The Sunset Team
Inspiration for a large modern backyard tile and rectangular lap pool fountain remodel in Los Angeles

Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscaping as possible. The surrounding decks, walls, and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. Upon closer inspection, however, one can see the subtle, yet transformative changes that come together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, and improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of the massive hardscape. The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call “tweeners”; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area, by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished limestone colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into its surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool in bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened, and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls, which were rather overwhelming in the space, as well as opening up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive pecan at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is quite possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited to proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks, once again expertly married into the existing, opening the area to house a large dining table and new built in bbq area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping, and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property.

Walls are Benjamin Moore Sweet Celadon. Southwestern accents with the wooden bench and artwork.
Inspiration for a transitional hallway remodel in New York

Modern Ina Wall Trellis for vertical garden by TerraTrellis.com.
Inspiration for a modern landscaping in Los Angeles.

Elegant kitchen photo in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops and limestone backsplash

The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call "tweeners"; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area. This was done by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing portion of the patio, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished, limestone-colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into it's surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool with their bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge, Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls (which were overwhelming in the space) and also opened up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive Pecan tree at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited for proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks added, and once again expertly married into the existing decks, opening the area to house a large dining table and a newly built-in BBQ area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property. Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscape as possible. But, the surrounding decks, walls and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. However, upon closer inspection, one can see the subtle-yet-transformative changes that came together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, as well as to improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of this massive hardscape.

Wood reclaimed from barns in upstate New York for the beams and cross-beams and Oklahoma flagstone brings a warm and rustic outdoor feel to this unique outdoor living space. This new addition complements the home as well as being reminiscent of the home owner’s Wisconsin house. Within you will discover a custom wood-fired pizza oven and outdoor fireplace built with the same stone. Completing this outdoor living space design, we included custom heaters and motorized retractable screens creating an enclosed patio so that the homeowners could enjoy their backyard year-round. Hidden within the archways, the screens are unnoticeable when the homeowners choose to enjoy the breeze. These screens can be installed on new structures, as well as retrofitted for pre-existing structures. One Specialty also constructed the retaining wall with archway, gate and fencing. The custom landscaping and landscape lighting finish the entire project. http://www.onespecialty.com/reclaimed-retreat/

Wood reclaimed from barns in upstate New York for the beams and cross-beams and Oklahoma flagstone brings a warm and rustic outdoor feel to this unique outdoor living space. This new addition complements the home as well as being reminiscent of the home owner’s Wisconsin house. Within you will discover a custom wood-fired pizza oven and outdoor fireplace built with the same stone. Completing this outdoor living space design, we included custom heaters and motorized retractable screens creating an enclosed patio so that the homeowners could enjoy their backyard year-round. Hidden within the archways, the screens are unnoticeable when the homeowners choose to enjoy the breeze. These screens can be installed on new structures, as well as retrofitted for pre-existing structures. One Specialty also constructed the retaining wall with archway, gate and fencing. The custom landscaping and landscape lighting finish the entire project. http://www.onespecialty.com/reclaimed-retreat/

The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call "tweeners"; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area. This was done by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing portion of the patio, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished, limestone-colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into it's surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool with their bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge, Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls (which were overwhelming in the space) and also opened up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive Pecan tree at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited for proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks added, and once again expertly married into the existing decks, opening the area to house a large dining table and a newly built-in BBQ area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property. Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscape as possible. But, the surrounding decks, walls and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. However, upon closer inspection, one can see the subtle-yet-transformative changes that came together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, as well as to improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of this massive hardscape.

Wood reclaimed from barns in upstate New York for the beams and cross-beams and Oklahoma flagstone brings a warm and rustic outdoor feel to this unique outdoor living space. This new addition complements the home as well as being reminiscent of the home owner’s Wisconsin house. Within you will discover a custom wood-fired pizza oven and outdoor fireplace built with the same stone. Completing this outdoor living space design, we included custom heaters and motorized retractable screens creating an enclosed patio so that the homeowners could enjoy their backyard year-round. Hidden within the archways, the screens are unnoticeable when the homeowners choose to enjoy the breeze. These screens can be installed on new structures, as well as retrofitted for pre-existing structures. One Specialty also constructed the retaining wall with archway, gate and fencing. The custom landscaping and landscape lighting finish the entire project. http://www.onespecialty.com/reclaimed-retreat/

Wood reclaimed from barns in upstate New York for the beams and cross-beams and Oklahoma flagstone brings a warm and rustic outdoor feel to this unique outdoor living space. This new addition complements the home as well as being reminiscent of the home owner’s Wisconsin house. Within you will discover a custom wood-fired pizza oven and outdoor fireplace built with the same stone. Completing this outdoor living space design, we included custom heaters and motorized retractable screens creating an enclosed patio so that the homeowners could enjoy their backyard year-round. Hidden within the archways, the screens are unnoticeable when the homeowners choose to enjoy the breeze. These screens can be installed on new structures, as well as retrofitted for pre-existing structures. One Specialty also constructed the retaining wall with archway, gate and fencing. The custom landscaping and landscape lighting finish the entire project. http://www.onespecialty.com/reclaimed-retreat/

Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscaping as possible. The surrounding decks, walls, and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. Upon closer inspection, however, one can see the subtle, yet transformative changes that come together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, and improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of the massive hardscape. The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call “tweeners”; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area, by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished limestone colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into its surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool in bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened, and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls, which were rather overwhelming in the space, as well as opening up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive pecan at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is quite possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited to proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks, once again expertly married into the existing, opening the area to house a large dining table and new built in bbq area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping, and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property.

Icy Lady ceiling flush mount with Swarovski crystals features curvy, flowery shapes that bring a bold statement to any area. Finish available in black, white and nickel. Available in a ceiling flush mount, wall sconce, and chandelier version. 25 watt, 120 volt, JCD Type G9 halogen lamps included. General light distribution. Made in the Netherlands. Fixture available in a small, medium, large and extra large size. Small: 23.6 inch diameter x 11.8 inch height. Medium: 31.5 inch diameter x 13.8 inch height. Large: 39.4 inch diameter x 15.7 inch height. Extra Large: 47.2 inch diameter x 17.7 inch height.

Wood reclaimed from barns in upstate New York for the beams and cross-beams and Oklahoma flagstone brings a warm and rustic outdoor feel to this unique outdoor living space. This new addition complements the home as well as being reminiscent of the home owner’s Wisconsin house. Within you will discover a custom wood-fired pizza oven and outdoor fireplace built with the same stone. Completing this outdoor living space design, we included custom heaters and motorized retractable screens creating an enclosed patio so that the homeowners could enjoy their backyard year-round. Hidden within the archways, the screens are unnoticeable when the homeowners choose to enjoy the breeze. These screens can be installed on new structures, as well as retrofitted for pre-existing structures. One Specialty also constructed the retaining wall with archway, gate and fencing. The custom landscaping and landscape lighting finish the entire project. http://www.onespecialty.com/reclaimed-retreat/

By wrapping carpet on the treads only, the footprint is quiet while maintaining a clean, contemporary look. Photo: Ron Ruscio
Staircase - contemporary staircase idea in Denver

The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call "tweeners"; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area. This was done by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing portion of the patio, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished, limestone-colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into it's surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool with their bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge, Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls (which were overwhelming in the space) and also opened up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive Pecan tree at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited for proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks added, and once again expertly married into the existing decks, opening the area to house a large dining table and a newly built-in BBQ area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property. Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscape as possible. But, the surrounding decks, walls and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. However, upon closer inspection, one can see the subtle-yet-transformative changes that came together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, as well as to improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of this massive hardscape.

Living room - living room idea in DC Metro

This is the front of the home. Palm Springs house remodel by H3K Design Photo by Patrick Ketchum
1950s exterior home photo in Los Angeles

Kitchen - large scandinavian l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen idea in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, recessed-panel cabinets, quartzite countertops, marble backsplash and white countertops