Quarter 2 | 2015
FEATURE STORY: Celebrating the New Home!!! HIGHLIGHTED PROJECT: Traditional Cape Cod Brentwood, CA THE ARCHITECTURAL PULSE: Color Your Home For Curb Appeal RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS PROJECTS “UNDER CONSTRUCTION” “SUMMER” HOME M AINTENANCE TIPS AND MORE
ABOUT US: Established in 1996 and headquartered in Warner Center, Structure Home builds and remodels fine custom homes throughout the Los Angeles basin. Our staff is a group of seasoned professionals with the expertise and systems necessary for the complete implementation of real estate development. We believe that the proper approach to our business, our clients and partners is a comprehensive involvement in the development process with the use of carefully detailed systems to achieve pre-established results. Our approach to design begins with looking at a building, functionally and aesthetically, as a complete operating system intended to perform today and for generations to come. To accomplish this goal, the entire design consultant and construction team must work collaboratively…in a well-organized process. We call our design development process ‘Whole Lot Living”… the thoughtful consideration of the entire structure, as well as its relationship to the natural surroundings. At Structure Home, we believe that a carefully managed design/specification and construction process is the only way we can be responsible stewards of our client’s most valuable investment.
CELEBRATING THE NEW HOME!!! By: Robert Kleiman and Alyssa Trebil
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Feature Story: Celebrating the New Home!!! By: Robert Kleiman and Alyssa Trebil 3
“As a family enters their new home, traditional ceremony and gifts wish them well, free of harm, full of warmth, sustenance, good fortune and longevity. These are the wishes we all want to share upon the celebration of moving a family into their new home.”
HIGHLIGHTED PROJECT: TRADITIONAL CAPE COD
“COLOR YOUR HOME FOR CURB APPEAL” By: Karen Putman, P2 Design
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Recently Completed Projects
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Highlighted Project: Traditional Cape Cod in Brentwood, CA
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The Architectural Pulse: Color Your Home For Curb Appeal By: Karen Putman, P2 Design
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Current “Under Construction” Projects Including Special Project: The Enclave at Century Woods
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Home Maintenance Quarterly Tips By: Alyssa Trebil, Structure
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21101 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 P: (818) 598-1330, F: (818) 598-1340 www.StructureHome.com “...Color is a visual language. When color is used on the outside of our home, we send out a message that speaks to the neighborhood or entire community...“
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Thank you to our Newsletter Sponsor:
FEATURE STORY Celebrating the New Home!!! By: Alyssa Trebil and Robert Kleiman, Structure Home The celebration of the completion and occupancy of a new home is steeped in tradition and ritual from across the world. In this quarterly newsletter, we take a look at some traditional rituals related to moving into and celebrating a new home. While the rituals for different cultures varies as deeply as people and communities do, we discovered some common messages and themes in ritual, symbolism and wishes shared over a new home. It is said that the concept of a "house warming" party came from the tradition of lighting a fire and warming the house before moving in. A traditional gift to a new homeowner may have included an ember or wood to start a fire. The wood is symbolic of harmony, stability and peace. In more recent times, the concept of candle giving stems from this same notion...a wish for the family to always have light and life in the home. Some cultures leave the lights on for a few days when they first occupy a new home. A house warming party can also be intended to connect with neighbors and the community. In France, it is tradition to invite people over at completion of unpacking. With friends, a trammel is hung, which is symbolically the last item up in their new home. A trammel is an iron hook that attaches to a chimney, allowing pots to hang and warm over the fire. Some cultures believe that certain days, dates or numbers are more or less lucky when moving into a new home. For example, in Japan gift sets of four are unlucky and yet, giving gift sets of two is considered lucky. Some cultures perform rituals before moving into a new home while others begin rituals on the day they move. In some cultures, religious leaders may bless the house 5, 7, or 9 days prior to the new owner moving in and white thread or fabric is draped around the home to ward off evil spirits. Bread and Salt are common gifts of the different cultures and religions dating back to the Middle Ages. They are said to be the two necessities of life. Giving bread symbolizes that the family will never go hungry and the pantry will be plentiful. Soda bread was popular in Ireland, a loaf of challah bread in the Jewish tradition, shortbread from Scotland, Italian bread in Italy, baguettes in France and Mantou (steamed bread) or Youtiao (fried bread sticks) in China. In the middle ages, salt was a highly valued and a rare commodity that was used to preserve and season food. The giving of salt to a new owner symbolizes good luck, long life (fertility) and flavor. Depending on the different cultural background and what may be found locally, different types of salt were given. For example, some cultures prefer rock salt while others prefer sea salt or ionized salt.
Salt can also be ritual, some cultures use it to rid the home of evil spirits. Sprinkling salt, leaving salt by the front door, placing salt in bowls in corners of rooms, burning sage or cedar, hanging garlic, ringing a bell or loudly clapping in each room...are many other remedies for clearing evil and negativity. A gift of a new broom is symbolic of a new beginning...sweeping trouble away and cleansing the space. The ritual for sweeping out the negativity may begin when the homeowner moves out of their present house and intentionally leaves their old broom behind for the next owner. When moving into the new home, the owner has a broom to use before the furniture is moved into the house. Some cultures will salt the floor, let it sit and sweep it up later. continued on page 43 3
FEATURE STORY Celebrating the New Home Continued By: Alyssa Trebil and Robert Kleiman, Structure Home In many cultures a traditional bottle of wine or sake is given with bread and salt as a house warming gift. The wine/sake symbolizes plentiful happiness, joy and prosperity. Irish people may prefer a stout or whiskey while in Russia, vodka may be preferred...the local fare may influence rituals in different cultures and geographic areas. Giving a plant as a gift signifies a growing and enduring life. Bamboo plants are said to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. A Bonsai tree is symbolic of peace and good luck. In Japan, a bouquet of flowers such as cherry blossoms, daises and plum blossoms is tradition. A citrus or fruit tree may also be symbolic of a bearing fruit and abundance...a gift that continues to give. Candles are given to symbolize providing light or inspiration through the celebrations and challenging times in the life of the home. There are candles that burn and a gift remains, candles that elevate moods, dinner candles and candles that have deeper significance. Scented candles, religious candles, spiritual candles and colored candles (that match the home decor) could all be appropriate gifts. There are endless ways to celebrate and prepare a new home for years of life, joy and good health within. This is perhaps the most important message. As a family enters their new home, traditional ceremony and gifts wish them well, free of harm, full of warmth, sustenance, good fortune and longevity. These are the wishes we all want to share upon the celebration of moving a family into their new home. With these sweet thoughts in mind, gifts and expressions that reflect these wishes...will always be welcoming, warming and meaningful at a time of joyous celebration and appreciation. For more reading on the subject: http://www.asunam.com/smudge_ceremony.html http://www.ehow.com/info_8128375_historical-housewarming-gifts.html http://mygeologypage.ucdavis.edu/cowen/~GEL115/salt.html http://www.koshergiftbox.com/HousewarmingTraditions.asp http://www.giftypedia.com/Gift_Giving_Superstitions http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Housewarming-Gift,-Unique-Tradition-of-Gift-Giving&id=163801 http://www.italiansrus.com/articles/newhome.htm http://www.chiff.com/entertain/housewarming.htm http://www.ehow.com/list_7450845_good_luck-gifts-housewarming.html http://www.malaysiabrides.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php?t8768.html http://www.thailandlife.com/thai-culture/blessing-a-new-house.html http://hubpages.com/hub/Giving-A-Housewarming-Gift
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RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS BRENTWOOD, CA Traditional Cape Cod Custom Home 5,382 square foot two-story home including a 1,191 square foot basement
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA Custom Home 5,019 square foot two-story home on a corner lot
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA Traditional New England Custom Home 4,121 square foot two-story home
HIDDEN HILLS, CA Traditional Manor Custom Estate 7,774 square foot two-story home on an acre lot.
BRENTWOOD, CA Traditional New England LEED Certified 6,244 square foot two-story custom home including 1,189 square foot basement
BRENTWOOD, CA Traditional Coastal LEED Certified 5,252 square foot two-story custom home on a 10,127 square foot lot
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Color Your Home for Curb Appeal on page 11
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HIGHLIGHTED PROJECT: TRADITIONAL CAPE COD IN BRENTWOOD, CA
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HIGHLIGHTED PROJECT: TRADITIONAL CAPE COD
Status: Project Completed 2015 Architectural Character: Traditional Cape Cod 5,382 square foot two-story custom home including 1,191 square foot basement on a corner lot in Brentwood, CA. Architecture by: P2 Design Interior Design: Jill Wolff Interior Design
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Photography by: Latham Architectural
HIGHLIGHTED PROJECT: TRADITIONAL CAPE COD CONTINUED
Dinning Room
Master Bedroom
Living Room
Kitchen
Photography by: Latham Architectural
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HIGHLIGHTED PROJECT: TRADITIONAL CAPE COD CONTINUED
Kitchen / Great Room
Basement / Theater 10 10
THE ARCHITECTURAL PULSE Color Your Home for Curb Appeal By: Karen Putman, P2 Design What is curb appeal? It’s everything about the design and maintenance of the home that contribute to how attractive the property looks from the street. It is how your house reflects its original architectural style in that all details have been considered and implemented. There are many ways to enhance a home’s curb appeal, but it starts with the right color. The selection of the front door, hardware, light fixtures, mailbox, gate, house numbers, handrails, roof tile, plants, and hardscape all contribute to the finished appearance. Successful design is about integrating the all colors, finishes, and materials together harmoniously. Color is a visual language. When color is used on the outside of our home, we send out a message that speaks to the neighborhood or entire community. Color says what your home means to you; it affects a mood within us that reflects who we are. It creates a visual experience pleasing to the mind and to the eye. What’s important in choosing a color for your house is to simply have faith that your intuition or gut feeling will guide you to a selection that is comforting to you. This instinct is worth trusting. Lightness or darkness of the color is something to consider for both visual and practical reasons. For instance, light colors will make the house appear larger, while dark colors will make the house appear smaller. In the summer when the sun is the strongest, light paint colors will deflect the warmth of the sun to help keep the house cool inside. A house painted a dark color will draw the sun to it and do the opposite to make the interior warmer. Also, light colors tend to last longer than dark colors. Today one of the most popular traditional color schemes is white: white siding with white trim. Choosing a good white can be challenging because the subtle nuances of the white color palette make it difficult to select from. For example, Benjamin Moore paint has 493 shades of white! Selecting the right white has to have just the right shading, tint, and tone to coordinate with the warmth or coolness of the accent colors (front door, shutters, roof) as well as the environment and surroundings. Roof color selection is a significant part of the overall design of the house. The roof is not just a functional cover, but also a design detail whose color needs to coordinate with the colors of the rest of the home. Besides adding color, roof shingles offer texture, pattern, and a visual interest. Since it will last longer than the house color, keep in mind the color you choose now will have to work with the house color in the future. Stay with a good neutral like black, gray, or even an earth tone. It’s better to go darker for contrast and greater flexibility and compatibility with the house color. The combination of color, architecture, and landscape can set a mood and work together harmoniously to create a look of timeless appeal. (see page 6 & 7 for photo)
1st Century Bank is a premium service business bank focused on providing small, community bank relationships with big bank technologies and services. 1st Century Bank provides expertise and creative solutions for your construction project, with dedicated relationship managers ready to assist you build your vision step by step - from budgeting to permanent financing. For more information, contact David Comfort at 310.270.9517, or dcomfort@1cbank.com. 11 11
CURRENT PROJECTS SANTA MONICA, CA Traditional Custom Home 6,200 square foot two-story including a 2,000 square foot basement
CHEVIOT HILLS Traditional Custom Home 5,200 square foot two-story
BRENTWOOD, CA Single Family Residence 4,926 square foot two-story
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BRENTWOOD, CA Traditional Cape Cod Custom Home 6,686 square foot two-story
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA Traditional Custom Home 4,023 square foot two-story
SANTA MONICA, CA Custom Home 4,903 square foot two-story including a 1,682 square foot basement
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CURRENT PROJECTS BRENTWOOD, CA Traditional Custom Home 6,000 square foot two-story including a 2,000 square foot basement
PACIFIC PALISADES East Coast Traditional Custom Home 9,330 square foot two-story
BRENTWOOD, CA Cape Cod Custom Home 4,108 square foot two-story
BRENTWOOD, CA Coastal Traditional Custom Home 4,138 square foot two-story
BRENTWOOD, CA Transitional Custom Home 4,498 square foot two-story
BRENTWOOD, CA
No Photo Available No Photo Currently Available
Traditional Architecture Single Family Residence
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CURRENT PROJECTS CONT. (SPECIAL PROJECT) The Enclave at Century Woods An Oasis of Mediterranean Elegance in the Heart of Century City CW Enclave, LLC acquired an undeveloped 70,000 square-foot lot at the corner of Century Park West and Solar Way. The Enclave is an upscale community consisting of 10 individually designed Spanish revival villas from approximately 5,700 to over 6,500 square feet. The development is a cluster of courtyard homes located within the established Century Woods development, a guard gated residential community in the heart of Century City. At the core of each home, private courtyards framed by French doors lead to spacious living, dining and family rooms. These outdoor areas feature authentic tile pavers, landscaped gardens, fireplaces, and water fountains that create a tranquil ambiance for entertaining guests or a relaxing indoor/outdoor lifestyle. The new homes will benefit from the same amenities currently available to the residents of Century Woods including: secure entry, tennis court, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center and a clubhouse. The team: Owner/Developer: Lender: Contractor: Architect: Engineer: Interior Designer: Landscape Architect: Broker: Project Website:
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CW Enclave, LLC City National Bank Structure Home P2 Design John Labib and Assoc. Hub of the House Rios Clementi Hale Studios Sally Forster Jones (310) 281.3999 theenclavecenturywoods.com
HOME MAINTENANCE QUARTERLY TIPS 10 Home Maintenance Upkeep Tips for “Summer” By: Alyssa Trebil, Structure Home Below are 10 summer maintenance upkeep tips for you. Be sure to reference your home warranty book that came with your home. The home warranty book should have the best recommendations for your home’s ongoing upkeep maintenance, cleaning instructions and other useful information. If you have an annual home warranty plan, you should review your plan’s coverage and reach out to the warranty repair companies or research good licensed repair companies. 1. INSPECT YOUR GARAGE. Check garage doors and openers, adjust as needed, and lubricate as necessary (consider having garage door serviced by a professional annually). This is a good time to clean your garage floor (hose it down, sweep it, or mop it pending flooring type) to prevent slip hazards, pest invasions, stains and pockmarks. 2. MONITOR YOUR HVAC LINES AND DRAINAGE. Monitor air conditioning condensation lines regularly to ensure water is draining from the primary line and not the secondary, call a licensed professional to repair if draining from the secondary line. This is also a good time to change return air filters. Weather permitting, try to keep cool with fans and/or open windows to allow cross ventilation instead of running your HVAC system. 3. CLEAN GARBAGE DISPOSAL, KITCHEN AND BAR APPLIANCES. Clean kitchen appliances inside and out, including refrigerator coils. Once a year, vacuum the refrigerator coils underneath the appliance. Check all interior lights of appliances are in working order. In addition, clean your garbage disposal. Grind a small quantity of ice or lemon slices to clean garbage disposal or add a half-cup of baking soda followed by a half-cup of white vinegar and after 10 minutes, flush with boiling water. 4. CLEAN AND PREPARE YOUR YARD. Clean outdoor furniture, children’s playing equipment and air out cushions. Make sure you have adjusted the exterior lights and sprinkler timers for summer and drought watering. Summer watering is suggested to be best after sunset and before sunrise to reduce evaporation caused by wind and heat. With new drought regulations, be sure to find out your areas time-of-day restrictions. Taking one day off a week from watering your lawn, could reduce your water use by as much as 10%. Additionally, you or your professional landscaper should prune trees and shrubs around the yard. A few minutes spent pruning could improve your plants in the yard, and in return you get thicker foliage, more flowers, and healthier plants. 5. CLEAN DRYER VENTS. Look into hiring a professional to clean your vents or if you are going to do it yourself, be sure to unplug the dryer before you clean it. Vacuum the clothes dryer's exhaust duct at least once a year. Don’t forget to plug it back in and make sure gas is on, when you are finished. 6. TEST AND RESET GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS (GFCI) BREAKERS. Press the test button and use a voltage tester to make sure the power goes off. 7. INSPECT AND RECAULK TUB/SHOWER AREAS WHERE NEEDED. Be sure to do it right or call a professional. You will need to determine the correct type of caulk for your project. The key is to completely remove the old caulk, clean, smooth, dry the surface and replace it with the new caulk. 8. CLEAN WOOD CABINETRY WITH MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED PRODUCT. Be sure to refer to your homeowner book or contact the subcontractor directly for product recommendations. Do not use water. Inspect hinges and glides, and service as necessary. 9. CLEAN CARPET AND OTHER FLOORING. Refer to your manual or contact the subcontractor for cleaning product recommendations. Hire a professional to clean the flooring. 10. REVIEW AND UPDATE YOUR EARTHQUAKE/EMERGENCY KIT(S). For ideas on what should be in your emergency kit here is a list by the CA Department of Public Health: http://bit.ly/1EoD707. 15 15
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to our preferred partners:
www.structurehome.com/directory.htm
Structure Home 21101 Oxnard Street Woodland Hills, CA 91367 P: (818) 598-1330 F: (818) 598-1340 www.StructureHome.com
Structure Home offers a referral incentive program that is designed to encourage, recognize and thank those clients who introduce Structure Home to friends, family and acquaintances. In the program, Structure Home will gift $2,500 to those who make a referral that results in a new client and will provide an additional $2,500 upgrade credit to the new clients who've been referred. In this way, all of our clients, past and new, share our appreciation for their loyalty and support. Email: alyssa@structurehome.com to find out more.
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Š 2015