the bedroom since it enjoys the full width of the 16' but what about the bathroom and closet that you need to be grand in design as well? In this bathroom you can see the solution to this age-old question, how to make a narrow space look grand. The end of this bathroom boosts a huge 9' wide by 6' deep shower wet area with a freestanding tub on one side and a bench, niche and window on the other. The vaulted ceiling above has 3 large skylights with one of them directly above the shower area. The skylights provide a huge amount of natural light that cancels any need for artificial lighting to be used during the daytime. The main wall is dark Pietra grigio porcelain book matched slabs, while the sides are 48"x48" off-white porcelain tiles. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler Anthem digital control for the minimalistic look. Right before you get into the wet area you will have a niche with a built-in seating area the doubles as a storage/laundry cabinet and two thick shelves made of Alder wood to compliment the vanity, the beam and the water closet door. A 10' vanity with a large 9.5' mirror is a great trick to create a sensation of space in the narrow 5' passageway. The final touch is the hidden water closet, the space was taken from the Walk-in closet entry area to hide the toilet from the beautiful spa looking bathroom. The last item to be mentioned is the heated floor that is controlled by a timer to make sure the flooring is warm to the touch on the cold winter nights. The walk-in closet was custom built to accommodate all the client’s storage requirements, the different deeper and shallower niches that were created by space added to the bathroom are used for shallow wall led mirror or a deeper suites hanger and the crown jewel of this closet the steam closet by LG that provide the capabilities of a steamer / dry-cleaning in your private closet space. A center drawer cabinet with glass top cabinets with built-in LED strips and puck lights create a lovely ambient lighting if needed and show casing the different perfumes and handbags. Talking about show casing, how about the his/hers shoes towers on each side of the cabinets in the middle? The master bedroom is a bit more craftsman and cozy. Whitewashed shiplap on the vaulted ceiling creates a more of a countryside look with vast number of windows and a sliding door to allow both eastern and western light to penetrate the room.

What do you do when your master suite addition is limited in width. It is not an issue for the bedroom since it enjoys the full width of the 16' but what about the bathroom and closet that you need to be grand in design as well? In this bathroom you can see the solution to this age-old question, how to make a narrow space look grand. The end of this bathroom boosts a huge 9' wide by 6' deep shower wet area with a freestanding tub on one side and a bench, niche and window on the other. The vaulted ceiling above has 3 large skylights with one of them directly above the shower area. The skylights provide a huge amount of natural light that cancels any need for artificial lighting to be used during the daytime. The main wall is dark Pietra grigio porcelain book matched slabs, while the sides are 48"x48" off-white porcelain tiles. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler Anthem digital control for the minimalistic look. Right before you get into the wet area you will have a niche with a built-in seating area the doubles as a storage/laundry cabinet and two thick shelves made of Alder wood to compliment the vanity, the beam and the water closet door. A 10' vanity with a large 9.5' mirror is a great trick to create a sensation of space in the narrow 5' passageway. The final touch is the hidden water closet, the space was taken from the Walk-in closet entry area to hide the toilet from the beautiful spa looking bathroom. The last item to be mentioned is the heated floor that is controlled by a timer to make sure the flooring is warm to the touch on the cold winter nights. The walk-in closet was custom built to accommodate all the client’s storage requirements, the different deeper and shallower niches that were created by space added to the bathroom are used for shallow wall led mirror or a deeper suites hanger and the crown jewel of this closet the steam closet by LG that provide the capabilities of a steamer / dry-cleaning in your private closet space. A center drawer cabinet with glass top cabinets with built-in LED strips and puck lights create a lovely ambient lighting if needed and show casing the different perfumes and handbags. Talking about show casing, how about the his/hers shoes towers on each side of the cabinets in the middle? The master bedroom is a bit more craftsman and cozy. Whitewashed shiplap on the vaulted ceiling creates a more of a countryside look with vast number of windows and a sliding door to allow both eastern and western light to penetrate the room.

Nautical-themed hybrid swimming pool with raised spa, sunshelf, slide, grotto, and pizza oven (September 2013) – Ask the Pool Guy and his team at Legendary Escapes recently unveiled the newest Legendary Escape, a stunning nautical-themed hybrid swimming pool. The hand-carved concrete waterfall, rock slide, and grotto are the focal point of this incredible project, and designer and builder Al Curtis has truly outdone himself this time. Behind the waterfall sits a grotto that seats 8-10 people comfortably. The waterfall, slide, and grotto area come complete with intricate details and additions that perfectly play into the project’s theme. An immense amount of creativity, talent, and skill is required to take ordinary materials like vinyl and concrete and turn them into the outstanding backyards that Curtis creates, but these details allow his creativity to shine in a different light. Curtis immerses himself completely in just one or two projects at a time, which allows him the opportunity to add those intricate details that take his extraordinary projects to the next level. Some of the details in the grotto area of this hybrid project include real ship portholes that open and close, as well as carvings and lanterns to add visual interest inside of the grotto. The project also includes a raised spillover spa and a sunshelf with a bubbling water feature. The sunshelf has steps leading into the main body of the pool, giving swimmers an easy entry point if they don’t feel the urge to jump off the top of the waterfall or take a ride down the hand-carved, hand-tiled slide. The shelf has just enough water to allow shallow wading or lounging, and the pebbled finish provides a perfect place to set a lounge chair without worrying about damaging the vinyl liner. With the spa nearby, this whole end of the pool is perfect for relaxing, talking, or watching the kids while they swim. This incredible hybrid swimming pool also includes a poolside pizza oven, so fresh, stone-fired pizza is never far away. The brick oven can cook a pizza in about 90 seconds, and produces authentic, outstanding pizzas. The homeowners have spent years perfecting their pizza crust and sauce recipes, as well as growing their own tomatoes and basil. The pizza oven adds another element of their own personality, and makes this project even more perfect for them. With a built-in countertop, it’s easy to get a couple of pies going at one time, or to prep ingredients for personal pizzas. The homeowners are very family-oriented and love to have friends and family over to their home. During the construction process, the Legendary Escapes crew met several friends and family members who stopped in for some quality time and to check out the progress of the pool. The finished product is a perfect place for entertaining, and it feels very comfortable and welcoming. With the sunshelf, spa, grotto, poolside seating, and the pool itself, there are plenty of different places to sit or soak and have conversations or splash around. Curtis is incredibly proud of this project, and he has high hopes for it. He was recently named a Master of Design by Pool & Spa News for a hybrid swimming pool he built in Brighton, MI. This new, nautical hybrid pool fits in beautifully with his portfolio, but also stands out as extraordinary. The team at Legendary Escapes anticipates positive feedback and recognition for this project, and looks forward to building more swimming pools that push the envelope and wow clients and fans.

What do you do when your master suite addition is limited in width. It is not an issue for the bedroom since it enjoys the full width of the 16' but what about the bathroom and closet that you need to be grand in design as well? In this bathroom you can see the solution to this age-old question, how to make a narrow space look grand. The end of this bathroom boosts a huge 9' wide by 6' deep shower wet area with a freestanding tub on one side and a bench, niche and window on the other. The vaulted ceiling above has 3 large skylights with one of them directly above the shower area. The skylights provide a huge amount of natural light that cancels any need for artificial lighting to be used during the daytime. The main wall is dark Pietra grigio porcelain book matched slabs, while the sides are 48"x48" off-white porcelain tiles. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler Anthem digital control for the minimalistic look. Right before you get into the wet area you will have a niche with a built-in seating area the doubles as a storage/laundry cabinet and two thick shelves made of Alder wood to compliment the vanity, the beam and the water closet door. A 10' vanity with a large 9.5' mirror is a great trick to create a sensation of space in the narrow 5' passageway. The final touch is the hidden water closet, the space was taken from the Walk-in closet entry area to hide the toilet from the beautiful spa looking bathroom. The last item to be mentioned is the heated floor that is controlled by a timer to make sure the flooring is warm to the touch on the cold winter nights. The walk-in closet was custom built to accommodate all the client’s storage requirements, the different deeper and shallower niches that were created by space added to the bathroom are used for shallow wall led mirror or a deeper suites hanger and the crown jewel of this closet the steam closet by LG that provide the capabilities of a steamer / dry-cleaning in your private closet space. A center drawer cabinet with glass top cabinets with built-in LED strips and puck lights create a lovely ambient lighting if needed and show casing the different perfumes and handbags. Talking about show casing, how about the his/hers shoes towers on each side of the cabinets in the middle? The master bedroom is a bit more craftsman and cozy. Whitewashed shiplap on the vaulted ceiling creates a more of a countryside look with vast number of windows and a sliding door to allow both eastern and western light to penetrate the room.

Asked by her client to review a typically mundane South Hampton ‘50s saltbox because “the last designer they talked to said they would have to add on to make the house anything,” Ms. Cohen approached the renovation in exactly the opposite manner. To refine the small building footprint, precise architectural gestures were used with a series of finely calibrated moments make the space more gracious and welcoming. Architectural acts were bold in concept but not in actual construction work; such as capturing the car garage to add a hyper modern sunroom/den along with a powder room and laundry. Reconfiguring one side of the house’s roofline to manipulate the space into a sensational master suite saved the north side of the house from remaining an un-useful attic space. This inner sanctum of bedroom and master bath is reminiscent of a Hampton’s beachscape in all its elegance and minimalism. The only square footage actually added was a tiny 4X4 corner as an addition to the front entry, oddly an essential piece of real estate to make an actual vestibule. All these refinements make for a crafted, articulate result rather than bowing to the bigger is better theme, which is more prevalent in the Hamptons. The function of the plan and the accompanying finishes are impressive. The Jack and Jill bathroom, an invention of the American post-war housing boom, was outfitted in handsome walnut Duravit vanity cabinets and neutral finishes. The master bath, with its expansive skylights, might be mistaken for a conceptual art installation due to its evocative marble countertop in striped ethereal hues. Finally, Ms. Cohen uses wallpaper like a museum curator, hanging an iconic Knoll pattern to punctuate the dining/media space. Each room in the house was sculpted via a palette of watercolor blue of varying saturations. Fabrics were culled from the greats of modernist textiles, Maharam’s Quatrefoil pattern in blue and Knoll classic Sway pattern in sea shades. The blue on white “beach” scheme runs from a soft cotton candy sky in the girl’s room to an immersive David Sutherland Park Bark wallpaper in the powder room. This intellectual inquiry as to what are the true colors at the beach belays the sophistication that surpasses the usual nautical curse of the average beach house. Out of the corner of your eye, in almost every quadrant of the house, is a burst of colorful expression and delight; this serves as Ms. Cohen’s painterly gift to the client. Ms. Cohen’s hidden strength is her ability to choreograph a seating area. Whether it is a formal living room or the ultimate hang out spot, each space has the right amount of distance, intimacy and dare I say intrigue to make the arrangements inviting. Each conversation, because it really looks like a fine chat can be had, has an elegant side table ready for duty and all tête-à-têtes are regulated to a sumptuous area rugs. Habitants in Ms. Cohen’s world only work through deep discourse.