Dino Tonn
Mid-sized tuscan backyard tile and custom-shaped pool fountain photo in Phoenix

Gary McDonald
Large tuscan backyard stone and custom-shaped natural pool fountain photo in San Francisco

This backyard oasis offers fun for all ages both during the day and at night. From the tiki torches to the majestic palm trees this yard is paradise. And all that you need to do is follow the travertine path to begin discovering all that it has to offer.

A view from inside the grotto looking through the waterfall frames the back of the luxury house. Small fiber optic lights installed into the roof of the grotto add to the wonder of area. The Cipriano Landscape Architecture office used the falling water of the waterfall to create the feeling that water is naturally spilling into the grotto

Aquatic Artists crafted the ultimate grotto cave in Moorestown, NJ. We created a large waterfall grotto that is 6.5′ high and cascades into the gunite pool. We also built a side entrance to this grotto cave that has a waterfall cascading over it. We designed the inside of the cave to have a portion wet near the front opening and dry towards the rear. Also, we installed cedar wood logs into the ceiling inside the cave to enhance its natural look.

Aquatic Artists designed and built this award-winning natural water feature into a hill in Churchville, MD. We crafted a large pool grotto that is 7’ high with multiple natural stone waterfalls that cascade into this gunite pool. One of the waterfalls splits into two streams and one of the streams cascades over the pool grotto. We built the other stream of this waterfall to cascade into the spa and designed it so the spa is a waterfall that cascades into the pool. We also installed an ultimate custom pool slide manufactured by Dolphin into this water feature and built natural stone steps that lead up to the slide. In addition, another waterfall on the other side of the pool slide has a stream that also cascades into the pool. Lastly, we placed veneer stone around the face of the spa and installed planting beds throughout this water feature to tie the natural look all together.

Gary McDonald
Pool fountain - large mediterranean backyard stone and custom-shaped natural pool fountain idea in San Francisco

Pool fountain - large tropical backyard stone and custom-shaped pool fountain idea in Charlotte

Aquatic Artists crafted the ultimate grotto cave in Moorestown, NJ. We created a large waterfall grotto that is 6.5′ high and cascades into the gunite pool. We also built a side entrance to this grotto cave that has a waterfall cascading over it. We designed the inside of the cave to have a portion wet near the front opening and dry towards the rear. Also, we installed cedar wood logs into the ceiling inside the cave to enhance its natural look.

From the top of the slide you have a great view of the deck jets and the diving board as well as the spillway from the spa.
Example of a large tuscan backyard stone and custom-shaped natural pool design in Phoenix

Aquatic Artists crafted the ultimate grotto cave in Moorestown, NJ. We created a large waterfall grotto that is 6.5′ high and cascades into the gunite pool. We also built a side entrance to this grotto cave that has a waterfall cascading over it. We designed the inside of the cave to have a portion wet near the front opening and dry towards the rear. Also, we installed cedar wood logs into the ceiling inside the cave to enhance its natural look.

Aquatic Artists crafted the ultimate grotto cave in Moorestown, NJ. We created a large waterfall grotto that is 6.5′ high and cascades into the gunite pool. We also built a side entrance to this grotto cave that has a waterfall cascading over it. We designed the inside of the cave to have a portion wet near the front opening and dry towards the rear. Also, we installed cedar wood logs into the ceiling inside the cave to enhance its natural look.

Aquatic Artists designed and built this award-winning formal water feature in Millstone, NJ. Crafted to resemble a Miami South Beach look, this large formal grotto is topped off with an 11’ x 6’ custom fabricated piece of blue stone that creates a perfect sheet of water cascading over the grotto into this vinyl pool. This water feature also has two formal planting beds with sheer descent waterfalls on either side of the grotto. Lastly, we capped this water feature with natural stone coping and placed veneer stone on the face of the water feature as well as the inside of the grotto.

Whitewater Imagery
Pool fountain - huge rustic backyard stone and custom-shaped infinity pool fountain idea in New York

A key element in giving the pool grotto a natural feel was the extensive use of moss rock. Placing these rocks requires skill and experience. They need to be positioned in a way so that water spills over them like it would appear in nature — like something you’d see on a mountain hike or woodland stroll. www.deckandpatio.com

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.

Freeform inground pol with sundeck, bubbler, bench seat with grotto and spill-over spa
Large trendy backyard stone and custom-shaped lap hot tub photo in New York

Luxury Inground Swimming Pool & Grotto Design & Installation- Bergen County NJ
Example of a classic pool design in New York

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.