Tessa Neustadt
Entryway - mid-sized coastal dark wood floor entryway idea in Los Angeles with white walls

Gold Medal Design Award Winner at the 2015 Southwest Region Pool and Spa Show! This job is of a very rare scale for a residential pool and was under construction for nearly three years. This project actually began on a vacant lot, because once the house slab was in place there would have been no access. It was necessary to build a 300 foot long retaining wall then backfill behind it. Sixty truckloads of fill were compacted into place to provide the suitable base for this pool. This massive pool begins with an elevated fountain built adjacent to the windows on the back of the home. The water spills into a mid-level fountain, which surrounds a zero edge spa capped with 3” by 3” travertine tile and also features a travertine arm rest under the water. Travertine capped stepping stones in the middle fountain give access to the spa. From both the mid-level fountain and the spa, the water finally returns to the main pool. The longest part of the pool is a 75 foot by 10 foot lap lane that is 6 feet deep. A diamond pattern lane maker made of glass tiles runs the length of the of the lap lane. The pool then steps up to 4 feet to provide a large play area then finally terminates with a 450 square foot sun shelf. The pool elevation is 4 feet below the house. This accommodates the two levels of fountains dropping to the pool level. Numerous bullnose travertine capped steps and planter walls help to soften the transitions in elevation. The pool coping is 2 inch thick bullnose travertine. The matching travertine on the 3,500 sq. ft. patio is accented by a contrasting pattern. The entire pool has a tile interior. There were four different tiles used on the project totaling over 5,100 square feet. The tile was a custom blend, ordered in advance and was warehoused for over two years while the home was being constructed. As expected on a job of this magnitude, the pool features everything one might expect including cutting edge automation and equipment, 13 LED lights, and in-floor cleaning system. This magnificent swimming pool has an equally spectacular elevated lake view as a backdrop. Over 80 feet from the back of the house where the pool started is a fire pit area positioned perfectly to take full advantage of that view.

Hours of construction and design building led the Gappsi group to create a Thursday Goliath 16x37 fiberglass swimming pool with a 3/8 bluestone gravel base that was installed for the under layer of the pool shell for stabilization. Once the pool was adjusted and numerous factors were considered, the pool was then lifted and dropped in place. After installation, Gappsi associates placed solar tubes around the perimeter of the pool to increase support for the concrete slab of the patio base. This fiberglass swimming pool was installed by Gappsi in Lawrence NY 11559, located on the south shore of Nassau County Long Island. Due to the areas high water table the pool needed to be elevated, and many yards of fill were delivered to raise the grade of the property. We faced many challenges installing this fiberglass pool because of its size and weight. The delivery was the main obstacle because due to the size of this pool, 16x37, it was very costly to cross bridges and drive on highways. Due to the size of this magnificent pool we needed 2 police car escorts to the job site. The patio pavers used for this job were the Melfi Limestone. This unique stone is an earthy, multi-toned masterpiece; shades of beige, green, brown. and gray bring natural tones to the design. The stones are strategically placed in a Vincenza pattern along with a 2 inch thick random coping for the pool edge. The Melfi Limestone, and many other stones, are exclusively available at Gappsi. The stones are a beautiful contrast to the sapphire blue liner inside the pool. Plus assorted flowers and trees bring in pops of color and interest to the backyard area. To enhance the aesthetic of the Thursday Goliath fiberglass swimming pool a safety auto cover was installed. The sleek blue auto cover allows customers to easily protect the pool by simply turning a key. The Goliath, 16x37 is 3.8” to 6’8”deep which makes this fiberglass pool a non-diving pool, however, the pool can be used for a plethora of reasons. It's Olympic inspired shape is perfect for a morning workout swim, play water activities/sports with the kids, and allows family and friends to lounge on the extended benches and steps that are molded in the pool shell by the manufacture. Follow the link to watch the full progression of the job: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HduvJbDLtc

Example of a transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor home theater design in Cincinnati with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

Gold Medal Design Award Winner at the 2015 Southwest Region Pool and Spa Show! This job is of a very rare scale for a residential pool and was under construction for nearly three years. This project actually began on a vacant lot, because once the house slab was in place there would have been no access. It was necessary to build a 300 foot long retaining wall then backfill behind it. Sixty truckloads of fill were compacted into place to provide the suitable base for this pool. This massive pool begins with an elevated fountain built adjacent to the windows on the back of the home. The water spills into a mid-level fountain, which surrounds a zero edge spa capped with 3” by 3” travertine tile and also features a travertine arm rest under the water. Travertine capped stepping stones in the middle fountain give access to the spa. From both the mid-level fountain and the spa, the water finally returns to the main pool. The longest part of the pool is a 75 foot by 10 foot lap lane that is 6 feet deep. A diamond pattern lane maker made of glass tiles runs the length of the of the lap lane. The pool then steps up to 4 feet to provide a large play area then finally terminates with a 450 square foot sun shelf. The pool elevation is 4 feet below the house. This accommodates the two levels of fountains dropping to the pool level. Numerous bullnose travertine capped steps and planter walls help to soften the transitions in elevation. The pool coping is 2 inch thick bullnose travertine. The matching travertine on the 3,500 sq. ft. patio is accented by a contrasting pattern. The entire pool has a tile interior. There were four different tiles used on the project totaling over 5,100 square feet. The tile was a custom blend, ordered in advance and was warehoused for over two years while the home was being constructed. As expected on a job of this magnitude, the pool features everything one might expect including cutting edge automation and equipment, 13 LED lights, and in-floor cleaning system. This magnificent swimming pool has an equally spectacular elevated lake view as a backdrop. Over 80 feet from the back of the house where the pool started is a fire pit area positioned perfectly to take full advantage of that view.

With sweeping views of the Willamette river and Mt. Hood, this Atwater Place condo was designed with a balance of minimalism and livability in mind. A complete kitchen remodel brought a dark interior kitchen to the light and a full furnishings package welcomed Los Angeles transplants home to their new modern and bright residence. Our clients, a retired camera operator for both feature films and television and a producer/production manager on numerous television series including Weeds and The Middle, relocated from their traditionally-styled LA bungalow to Portland in the Summer of 2014. The couple sought a design departure from their long-term California residence and a fresh start for their new life in the South Waterfront. With only two pieces of sentimental furniture and a handful of artwork included in the plan, we set out to create a comfortable and clean-lined furnishings package complimenting the broad southeast views. Organically shaped upholstery pieces juxtaposed with angular steel and wood tables create a soft balance in the open floor plan. Several custom pieces, including a dining table designed by our studio and a custom hand-blown glass chandelier crafted by Scott Schiesel with Lightlite compliment timeless pieces from Knoll, Herman Miller, and B&B Italia. The kitchen is designed to reflect light and create brilliance in a space that is otherwise naturally dark. A material balance of stainless steel, back painted glass, quartz composite, lacquer, and mirror all play their part in creating a vibrant cooking environment. We collectively decided to forgo the traditional island pendant for a linear commercial fixture that provides tremendous light to the prep surface and creates an unexpected architectural element. The mirrored prep island creates the illusion of open space while concealing casework and wine storage on the working side of the kitchen. It is worth noting that this project was designed and installed almost entirely while our clients were still living in LA and wrapping up professional obligations and selling their home. This afforded us the tremendous opportunity to send our clients to showrooms not available in Portland to view key pieces before final specification. Textiles and finish samples were approved via mail and communication took place over e-mail, telephone, and an occasional office visit. This unique process lead to a successful result and a beautifully balanced living environment. Josh Partee Photography

This original room with a large rectangular island in the center evokes a feeling of freedom, tranquility, independence, and spaciousness. The room contains only the most important furniture, including a few cabinets, countertops, and an undermount sink. Note the pleasant pink color provided by several elegant pendant lights and numerous small elegant ceiling lights. Large windows and contemporary air conditioning system fill the room with fresh and clean air. Don’t miss the chance to make your home stand out with the best Grandeur Hills Group interior designers!

The first goal for this client in Chatham was to give them a front walk and entrance that was beautiful and grande. We decided to use natural blue bluestone tiles of random sizes. We integrated a custom cut 6" x 9" bluestone border and ran it continuous throughout. Our second goal was to give them walking access from their driveway to their front door. Because their driveway was considerably lower than the front of their home, we needed to cut in a set of steps through their driveway retaining wall, include a number of turns and bridge the walkways with multiple landings. While doing this, we wanted to keep continuity within the building products of choice. We used real stone veneer to side all walls and stair risers to match what was already on the house. We used 2" thick bluestone caps for all stair treads and retaining wall caps. We installed the matching real stone veneer to the face and sides of the retaining wall. All of the bluestone caps were custom cut to seamlessly round all turns. We are very proud of this finished product. We are also very proud to have had the opportunity to work for this family. What amazing people. #GreatWorkForGreatPeople As a side note regarding this phase - throughout the construction, numerous local builders stopped at our job to take pictures of our work. #UltimateCompliment #PrimeIsInTheLead

Gold Medal Design Award Winner at the 2015 Southwest Region Pool and Spa Show! This job is of a very rare scale for a residential pool and was under construction for nearly three years. This project actually began on a vacant lot, because once the house slab was in place there would have been no access. It was necessary to build a 300 foot long retaining wall then backfill behind it. Sixty truckloads of fill were compacted into place to provide the suitable base for this pool. This massive pool begins with an elevated fountain built adjacent to the windows on the back of the home. The water spills into a mid-level fountain, which surrounds a zero edge spa capped with 3” by 3” travertine tile and also features a travertine arm rest under the water. Travertine capped stepping stones in the middle fountain give access to the spa. From both the mid-level fountain and the spa, the water finally returns to the main pool. The longest part of the pool is a 75 foot by 10 foot lap lane that is 6 feet deep. A diamond pattern lane maker made of glass tiles runs the length of the of the lap lane. The pool then steps up to 4 feet to provide a large play area then finally terminates with a 450 square foot sun shelf. The pool elevation is 4 feet below the house. This accommodates the two levels of fountains dropping to the pool level. Numerous bullnose travertine capped steps and planter walls help to soften the transitions in elevation. The pool coping is 2 inch thick bullnose travertine. The matching travertine on the 3,500 sq. ft. patio is accented by a contrasting pattern. The entire pool has a tile interior. There were four different tiles used on the project totaling over 5,100 square feet. The tile was a custom blend, ordered in advance and was warehoused for over two years while the home was being constructed. As expected on a job of this magnitude, the pool features everything one might expect including cutting edge automation and equipment, 13 LED lights, and in-floor cleaning system. This magnificent swimming pool has an equally spectacular elevated lake view as a backdrop. Over 80 feet from the back of the house where the pool started is a fire pit area positioned perfectly to take full advantage of that view.

Tuscan Stone Mantels uses a centuries old process to produce fine architectural stonework. By using this process, our stone is completely formed and finished by hand reflecting the beauty of natural quarried stone. By employing modern gypsums and techniques, we are able to offer products of strength and durability for numerous architectural applications such as mantels & over-mantels, entertainment centers, cladding, niches, shelving, corbels/brackets, molding, kitchen hoods, columns, pediments, and more. Tuscan Stone Mantels provides architects, builders, designers and homeowners with hand crafted stone products of exceptional beauty and durability.

I designed and assisted the homeowners with the materials, and finish choices for this project while working at Corvallis Custom Kitchens and Baths. Our client (and my former professor at OSU) wanted to have her basement finished. CCKB had competed a basement guest suite a few years prior and now it was time to finish the remaining space. She wanted an organized area with lots of storage for her fabrics and sewing supplies, as well as a large area to set up a table for cutting fabric and laying out patterns. The basement also needed to house all of their camping and seasonal gear, as well as a workshop area for her husband. The basement needed to have flooring that was not going to be damaged during the winters when the basement can become moist from rainfall. Out clients chose to have the cement floor painted with an epoxy material that would be easy to clean and impervious to water. An update to the laundry area included replacing the window and re-routing the piping. Additional shelving was added for more storage. Finally a walk-in closet was created to house our homeowners incredible vintage clothing collection away from any moisture. LED lighting was installed in the ceiling and used for the scones. Our drywall team did an amazing job boxing in and finishing the ceiling which had numerous obstacles hanging from it and kept the ceiling to a height that was comfortable for all who come into the basement. Our client is thrilled with the final project and has been enjoying her new sewing area.

Designed By: Richard Bustos Photos By: Chad Mellon It is practically unheard of in interior design—that, in a matter of four hours, the majority of furnishings, accessories, lighting and artwork could be selected for an entire 5,000-square-foot home. But that was exactly the story for Cantoni designer Richard Bustos and his clients, Karen and Mike Moran. The couple, who had purchased and were in the midst of gutting a home on the water in Newport Beach, California, knew what they wanted. Combined with Richard’s design assistance, it was a match made for swift decision-making and the resulting beautifully neutral, modern space. “We went into Cantoni in Irvine and fell in love with it—it was everything we liked,” Karen says. “Richard had the same vision we did, and we told him what we wanted, and he would direct us. He was on the same level.” Even more surprising: they selected the furnishings before the home’s bones were even complete. They had wanted a more contemporary vibe to capitalize on the expansive bay views and were in the midst of ripping out low ceilings and outdated spaces. “We wanted modern warmth,” Karen says. “Cantoni furniture was the perfect fit.” After their initial meeting, Richard met with the couple several times to take measurements and ensure pieces would fit. And they did—with elegant cohesion. In the living room, they leaned heavily on the Fashion Affair collection by Malerba, which is exclusive to Cantoni in the U.S. He flanked the Fashion Affair sofa in ivory leather with the Fashion Affair club chairs in taupe leather and the ivory Viera area rug to create a sumptuous textural mix. In the center, he placed the brown-glossed Fashion Affair low cocktail table and Fashion Affair occasional table for ease of entertaining and conversation. A punch of glamour came by way of a set of Ravi table lamps in gold-glazed porcelain set on special-ordered Fashion Affair side tables. The Harmony floor sculpture in black stone and capiz shell was brought in for added interest. “Because of the grand scale of the living room—with high ceilings and numerous windows overlooking the water—the pieces in the space had to have more substance,” Richard says. “They are heavier-scaled than traditional modern furnishings, and in neutral tones to allow the architectural elements, such as a glass staircase and elevator, to be the main focal point.” The trio settled on the Fashion Affair extension table in brown gloss with a bronze metal arc base in the formal dining area, and flanked it with eight Arcadia high-back chairs. “We like to have Sunday dinners with our large family, and now we finally have a big dining-room table,” Karen says. The master bedroom also affords bay views, and they again leaned heavily on neutral tones with the M Place California-king bed with chrome accents, the M Place nightstand with M Place table lamps, the M Place bench, Natuzzi’s Anteprima chair and a Scoop accent table. “They were fun, happy, cool people to work with,” Richard says. One of the couple’s favorite spaces—the family room—features a remote-controlled, drop-down projection screen. For comfortable viewing, Richard paired the Milano sectional (with a power recliner) with the Sushi round cocktail table, the Lambrea accent table, and a Ravi table lamp in a gold metallic snakeskin pattern. “Richard was wonderful, was on top of it, and was a great asset to our team,” Karen says. Mike agrees. “Richard was a dedicated professional,” he says. “He spent hours walking us through Cantoni making suggestions, measuring, and offering advice on what would and wouldn’t work. Cantoni furniture was a natural fit.”

The first goal for this client in Chatham was to give them a front walk and entrance that was beautiful and grande. We decided to use natural blue bluestone tiles of random sizes. We integrated a custom cut 6" x 9" bluestone border and ran it continuous throughout. Our second goal was to give them walking access from their driveway to their front door. Because their driveway was considerably lower than the front of their home, we needed to cut in a set of steps through their driveway retaining wall, include a number of turns and bridge the walkways with multiple landings. While doing this, we wanted to keep continuity within the building products of choice. We used real stone veneer to side all walls and stair risers to match what was already on the house. We used 2" thick bluestone caps for all stair treads and retaining wall caps. We installed the matching real stone veneer to the face and sides of the retaining wall. All of the bluestone caps were custom cut to seamlessly round all turns. We are very proud of this finished product. We are also very proud to have had the opportunity to work for this family. What amazing people. #GreatWorkForGreatPeople As a side note regarding this phase - throughout the construction, numerous local builders stopped at our job to take pictures of our work. #UltimateCompliment #PrimeIsInTheLead

The first goal for this client in Chatham was to give them a front walk and entrance that was beautiful and grande. We decided to use natural blue bluestone tiles of random sizes. We integrated a custom cut 6" x 9" bluestone border and ran it continuous throughout. Our second goal was to give them walking access from their driveway to their front door. Because their driveway was considerably lower than the front of their home, we needed to cut in a set of steps through their driveway retaining wall, include a number of turns and bridge the walkways with multiple landings. While doing this, we wanted to keep continuity within the building products of choice. We used real stone veneer to side all walls and stair risers to match what was already on the house. We used 2" thick bluestone caps for all stair treads and retaining wall caps. We installed the matching real stone veneer to the face and sides of the retaining wall. All of the bluestone caps were custom cut to seamlessly round all turns. We are very proud of this finished product. We are also very proud to have had the opportunity to work for this family. What amazing people. #GreatWorkForGreatPeople As a side note regarding this phase - throughout the construction, numerous local builders stopped at our job to take pictures of our work. #UltimateCompliment #PrimeIsInTheLead

In the summer of 2012 we embarked on a remodel of our 1912 Craftsman. We wanted to redo the kitchen and the upper floor which contained the master bedroom, bathroom, guest room and office. We interviewed approximately 5 other architects prior to finding Mark. We knew right away he was the right person for the job. He was patient, thorough and we could tell he truly loved our home and wanted to work with us to make it even better. His vast experience showed through during the interview process which validated his portfolio. Mark truly became a trusted advisor who would guide us through this remodel process from beginning to end. His planning was precise and he came by many times to re-measure to get every detail accounted for. He was patient and helpful as we made decisions and then changed our minds! He was with us every week of the 10 weeks of the remodel. He attended each weekly meeting with the General Contractor and was at the house numerous other times guiding and really looking out for our best interests. I came to trust him enough to ask his opinion on almost everything from layout to colors and decorating tips! He consistently threw out ideas....many of which we took. Additionally Mark was a tremendous help in referring us to contractors, designers, and retailers to help us along the way. I am ecstatic over the results of the remodel. The kitchen and bath are truly beautiful and full of modern conveniences while maintaining the integrity of the 1912 structure. We were right about our decision to hire Mark and we wholehearted recommend him as an outstanding architect, and more!!

Kelly Vorves and Diana Barbatti
Large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Tuscan Stone Mantels uses a centuries old process to produce fine architectural stonework. By using this process, our stone is completely formed and finished by hand reflecting the beauty of natural quarried stone. By employing modern gypsums and techniques, we are able to offer products of strength and durability for numerous architectural applications such as mantels & over-mantels, entertainment centers, cladding, niches, shelving, corbels/brackets, molding, kitchen hoods, columns, pediments, and more. Tuscan Stone Mantels provides architects, builders, designers and homeowners with hand crafted stone products of exceptional beauty and durability.

Gold Medal Design Award Winner at the 2015 Southwest Region Pool and Spa Show! This job is of a very rare scale for a residential pool and was under construction for nearly three years. This project actually began on a vacant lot, because once the house slab was in place there would have been no access. It was necessary to build a 300 foot long retaining wall then backfill behind it. Sixty truckloads of fill were compacted into place to provide the suitable base for this pool. This massive pool begins with an elevated fountain built adjacent to the windows on the back of the home. The water spills into a mid-level fountain, which surrounds a zero edge spa capped with 3” by 3” travertine tile and also features a travertine arm rest under the water. Travertine capped stepping stones in the middle fountain give access to the spa. From both the mid-level fountain and the spa, the water finally returns to the main pool. The longest part of the pool is a 75 foot by 10 foot lap lane that is 6 feet deep. A diamond pattern lane maker made of glass tiles runs the length of the of the lap lane. The pool then steps up to 4 feet to provide a large play area then finally terminates with a 450 square foot sun shelf. The pool elevation is 4 feet below the house. This accommodates the two levels of fountains dropping to the pool level. Numerous bullnose travertine capped steps and planter walls help to soften the transitions in elevation. The pool coping is 2 inch thick bullnose travertine. The matching travertine on the 3,500 sq. ft. patio is accented by a contrasting pattern. The entire pool has a tile interior. There were four different tiles used on the project totaling over 5,100 square feet. The tile was a custom blend, ordered in advance and was warehoused for over two years while the home was being constructed. As expected on a job of this magnitude, the pool features everything one might expect including cutting edge automation and equipment, 13 LED lights, and in-floor cleaning system. This magnificent swimming pool has an equally spectacular elevated lake view as a backdrop. Over 80 feet from the back of the house where the pool started is a fire pit area positioned perfectly to take full advantage of that view.

Mid-sized minimalist backyard concrete and custom-shaped lap pool photo