Chantale Arsenault
Inspiration for a large contemporary kitchen remodel in Montreal

Wooden Classicism Nesbitt House – Seaside, Florida Architect: Robert A. M. Stern Builder: O.B. Laurent Construction E. F. San Juan produced all of the interior and exterior millwork for this elegantly designed residence in the influential New Urban town of Seaside, Florida. Challenges: The beachfront residence required adherence to the area’s strict building code requirements, creating a unique profile for the compact layout of each room. Each room was also designed with all-wood walls and ceilings, which meant there was a lot of custom millwork! Solution: Unlike many homes where the same molding and paneling profiles are repeated throughout each room, this home featured a unique profile for each space. The effort was laborious—our team at E. F. San Juan created tools for each of these specific jobs. “The project required over four hundred man-hours of knife-grinding just to produce the tools,” says Edward San Juan. “Organization and scheduling were critical in this project because so many parts were required to complete each room.” The long hours and hard work allowed us to take the compacted plan and create the feel of an open, airy American beach house with the influence of 1930s Swedish classicism. The ceiling and walls in each room are paneled, giving them an elongated look to open up the space. The enticing, simplified wooden classicism style seamlessly complements the sweeping vistas and surrounding natural beauty along the Gulf of Mexico. --- Photography by Steven Mangum – STM Photography

The design strategy was for Al Curtis to begin designing a pool that would fit into the grand scope of this expansive back yard – with the homeowners’ voice in the back of his mind saying what would you do if you could do anything in this yard? His only wish list was a lazy river, and hers was a super long waterslide. As long as those two items were incorporated, the rest of the yard was a blank slate. The pool grew to the largest residential pool our team has built to date, incorporating a vinyl liner pool into the footprint, wrapped by a lazy river created with shotcrete flowing through a grotto, and a lower pool with a 25′ waterslide. The pool also features a sunshelf, coated in ecoFinish, a bridge over the grotto entrance, a swim in cave/grotto area. The lazy river is powered by three Endless pool units. In his unique way, Curtis begins designing and building the pool in his head- estimating he builds it 100 times from the underground up before he ever puts pencil to paper. He draws the pools in the same way he did when he began his career nearly thirty years ago, by hand, with a pencil and triangular architectural scale ruler 1″=10′. Once he has a design he likes, he’ll hand color with watercolor markers. This is the entire plan the customer sees before they make the decision and give the project it’ go ahead.

The design strategy was for Al Curtis to begin designing a pool that would fit into the grand scope of this expansive back yard – with the homeowners’ voice in the back of his mind saying what would you do if you could do anything in this yard? His only wish list was a lazy river, and hers was a super long waterslide. As long as those two items were incorporated, the rest of the yard was a blank slate. The pool grew to the largest residential pool our team has built to date, incorporating a vinyl liner pool into the footprint, wrapped by a lazy river created with shotcrete flowing through a grotto, and a lower pool with a 25′ waterslide. The pool also features a sunshelf, coated in ecoFinish, a bridge over the grotto entrance, a swim in cave/grotto area. The lazy river is powered by three Endless pool units. In his unique way, Curtis begins designing and building the pool in his head- estimating he builds it 100 times from the underground up before he ever puts pencil to paper. He draws the pools in the same way he did when he began his career nearly thirty years ago, by hand, with a pencil and triangular architectural scale ruler 1″=10′. Once he has a design he likes, he’ll hand color with watercolor markers. This is the entire plan the customer sees before they make the decision and give the project it’ go ahead.

The design strategy was for Al Curtis to begin designing a pool that would fit into the grand scope of this expansive back yard – with the homeowners’ voice in the back of his mind saying what would you do if you could do anything in this yard? His only wish list was a lazy river, and hers was a super long waterslide. As long as those two items were incorporated, the rest of the yard was a blank slate. The pool grew to the largest residential pool our team has built to date, incorporating a vinyl liner pool into the footprint, wrapped by a lazy river created with shotcrete flowing through a grotto, and a lower pool with a 25′ waterslide. The pool also features a sunshelf, coated in ecoFinish, a bridge over the grotto entrance, a swim in cave/grotto area. The lazy river is powered by three Endless pool units. In his unique way, Curtis begins designing and building the pool in his head- estimating he builds it 100 times from the underground up before he ever puts pencil to paper. He draws the pools in the same way he did when he began his career nearly thirty years ago, by hand, with a pencil and triangular architectural scale ruler 1″=10′. Once he has a design he likes, he’ll hand color with watercolor markers. This is the entire plan the customer sees before they make the decision and give the project it’ go ahead.

Angie Seckinger
Basement - large transitional look-out medium tone wood floor basement idea in DC Metro with multicolored walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Bathroom - modern bathroom idea in Los Angeles

The design strategy was for Al Curtis to begin designing a pool that would fit into the grand scope of this expansive back yard – with the homeowners’ voice in the back of his mind saying what would you do if you could do anything in this yard? His only wish list was a lazy river, and hers was a super long waterslide. As long as those two items were incorporated, the rest of the yard was a blank slate. The pool grew to the largest residential pool our team has built to date, incorporating a vinyl liner pool into the footprint, wrapped by a lazy river created with shotcrete flowing through a grotto, and a lower pool with a 25′ waterslide. The pool also features a sunshelf, coated in ecoFinish, a bridge over the grotto entrance, a swim in cave/grotto area. The lazy river is powered by three Endless pool units. In his unique way, Curtis begins designing and building the pool in his head- estimating he builds it 100 times from the underground up before he ever puts pencil to paper. He draws the pools in the same way he did when he began his career nearly thirty years ago, by hand, with a pencil and triangular architectural scale ruler 1″=10′. Once he has a design he likes, he’ll hand color with watercolor markers. This is the entire plan the customer sees before they make the decision and give the project it’ go ahead.

Mediterranean Exterior in Frisco's Newman Village
Mediterranean white stucco exterior home idea in Dallas

L. Herrada-Rios
Inspiration for a large transitional formal and open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor dining room remodel in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace, no tv and a tile fireplace

Andy Charnas
Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in San Francisco

The design strategy was for Al Curtis to begin designing a pool that would fit into the grand scope of this expansive back yard – with the homeowners’ voice in the back of his mind saying what would you do if you could do anything in this yard? His only wish list was a lazy river, and hers was a super long waterslide. As long as those two items were incorporated, the rest of the yard was a blank slate. The pool grew to the largest residential pool our team has built to date, incorporating a vinyl liner pool into the footprint, wrapped by a lazy river created with shotcrete flowing through a grotto, and a lower pool with a 25′ waterslide. The pool also features a sunshelf, coated in ecoFinish, a bridge over the grotto entrance, a swim in cave/grotto area. The lazy river is powered by three Endless pool units. In his unique way, Curtis begins designing and building the pool in his head- estimating he builds it 100 times from the underground up before he ever puts pencil to paper. He draws the pools in the same way he did when he began his career nearly thirty years ago, by hand, with a pencil and triangular architectural scale ruler 1″=10′. Once he has a design he likes, he’ll hand color with watercolor markers. This is the entire plan the customer sees before they make the decision and give the project it’ go ahead.

The design strategy was for Al Curtis to begin designing a pool that would fit into the grand scope of this expansive back yard – with the homeowners’ voice in the back of his mind saying what would you do if you could do anything in this yard? His only wish list was a lazy river, and hers was a super long waterslide. As long as those two items were incorporated, the rest of the yard was a blank slate. The pool grew to the largest residential pool our team has built to date, incorporating a vinyl liner pool into the footprint, wrapped by a lazy river created with shotcrete flowing through a grotto, and a lower pool with a 25′ waterslide. The pool also features a sunshelf, coated in ecoFinish, a bridge over the grotto entrance, a swim in cave/grotto area. The lazy river is powered by three Endless pool units. In his unique way, Curtis begins designing and building the pool in his head- estimating he builds it 100 times from the underground up before he ever puts pencil to paper. He draws the pools in the same way he did when he began his career nearly thirty years ago, by hand, with a pencil and triangular architectural scale ruler 1″=10′. Once he has a design he likes, he’ll hand color with watercolor markers. This is the entire plan the customer sees before they make the decision and give the project it’ go ahead.

Context After retiring from their careers in New Jersey, an active professional couple decided to move to Vermont to be closer to their family. They wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to sensibly plan for the future by building a sunlit home in which they could comfortably age in place with predictable, low energy costs through the harsh Vermont winter. A spacious, open lot near a historic river village provided the perfect backdrop for the couple’s favorite hobbies: gardening, woodworking, and yoga. The couple’s son, owner of Shelterwood Construction, would have the chance to showcase his meticulous craftsmanship in a home lovingly built for his parents. Response The home was built using very local natural materials that blend into the surrounding landscape. Cor-ten steel weathered clapboards transition from the earth to the wood clapboards above and the entire exterior has no finish, allowing the house to change and weather with the seasons. Many of the interior finishes, including the decorative stair wall, were made from locally-milled white pine that was harvested from the site. This certified Passive House is designed to be lived in for a lifetime with wheelchair accessibility, wide doorways, accessible fixtures, and everything the couple needs located on the main level. Framed by large south-facing windows, the light-filled main living area includes a lofted ceiling transected with a glass bridge that connects the guest bedrooms above and looks out onto the garden and fruit trees below. The attached barn, which creates a courtyard for gardens, houses a yoga studio and woodworking shop. With an ample array of solar panels and airtight construction to keep the heat in, the house is predicted to be net zero with no energy bills even in the coldest of Vermont winters. A Tesla Powerwall stores backup electricity for this all-electric home. Photos (c) Irvin Serrano

The design strategy was for Al Curtis to begin designing a pool that would fit into the grand scope of this expansive back yard – with the homeowners’ voice in the back of his mind saying what would you do if you could do anything in this yard? His only wish list was a lazy river, and hers was a super long waterslide. As long as those two items were incorporated, the rest of the yard was a blank slate. The pool grew to the largest residential pool our team has built to date, incorporating a vinyl liner pool into the footprint, wrapped by a lazy river created with shotcrete flowing through a grotto, and a lower pool with a 25′ waterslide. The pool also features a sunshelf, coated in ecoFinish, a bridge over the grotto entrance, a swim in cave/grotto area. The lazy river is powered by three Endless pool units. In his unique way, Curtis begins designing and building the pool in his head- estimating he builds it 100 times from the underground up before he ever puts pencil to paper. He draws the pools in the same way he did when he began his career nearly thirty years ago, by hand, with a pencil and triangular architectural scale ruler 1″=10′. Once he has a design he likes, he’ll hand color with watercolor markers. This is the entire plan the customer sees before they make the decision and give the project it’ go ahead.

Privately commissioned freehand painted geometric in-home mural. Created for a couple in Brighton, CO. One of the owners of the house has been a flight attendant for 19+ years, so we created something that was very personal to her. When she comes home, she has "Landed". She is in her safe place. Consistent place. Steady space. With her beloved husband and pup. Mural Size: approximately 114” L x 154” W. gneural™ is the creative studio of artist and innovative surface designer Debbie Clapper. Drawing nearly every day since the age of 9, Debbie has mastered the art of freehand drawing and painting without the aid of a ruler or straight edge. She has built a lush career around pattern illustration via her passion for abstract optical illusion art. Heavily inspired by M.C. Escher and graffiti, Debbie’s work strives to inspire and ignite imagination in all who interact with it. For 18 years she ran an award-winning graphic design studio, and now she focuses on creating innovative surface design and inspiring creativity. Contact Debbie today to discuss your own, one-of-a-kind, home or business project.

The design strategy was for Al Curtis to begin designing a pool that would fit into the grand scope of this expansive back yard – with the homeowners’ voice in the back of his mind saying what would you do if you could do anything in this yard? His only wish list was a lazy river, and hers was a super long waterslide. As long as those two items were incorporated, the rest of the yard was a blank slate. The pool grew to the largest residential pool our team has built to date, incorporating a vinyl liner pool into the footprint, wrapped by a lazy river created with shotcrete flowing through a grotto, and a lower pool with a 25′ waterslide. The pool also features a sunshelf, coated in ecoFinish, a bridge over the grotto entrance, a swim in cave/grotto area. The lazy river is powered by three Endless pool units. In his unique way, Curtis begins designing and building the pool in his head- estimating he builds it 100 times from the underground up before he ever puts pencil to paper. He draws the pools in the same way he did when he began his career nearly thirty years ago, by hand, with a pencil and triangular architectural scale ruler 1″=10′. Once he has a design he likes, he’ll hand color with watercolor markers. This is the entire plan the customer sees before they make the decision and give the project it’ go ahead.

GE Monogram Design Inspiration contest hosting presentation with Lindsey Thudin from Houzz. Designed a kitchen based on Lindsey's outfit for the presentation and her busy travel schedule. Lindsey was inspiration for the kitchen design. We used Walnut Greenfield Cabinets that has the depth and richness of Lindsey's hair. Island and upper Greenfield Cabinet doors are painted Sherwin Williams Martha Stewart 8002 Glass of Milk to match Lindsey's dress. We used crystal knobs and light fixtures which were hung at various heights inspired by Lindsey's art deco inspired crystal necklace. We used a quartz limestone counter top on outer base cabinets and a dark wood butcher block countertop on Island; along with Eleganza 12x24" porcelain floor tiles for easy maintenance due to Lindsey's busy travel schedule. A classic, modern, & luxurious kitchen with a touch of glamour for a glamorous career woman on the go!

The design strategy was for Al Curtis to begin designing a pool that would fit into the grand scope of this expansive back yard – with the homeowners’ voice in the back of his mind saying what would you do if you could do anything in this yard? His only wish list was a lazy river, and hers was a super long waterslide. As long as those two items were incorporated, the rest of the yard was a blank slate. The pool grew to the largest residential pool our team has built to date, incorporating a vinyl liner pool into the footprint, wrapped by a lazy river created with shotcrete flowing through a grotto, and a lower pool with a 25′ waterslide. The pool also features a sunshelf, coated in ecoFinish, a bridge over the grotto entrance, a swim in cave/grotto area. The lazy river is powered by three Endless pool units. In his unique way, Curtis begins designing and building the pool in his head- estimating he builds it 100 times from the underground up before he ever puts pencil to paper. He draws the pools in the same way he did when he began his career nearly thirty years ago, by hand, with a pencil and triangular architectural scale ruler 1″=10′. Once he has a design he likes, he’ll hand color with watercolor markers. This is the entire plan the customer sees before they make the decision and give the project it’ go ahead.