I built this on my property for my aging father who has some health issues. Handicap accessibility was a factor in design. His dream has always been to try retire to a cabin in the woods. This is what he got. It is a 1 bedroom, 1 bath with a great room. It is 600 sqft of AC space. The footprint is 40' x 26' overall. The site was the former home of our pig pen. I only had to take 1 tree to make this work and I planted 3 in its place. The axis is set from root ball to root ball. The rear center is aligned with mean sunset and is visible across a wetland. The goal was to make the home feel like it was floating in the palms. The geometry had to simple and I didn't want it feeling heavy on the land so I cantilevered the structure beyond exposed foundation walls. My barn is nearby and it features old 1950's "S" corrugated metal panel walls. I used the same panel profile for my siding. I ran it vertical to match the barn, but also to balance the length of the structure and stretch the high point into the canopy, visually. The wood is all Southern Yellow Pine. This material came from clearing at the Babcock Ranch Development site. I ran it through the structure, end to end and horizontally, to create a seamless feel and to stretch the space. It worked. It feels MUCH bigger than it is. I milled the material to specific sizes in specific areas to create precise alignments. Floor starters align with base. Wall tops adjoin ceiling starters to create the illusion of a seamless board. All light fixtures, HVAC supports, cabinets, switches, outlets, are set specifically to wood joints. The front and rear porch wood has three different milling profiles so the hypotenuse on the ceilings, align with the walls, and yield an aligned deck board below. Yes, I over did it. It is spectacular in its detailing. That's the benefit of small spaces. Concrete counters and IKEA cabinets round out the conversation. For those who cannot live tiny, I offer the Tiny-ish House. Photos by Ryan Gamma Staging by iStage Homes Design Assistance Jimmy Thornton

Pepper Watkins
Inspiration for a scandinavian galley light wood floor kitchen remodel in DC Metro with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, subway tile backsplash, white appliances and a peninsula

Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Eat-in kitchen - large contemporary galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, an island, an undermount sink, marble countertops, metallic backsplash, metal backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Example of a trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Kitchen - contemporary l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, paneled appliances, an island, gray countertops, an undermount sink and subway tile backsplash

Example of a trendy light wood floor kitchen design in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, window backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and black countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse l-shaped porcelain tile open concept kitchen remodel in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

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.

Photo: Michaela Dodd © 2015 Houzz
Photo of a traditional landscaping in DC Metro.

Small Rock Waterfalls and ponds in Florida
Inspiration for a tropical backyard landscaping in Miami.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard stone water fountain landscape in Atlanta.

Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman full sun backyard stone formal garden in San Diego for spring.

Matthew Giampietro Waterfalls in Florida
Photo of a tropical landscaping in Miami.

Creative Water Features of Orlando Florida. Small pond and waterfall.

Rob Bramhall
Inspiration for a large modern backyard concrete paver and l-shaped lap pool fountain remodel in Miami

Small Rock Waterfalls and ponds in Florida
Design ideas for a tropical backyard landscaping in Miami.

Custom designed, pondless waterfall for small patio, pond less water feature, waterfall, stone water feature, small patio,
Photo of a small contemporary full sun hillside stone water fountain landscape for summer.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard brick and rectangular pool fountain remodel in Birmingham

This expansive contemporary penthouse kitchen, with stunning views overlooking White Plains, and the Hudson Valley was designed by Barbara Bell and Bilotta senior designer, Jeff Eakley. The cabinetry is Artcraft in a mix of high-gloss Dannogri laminate, Anthracite high-gloss lacquer, and a custom Gray matte paint. The island, great for entertaining, features a waterfall quartzite countertop with Caesarstone on the perimeter. The backsplash is a metallic glass tile. The Anthracite high gloss lacquer cabinetry hides a paneled 36” Subzero refrigerator and 36” paneled freezer while showcasing a SubZero wine refrigerator and a stainless-steel Bosch wall oven and microwave. A stainless-steel Faber hood sits above a Wolf cooktop. Hidden in the island is an extra Subzero refrigerator drawer for easy to reach drinks. Dishwasher is Miele. Designer: Barbara Bell with Bilotta Designer Jeff Eakley Photo Credit: Phillip Ennis