This kitchen remodel is truly one of a character. The warmth of these cabinets from New River, the sleek back-splash pattern, and the enormous amount of light coming in from a clerestory window, make this kitchen scream inviting. Before this kitchen was somewhat dark, and did not reflect the personalities of our homeowners. They invited us into their homes, and together we created this gorgeous new kitchen. Our homeowners frequently found themselves sitting in the balcony area of this kitchen, so together we came up with a design that incorporated this area into the kitchen. With Coffee or tea within an arm’s length, who wouldn’t want to spend the morning watching the sun rise right in this little area? We wanted to create the look of “cabinetry to ceiling” but were unable to move the soffits in this kitchen. Our solution? Custom Cabinetry trim to create this illusion. We think it turned out beautifully! We also wanted to work together to open up the kitchen into the formal dining space, but didn’t want to remove too many walls or sacrifice cabinetry storage. We created a pass through above standard counter top height with it’s own bar top between these two rooms. Now food, drinks, and conversation can easily pass through these areas. Two recessed lights built into the cabinets add visual interest, and functional lighting in our new pass through area. The products that you find in this kitchen are contributors of the warm feeling you get when you walk into this kitchen. The cabinetry is from New River, made in Roanoke, VA. The wood species is Maple, and the door style is “Somerset.” The finish called “choral” adds warmth with it’s reddish undertone. On of our favorite features in this kitchen is the glass inserts in the cabinetry above and adjacent to the new gas stove from GE. Glass detail in cabinetry always breaks up the cabinets by adding a place for the eye to immediately go to. These are unique as they are a wavy textured glass that allow you to get a peek inside of the cabinets, but are not fully transparent. http://www.designsbyskill.com/ http://www.rjkconstructioninc.com/

The Legendary Rockstar Pool Build — A Backyard Concert Venue and Custom Swimming Pool The Rockstar Pool is one of the most ambitious, imaginative, and large-scale residential pool builds ever completed by Legendary Escapes. Designed and built by Al Curtis, this project was created for a homeowner whose entire life revolves around performance, music, and living boldly. This is far more than a swimming pool. It is a backyard concert venue, a sculpted grotto, a hot tub, a swim-up bar, a VIP lounge, a performance platform, and a fully engineered artistic environment built as a single cohesive experience. A Client With a True Rockstar Life The homeowner’s request was simple in spirit but extraordinary in scale: create a pool environment that matched a life centered on creativity and performance. His background includes jousting at the Michigan Renaissance Festival, on-stage theatrical work, a home rebuilt around music and entertainment, and longstanding connections within the rock world. With a 16-acre horse farm and a passion for bold design, he needed a pool that reflected his personality. His project requirements included a grotto, waterfall, hot tub, swim-up bar, performance area, and multiple lounging zones. Every feature had to feel original, dramatic, and purposeful. The Design Vision Designer and builder Al Curtis immediately recognized that this build needed to be expansive, theatrical, and seamlessly integrated into the landscape. The pool needed to make a statement without obstructing panoramic views of the surrounding farm and open sky. The spark for the design came from an unexpected source: steel grates salvaged from an old carnival tilt-a-whirl ride. This inspired the concept of a floating performance stage built over the pool. What began as a small idea quickly grew into a large-scale platform complete with a concrete stage, integrated lighting, waterfalls, backstage areas, and custom metalwork. As the stage expanded, so did the pool, the patio, and the entire environment—ultimately transforming the backyard into a private amphitheater. Repurposed Materials Used as Art Legendary Escapes is known for incorporating reclaimed materials into artistic, sculptural pool environments. This project includes an extraordinary collection of repurposed components: Tilt-a-whirl steel used as the main stage structure Carnival flooring panels transformed into large fire-feature guitars Trumpet and trombone bells refitted as lighting fixtures Reclaimed street lamps custom-painted for poolside lighting 3D-printed album covers used as illuminated wall panels Concrete replicas of Marshall speakers integrated under the stage Every material was selected to bring character, history, and energy to the space. Artistic Features and Highlights The Rockstar Pool includes numerous custom artistic elements, such as: A ten-foot mosaic “album cover” inset into the pool floor Eight-foot sculpted guitars along the fence line Guitar-shaped fire features Backlit album panels positioned just above the water A “Rockstar” sign paired with sculpted concrete amplifier towers A VIP seating area built from restored tilt-a-whirl ride cars Every corner of the environment contains layered artistic details. Engineering Challenges and Solutions Creating a fully functional concert stage over the deep end of the pool required extensive planning and engineering. Key complexities included: Designing a safe, weight-bearing steel and concrete stage structure Adjusting stage elevation mid-build to achieve optimal height Installing three complete filtration systems concealed beneath the stage Applying ecoFinish throughout the pool, spa, and grotto Rebuilding existing decking and integrating a three-story observation tower Ensuring the massive pool structure preserved the property’s sightlines The technical demands of this project were matched only by the creative vision behind it. The Legendary Team This build was completed by a multi-generational team of craftsmen and artists, including: Al Curtis – Designer and builder Jesse Curtis – Project manager and construction artist Mark Curtis – Filtration systems and plumbing Annie Curtis – Stonework and water features Karen Olson – Tile, stonework, and patio murals Frank DiPiazza – Structural construction and decking Brendan Schafer – On-site support and maintenance dbaker designs – Custom mosaic creation Daren Baker – Custom metal guitars and lighting elements Each contributor played a critical role in shaping the final environment. A Client Who Trusted the Process As with many Legendary Escapes projects, this build evolved organically. The homeowner provided inspiration and trust, allowing the team to respond to the evolving environment. Several features—including the guitar fence, fire elements, and VIP seating area—were conceived and built during the process as the design revealed new opportunities. The Final Result The Rockstar Pool is now a fully functional concert venue, swimming pool, artistic installation, and outdoor living space. It is dramatic, expressive, engineered with care, and truly one-of-a-kind. This project reflects the homeowner’s personality and passion, and stands as one of the most ambitious designs ever produced by Legendary Escapes.

From Houzz contributor Becky Harris: https://tinyurl.com/7w3p49a7 “As he searched for the style he wanted, Ryan happened upon house plans available online from a local company called Perfect Little House, founded by architects Stella Carosso and Peter Brachvogel of BC&J Architecture. “I kept coming back to this design. I fell in love with it — it had lots of glass that would flood the house with light and views, and I thought it would fit nicely into our heavily treed lot,” Ryan says. “I had always been intrigued by shou-sugi-ban siding and how insect-, rot- and fire-resistant it was,” Ryan says. The two wings of the house provide a courtyard-like feel in the backyard, with the wings meeting in a corner. Grilling, dining and seating areas extend the livable space of the home. The larger wing faces south, and the overhangs provide shade from the summer sun. “Also, the trees give us nice dappled light,” Ryan says. He sited the house back from the road to preserve a large stand of trees. This provided privacy from the road and minimized the number of trees that had to come down. “Some of the Douglas fir trees are 130 feet high in this forest,” Ryan says. The Douglas fir rafters on the house are a nice fit and provide a lovely contrast to the black siding.”

Designer: Barbara Landsberg, Landsberg Garden Design E. barbara@landsberggardens.com.au W. landsberggardens.com Inst. @landsberggardens Contributors: Forge Landscapes Fabricators: IronBark Metal Design Daves Welding & Fabrication Landscape Supplies: Australian Native Landscapes Stone Supplier: Cinajus

Hired in conjunction with John Lum Architects, RBD collaborated in the redesign of this three bedroom, four bath home for an art savvy family of four in Noe Valley. RBD's key contributions include the design and decoration of the kitchen breakfast nook, fireplace, four bathrooms and reconfiguration of the existing master bathroom and downstairs guest room/family room. The reconfiguration of the master bathroom creates a more open layout while also featuring a custom danish modern hairpin leg vanity as its focal point. Downstairs, the guest room/family room, designed for an open, one-room concept, showcases custom built-in millwork for excellent TV watching and game storage. Finishing off the space architecturally, a custom built-in walnut entry bench and coat cabinet help modestly accentuate their secondary entry into the home given this is the family's main entrance. Working on an extremely tight budget, RBD mixed low and high end finishes and fixtures to achieve a high end overall look without breaking the bank. Key Contributors: John Lum Architects and Mick Clarke Construction

Adrienne DeRosa, Houzz Contributor.
Sunroom - farmhouse sunroom idea in Cleveland

From Houzz contributor Becky Harris: https://tinyurl.com/7w3p49a7 “As he searched for the style he wanted, Ryan happened upon house plans available online from a local company called Perfect Little House, founded by architects Stella Carosso and Peter Brachvogel of BC&J Architecture. “I kept coming back to this design. I fell in love with it — it had lots of glass that would flood the house with light and views, and I thought it would fit nicely into our heavily treed lot,” Ryan says. “I had always been intrigued by shou-sugi-ban siding and how insect-, rot- and fire-resistant it was,” Ryan says. The two wings of the house provide a courtyard-like feel in the backyard, with the wings meeting in a corner. Grilling, dining and seating areas extend the livable space of the home. The larger wing faces south, and the overhangs provide shade from the summer sun. “Also, the trees give us nice dappled light,” Ryan says. He sited the house back from the road to preserve a large stand of trees. This provided privacy from the road and minimized the number of trees that had to come down. “Some of the Douglas fir trees are 130 feet high in this forest,” Ryan says. The Douglas fir rafters on the house are a nice fit and provide a lovely contrast to the black siding.”

Adrienne DeRosa, Houzz Contributor.
Sunroom - country sunroom idea in Cleveland

Chez Ami is a beautiful French Norman style house in Atherton, CA. It was recently an Honorable Mention in the inaugural Julia Morgan Award. We were very proud to be a major contributor to this magnificent renovation. We had our hands in nearly every corner of the renovation from the leaded glass in his dressing room, to the antiqued mirror in the exercise room to the beveled glass in the entry door.

Project Contributors: - INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO: 2ID Interiors. - NEOLITH DISTRIBUTOR: Omicron Granite & Tile
Kitchen - modern kitchen idea in Miami

Tucker Design Awards celebrate the innovation and vision that designers bring to their projects through the specification and use of natural stone materials. For members of the Natural Stone Institute, acknowledgement as a contributor to a Tucker Design Awards winning project is a genuine tribute to their traditional values, physicality of work and dedication to precise specifications required in the realization of such accomplished architectural design. Landscape Architect Design Workshop, Aspen, CO Architect Poss Architecture, Aspen, CO Landscape Contractor Landscape Workshop, Carbondale, CO Stone Supplier/Installer Gallegos Corporation, Wolcott, CO Stone Quarry Arkins Park Stone, Loveland, CO Within walled boundaries, Woody Creek Garden embraces its high alpine environment through explorations of stone and water that serve as unifying elements of form in the design of the various outdoor spaces. Through striking and distinctively detailed stonework, water is portrayed in its various states and forms – atmospheric mist, single rivulets, cascades, and still pools. Two courtyards interlink the residence allowing each room to enjoy the visual landscape. In the entrance courtyard, the sound from a carved 24”x 24” cut-granite fountain reverberates throughout the walled space. Placed for gathering and quiet contemplation, a pin-wheel arrangement of sculptural, granite slabs provide a honed surface for sitting while providing year-round interest. Each stone was individually specified with intentionally spaced core fractures, utilizing the extraction method to serve as sculpted details. Large sandstone pavers, set in sand and cut in an irregular, but geometric fashion bring a sense of modernity to the space. Throughout the property, stone detailing seek to heighten one’s experience of the landscape and views. Upon the home’s entry, an 18” rectilinear cut in the freestanding stone wall frames a distant peak, creating a singular reference to the outside world in this encased space. Emerging from the center of an organically-shaped carved sandstone slab, water is carried along a narrow 2” runnel sandstone cap, disappearing into the framed horizon. This glimpse to the west is the only opening in the tightly enclosed courtyard. From its opposite aspect, the feature creates a welcoming gesture at the home’s front entrance. The slender rivulet of water trickles from the sandstone slab above onto a honed granite plane, set within a sandstone terrace In contrast, a second promontory courtyard commands a strong presence over its alpine setting, leaving the steeply sloping site undisturbed. A 12’x 40’ reflecting pool – a thin sheet of water over honed black granite – captures the form and silence of the everchanging natural environment on its taut surface. Along its edge, water flows over a ½” radius edge, disappearing into a recirculating slot. Commissioned by Italian artist Bruno Romeda, a bronze sculpture rests upon an elevated granite plinth. Along its western edge, designers crafted a two-tiered, infinity edge detail. In the first vertical drop, water flows between the pool and perimeter stone walls, landing onto an intermediate bench, while the second drop introduces a chamfered edge, allowing water to embrace the vertical relief without splashing. Sandstone terraces provide continuous access to the various landscape features of the garden. At the base of the battered perimeter walls, a sandstone path leads to a fire pit, encircled by lichen-covered boulders. Along the courtyard’s eastern perimeter, water appears to emerge from the hillside, fracturing and falling against the irregular vertical stone wall, melting in a curtain-like formation behind the spa. The colors, distinctive detailing and striking stonework were selected based on their appropriateness to the context. From above, a rectilinear pool lies behind the wall, silently mirroring the sky above and offering no ostensible connection to the structure or to its source.

Sun Control of Minnesota is a family owned and operated business that offers Professional Window Tinting Services. We first started out in one office with two part time installers, and we have now grown our business with over 15 employees badge-1980and four different locations in the metro area. We continue to expand our relationships with customers, as well as our service and quality of work. We offer a complete line of Window Tinting services for Automotive, Commercial, Residential, & Marine applications. Our products include Decorative Frost Films, for glass enhancement; Safety/ Security Films, for Anti-Theft and Blast Protection; and 3M Paint Protection Film, for Automotive Rock Chip Prevention. We focus on helping our customers reduce damaging UV rays, excessive solar heat gain, and glare from their interior spaces. UV rays, solar heat, and visible light are the main contributors to fading concerns in homes. Window Film reduces these elements to provide a beautiful view without having to close out the natural sunlight with a shade or blind. We provide the quality that competitors can’t even touch. Our Mission is to Provide the Highest Quality Service, Products, and Installation in the Solar Energy Control Tint & Glass Film industry.

Sun Control of Minnesota is a family owned and operated business that offers Professional Window Tinting Services. We first started out in one office with two part time installers, and we have now grown our business with over 15 employees badge-1980and four different locations in the metro area. We continue to expand our relationships with customers, as well as our service and quality of work. We offer a complete line of Window Tinting services for Automotive, Commercial, Residential, & Marine applications. Our products include Decorative Frost Films, for glass enhancement; Safety/ Security Films, for Anti-Theft and Blast Protection; and 3M Paint Protection Film, for Automotive Rock Chip Prevention. We focus on helping our customers reduce damaging UV rays, excessive solar heat gain, and glare from their interior spaces. UV rays, solar heat, and visible light are the main contributors to fading concerns in homes. Window Film reduces these elements to provide a beautiful view without having to close out the natural sunlight with a shade or blind. We provide the quality that competitors can’t even touch. Our Mission is to Provide the Highest Quality Service, Products, and Installation in the Solar Energy Control Tint & Glass Film industry.

This kitchen remodel is truly one of a character. The warmth of these cabinets from New River, the sleek back-splash pattern, and the enormous amount of light coming in from a clerestory window, make this kitchen scream inviting. Before this kitchen was somewhat dark, and did not reflect the personalities of our homeowners. They invited us into their homes, and together we created this gorgeous new kitchen. Our homeowners frequently found themselves sitting in the balcony area of this kitchen, so together we came up with a design that incorporated this area into the kitchen. With Coffee or tea within an arm’s length, who wouldn’t want to spend the morning watching the sun rise right in this little area? We wanted to create the look of “cabinetry to ceiling” but were unable to move the soffits in this kitchen. Our solution? Custom Cabinetry trim to create this illusion. We think it turned out beautifully! We also wanted to work together to open up the kitchen into the formal dining space, but didn’t want to remove too many walls or sacrifice cabinetry storage. We created a pass through above standard counter top height with it’s own bar top between these two rooms. Now food, drinks, and conversation can easily pass through these areas. Two recessed lights built into the cabinets add visual interest, and functional lighting in our new pass through area. The products that you find in this kitchen are contributors of the warm feeling you get when you walk into this kitchen. The cabinetry is from New River, made in Roanoke, VA. The wood species is Maple, and the door style is “Somerset.” The finish called “choral” adds warmth with it’s reddish undertone. On of our favorite features in this kitchen is the glass inserts in the cabinetry above and adjacent to the new gas stove from GE. Glass detail in cabinetry always breaks up the cabinets by adding a place for the eye to immediately go to. These are unique as they are a wavy textured glass that allow you to get a peek inside of the cabinets, but are not fully transparent. http://www.designsbyskill.com/ http://www.rjkconstructioninc.com/

Warm architectural lighting defines this beautifully crafted hacienda-style residence, where Belfer Lighting's WS6230 Varial LED Wall Sconces were thoughtfully integrated throughout the home. Finished in Oil Rubbed Bronze Powder Coat, the fixtures complement the rich wood walls, exposed ceilings, and handcrafted architectural details while providing flexible, energy-efficient illumination. Installed in the foyer, living room, bathroom, hallway, and home office, the WS6230 Varial delivers layered lighting that adapts to each space. Its integrated LED light source offers ambient, task, and accent illumination, creating a welcoming atmosphere without compromising performance. The warm 2700K color temperature and high 90+ CRI faithfully enhance the natural beauty of the home's wood finishes and interior materials. The sconces feature concealed wall mounting for a clean architectural appearance and are compatible with 0-10V and smart dimming systems, allowing lighting levels to be adjusted throughout the day. Their understated contemporary design pairs seamlessly with the home's rustic-modern aesthetic, adding visual warmth while maintaining a refined architectural presence. The result is a cohesive lighting design that enhances both the functionality and character of the residence, balancing timeless craftsmanship with modern LED technology. Products Featured - Belfer Lighting WS6230 Varial LED Wall Sconce - Finish: Oil Rubbed Bronze Powder Coat - Integrated dimmable LED - 2700K Warm White, 90+ CRI - Concealed wall-mounted installation. Project Contributors - Contractor: Romero Construction Inc. https://belfer.com/los-altos-hacienda-2/

Sun Control of Minnesota is a family owned and operated business that offers Professional Window Tinting Services. We first started out in one office with two part time installers, and we have now grown our business with over 15 employees badge-1980and four different locations in the metro area. We continue to expand our relationships with customers, as well as our service and quality of work. We offer a complete line of Window Tinting services for Automotive, Commercial, Residential, & Marine applications. Our products include Decorative Frost Films, for glass enhancement; Safety/ Security Films, for Anti-Theft and Blast Protection; and 3M Paint Protection Film, for Automotive Rock Chip Prevention. We focus on helping our customers reduce damaging UV rays, excessive solar heat gain, and glare from their interior spaces. UV rays, solar heat, and visible light are the main contributors to fading concerns in homes. Window Film reduces these elements to provide a beautiful view without having to close out the natural sunlight with a shade or blind. We provide the quality that competitors can’t even touch. Our Mission is to Provide the Highest Quality Service, Products, and Installation in the Solar Energy Control Tint & Glass Film industry.

The Legendary Rockstar Pool Build — A Backyard Concert Venue and Custom Swimming Pool The Rockstar Pool is one of the most ambitious, imaginative, and large-scale residential pool builds ever completed by Legendary Escapes. Designed and built by Al Curtis, this project was created for a homeowner whose entire life revolves around performance, music, and living boldly. This is far more than a swimming pool. It is a backyard concert venue, a sculpted grotto, a hot tub, a swim-up bar, a VIP lounge, a performance platform, and a fully engineered artistic environment built as a single cohesive experience. A Client With a True Rockstar Life The homeowner’s request was simple in spirit but extraordinary in scale: create a pool environment that matched a life centered on creativity and performance. His background includes jousting at the Michigan Renaissance Festival, on-stage theatrical work, a home rebuilt around music and entertainment, and longstanding connections within the rock world. With a 16-acre horse farm and a passion for bold design, he needed a pool that reflected his personality. His project requirements included a grotto, waterfall, hot tub, swim-up bar, performance area, and multiple lounging zones. Every feature had to feel original, dramatic, and purposeful. The Design Vision Designer and builder Al Curtis immediately recognized that this build needed to be expansive, theatrical, and seamlessly integrated into the landscape. The pool needed to make a statement without obstructing panoramic views of the surrounding farm and open sky. The spark for the design came from an unexpected source: steel grates salvaged from an old carnival tilt-a-whirl ride. This inspired the concept of a floating performance stage built over the pool. What began as a small idea quickly grew into a large-scale platform complete with a concrete stage, integrated lighting, waterfalls, backstage areas, and custom metalwork. As the stage expanded, so did the pool, the patio, and the entire environment—ultimately transforming the backyard into a private amphitheater. Repurposed Materials Used as Art Legendary Escapes is known for incorporating reclaimed materials into artistic, sculptural pool environments. This project includes an extraordinary collection of repurposed components: Tilt-a-whirl steel used as the main stage structure Carnival flooring panels transformed into large fire-feature guitars Trumpet and trombone bells refitted as lighting fixtures Reclaimed street lamps custom-painted for poolside lighting 3D-printed album covers used as illuminated wall panels Concrete replicas of Marshall speakers integrated under the stage Every material was selected to bring character, history, and energy to the space. Artistic Features and Highlights The Rockstar Pool includes numerous custom artistic elements, such as: A ten-foot mosaic “album cover” inset into the pool floor Eight-foot sculpted guitars along the fence line Guitar-shaped fire features Backlit album panels positioned just above the water A “Rockstar” sign paired with sculpted concrete amplifier towers A VIP seating area built from restored tilt-a-whirl ride cars Every corner of the environment contains layered artistic details. Engineering Challenges and Solutions Creating a fully functional concert stage over the deep end of the pool required extensive planning and engineering. Key complexities included: Designing a safe, weight-bearing steel and concrete stage structure Adjusting stage elevation mid-build to achieve optimal height Installing three complete filtration systems concealed beneath the stage Applying ecoFinish throughout the pool, spa, and grotto Rebuilding existing decking and integrating a three-story observation tower Ensuring the massive pool structure preserved the property’s sightlines The technical demands of this project were matched only by the creative vision behind it. The Legendary Team This build was completed by a multi-generational team of craftsmen and artists, including: Al Curtis – Designer and builder Jesse Curtis – Project manager and construction artist Mark Curtis – Filtration systems and plumbing Annie Curtis – Stonework and water features Karen Olson – Tile, stonework, and patio murals Frank DiPiazza – Structural construction and decking Brendan Schafer – On-site support and maintenance dbaker designs – Custom mosaic creation Daren Baker – Custom metal guitars and lighting elements Each contributor played a critical role in shaping the final environment. A Client Who Trusted the Process As with many Legendary Escapes projects, this build evolved organically. The homeowner provided inspiration and trust, allowing the team to respond to the evolving environment. Several features—including the guitar fence, fire elements, and VIP seating area—were conceived and built during the process as the design revealed new opportunities. The Final Result The Rockstar Pool is now a fully functional concert venue, swimming pool, artistic installation, and outdoor living space. It is dramatic, expressive, engineered with care, and truly one-of-a-kind. This project reflects the homeowner’s personality and passion, and stands as one of the most ambitious designs ever produced by Legendary Escapes.

The home of Martha Stewart Living Contributor, Gillian Segal. Photography by Tracey Ayton Photography Area Rug: Burritt Bros.
Living room - contemporary living room idea in Vancouver

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Inspiration for a small contemporary landscaping in New York.