The jumping off point for this inspired interior was a contemporary and over-sized painting of a multi-colored spiral. The wide entry on either side of the fireplace allowed us to add shelving without cluttering the space. Photo Credit: Rolfe Hokanson Photography

This very contemporary style Trophy Club project had a very small yard & wanted to incorporate the biggest pool they could in that space. Also, there was a slight slope in the backyard so the terrace farthest away from the deep end of the pool was raised 6" higher to accomodate the grade change in the backyard. The pool is 7' deep to accomodate the kids jumping off the raised platform at the deep end of the pool. We have precast coping on the pool with a pattern concrete deck. Out of the main focal point of the family room we incorporated a water wall. It was done in chipped slate which gives it a very tranquil sound as the water runs down the length of the pool in that area. The pool was also done in a black Onyx Pebblesheen to provide the contrast of the contemporary design style with the white coping. The pattern concrete was done in a light grey color. The patio was capped in pattern concrete as well to create a smooth transition for the deck area and make the space seem larger. Space was left along the property line fences for planting to help screen the fencing & soften the general setting of the backyard. Project Designed by Mike Farley & constructed by Claffey Pools. Photo taken by Mike Farley

Inspiration for a small rustic backyard l-shaped pool remodel 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.

This serene setting is ideal for a quiet day at the pool, or a party with friends. A relaxing waterfall creates a getaway at home. The spa to the right with it's rippling overflow, fits into the scene in an unobtrusive, yet convenient place. Photo by J Stephen Young Photography

Large elegant backyard rectangular lap pool house photo in New York

A married couple from Weehawken, New Jersey hired our Interior Decor firm to renovate the fourth floor level in their townhouse. They wanted it turned into a split bedroom/ play area for there 3 1/2 year old twins: brother & sister. We went vibrant with the play room by using Flor’s “Parallel Reality” Rug tiles, and added a colorful world map to inspire the toddlers’ imaginations. We also added a fun loft bed for the kids to jump & roll on while dressing on top Maharam fabric ” L” shaped pillows. We individualized each wall area with unique wall decal’s from the company “whatisblik.com”. An indoor play ground from Cedarworks.com plays as our focal play land. This room deff. got a blast of color by our Decor firm turning these little twins into TWO LUCKY CHARMS!! photo credit: Danielle Stingu

Intentional. Elevated. Artisanal. With three children under the age of 5, our clients were starting to feel the confines of their Pacific Heights home when the expansive 1902 Italianate across the street went on the market. After learning the home had been recently remodeled, they jumped at the chance to purchase a move-in ready property. We worked with them to infuse the already refined, elegant living areas with subtle edginess and handcrafted details, and also helped them reimagine unused space to delight their little ones. Elevated furnishings on the main floor complement the home’s existing high ceilings, modern brass bannisters and extensive walnut cabinetry. In the living room, sumptuous emerald upholstery on a velvet side chair balances the deep wood tones of the existing baby grand. Minimally and intentionally accessorized, the room feels formal but still retains a sharp edge—on the walls moody portraiture gets irreverent with a bold paint stroke, and on the the etagere, jagged crystals and metallic sculpture feel rugged and unapologetic. Throughout the main floor handcrafted, textured notes are everywhere—a nubby jute rug underlies inviting sofas in the family room and a half-moon mirror in the living room mixes geometric lines with flax-colored fringe. On the home’s lower level, we repurposed an unused wine cellar into a well-stocked craft room, with a custom chalkboard, art-display area and thoughtful storage. In the adjoining space, we installed a custom climbing wall and filled the balance of the room with low sofas, plush area rugs, poufs and storage baskets, creating the perfect space for active play or a quiet reading session. The bold colors and playful attitudes apparent in these spaces are echoed upstairs in each of the children’s imaginative bedrooms. Architect + Developer: McMahon Architects + Studio, Photographer: Suzanna Scott Photography

Learn seed starting basics and get a jump start on growing the flower garden of your dreams with the new book, Cut Flower Garden. In this striking guide you will find everything you need to grow, harvest, and arrange stunning seasonal blooms. With equal parts instruction and inspiration, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden welcomes you into Erin Benzakein’s abundant, bloom-filled world, and is a feast for every flower lover’s eyes and soul. Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden. Written by Erin Benzakein with Julie Chai. Photos by Michèle M. Waite. Published by Chronicle Books.

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.

This beautiful traditional pool features a spillover spa, pool house, and custom tile
Example of a large transitional backyard tile and rectangular lap pool house design in New York

When this client first reached out, her family had recently purchased a 1929 Tudor in Seattle and required bringing the vision she had for their front room to life. Her love of moody jewel tones and warm velvets made designing this space, later nicknamed “The Parlor,” so fun. It’s not often you see this style in the PNW, and we jumped at the chance to think outside the box. This home already had so much character, and it was essential to keep those details intact while also reinventing the space. We created a cozy yet moody vibe by painting all the walls and trims a deep teal blue. The vintage-inspired floral wallpaper bridged the gap between old and new. It wasn’t long after the parlor wrapped that our client came back wanting to rethink her entire kitchen situation. When our client purchased the home, there was a galley kitchen behind the parlor and beyond that was a post-build addition used as a dining and TV room. We decided the best use of space was to move the kitchen to where the dining and TV room lived and create the old galley kitchen into a “passthrough” space where the new TV area would be. It was only fitting to continue the bold use of color through these spaces – but this time, contrast with white walls to keep things light and bright. Add a show-stopping Lacanche range, rustic wood accents, and voila! A kitchen fit for a full-time mom who loves to cook, bake, and entertain!

When this client first reached out, her family had recently purchased a 1929 Tudor in Seattle and required bringing the vision she had for their front room to life. Her love of moody jewel tones and warm velvets made designing this space, later nicknamed “The Parlor,” so fun. It’s not often you see this style in the PNW, and we jumped at the chance to think outside the box. This home already had so much character, and it was essential to keep those details intact while also reinventing the space. We created a cozy yet moody vibe by painting all the walls and trims a deep teal blue. The vintage-inspired floral wallpaper bridged the gap between old and new. It wasn’t long after the parlor wrapped that our client came back wanting to rethink her entire kitchen situation. When our client purchased the home, there was a galley kitchen behind the parlor and beyond that was a post-build addition used as a dining and TV room. We decided the best use of space was to move the kitchen to where the dining and TV room lived and create the old galley kitchen into a “passthrough” space where the new TV area would be. It was only fitting to continue the bold use of color through these spaces – but this time, contrast with white walls to keep things light and bright. Add a show-stopping Lacanche range, rustic wood accents, and voila! A kitchen fit for a full-time mom who loves to cook, bake, and entertain!

June perennial gardens with oriental poppies, peony, iris, sweet william and viola (Johnny Jump UP) Kathleen Bassett Gardene
Inspiration for a large farmhouse full sun front yard concrete paver landscaping in Boston for summer.

When this client first reached out, her family had recently purchased a 1929 Tudor in Seattle and required bringing the vision she had for their front room to life. Her love of moody jewel tones and warm velvets made designing this space, later nicknamed “The Parlor,” so fun. It’s not often you see this style in the PNW, and we jumped at the chance to think outside the box. This home already had so much character, and it was essential to keep those details intact while also reinventing the space. We created a cozy yet moody vibe by painting all the walls and trims a deep teal blue. The vintage-inspired floral wallpaper bridged the gap between old and new. It wasn’t long after the parlor wrapped that our client came back wanting to rethink her entire kitchen situation. When our client purchased the home, there was a galley kitchen behind the parlor and beyond that was a post-build addition used as a dining and TV room. We decided the best use of space was to move the kitchen to where the dining and TV room lived and create the old galley kitchen into a “passthrough” space where the new TV area would be. It was only fitting to continue the bold use of color through these spaces – but this time, contrast with white walls to keep things light and bright. Add a show-stopping Lacanche range, rustic wood accents, and voila! A kitchen fit for a full-time mom who loves to cook, bake, and entertain!

This was a new construction in Homestead. We did the cabinet installation.
Example of a mid-sized trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Denver with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, solid surface countertops, beige backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and beige countertops

Example of a country exterior home design in Phoenix

When this client first reached out, her family had recently purchased a 1929 Tudor in Seattle and required bringing the vision she had for their front room to life. Her love of moody jewel tones and warm velvets made designing this space, later nicknamed “The Parlor,” so fun. It’s not often you see this style in the PNW, and we jumped at the chance to think outside the box. This home already had so much character, and it was essential to keep those details intact while also reinventing the space. We created a cozy yet moody vibe by painting all the walls and trims a deep teal blue. The vintage-inspired floral wallpaper bridged the gap between old and new. It wasn’t long after the parlor wrapped that our client came back wanting to rethink her entire kitchen situation. When our client purchased the home, there was a galley kitchen behind the parlor and beyond that was a post-build addition used as a dining and TV room. We decided the best use of space was to move the kitchen to where the dining and TV room lived and create the old galley kitchen into a “passthrough” space where the new TV area would be. It was only fitting to continue the bold use of color through these spaces – but this time, contrast with white walls to keep things light and bright. Add a show-stopping Lacanche range, rustic wood accents, and voila! A kitchen fit for a full-time mom who loves to cook, bake, and entertain!

This is the kids bathroom and I wanted it to be playful. Adding geometry and pattern in the floor makes a bold fun statement. I used enhances subway tile with beautiful matte texture in two colors. I tiled the tub alcove dark blue with a full length niche for all the bath toys that accumulate. In the rest of the bathroom, I used white tiles. The custom Lacava vanity with a black open niche makes a strong statement here and jumps off against the white tiles.