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.

Sound, color, light, texture, and all points in between. This one-of-a-kind Selah Pools design is truly an Oasis for all seasons. The patio extension with all the outdoor kitchen amenities is ready to serve up a great meal, just steps outside our client's backdoor. Then when it's hot outside, it's on to the pool deck and off the custom tile- jump rock to cool off.

To design and build a 22’ x 42’ freeform pool and raised spa, with water falls nestled into a 20-foot-hillside, and incorporate multiple patios at different elevations with landscaping, requires more than just lines on paper. www.longislandhottub.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.

A preppy take on traditional chintz design. Mint, blue and pink were paired together for this fresh take on English chintz fabric. The stunning fabric for the drapes were the jumping off point for the rest of the color story.

Photo by: Shawn St. Peter Photography - What designer could pass on the opportunity to buy a floating home like the one featured in the movie Sleepless in Seattle? Well, not this one! When I purchased this floating home from my aunt and uncle, I didn’t know about floats and stringers and other issues specific to floating homes. Nor had I really thought about the hassle of an out of state remodel. Believing that I was up for the challenge, I grabbed my water wings, sketchpad, and measuring tape and jumped right in! If you’ve ever thought of buying a floating home, I’ve already tripped over some of the hurdles you will face. So hop on board - hopefully you will enjoy the ride. I have shared my story of this floating home remodel and accidental flip in my eBook "Sleepless in Portland." Just subscribe to our monthly design newsletter and you will be sent a link to view all the photos and stories in my eBook. http://www.designvisionstudio.com/contact.html

This homeowner had a design challenge for our team. They were looking for something completely unique and special for their back yard. In a neighborhood with "nice" pools they didn't want something ordinary. Our designer/builder, Al Curtis, proposed something completely new. He proposed a swimming pool, built freeform, gunite, with a raised waterfall spilling, finished with the same quartzite coping as the pool, over into the pool, with a swim in grotto and a boat as a seating area at the deep end of the pool. His original idea had him taking an actual boat, reclaiming and reusing it to create this custom feature. The homeowners had other ideas once they heard his crazy cool idea, and asked if he could build it out of concrete. Of course, Al and our entire team was thrilled with the challenge, and hand crafted the boat you see entirely out of concrete, hand shaped, sculpted and molded the cement to form with such attention to detail that you can't tell from a distance that it is not a real boat hovering at the deep end of this pool! The boat was finished with a few reclaimed details from the actual boat it was modeled after...since details are just a part of the surprise and delight in a Legendary Escape, they add just the right elements to make this a very real experience. The homeowner also asked for a different type of coping next to the raised spillover gunite spa, to create the illusion of a swim up bar on the edge of the pool. The pool guy took this idea, raised the pool wall, added a custom poured concrete bar, and added a swim up ledge and in-pool bar stools with seats created out of concrete and stainless steel stands. The perfect custom features, finished with the thermoplastic of ecoFinish, the newest and best trend for a smoother more comfortable swimming surface for gunite pools, spas, sun ledges and seats that we use on our Michigan custom swimming pools, whether hybrid (vinyl liner/gunite combo) or all gunite swimming pools and spas. With the boat in place, it only made sense to create the outside of the grotto as if it were the boat house, for this one of a kind speedboat. The waterfall coming over the face of the grotto has two speeds, fast and warp speed...so jumping off, swimming through the waterfall, or heading down the slide from the dock/wharf patio area adjacent to the boat is a terrific way for kids and adults to enjoy this pool! Swim into the grotto and you are immersed in a 3-dimensional cave, with carvings of fish in vibrant color hand sculpted and painted by Karen, one of our on the job artisans who is instrumental in helping bring our sculptures and always surprising elements to life. Karen has an artistic whimsy, though she is also precise and accurate as she specializes in placing the coping just right and always making sure the tile is just right on every project. To complete this project landscaping, the homeowners looked to Jodi Cook, of Naturally Jodi to create a landscape that blended with the pool area to create a unique feel for the space. She used a variety of plants, ornamental trees, and even created pillars like you would see at a marina to complete the look. Once her landscaping was in, Al added a surprise element at the end of the dock - a lifesize alligator with a fishing rod catching a fish - as just one more detail to this project. Al, and his entire team aim to create a magical environment, where around every corner is just one more surprise that completes the awe and inspiring joy when visiting on of our Legendary Escapes! To say the homeowners are delighted just may be an understatement. Their kick off party included visits from superheros and Disney characters - enjoying all the elements of this backyard retreat in Rochester, Michigan.

Custom Pool with Flagstone Coping, Flagstone Tanning Ledge, Natural Boulder Waterfall, Natural Jump Boulder, LED Pool Lighting and seamless stamped deck with integrated color.

Waterfall to create a beautiful sound to swim to, as well as a great jumping rock to get into the pool
Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical backyard stone and custom-shaped pool fountain remodel in Toronto

When our clients completed a renovation of their mid-century rancher in North Vancouver's Edgemont Village neighbourhood, their home felt anything but finished. Their traditional furnishings looked dated and tired in the newly updated spaces, so they called on us for help. As a busy professional couple with grown children, our clients were looking for a polished, sophisticated look for their home. We used their collection of artwork as a jumping off point for each room, developing a colour scheme for the main living areas in neutral greys and beiges with a generous dose of rich burnt orange tones. We created interest by layering patterned wallpaper, textured fabrics and a mix of metals and designed several custom pieces including the large library wall unit that defines one end of the living space. The result is a lively, sophisticated and classic decor that suit our clients perfectly. Tracey Ayton Photography

This spectacular free form pool was built into the side of a sand dune in New Smyrna Beach. Our client was a retired high-end homebuilder from the Hamptons, referred by Collado Real Estate. All Aqua Pools completed all aspects of this backyard paradise. Not only the pool design and build, but also the pool deck, walls, landscape design and landscaping, irrigation, fencing, and LED lighting of the pool and landscape. The retaining wall at one end of the pool includes two staircases to provide a jumping off point as well as a four foot high location for the three 24″ sheer waterfalls. This pool also features a large sun shelf for luxuriating and a bench around the perimeter of much of the pool. The walls are made of Baystone Travertine Cladding, and the interior is lined with Wet Edge North Shore Tahoe, and of course like all of our pools it features a Paramount PCC-2000 self-cleaning floor system which circulates the water from the bottom, resulting in sparkling water with very little maintenance.

Coastal Chic is what is about for this cute home in Costa Mesa, Orange County, California. As an investor's flip, The color palette and texture composition exudes the youthful beachy cool vibe the buyers dream of. Come with kids, dog, surf board, and enjoy the fabulous life of Orange County! Grab your surfboard and jump in the water in the morning, watch kids play in a lazy afternoon, then have a bonfire party in the backyard with friends and family. Or simply put your feet on the picnic table, close your eyes and indulge yourself in the ocean breeze, aroma of flowers, and songs of birds, and let the glow of fire melt the night away. Whatever you do, the world comes to you. Call it home, call it dream. Come pick up the key and unlock the true meaning of life.

In-pool spa is totally encased in stunning iridescent glass Lightstreams tile. Tile trims the steps and bench for a coordinated look. We created lever concrete cast site pavers on the auto cover lid for a coordinated integration with the deck. Control pad near the spa allows for custom use of the environment. Photo by Tim Schoon

Alan & Linda Detrick Photography
Elegant pool photo in New York

View of Howelsen Hill--famous ski jump area
Example of a mid-sized mountain style backyard deck design in Hawaii with a roof extension

A country club respite for our busy professional Bostonian clients. Our clients met in college and have been weekending at the Aquidneck Club every summer for the past 20+ years. The condos within the original clubhouse seldom come up for sale and gather a loyalist following. Our clients jumped at the chance to be a part of the club's history for the next generation. Much of the club’s exteriors reflect a quintessential New England shingle style architecture. The internals had succumbed to dated late 90s and early 2000s renovations of inexpensive materials void of craftsmanship. Our client’s aesthetic balances on the scales of hyper minimalism, clean surfaces, and void of visual clutter. Our palette of color, materiality & textures kept to this notion while generating movement through vintage lighting, comfortable upholstery, and Unique Forms of Art. A Full-Scale Design, Renovation, and furnishings project.

Warren Jump Visual
Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in New York

When thinking of historic Saratoga, modern styling isn’t always the first thing to come to mind. Not for these clients…their home features sharp architectural details and oversized views of the lake. Prior to jumping into the kitchen project with Designer Justina Auer & Project Manager Steve Shanholtz, phase one included freshening up and adding a stacked laundry unit to an upstairs bathroom. Removing the laundry closet from the makeshift pantry area set the precedent for a more functional Butler’s Pantry which now includes a wet bar for beverages enjoyed in the morning or evening, a speed oven with warming drawer and tons of pantry storage. Like a domino effect, the Butler’s Pantry freed up the possibilities in the kitchen. The overall layout of the kitchen did not change, but tweaks were made to make it more functional to entertain and cook. Lead Carpenter Vinny Augustine executed the vision impeccably. Both the main & island sinks increased in size to allow two chefs to work in the space, while moving the fridge down created a large gadget & appliance garage storage. Rift Cut Oak cabinets painted white with Walnut shelves pop against the full height Blackbrook Cambria Quartz backsplash. The island features full depth storage on both sides, with seating at a table placed next to the best view in the house. Who said Black & White had to be boring? Designer: Justina Auer Project: Manager Steve Shanholtz Lead Carpenter: Vinny Augustine Cabinets: Teddwood - Luxury Counters: Cambria Blackbrook

Home design - modern home design idea in Vancouver