The clients enjoy entertaining guests in their home. They enjoy sports events, but don't necessarily enjoy the hustle 'n bustle of going to the stadium, finding a place to park, and in the case of football, freezing to death. They much prefer sharing the ambiance of their comfortable home, offering snacks and drinks from the bar, and enjoying a round of pool during intermissions and halftime, or watching halftime shows on a state-of-the-art home theater. These clients were so committed to this enterprise, they dedicated their 3,000 sq’ basement, except those areas already used for utility, storage, and mechanical needs, the renovation.To make sure the clients' every wish was met, a complete entertainment area was designed and constructed with ease of movement, lighting, and safety in mind. The area would include a home theater with totally wireless controls, a pool room, and a social area replete with a commercial-grade wet bar. The home theater consists of a screen within a custom cabinet system that also houses the complete audio-visual equipment center. Speakers are nestled in custom benches with the sound cones discretely hidden behind fabric panels. The motor for the panel that hides the screen when not in use is behind a similar fabric panel.The furniture style cabinet has Shaker style doors with walnut peg inlays and leaded glass panels. There are multiple lighting "scenes" for ambiance; low-voltage lighting inside the crown molding, and recessed can lights are discretely placed so that they can provide an extra level of illumination when required.The pool room was walled with a custom wainscot paneling with clear cherry stiles and rails finished with a clear satin lacquer. The panels are of Madagascar ebony with a light satin stain and a clear lacquer finish. A custom cue rack was constructed from clear cherry and backed with the Madagascar ebony panel.Drink rails were custom fabricated from cherry and custom crown molding was fabricated to match the rest of the house. The space is lit with a combination of recessed lights and a series of hidden lights behind crown molding for dramatic effect. The bar area is topped with a custom crown detail to contain the lighting. The bar is constructed in the same manner and fashion as the theater and pool rooms with Shaker style cabinetry with square walnut peg in the door corners and decorative leaded glass door fronts with more than enough front and back bar space to serve and enjoy drinks and snacks. Entry behind the bar is through custom, bi-directional butler doors. A custom bottle display and storage area takes up the bottom half of the bar's back wall. And, for the sake of convenience, a full size automatic dishwasher is installed under the bar for cleaning glasses and stemware. The bar is also tricked out with an espresso machine, its own flat screen TV and AmX video controller. The bar is lit with puck lights in the upper cabinets that illuminate downward through glass shelves, and low-voltage lighting is used behind the bottle display. The bar itself is lit by a series of earthen tone pendant lights.All three areas complement each other and are in total harmony with the remainder of the house. Moldings were matched, carpeting styles were chosen to complement rather than compromise, and muted, natural colors and textures were chosen that complement the surroundings. There is a seamless transition between the newer areas of the home and those already in everyday use. The entire area is a nebula of electrons operating servos, quietly opening and closing hidden switches, mysteriously dimming and brightening lights, and not only creating an alluring atmosphere, but one that is programmable, available at the touch of a finger to a heat sensitive screen, for an individual, or a group. At a single touch the lights in the theater and bar areas dim as the theater screen lowers into viewing position. Not only does the AMX controller open and close shades and window treatments to facilitate better viewing, but on an entirely different level it controls the very access to the property. It opens and closes entryways, external doors and gates as well.None of this magic came easily. Electrical circuits were at a premium. Over heating plagued the AV rack, and pesky rays of light seemed to creep in where and when they were least welcome. An exhaust fan was installed in the AV cabinet to dissipate the heat. New electrical outlets were scheduled and placed while others were moved. The bar area received custom wire chases hidden within the cabinetry. Exterior roll-a-way shutters, all controlled from the AMX controller, were installed and programmed as the answer to those pesky light rays.

Paris Panorama 360 degree Mural hand painted throughout a 17 foot stairway. The mural was hand painted by Tom Taylor of Mural Art LLC in a home in Georgetown, Washington D.C. The Mural was painted between the third and fourth floors. A unique feature was the home's elevator that brings you to the fourth floor that makes the scene feel like you are on a rooftop overlooking the city. Artistic wall murals, murals, wall murals, fine art, mural art, custom art, original art, large art, hand painted, art ideas.

Combining an everyday hallway bathroom with the main guest bath/powder room is not an easy task. The hallway bath needs to have a lot of utility with durable materials and functional storage. It also wants to be a bit “dressy” to make house guests feel special. This bathroom needed to do both. We first addressed its utility with bathroom necessities including the tub/shower. The recessed medicine cabinet in combination with an elongated vanity tackles all the storage needs including a concealed waste bin. Thoughtfully placed towel hooks are mostly out of sight behind the door while the half-wall hides the paper holder and a niche for other toilet necessities. It’s the materials that elevate this bathroom to powder room status. The tri-color marble penny tile sets the scene for the color palette. Carved black marble wall tile adds the necessary drama flowing along two walls. The remaining two walls of tile keep the room durable while softening the effects of the black walls and vanity. Rounded elements such as the light fixtures and the apron sink punctuate and carry the theme of the floor tile throughout the bathroom. Polished chrome fixtures along with the beefy frameless glass shower enclosure add just enough sparkle and contrast.

Thoughtful details make this small powder room renovation uniquely beautiful. Due to its location partially under a stairway it has several unusual angles. We used those angles to have a vanity custom built to fit. The new vanity allows room for a beautiful textured sink with widespread faucet, space for items on top, plus closed and open storage below the brown, gold and off-white quartz countertop. Unique molding and a burled maple effect finish this custom piece. Classic toile (a printed design depicting a scene) was inspiration for the large print blue floral wallpaper that is thoughtfully placed for impact when the door is open. Smokey mercury glass inspired the romantic overhead light fixture and hardware style. The room is topped off by the original crown molding, plus trim that we added directly onto the ceiling, with wallpaper inside that creates an inset look.

GLASS APPEARANCE WITH WOW EFFECT Fronts and upright panels in the new ARTIS line are made of polymer glass. ARTIS thus offers a virtually unlimited range of products. The satin matt finish glass appearance achieves a stunning depth effect, and sets the scene for exquisite designs in kitchens, bathrooms and living areas

“Using natural stone is something special. It is, admittedly, more expensive than man-made alternatives. Yet nothing adds the feeling of permanence, history, and solidity as does natural stone. When using stone, I always want to provide the most cost effective solutions. In this case, a stone overlay was an option for the porch.” In addition to beauty, the bricks also add significant interest to the project, he shared. “The street pavers are architecturally recycled. They once were street pavers, hand crafted in the 1800’s. You can even see an occasional thumbprint in them. That adds so much to the story of the home. There is a history behind the design that makes it exciting.” Project Design & Installation by Maverick Landscaping http://www.mavericklandscaping.com/ Photo by Matt Kocourek http://www.mattkocourek.com/

Material Masterpiece Great clients with great vision. The best of Selah Pools & Custom Outdoor Environments starts with our client's willingness to participate in the design process as we build their custom dream. Ultra-Luxe design is found in the details. Each hand cut & placed dry stack stone in this scene, from their outdoor kitchen to the booted patio extension column, throughout the raised spa, the water feature wall, and the fire bowl columns are placed for depth & dimensional effect. The 1x1 glass tile forming the spa spillway attracts the waterfall like a magnet to deliver a gentle edgeless connection to the swimming pool. With carefully cut & placed tile match on the "rolled beam" of the spa interior, the entire spa scene gleams with intent as it delivers smooth, restful comfort. Completing the scene with an expansive pool deck color matched to bring it all together and leaving plenty of room for sports, play & relaxation delivers the total residential dream oasis.

Core drilling in the fireplace hearth allowed us to properly accent the fireplace and make it the primary focal point. Then we used some nice Attraction lights on each side of the pool. Notice the mirror effect off of the pool. Paul R Gosselin

Paris Panorama 360 degree Mural hand painted throughout a 17 foot stairway. The mural was hand painted by Tom Taylor of Mural Art LLC in a home in Georgetown, Washington D.C. The Mural was painted between the third and fourth floors. A unique feature was the home's elevator that brings you to the fourth floor that makes the scene feel like you are on a rooftop overlooking the city. Artistic wall murals, murals, wall murals, fine art, mural art, custom art, original art, large art, hand painted, art ideas.

Another referral from one of our favorite clients! The clients wanted to update their teenage son's bathroom which had a few wear and tear issues. There was talk to paint or replace cabinetry as the client had a vision and the current stain seemed to be in the way of that. They also wanted to be cost-effective, so we designed around the existing stained cabinetry. Tschida Construction helped with the execution and helped with some creative behind-the-scenes problems that popped up. Having a design-build team that works together is so important and Nick and his team are awesome. Photographer- Height Advantages

Material Masterpiece Great clients with great vision. The best of Selah Pools & Custom Outdoor Environments starts with our client's willingness to participate in the design process as we build their custom dream. Ultra-Luxe design is found in the details. Each hand cut & placed dry stack stone in this scene, from their outdoor kitchen to the booted patio extension column, throughout the raised spa, the water feature wall, and the fire bowl columns are placed for depth & dimensional effect. The 1x1 glass tile forming the spa spillway attracts the waterfall like a magnet to deliver a gentle edgeless connection to the swimming pool. With carefully cut & placed tile match on the "rolled beam" of the spa interior, the entire spa scene gleams with intent as it delivers smooth, restful comfort. Completing the scene with an expansive pool deck color matched to bring it all together and leaving plenty of room for sports, play & relaxation delivers the total residential dream oasis.

Tropical Rainforest There are not enough words to describe the countless detail in this one-of-a-kind scene. From the spa to the outdoor dining room, every square inch of this swimming pool scene is a tapestry designed for the rainforest retreat effect. We encourage you to invest your time in the pictures and the video and feast your eyes on every pixel-perfect image. We've had people ask if these are computer renderings, but in fact, we achieved this level of perfection in real life. All thanks to our client, who had the vision & creativity to guide her imagination into the hands of our design & build teams. Because we hope you agree, this Dream is real!

Paris Panorama 360 degree Mural hand painted throughout a 17 foot stairway. The mural was hand painted by Tom Taylor of Mural Art LLC in a home in Georgetown, Washington D.C. The Mural was painted between the third and fourth floors. A unique feature was the home's elevator that brings you to the fourth floor that makes the scene feel like you are on a rooftop overlooking the city. Artistic wall murals, murals, wall murals, fine art, mural art, custom art, original art, large art, hand painted, art ideas.

This is called a mirror effect lighting technique. By lighting the tree and keeping the light off in the pool, we get a great effect.
Example of a large mountain style backyard rectangular lap pool fountain design in Austin

Tropical Rainforest There are not enough words to describe the countless detail in this one-of-a-kind scene. From the spa to the outdoor dining room, every square inch of this swimming pool scene is a tapestry designed for the rainforest retreat effect. We encourage you to invest your time in the pictures and the video and feast your eyes on every pixel-perfect image. We've had people ask if these are computer renderings, but in fact, we achieved this level of perfection in real life. All thanks to our client, who had the vision & creativity to guide her imagination into the hands of our design & build teams. Because we hope you agree, this Dream is real!

Material Masterpiece Great clients with great vision. The best of Selah Pools & Custom Outdoor Environments starts with our client's willingness to participate in the design process as we build their custom dream. Ultra-Luxe design is found in the details. Each hand cut & placed dry stack stone in this scene, from their outdoor kitchen to the booted patio extension column, throughout the raised spa, the water feature wall, and the fire bowl columns are placed for depth & dimensional effect. The 1x1 glass tile forming the spa spillway attracts the waterfall like a magnet to deliver a gentle edgeless connection to the swimming pool. With carefully cut & placed tile match on the "rolled beam" of the spa interior, the entire spa scene gleams with intent as it delivers smooth, restful comfort. Completing the scene with an expansive pool deck color matched to bring it all together and leaving plenty of room for sports, play & relaxation delivers the total residential dream oasis.

Another view of the front of the home. We used Attraction lights in planters which are located on top of the entry pedestals. Notice the nice shadows on the driveway which was a planned effect. Paul R Gosselin

Tropical Rainforest There are not enough words to describe the countless detail in this one-of-a-kind scene. From the spa to the outdoor dining room, every square inch of this swimming pool scene is a tapestry designed for the rainforest retreat effect. We encourage you to invest your time in the pictures and the video and feast your eyes on every pixel-perfect image. We've had people ask if these are computer renderings, but in fact, we achieved this level of perfection in real life. All thanks to our client, who had the vision & creativity to guide her imagination into the hands of our design & build teams. Because we hope you agree, this Dream is real!

Guest Bedroom Design Team: Ggem Design Co. http://www.houzz.com/pro/sggem/shannon-ggem-asid Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2016 Houzz