Sites Transform - Photos & Ideas

Ocean Blue Pools LLC is widely recognized for extravagant swimming pool construction and unmatched customer service. Our specialties include custom designed swimming pools, spas, beautiful rock and stone water features and astounding outdoor kitchens and living spaces. The designing process incorporates classic principles, proportioned balance and expert design in accordance with your topography and space. We strive to make your outdoor living space as user friendly as it is beautiful. With profound focus on our client’s needs, we will design around your unique lifestyle and taste and create a space that is inviting, comfortable, safe, and engages the senses. Your swimming pool, which becomes the focal point, is just one component of the backyard. The landscape, lighting, water features, fire pit or outdoor kitchen will define your pool and evoke emotion. Our design team will offer several feature choices to create the most exciting and relaxing outdoor environment using the harmony of these elements. The design process begins with a consultation to understand your lifestyle and vision for your new outdoor living space. We will inquire about your usage plans and the vision you would like to achieve. We take into consideration, location of views, site conditions and accessibility. We will examine your homes existing architectural design to ensure continuity and flow from your home into to your new outdoor living space. Our design team and graphic artists will then transform your vision into conceptual drawings and renderings. A visual presentation will also be prepared to convey the look and feel of the proposed project. Under the design process, materials will be recommended which may include: pavers, travertine, glass tile, stone veneer, precast concrete, landscape and lighting. The final design drawings will provide an accurate representation of your new outdoor living space. Once the design process is complete, we will construct your project to the exact vision of the original design concept. We will maintain relentless attention to detail with our latest innovations and technology. All projects are managed from decades of experience by our trained superintendent who will manage timeframes, quality, and most of all, the client’s expectations. Our goal is to exceed your expectations. Randall Schmidt / Design and Construction

A Grand Statement

Byggmeister Inc

Photo by Jim Raycroft Our client for this project, an amateur pianist, wanted to create a music room for a nice new piano he was planning to purchase. The project scope would also include a new kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living space, but the new piano was the priority. LIFTING THE CEILING The client was moving into a row house, and hoped to accommodate occasional gatherings of musician friends for informal recitals. Because acoustics were important we asked sound engineers from Acentech to visit the site. They noted that the ideal space would have higher ceilings and would be more like a cube than the “half a cube” we were dealing with. “How can we raise the ceiling and make the space a cube?” our client asked. Designer Josy Raycroft started to explore the possibility of combining the second and third floor units by removing the front half of second floor ceiling, thereby opening up a 2-story music space in the shape of a nearly perfect cube. Thus, the project turned from a straightforward floor plan modification into a complete reimagining of the whole row house, with the client’s new Steinway D as the focal point. Josy and the client started with the piano and created the space around it. ADDRESSING EVERYDAY NEEDS For the client’s more mundane needs, Josy switched the location of the bathroom and kitchen—moving the bathroom towards the middle of the second floor where it would be convenient to the rest of the spaces, and placing the kitchen towards the back. The remainder of the third floor was transformed into bedroom and office space open to the music room below. Products and finishes coordinator Karin Mahdavi worked with the client to select understated finishes for the living spaces so that they would support the piano room without competing with it. As a result the living spaces flow seamlessly into the piano space, creating a coherent whole out of the different parts, kind of like a Schubert piano sonata.

Lhakim

Montgomery Robbins, Inc.

This project was a beautiful collaboration between J.Montgomery Landscape Architects and the Architect remodeling the house and cabana structure. The original 1928 Art Deco home underwent its own transformation, while we designed the landscape to perfectly match. The clients wanted a style reminiscent of a Country Club experience, with an expansive pool, outdoor kitchen with a shade structure, and a custom play area for the kids. Bluestone paving really shines in this setting, offsetting the classic Sonoma-style architecture and framing the contemporary gas fire pit with its blue accents. Landscape lighting enhances the site by night for evening gatherings or a late-night swim. In front, a bluestone entrance leads out to paver driveway and styled front gate. Plantings throughout are Water Efficiency Landscape certified, accenting the front hardscape and back terraces with beautiful low-water color.

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No Place Like (Highland Park) Home

Jamie Schachtel Design Group

What a joy to bring this exciting renovation to a loyal client: a family of 6 that has called this Highland Park house, “home” for over 25 years. This relationship began in 2017 when we designed their living room, girls’ bedrooms, powder room, and in-home office. We were thrilled when they entrusted us again with their kitchen, family room, dining room, and laundry area design. Their first floor became our JSDG playground… Our priority was to bring fresh, flowing energy to the family’s first floor. We started by removing partial walls to create a more open floor plan and transformed a once huge fireplace into a modern bar set up. We reconfigured a stunning, ventless fireplace and oriented it floor to ceiling tile in the family room. Our second priority was to create an outdoor space for safe socializing during the pandemic, as we executed this project during the thick of it. We designed the entire outdoor area with the utmost intention and consulted on the gorgeous outdoor paint selections. Stay tuned for photos of this outdoors space on the site soon! Overall, this project was a true labor of love. We are grateful to again bring beauty, flow and function to this beloved client’s warm home.

Russell Lea

Sydney Design & Landscape Creations Pty Ltd

This project showcases the complete transformation of an outdoor area into a stunning dining and entertaining space with a charming cabin centerpiece. In Stage 1, we mobilized to the site, removing waste and preparing the area with earthworks, retaining walls, and provisions for drainage and electrical systems. Concrete slabs were poured for the cabin, dining area, and pathways, complemented by backdrop screening and vibrant gardens. Stage 2 brought the installation of a beautiful 12m² "She Shed" Coastal Cabin, outdoor seating, tiled flooring, and a new awning. Final touches included turf laying, detailed finishes, and a meticulous pressure wash to complete this inviting outdoor retreat.

Komorebi - Residential Apartment Landscape @ Egmore, Chennai

Terrain Labs

The design philosophy for this project rests on the belief that memory is an essential part of landscape experience. Instead of recreating the Rain tree in a literal form, the design interprets the sensations it once offered. The shifting light, the sound of leaves, the comfort of shade and the smell of earth. These elements form a quiet yet powerful form of heritage that often goes unrecognised in redevelopment. By carrying these sensations into the new landscape, the project creates continuity within change. It shows how design can hold onto the emotional identity of a place and offer familiarity to residents returning to a transformed site. This approach suggests a way of thinking about urban growth where memory and development do not stand in opposition but work together.

Lac La Belle - Modern Brick Lake Home Living Room with Fireplace

Vetter Architects

A tea pot, being a vessel, is defined by the space it contains, it is not the tea pot that is important, but the space. Crispin Sartwell Located on a lake outside of Milwaukee, the Vessel House is the culmination of an intense 5 year collaboration with our client and multiple local craftsmen focused on the creation of a modern analogue to the Usonian Home. As with most residential work, this home is a direct reflection of it’s owner, a highly educated art collector with a passion for music, fine furniture, and architecture. His interest in authenticity drove the material selections such as masonry, copper, and white oak, as well as the need for traditional methods of construction. The initial diagram of the house involved a collection of embedded walls that emerge from the site and create spaces between them, which are covered with a series of floating rooves. The windows provide natural light on three sides of the house as a band of clerestories, transforming to a floor to ceiling ribbon of glass on the lakeside. The Vessel House functions as a gallery for the owner’s art, motorcycles, Tiffany lamps, and vintage musical instruments – offering spaces to exhibit, store, and listen. These gallery nodes overlap with the typical house program of kitchen, dining, living, and bedroom, creating dynamic zones of transition and rooms that serve dual purposes allowing guests to relax in a museum setting. Through it’s materiality, connection to nature, and open planning, the Vessel House continues many of the Usonian principles Wright advocated for. Overview Oconomowoc, WI Completion Date August 2015 Services Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture

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Columbus, OH

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Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

Phoenix project

Pazzle Construction

Ground-up construction project in Los Angeles including full site clearing and new home build from scratch. The project features a complete kitchen and bathroom installation, modern layout, and a newly built driveway. Full transformation from empty lot to finished residential property.

LANTERN HOUSE

EW Architecture Inc.

This 1967 home has been transformed. LANTERN HOUSE is located at the edge of the forest, the edge of urbanity, where the glass and metal clad entry and stair volumes glow like lanterns in the night. The sloping, trapezoidal site posed challenges, resulting in a very unique geometry with a courtyard, a bridge, and a new stair tower link old to new. A new porch and foyer create a gradual entry sequence into the existing main house. A new roof form provides vaulted ceilings in an open plan concept. The primary living spaces are connected to private outdoor spaces for entertaining and everyday living, and the main addition contains a private master retreat with secluded access from the stair tower. The connection with nature is ever present throughout the house with intentionally placed glazing framing views to the surrounding trees.

No Place Like (Highland Park) Home

Jamie Schachtel Design Group

My Garden - BEFORE!

Thunder Hill Design

HEDGE TIMELINE - BEFORE - and during major clearing of trees, invasives, brush; forsythia in center rear was dredged right up, adding yet another pile to be burned or chipped..

Modern Minimal Renovation + Addition

Janvrin & Co.

A transformation of a modest raised ranch into a modern oasis. I was the interior designer and general contractor from mechanicals to finishing. It’s also my personal home. The interior design style is that of modern minimalist meets organic modern. I wanted a space that reduced distractions and let the eyes, head, and soul rest. Where everything inside the home has a specific use and purpose. The objects in our home are fewer but each hold a great personal value. You might expect to see this airy aesthetic, with its gallery white walls, in California or New York. Not nestled in a modest 50 year old neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska. Creating a minimal aesthetic is one of the trickiest design styles to pull off. It is more than just less stuff and lots of white. It means sticking to these design principals: -weaving in an abundance of textures -incorporating natural finishes -keenly curating art -giving extra attention to scale -limiting purely decorative items -maximizing natural light This style is not to be confused with the frugality of reductive design. I have incorporated many elevated basics that create an aesthetic of quiet luxury: -architectural bead for trim-less doors -first-of-its kind interior door hardware made of terrazzo -historical marble found in landmark interiors like the NY Public Library -premium flush air vents that disappear out of site -luxury appliances from GE Café and Signature -elegant and resilient terrazzo field tiles Ours was not a simple interior remodel and addition: -gutted and remodeled the existing 2,000 SF -added on approximately another 1,000 SF -moved and installed all new major mechanicals i.e. heating, plumbing and electrical. -knocked through foundation walls to extend the space back -dug down and built up

Pergolas

AX Projects

Elevating Outdoor Living: Western Red Cedar Pergolas At AX Projects, we bring architectural elegance to your outdoor spaces with our custom-designed Western Red Cedar pergolas. Our expertise in crafting these timeless structures transforms Vancouver and Lower Mainland gardens into sophisticated, versatile living areas. We exclusively use premium Western Red Cedar, carefully selected from trusted local suppliers. This exceptional wood not only offers unparalleled natural beauty but also provides excellent durability in the Pacific Northwest climate. Its natural resistance to decay and insects makes it the perfect choice for outdoor structures. Our approach to pergola construction is entirely bespoke. We design and build each Cedar structure on-site, ensuring it harmonizes perfectly with your existing landscape and architecture. This custom method allows us to create a pergola that not only meets your functional needs but also serves as a stunning focal point for your outdoor space, showcasing the rich, warm tones of Western Red Cedar. Understanding Vancouver's unique weather patterns is crucial in creating outdoor structures that last. Our Cedar pergolas are engineered to handle everything from summer sun to winter rains. With proper care, an AX Projects Western Red Cedar pergola will enhance your property for decades, offering a perfect blend of shade, style, and open-air comfort while maintaining its structural integrity.

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Columbus, OH

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Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

European Villa

Montgomery Robbins, Inc.

This landscape took on new life with a complete transformation into a French-country style retreat. On this smaller site, an existing pool was removed and the new one situated so as to maximize space. Sheer descent fountains add an elegant touch, and a hidden pool cover protects without detracting from the aesthetic. We created an upper terrace for dining, with staircases that flow out into the lower level, to a central fountain and a path that leads to a garden room with fire pit, terracotta accents, and dwarf olive trees. The sense of calm and enclosure is enhanced by tall hedges and custom screening arbors, and plantings of roses and lavender add to the Provençal charm.

Natick Addition and Kitchen Remodel

New England Design & Construction

Master Bedroom remodel in Natick, MA. In this two story addition and whole home remodel, NEDC transformed a dark and cramped single family home in to a large, light filled, and fully functional home. This shot shows part of the new master suite with en-suite deck and walk in master closet. Jay Groccia, OnSite Studios

Idlewood Retreat

S Squared Design, LLC

This transformation came at an unexpected time. Hurricane Harvey left this family, like so many others in Houston, with feet of water in their home and nothing else to do than rebuild and get their lives back together. This whole home remodel was about being fresh, new and livable. Whites, creams, warm greys and soft tan colors throughout the home gave lightness to the the previous home which was a little on the darker side. Natural materials, such as marble, granite and a solid white oak flooring that was hand stained on site, gave a natural feeling and a softness to some of the other materials used. Storage is another important part especially in kitchens and bathrooms. The new custom kitchen cabinets we designed to reach the ceiling to gain as much useful space as we could get. The bathrooms we designed for our client's needs, drawers were a great choice in this case! We added a little color on the walls in the the guest baths and laundry room which has its own sink set in a suede finish granite.

3615 NE Cleveland Ave, Portland OR 97212

Dana Austin Griggs | Real Estate Group

We've watched this neighborhood transform itself over the last few years and we are so thankful that we had the opportunity to facilitate the sale of this very special property. It's a great addition to this great neighborhood. ______________________________________________________________ Ultra-modern architecture with a great layout where natural light floods in through massive windows. The living-room is anchored by a large sliding glass door & an open kitchen & dining area. Upstairs you can unwind in the master suite which features a private bath with tile shower, all done in calming, modern tones. 2 other bedrooms + den complete the 2nd floor layout. Lots of luxury details in this urban-tastic location just off Williams! BUILDER | DEVELOPER  H.Hudson Homes Inc. H. Hudson Homes specializes in modern residential homebuilding with a focus on infill projects—both single-family and multifamily—that enhance and beautify the neighborhoods in which they’re built. As trusted Portland home builders, we take a thoughtful approach to both home design and property development. And we believe your home should be a reflection of your own modern style—creative, current, and different.   http://hhudsonhomes.com ARCHITECTURE FIRM   Works Partnership Architecture Works Progress Architecture is a progressive architectural design studio with offices in Portland and Los Angeles. Carrie Strickland and William Neburka launched W.PA together in 2005. W.PA has since established a design approach rooted in clear conceptual diagrams applied across a wide spectrum of project types while responding to individual site, program, and environmental requirements. W.PA’s approach walks a line between sexy and stern and echoes simplicity in the face of ever evolving complexity, a quiet amid the cacophony of the newest.  http://www.worksarchitecture.net STAGING Spade & Archer Design Agency Our extensive library of eclectic furnishings and accessories brings out the best in homes of every style. We treat every project with the utmost attention to detail. A home prepared by Spade and Archer is always to proper scale, looks genuine, and is complementary to the house's style.  https://www.spade-archer.com