A Modern Move

Design by Eric Stranghoner, Talley Associates

Earlier this week, David and I interviewed a landscape designer who's style veers more toward the modern and contemporary. This is something very different for One Specialty, but I know that my dad and I are both really excited about how a designer like this could take the company to a whole new level. David has always had an appreciation for modern style architecture and design (furniture, landscape, fashion..). I concentrated on taking as many English classes on Modernism as I could when I was in college and I, too, love that modern art, including landscape design, architecture, or literature, has the effect of both tactile simplicity and philosophical complexity.. Coincidentally, I'm in the middle of reading The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand in which modern architecture plays a major role - so this stuff has really been on my mind lately.

Today, the designer we interviewed is riding along with David, getting a feel for the company as it currently exists. I'm hoping that this will be a great opportunity for us to change the scope of our work. It's really important to us that he has experience designing for LEED projects - I really think that that is where the future of architecture is. Plus, I just think it would be cool to see us do something a little different.

The State of Remodeling

Chairing the Members: Four Prints of an Election, Plate 4. Original Engraving by William Hogarth 1758

Since 2008, we and several of the custom home builders that we work with have entered into the new market of remodeling. With homeowners wary of moving because of current housing market prices (not to mention the number of forclosures by homeowners who bought houses at depreciated value and were unable afford their 'good' investment), remodeling is an alternative that many homeowners are turning to because of the opportunity to increase their property value.

As President Obama will be giving his State of the Union Address tonight, I thought that it particularly apropos to talk about remodeling. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the verb 'remodel' has roots in governmental and civic contexts. It means "to update or restyle; to construct a model or theory of structure". The metonymic relationship between a physical structure and government (ie. the government represented as some kind of building or described in structural terms) is an age-old one. So, tonight we'll see what kind of re modeling Mr. Obama proposes for the next two years of his term...

Most of our remodels include swimming pool remodels and flatwork, such as driveways and patios, but we've also worked on add-on projects doing small foundations for residential room additions. In a press release from RemodelorMove.com, it's clear that, "while home expansion and renovation is on many people's minds, the majority in the [U.S. Homeowner Sentiment Report for Spring 2011] survey reported that they are very satisfied with local schools, their home's location and neighborhood." Now is the time for homeowners to continue investing in their properties. So whether your swimming pool needs an update, or you've always wanted to flagstone your patio but never got around to it, consider what a remodel could do for you. Change can be a good thing.

A Waterfall to Remember

Thomas Cole. Oil on canvas, 1826, 43 x 36 in. The Westervelt-Warner Museum of American Art in Tuscaloosa, AL.

So often artists make nature the subject of their art, giving power to the elements through a personified interpretation of their chosen element. In this, and many other paintings by Thomas Cole, a member of the Hudson River School and an American Romantic painter, nature is depicted as untamed and untouched by growing urbanism and American expansionism. What strikes me in this painting is the impression of sublimity, of cleanliness that the painting conveys. The rocks are violent. The water is violent. And a man stands insignificantly above the waterfall, as if he has found himself standing in a nature that is unwilling to compromise itself.

How did art that imitates nature lose its sense of nature? One of the projects that our company is currently working on is a luxury swimming pool that has been designed to look as 'natural' as possible. Obviously, residential man-made waterfalls and rock swimming pool features have been around for a long time, but I heard my dad say to someone the other day that his goal for this project is to really look 'natural'. Some part of me understood the quality and significance behind his words: most swimming pool rock features look anything but 'natural'...

So, whether man-made waterfalls (the kind that we build) have lost their sense of nature because of manufactured rocks that are used in construction or because boulders have been chiseled and cut apart to be rid of any imperfections or because mortar is visible, it's clear to me that making this swimming pool look natural will not be an easy task. David has already said that he wants to personally choose every stone, boulder, and rock that is going into this project. I think that's a good start. The real challenge will be to construct the formations as a talented sculptor would his masterpiece, keeping in mind that nature's real beauty lies in its imperfections, in its violence, and in its purity.

The Waterfall and the Eglantine 

William Wordsworth

  I

'BEGONE, thou fond presumptuous Elf,'
Exclaimed an angry Voice,
'Nor dare to thrust thy foolish self
Between me and my choice!'
A small Cascade fresh swoln with snows
Thus threatened a poor Briar-rose,
That, all bespattered with his foam,
And dancing high and dancing low,
Was living, as a child might know,
In an unhappy home.

II

'Dost thou presume my course to block?
Off, off! or, puny Thing!
I'll hurl thee headlong with the rock
To which thy fibres cling.'
The Flood was tyrannous and strong;
The patient Briar suffered long,
Nor did he utter groan or sigh,
Hoping the danger would be past;
But, seeing no relief, at last,
He ventured to reply.

III

'Ah!' said the Briar, 'blame me not;
Why should we dwell in strife?
We who in this sequestered spot
Once lived a happy life!
You stirred me on my rocky bed--
What pleasure through my veins you spread
The summer long, from day to day,
My leaves you freshened and bedewed;
Nor was it common gratitude
That did your cares repay.

IV

'When spring came on with bud and bell,
Among these rocks did I
Before you hang my wreaths to tell
That gentle days were nigh!
And in the sultry summer hours,
I sheltered you with leaves and flowers;
And in my leaves--now shed and gone,
The linnet lodged, and for us two
Chanted his pretty songs, when you
Had little voice or none.

V

'But now proud thoughts are in your breast--
What grief is mine you see,
Ah! would you think, even yet how blest
Together we might be!
Though of both leaf and flower bereft,
Some ornaments to me are left--
Rich store of scarlet hips is mine,
With which I, in my humble way,
Would deck you many a winter day,
A happy Eglantine!'

VI

What more he said I cannot tell,
The Torrent down the rocky dell
Came thundering loud and fast;
I listened, nor aught else could hear;
The Briar quaked--and much I fear
Those accents were his last. 

Life on the Outside

In 2004, I was a sophomore in high school and my parents were considering moving my family to Kansas City, Kansas. I'd never lived anywhere but Dallas, so I was excited when we got the chance to visit Overland Park and to look at Mid-Western-style houses (BASEMENTS!!!). While I was excited about the vision I had for my basement bedroom, I couldn't help but be nervous about one thing. My basement bedroom had a glass-pane door that led to the backyard. None of the houses had fenced-in backyards. 

I had only ever lived in and seen houses with wooden fences, cast iron fences, security fences. Somehow not having a fenced-in backyard invaded my family's personal space and made me lose a sense of security that I never even knew I had, until then.

Years later, my dad showed me some pictures of a special project he had just completed. More than the design itself, I was really interested in the spatial relationships that were created by his a-typical landscape design. 

 You see, the design moved the outdoor living area from the backyard to the front.

In college I studied a lot on self-other/ private-public theories (as humanities majors inevitably do...) and I thought that it was a really genius move to move a typically private space into the public realm. It makes people think, and isn't that what makes compelling art? At least, it made me think. So whether you like the design aesthetically or not, it has value because of the new public relationships it creates. So, thanks Victor Myers Custom Homes for giving my dad the chance to create something not just beautiful, but interesting. We've seen neighborhood kids hanging out on the stone benches playing the guitar engaging with one another. Just like you see Mid-West kids playing on an open turf area between two un-fenced houses...

The house featured is located in Highland Village, Texas and is currently for sale and listed by Victor Myers Realty.


 

Swimming Pool Designs that Reflect Your Style

You have your dream home, but you want something more. You dream of a pool to cool off in on those hot summer days that seem to wipe us all out, but you don’t want just any old pool design. You want a one of a kind pool that says you care about yourself, and any guests that might come to spend time with you.

Yes one can get a basic pool design, such as an oval, an oblong, a round, a kidney, or a rectangular or L shaped. But why be limited by ‘The Standard’, when you can design and have custom installed the pool of your dreams? One that, say, looks like the lagoon from Gilligan’s Island, complete with all the landscaping and buildings to make it look as if mother nature put it there just for you? How about water fall on a miniature scale to make you feel like you are at Yosemite Falls? Perhaps something out of a Zen Chinese garden is more to your liking. Or maybe you want an island in the middle with the water circulating around it, so you do not have to stop and turn around at the end of a lap, then ask for it. If you can dream it, you should be able to have it. Your pool can also be designed to fit your land. If you live on a mountain side, then the pool could have a gentle slope to match the incline.

Maybe you want a hot tub, along with your pool, so that you can warm up on a chilly evening before going out to dinner, or maybe just for entertaining that special someone. This too can be done with the skills of a person who likes to think “Outside the box” so to speak.

Another option would be to incorporate side or bottom lighting to your pool so that it can be used at night with a minimal amount of outside lighting needed, and with the change of bulb color, you can change the mood. If you want to feel like to you live at a castle, say something like Hearst’s Castle, then perhaps an indoor or enclosed pool is for you. No matter the weather, you can still have that swim without worrying about time or temperature. This option would also save the back-breaking work of skimming the pool of unwanted leaves and other debris that a filter might miss.

The type(s) of materials that can be used are endless. From the basic concrete and tile swimming pool, to one that looks like a rock bottomed swimming hole from your childhood days, you can choose all manner of materials and designs, and have them incorporated into your custom pool. Perhaps you want the different depths sectioned off from one another; you can have an adjoining, but separate, area for the children to be in, while having another, deeper section for the adults. The choice of material(s) to separate them is up to you.
What type of style or materials you choose, your own personal “Blue Lagoon” is available to you, so call your contractor today, and make your dreams come true!

www.onespecialty.com

Finding the Right Swimming Pool Designer for You

A pool is a much sought after feature in homes. There is a lot of work that goes into designing a pool and in most cases you want to leave it up to professional swimming pool designers to ensure you get the job done just how you want it. There are some fantastic swimming pool designers to choose from, and it really all depends on what sort of look you have in mind and what you want to achieve with your own pool.

First, consider the budget you have to work with. You will not be able to make any progress until you know how much money you feel comfortable spending. This will help with the overall design of your pool and also keep you from getting stressed because it will help you avoid overspending. Deciding on the material for the pool to be made of is one of the most important decisions. This has a major impact on the cost of the pool as well as the finished look. For instance a metal or acrylic pool looks much more luxurious and elegant compared to a plastic or vinyl pool.

Think about whether you want a standard shape for your pool, such as the basic oval or rectangle shape, or if you would rather something more unique. Some people have their pool shaped into a diamond or triangle, while others want it shaped into a letter. You also do not want parts of the pool to be so narrow you can hardly move down them. This is all taken into consideration during the design process. Also, take time to think about what sort of features do you want included in your pool. You may want it to be a heated pool or you may prefer to use solar energy to heat the pool during those colder days. You must decide whether you want an above ground or underground swimming pool. When you talk to your swimming pool designers, they can help by discussing the pros and cons of both sides to help you make the best decision. Everyone is different and has a different point of view on what works best for them.

These are all important factors to think about when designing a pool. At least with professional swimming pool designers you know you are going to get the best results and end up with a pool you love, and which is perfect for you and your family. Keep in mind there are always new and more convenient features coming out so you should always keep your eyes open for this and make sure you inquire to your swimming pool designers about any and all new features offered. Designing a swimming pool on your own is incredibly challenging, especially if you are an average homeowner with little to no swimming pool designers experience. You know you can leave it up to the professionals and get the beautiful, perfect pool for your home.

www.onespecialty.com

The Versatility of Concrete Design

Most of the time when people think of concrete they think of the drab, gray stone that everyone is used to. In this day and age consumers are no longer limited to the dull, lifeless concrete that has been the norm in the past. There are several options when it comes to jazzing up your concrete patio, walk, or other areas that until now were only the stuff of dreams.

The first option is concrete stamping. In this process, wet concrete is stamped with a predetermined design before it sets making the design a permanent part of the concrete. This option is great for patios or walkways when you want the look and feel of cobblestone or other stone without the hefty price tag. Stamping is effective and versatile and is not limiting in the least, there are tons of different designs that can be easily applied to the concrete.

Another option is etched acid staining or scoring and sealing. With etching, a stain is applied directly to a concrete surface to give it another, often more appealing color. This is perfect if you want the look and feel of a painted concrete surface without the annoying pealing or chipping. With etching stains, you can also create patterns, marbling, or other creative effects that may not be achieved through other methods. With scoring and sealing, you can extend the life of your existing surface or add interesting texture to a concrete surface. In addition, you can create the appearance of tiles or stones with scoring while sealing adds needed protection to concrete surfaces.

Another option is curbing, this provides a professional finish to a concrete surface or landscaping and makes everything look finished. This touch makes even self-completed projects look professionally done. Concrete pool decks for in ground pools are also gaining in popularity and the use of any of the above-mentioned processes can make it look like it costs a million bucks. This decorative application adds to any landscape.

Having walkways and driveways professionally done in concrete is also a great use of the medium aside from gravel or other traditional paving applications. By paving driveways and walks in concrete they become more permanent and enduring. Patios are also a great place to use these applications and if you do not have a patio, having one installed is a piece of cake. Concrete is not just for commercial parking lots anymore.

With any of the design options mentioned above, you can create an entirely new space to enjoy around your home or simply re-purpose one that has not been getting much attention. All of the options above are ideal for making your concrete surfaces unique and inviting. Whether you choose to create an entirely new concrete surface or simply revamp an existing one, keep the options above in mind and just remember that you are only limited by your imagination.

www.onespecialty.com