Peter Murdock
Dining room - contemporary concrete floor and gray floor dining room idea in Los Angeles with white walls

Commissioned by a leading corporate executive who maintains offices in most of the 50 states, our Signature Design Team was under intense pressure. The client's request: "fill this room with tropical goodness". Our Signature Artists explored every option imaginable. This aquatic experience begins with an extended, gentle decline beach entry. a romantic sitting area for two, a powerful swim-jet, concealed, underwater fiber-optic lighting, and a convenient in-floor cleaning system. And the finishing touch, a fourteen-foot sheer waterfall originating from a mountain of fractured, granite slabs. The conclusion: a private, indoor beach resort. Not convinced? Notice the panoramic sunset mural just to the right of the waterfall. That scene was custom requested and order by the client who wanted to replicate his favorite vacation destination.

The original multiple decks and elevated patio blocked the pool and fractured the space. This design creates an elegant progression from the home’s interior to poolside. The wide stairs oriented towards the pool provide pool views from the entire deck. The interior level provides for relaxed seating and dining with the magnificence of nature. The descent of a short group of stairs leads to the outdoor kitchen level. The barbeque is bordered in stone topped with a countertop of granite. The outdoor kitchen level is positioned for easy access midway from either the pool or interior level. From the kitchen level an additional group of stairs flow down to the paver patio surrounding the pool. Also incorporated is a downstairs entry and ample space for storage beneath the deck sourced through an access panel. The design connects the interior to poolside by means of a rich and functional outdoor living design.

Winter Bathroom: ​The walls covered in a waterproof plaster finish cascade down as a nod to the winter haze & fog. The hand-painted floor tile is shaped to embody the fractured lines on the red clay forest ground. A custom green concrete sink speaks to the mossy green redwood trees of the surrounding forest & the asymmetrical pendant light has a mix of opaque & transparent bulbs, another nod to the hazy surroundings. Ultimately, this bathroom feels like a warm, cozy hug.

Fiberglass Swimming Pool with Spill Over Spas, Fractured Earth Stamped concrete.
Inspiration for a mid-sized backyard stamped concrete and custom-shaped natural pool fountain remodel in Minneapolis

Sometimes great things come from small things and this entryway project was exactly like that. This very small yet interesting project started almost by accident. Entryway TileI had completed a tile job a few months before and had some high quality porcelain tile left over. It was nice tile so I was hesitant to toss it out but after moving the pile around my shop for several months I finally decided to throw it away. While loading my pickup with miscellaneous construction garbage – and this great tile – one of my neighbors stopped by for a chat about some of my recent projects. I showed him the great left over tile that I was throwing away and asked him if he had any interest in taking it off my hands – for free. He said he was actually thinking about replacing his existing tile landing at his house because although it had been redone just a few years ago, it had cracked. We went over and took a look at his landing and decided the scrap tile might be a perfect solution. tile floorI told my neighbor “you come up with any design you want, and I’ll bring that to life.” He came up with an idea and sketched out the idea within a couple of days. As soon as I looked at the sketches, I knew it was going to be a very challenging project, but I also knew it would be a rewarding project I would be proud to put the Corvus name on. We took the final sketch and imported it into a graphics design program to make the focal point of the design work within the existing space and fine tune the look of the project to fit the available space of the entryway. This was going to be a highly customized undertaking that was going to be all about the details. Because every tile had to be custom cut, I printed out the final design from the program to create a stencil to trace the outline on each tile. After all of the painstaking tile cutting, I laid it out in a mock-up on the entry floor. Then we were ready to overcome our next challenge – the flexing and moving sub floor. The existing tile landing that we were replacing had been installed just a few years earlier but had already cracked down the center. This fracture made me realize that we needed to find a way to somehow decouple the substrate from the finished tile surface to prevent the same problem from cropping up again. tile floor entrywayI decided to go with a Schluter-DITRA™ tile underlay for this job. Working with DITRA™ was surprisingly simple. The only thing you need to remember is to use unmodified thinset mortar when setting tile over this substrate, because modified thinset would take a very long time to cure. We also decided to use QuartzLock™ urethane grout for the floor because it expands and contracts when the floor flexes under foot traffic and could help prevent future cracking. In the end the project came out great! My neighbor is thrilled and can’t wait to show it off to anyone that stops by. This is a great example of how custom work can really amp up the appeal of your home and how a small change can make a big difference in the look of your home.

Layers of brushed cement, traced over by specks and hairline fractures, express a modern industrial look with a brushed grain pattern and slight tonal changes from an overcast gray to a light ash. Little flecks for texture create a map of depth for any room. Wall mural available in both removable peel-and-stick and permanent wallpapers. Printed with child-safe inks.

Example of a minimalist home design design in Phoenix

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.

Often times some of the best features cannot be seen or captured on film. That is the case with this indoor water adventure. At Shehan Luxury Pools we know that some like to swim for exercise and others like to swim for pleasure - why not offer both? Hidden just to the right of the beach entry is a "Shehan" solution: A powerful commercial Swim-Jet. The purpose of the Swim-Jet is to provide a strong endless current of water. The result is an infinite swimming distance and duration in a location where space is limited. Problem solved! Now for pleasure and fun. Hidden by design, this pool sports a fast-glide, contoured free-form speed slide. The more adventurous guests board the slide from a set of simulated rock stairs located to the left of the waterfall area. After climbing fourteen feet in elevation, riders will launch themselves down a tube of pure exhilaration. Seconds later, the swimmers are saturated with hundreds of gallons of water carrying them quickly back to the tropical lagoon where they first began; and then do it all over again. If your goals are physical fitness, aesthetics, or family pleasure, the professionals at Shehan Luxury Pools will exceed your expectation.

This Shehan Original is named Harty after the famous Classical music composer born in Ireland circa 1879. Harty, the client, and the Shehan Family all share more than just Irish heritage: All three strive for Excellence through their professional endeavors. Shehan Luxury Pools was awarded with Excellence when this aquatic composition received a National Silver award from leading industry peers. A work well done!

The weathered appearance of Roman Stone is a great alternative to expensive natural stone products. Roman Stone is available in ten unique blended colors designed to complement our full line of pavers. Reproducing the random look and texture of aged and weathered natural stone is accomplished through a tumbling process to purposely create random fractures, chips, scratches, broken edges, and corners. The Color is Tan Red Charcoal

Emoti Collection Emoti Collection - Emoti has been designed with high-quality materials for the outdoor area but equally shows to advantage in indoor environments. The design of Emoti collection impresses with its boldness in constructions and meanwhile it is a fancy furniture allowing people to freely relax themselves in the open air. High-end Olefin Fabric - Our cushions are crafted from Olefin fabric, which is easily degradable and 100% recyclable to support 3 years. Zipper construction for easy cleaning covers when the cushion generates stain. Sturdy Aluminum Frame- Frame surface with good polish surface treatment. with surface Akzonobel powder coating for enhanced weather resistance. Sturdy aluminum frame make it durable and able to hold up to 300 lbs. Environment&Child Friendly - These outdoor sofa are made of the frame with high strength 100% recyclable, Also including fabrics and carton boxes. Zero Risks of HIGOLD Patio Furniture Sets - We provide the strongest packing to protect the goods from damage. Frame fracture warranty period 2 years, Fabrics damage warranty 1 Year, Installation Kits warranty 1 year.

Final picture of a completely remodeled kitchen, new cabinetry, new flooring, new hood over the stove, glass back-splash to the ceiling, custom window treatments, built in bar, Moen plumbing fixtures, marshmellow creme cabinets painted with a nickel glazing, special order hardware with antique pewter finish. All work performed by Exodus Construction. Designed by Exodus Design Group Photograph by Aaron Usher

Patio - southwestern patio idea in Phoenix

Emoti Collection Emoti Collection - Emoti has been designed with high-quality materials for the outdoor area but equally shows to advantage in indoor environments. The design of Emoti collection impresses with its boldness in constructions and meanwhile it is a fancy furniture allowing people to freely relax themselves in the open air. High-end Olefin Fabric - Our cushions are crafted from Olefin fabric, which is easily degradable and 100% recyclable to support 3 years. Zipper construction for easy cleaning covers when the cushion generates stain. Sturdy Aluminum Frame- Frame surface with good polish surface treatment. with surface Akzonobel powder coating for enhanced weather resistance. Sturdy aluminum frame make it durable and able to hold up to 300 lbs. Environment&Child Friendly - These outdoor sofa are made of the frame with high strength 100% recyclable, Also including fabrics and carton boxes. Zero Risks of HIGOLD Patio Furniture Sets - We provide the strongest packing to protect the goods from damage. Frame fracture warranty period 2 years, Fabrics damage warranty 1 Year, Installation Kits warranty 1 year.

Super Traxx Sand Coating is a coating that can help your outdoor surfaces. It can give your driveway, sidewalk, patio, garage floor, and outdoor deck a facelift, that’s non-slip, looks great and lasts longer. This coating method provides an alternative to paying for new concrete or installation fees every couple of years. Super Traxx is an extremely low maintenance solution that will increase the lifespan of your outdoor flooring and amenities. Super Traxx will increase the life of your outdoor surfaces, because it is a durable, and more importantly, weather resistant coating. This coating will be able to handle whatever mother nature throws its way. Super Traxx will decrease the likelihood of cracks and spalling in your concrete. Our sand coating is a seamless solution that will fill fractures, expansion joints, and saw cuts in concrete. It is also chemical resistant and durable enough to withstand the application of salt or cleaning chemicals. Your outdoor flooring will stand up to heavy traffic for years to come!

Emoti Collection Emoti Collection - Emoti has been designed with high-quality materials for the outdoor area but equally shows to advantage in indoor environments. The design of Emoti collection impresses with its boldness in constructions and meanwhile it is a fancy furniture allowing people to freely relax themselves in the open air. High-end Olefin Fabric - Our cushions are crafted from Olefin fabric, which is easily degradable and 100% recyclable to support 3 years. Zipper construction for easy cleaning covers when the cushion generates stain. Sturdy Aluminum Frame- Frame surface with good polish surface treatment. with surface Akzonobel powder coating for enhanced weather resistance. Sturdy aluminum frame make it durable and able to hold up to 300 lbs. Environment&Child Friendly - These outdoor sofa are made of the frame with high strength 100% recyclable, Also including fabrics and carton boxes. Zero Risks of HIGOLD Patio Furniture Sets - We provide the strongest packing to protect the goods from damage. Frame fracture warranty period 2 years, Fabrics damage warranty 1 Year, Installation Kits warranty 1 year.