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.

The old kitchen really needed a face lift, and the customer has a large family, so entertaining a crowd at special occasions was very important to them. We removed a support wall and installed a beam to join 3 rooms together to create a space that a large number of people could feel right at home in! Pictures really don't do this kitchen justice, as it is simply awe inspiring when you are standing at the island! We were told that a recent 30 person gathering ended with everyone around the island having a great old time! Mission accomplished!

BEFORE photo of a kitchen cabinet we recently painted in New Canaan. As the house was just put on the market, the realtor (Libby Mattson) contacted us to give the kitchen a new and fresh look. Within 6 days the kitchen was completely transformed. What a difference in short period of time and also VERY affordable. We used the same color that was used on the trim throughout the house (Benjamin Moore Simply White Satin Advance). Within a month, the house was sold. Take a look at all the photos to see the before and after photos.

The old kitchen really needed a face lift, and the customer has a large family, so entertaining a crowd at special occasions was very important to them. We removed a support wall and installed a beam to join 3 rooms together to create a space that a large number of people could feel right at home in! Pictures really don't do this kitchen justice, as it is simply awe inspiring when you are standing at the island! We were told that a recent 30 person gathering ended with everyone around the island having a great old time! Mission accomplished!

This custom, high-performance home was designed and built to a LEED for Homes Platinum rating, the highest rating given to homes when certified by the US Green Building Council. The house has been laid out to take maximum advantage of both passive and active solar energy, natural ventilation, low impact and recyclable materials, high efficiency lighting and controls, in a structure that is very simple and economical to build. The envelope of the house is designed to require a minimum amount of energy in order to live and use the home based on the lifestyle of the occupants. The home will have an innovative HVAC system that has been recently developed by engineers from the University of Illinois which uses considerably less energy than a conventional heating and cooling system and provides extremely high indoor air quality utilizing a CERV (conditioned energy recovery ventilation system) combined with a cost effective installation. Lawrence Smith

When an international client moved from Brazil to Stamford, Connecticut, they reached out to Decor Aid, and asked for our help in modernizing a recently purchased suburban home. The client felt that the house was too “cookie-cutter,” and wanted to transform their space into a highly individualized home for their energetic family of four. In addition to giving the house a more updated and modern feel, the client wanted to use the interior design as an opportunity to segment and demarcate each area of the home. They requested that the downstairs area be transformed into a media room, where the whole family could hang out together. Both of the parents work from home, and so their office spaces had to be sequestered from the rest of the house, but conceived without any disruptive design elements. And as the husband is a photographer, he wanted to put his own artwork on display. So the furniture that we sourced had to balance the more traditional elements of the house, while also feeling cohesive with the husband’s bold, graphic, contemporary style of photography. The first step in transforming this house was repainting the interior and exterior, which were originally done in outdated beige and taupe colors. To set the tone for a classically modern design scheme, we painted the exterior a charcoal grey, with a white trim, and repainted the door a crimson red. The home offices were placed in a quiet corner of the house, and outfitted with a similar color palette: grey walls, a white trim, and red accents, for a seamless transition between work space and home life. The house is situated on the edge of a Connecticut forest, with clusters of maple, birch, and hemlock trees lining the property. So we installed white window treatments, to accentuate the natural surroundings, and to highlight the angular architecture of the home. In the entryway, a bold, graphic print, and a thick-pile sheepskin rug set the tone for this modern, yet comfortable home. While the formal room was conceived with a high-contrast neutral palette and angular, contemporary furniture, the downstairs media area includes a spiral staircase, comfortable furniture, and patterned accent pillows, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Equipped with a television, a fully-stocked bar, and a variety of table games, the downstairs media area has something for everyone in this energetic young family.

This kitchen remodel by Showplace was designed by Danielle from our Braintree showroom. The homeowner, having recently purchased the house, decided to “gut” and remodel the entire interior of the house, including the kitchen and dining area! Having a kitchen that looked flush was very important to the homeowner; in fact, he even built the wall around the refrigerator so that it would fit in perfectly. The kitchen features Showplace Inset cabinetry with schist & mahogany countertops, stainless steel appliances, a pantry, glass cabinet doors, special wine shelving on the peninsula & a special tile backsplash behind the oven.

Updating a recently built town home in culver city for a wonderful family was a very enjoyable project for us. The townhouse bathroom had a basic look and was lacking in both storage and looks. the main part of this project was the custom design and building of the vanity unit and the extra storage with bi-fold doors so not to take up too much space. the floors were done with porcelain tile that mimics the rich look of Calcutta marble. the large format tile gives a sensation of space and minimalize the amount of grout lines on the floor. The shower unit received a much-needed high end plumbing fixture and the shower head was raised to a normal height. the walls were tiled with the same floor tile in a staggered pattern. the bench wall is the center focal point and is boasting a chiseled texture dark gray tile that is been complimented by the slate shower pan tile work. notice the bench top and the step into the shower, it is done with a single piece of quartz stone for a clean and grout-less look.

A Bethesda-based couple recently asked us to transform their small, galley-style kitchen space into a more more modern, sleek design. To open up the space, we expanded the overall square footage by bumping out onto an existing porch, helping to increase the kitchen's square footage. We then moved the two small windows and increased their size to bring in more light. We replaced the dated vinyl flooring with light natural wood, incorporated stainless steel appliances for an updated look, and finished it off by adding light grey granite countertops to give the space a bright, airy feel. The homeowners are thrilled with their new kitchen! We are seeing a big trend in using white and grey materials in kitchens and baths. It's a very clean look when coupled together. MARK IV Builders, Inc.

See what our client say about Paul Lopa Designs: We recently remodeled a studio we purchased for guests who visit us. The project included the demolition of a kitchenettem and a bathroom, and the installation of new cabinets, wood flooring, granite countertops, appliances, wood molding and a custom Murphy bed in the sleeping area. My husband and I wanted a contractor who specializes in high end kitchens. We hired Paul Lopa (who had previously done two projects for us—a kitchen remodel and a bathroom remodel) as we were extremely impressed with his work, from beginning to end. For the studio project, Paul brought many samples to our home before the project commenced. It was very easy for us to select the materials, from the wood used for the cabinets and Murphy bed to the granite countertop and wood floor. We were also very pleased with the appliances he helped us select as well, as the kitchen was transformed into a full-fledged kitchen with an eat-at counter. Paul helped us select custom marble for the bathroom which is gorgeous! Every suggestion he made was great. The studio is now worthy of being photographed by Architectural Digest! Paul and his crew are very professional. His staff is friendly and were always on time. Upon completion of the job, the whole area was clean and ready to use. Paul was always accessible and available to answer questions whenever we had one. We were impressed that the project finished on time and on budget! We will definitely use Paul for all future work. He is a consummate professional and very nice to work with.

Kitchen remodel in Ft Atkinson, WI. Cabinetry by Curran Cabinetry & Design, in collaboration with Roehl Builders. Photo credit: Shanna Wolf, S. Photography & Styling

A beautiful shingle style residence we recently completed for a young family in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. Interior design by SRC Interiors. Built by Stokkers + Company.

The old kitchen really needed a face lift, and the customer has a large family, so entertaining a crowd at special occasions was very important to them. We removed a support wall and installed a beam to join 3 rooms together to create a space that a large number of people could feel right at home in! Pictures really don't do this kitchen justice, as it is simply awe inspiring when you are standing at the island! We were told that a recent 30 person gathering ended with everyone around the island having a great old time! Mission accomplished!

This kitchen remodel by Showplace was designed by Danielle from our Braintree showroom. The homeowner, having recently purchased the house, decided to “gut” and remodel the entire interior of the house, including the kitchen and dining area! Having a kitchen that looked flush was very important to the homeowner; in fact, he even built the wall around the refrigerator so that it would fit in perfectly. The kitchen features Showplace Inset cabinetry with schist & mahogany countertops, stainless steel appliances, a pantry, glass cabinet doors, special wine shelving on the peninsula & a special tile backsplash behind the oven.

This kitchen remodel by Showplace was designed by Danielle from our Braintree showroom. The homeowner, having recently purchased the house, decided to “gut” and remodel the entire interior of the house, including the kitchen and dining area! Having a kitchen that looked flush was very important to the homeowner; in fact, he even built the wall around the refrigerator so that it would fit in perfectly. The kitchen features Showplace Inset cabinetry with schist & mahogany countertops, stainless steel appliances, a pantry, glass cabinet doors, special wine shelving on the peninsula & a special tile backsplash behind the oven.

BEFORE photo of a kitchen cabinet we recently painted in New Canaan. As the house was just put on the market, the realtor (Libby Mattson) contacted us to give the kitchen a new and fresh look. Within 6 days the kitchen was completely transformed. What a difference in short period of time and also VERY affordable. We used the same color that was used on the trim throughout the house (Benjamin Moore Simply White Satin Advance). Within a month, the house was sold. Take a look at all the photos to see the before and after photos.

The old kitchen really needed a face lift, and the customer has a large family, so entertaining a crowd at special occasions was very important to them. We removed a support wall and installed a beam to join 3 rooms together to create a space that a large number of people could feel right at home in! Pictures really don't do this kitchen justice, as it is simply awe inspiring when you are standing at the island! We were told that a recent 30 person gathering ended with everyone around the island having a great old time! Mission accomplished!

One of our most recent projects, located on the North Side of Lake Norman was for homeowners with a request for replacement siding, and while we were performing our initial home inspection and consultation, they expressed their disappointment with their second story deck. Although the deck was part of a gorgeous second level sunroom and deck addition to their lovely brick home, unfortunately it was not doing a very good job in its expected performance as roof to the patio below and led to rot and damage (not to mention they couldn’t enjoy the lovely space if there was any rain in the forecast). Little did they know we could help with this issue as well because here is where our versatility and expertise in all things for your home’s exterior makes us more valuable to homeowners.

The old kitchen really needed a face lift, and the customer has a large family, so entertaining a crowd at special occasions was very important to them. We removed a support wall and installed a beam to join 3 rooms together to create a space that a large number of people could feel right at home in! Pictures really don't do this kitchen justice, as it is simply awe inspiring when you are standing at the island! We were told that a recent 30 person gathering ended with everyone around the island having a great old time! Mission accomplished!