CALIFORNIA HOMES
THE MAGAZINE OF ARCHITECTURE THE ARTS & DISTINCTIVE DESIGN
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ESSENTIAL GUIDE ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS & INTERIOR DESIGNERS
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THE MAGAZINE OF ARCHITECTURE THE ARTS & DISTINCTIVE DESIGN
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CONTENTS | Essential Guide
31 A MYTHICAL PLACE
California Architecture
Text by Eleanor Schrader
36 HARRISON DESIGN
50
Distinctive Architecture For California Lifestyles
38 LANDRY DESIGN GROUP A Client-Responsive Approach To Creating Homes
That Challenge The Imagination
40 PAUL BRANT WILLIGER ARCHITECT Order, Resolution & Beauty 42 EBTA ARCHITECTS
Turning Dreams Into Reality
44 MICHAEL G. IMBER ARCHITECTS Western Spirit With A Classical Twist
46 ERIK B. PETERSON
Erik B. Peterson AIA, Founder Of PHX Architecture, Offers Customized Services
48 WADE WEISSMANN ARCHITECTURE
WWA Services Projects From Their Santa Barbara Office In Southern California & Throughout The United States
50 NMA ARCHITECTS
No One Knows Quite How To Create
A Sense Of Place Like NMA
52 BRION JEANNETTE ARCHITECTURE
BJA Has Enjoyed Four Decades Of National And International Acclaim
54 OATMAN ARCHITECTS
Architecture Is A Lifelong Passion
This Architect Draws Inspiration From Iconic Architecture
56 JOSEPH SPIERER ARCHITECTS
58 MICHAEL LEE ARCHITECTS
Architects ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019
RIGHT Villa Merchu by Richard Landry of Landry Design Group. See profile beginning on page 38. Photograph by Erhard Pfeiffer.
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CONTENTS | Essential Guide
Builders 61 INTRODUCTION TO BUILDERS
Building Your Own Unique Home
Text by Bret Parsons
66 CRAWFORD CUSTOM HOMES Orange County’s Master Builder Of Luxury Homes
For Over 35 Years
68 CORBIN REEVES CONSTRUCTION
Corbin Reeves Construction Continues To Help Their Clients Receive The Custom Home Of Their Dreams
70 KITCHELL CUSTOM HOMES The Name Homeowners Have Trusted For More Than 60 Years
66
72 DOWBUILT A Builder You’ll Keep In Your Contacts
And Recommend To Friends
Interior Designers 77 INTRODUCTION TO INTERIOR DESIGNERS
An Indoor And Outdoor Living Experience
Text by Kavita Daswani
82 BARCLAY BUTERA INTERIORS A Design Firm Known For Its Chic Interiors
84 MCRAE LAMBERT DUNN This Design Firm Has A Hands-On Approach 86 CABANA HOME This Santa Barbara Showroom Is The
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Destination For Luxury Design
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82
T I M E L E S S E L E G A N C E
LOS ANGELES ORANGE COUNTY SAN FRANCISCO SAN DIEGO 310.441.5001 / DOCORP.NET
CALIFORNIA HOMES
THE MAGAZINE OF ARCHITECTURE THE ARTS & DISTINCTIVE DESIGN
E SSE NTIAL G UID E TO A RC H I TECTS , BU ILDE RS & INTE RIO R D E S I G N E R S 201 9
PUBLISHER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ART DIRECTOR
Heidi Gerpheide Susan McFadden Megan Keough
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kavita Daswani Bret Parsons Eleanor Schrader
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Erhard Pfeiffer A SSOCIATE PUBLISHER, Linda McCall ORANGE COUNTY/SAN DIEGO
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EDITOR’S LETTER | Essential Guide
I always forget just how enjoyable it is to produce our yearly special interest publication, The Essential Guide, until we begin again working on the issue. This year is even better because we have more architects and builders participating and have also, at the last minute, decided to add interior designers to the mix. I have seen many homes throughout California but realized while watching the news on the flooding caused by the recent rains there are many neighborhoods I have not discovered. Beautiful old neighborhoods that were established years ago, and new areas just beginning to mature. Thank you to the architects, builders and interior designers who joined us this year. They have given us examples of homes to build or created dreams for future homes. In the meantime, I’m going to take a tour of many of the neighborhoods I have missed. It’s a big state so this may take some time. I’ll let you know what I discover. Susan McFadden Editor in Chief
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CONTRIBUTORS
BRET PARSONS Bret Parsons is the Associate Manager, Founder and Executive Director, of the architectural division of Compass. In addition to selling homes Parsons has taken on a new challenge documenting the architectural legacy of Los Angeles in a series of books. Three have been published with more volumes on the way. See his story on Building Your Dream beginning on page 62.
ELEANOR SCHRADER Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning professor of architectural history who lectures worldwide on the history of architecture, interiors, furniture, and decorative arts. She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and has served on the Board of Directors of the Beverly Hills Historical Society, Beverly Hills Heritage, the Malibu Adamson House Foundation, the Ennis House Foundation, and the John Lautner Foundation. Eleanor is a realtor with Coldwell Banker, Beverly Hills North, in the Architectural Properties Division and a frequent contributor to their weekly A & D column for their magazine “View”. See her introduction to architecture beginning on page 32.
KAVITA DASWANI Kavita Daswani was born in Hong Kong and lived in London and Paris before moving to Los Angeles, where she is a contributor to a range of global lifestyle, fashion and design publications. She currently writes design, travel and lifestyle stories for the Los Angeles Times, international editions of Vogue, Conde Nast Traveller and Architectural Digest. She is also a former lifestyle and fashion correspondent for CNN International and CNBC Asia. She has published eight novels, which have been translated into 17 languages. See her story on California Design beginning on page 78.
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BOOKS
Arthur Elrod: Desert Modern Design Text by Adele Cygelman Adele Cygelman’s latest book, Arthur Elrod: Desert Modern Design is being published in February, 2019. The introduction by Adele states that no one outside Palm Springs knows Arthur Elrod’s name. But everyone knows the Elrod House, created for him by architect John Lautner and completed in 1968. And if you don’t know the Elrod House by name from having seen photos of it published endlessly in magazines or online, then you surely know it from a memorable sequence in the 1971 James Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever.
Arthur Elrod was the most successful interior designer working in the Palm Springs area from 1954 to 1974. His company, Arthur Elrod Associates, completed countless projects in the desert and across the United States. He designed vacation homes, main homes, second homes, third home, model homes, spec houses and designer showhouses. His rise paralleled the growing modernist movement in desert architecture, and he worked alongside the leading California architects of that day including E. Stewart Williams, William F. Cody, Paul R. Williams, Bluff & Hensman, A Quincy Jones, Wexler & Harrison, Palmer & Krisel, Howard Lapham, Richard Dorman, Edward Fickett and, most famously, John Lautner.
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ARCHITECTS 44
MICHAEL G. IMBER
A RC H I T ECTS | Essential Guide
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ERIK B. PETERSON | PHX
A MYTHICAL PLACE CALIFORNIA ARCHITECTURE
A
TEXT BY ELEANOR SCHRADER RECURRING ELEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
has been the frequently played game between conveying a sense of the reality of the moment or of the past, and the sense of a dreamlike quality of the improbable and the unreal. Throughout the ages, this architectural game has been looked upon as an open, much-relished sport by architects (and by
32 | CALIFORNIA HOMES
their clients) who skillfully manipulated a wide variety of traditional images. This play between the real and unreal always has been one of the crucial modes employed by architects to impress their own character on their designs. Nowhere is this more evident than in California, where even the name itself is thought to be based upon a mythical land.
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MICHAEL G. IMBER
California architecture is a world unto its own. Within California, there are dozens of styles of architecture, ranging from Adobe to Victorian to the Romantic Revivals to Postmodern. With a history of human habitation stretching across forty millennia, the land mass we now know as California has seen and increasingly fostered almost unlimited numbers of social, technological, economic, artistic, and architectural innovations that affect our architectural environment. Our California roots are Native American, Mexican, and Spanish. The Spanish missionaries were sent to claim this land for the Spanish crown and to try to thwart the territorial ambitions of the Czarist Russians. In discussing this plethora of architectural styles that have developed over two hundred years, invariably one would begin by bifurcating the state north and south and hence focus on greater metropolitan San Francisco and greater metropolitan Los Angeles. For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, these two cities, it could be argued, were the economic and cultural powerhouses of the state. And so, in searching for an explanation of the diversity of styles within a universe ranging from the foundations of a Chumash Native American village under excavation in Malibu to the award-winning designs of contemporary California architectural luminaries, we are faced with the challenges of a thoughtful balance between traditional architecture and new design.
THE 49ERS By the time California was admitted to the Union in 1850, San Francisco had 400,000 residents. Only photographs remain to show what the city looked like before the devastating earthquake of 1906, which left half the citizenry homeless. The surviving buildings and those of other Northern California regions show that the Americans flooding from the East Coast to the West Coast brought with them the established 19th-century Victorian styles of the East Coast and Midwest, including Italianate, Second Empire, and Queen Anne, which continue to grace the surviving parts of the city. Indeed, it is these survivors which were key to the “Painted Ladies� historic preservation movement that swept the city in the 1970s and 1980s Victorian revival. Proving that it was not to be a city taken lightly, San Francisco responded to the earthquake with a new boom of construction of imposing Beaux Arts commercial buildings and charming Craftsman Bungalows in residential neighborhoods. The Bungalow style spread throughout the state. The houses provided convenient and cost-effective options. Do-it-your-selfers bought full Bungalow home-building kits from Sears catalogues and had the ready-to-be-assembled crates delivered right to their property. These houses were also popular because of the interior arrangements of space that created open floor plans and
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Richard Manion Architecture
eliminated the hallways and single-purpose, closed-in rooms of the increasingly outdated Victorian home. And yet of note is the survival of the Beaux Arts Hotel Fairmont, under construction at the time of the quake, and whose owners hired architect Julia Morgan to manage the repair and renovation of the structure because of her engineering expertise. THE RISE OF LA LA LAND This same period concurrently saw the rise of a new California boomtown, Los Angeles, which unlike its rival city to the north, saw slow growth throughout the 19th century. As in Northern California, the earliest settlers brought over styles popular in the East Coast. Witness the Banning Residence, a Greek Revival building erected in Wilmington in a style which was popular among upper-class citizens on the East Coast. But several events around the turn of the century lit a fire under Los Angeles society and among architects in Southern California. The discovery of oil saw the rise of high-stakes capitalism and grand distinguished residences like the Doheny Mansion of Beverly Hills, built in the style of an English Country Manor. World War I brought about the consolidation and growth of U.S. aircraft manufacturing, another boom industry which would see even greater importance in passenger travel and strategic significance in World War II and the Cold War period. Perhaps it was fitting that the first Best Picture Academy Award went to the World War I aviation film Wings, a marriage of two industries, aviation and film making, which further fed the Los Angeles construction boom. While Los Angeles boasts its fine share of Victorian beauties, the true heyday of original Los Angeles architecture was in the 1920’s with a style almost uniquely Angelino—the Storybook Style. Inspired by the French and English cozy cottages seen by doughboys in Europe, these fun, light and whimsical houses can be seen in huge numbers in an area flanked by many of the great studios—MGM, 20th Century, Paramount and RKO. A very key influence in Los Angeles and Southern California architecture came from a renewed interest in our Mission period in California history. Fueled by the Panama-California Exposition of 1915 in San Diego, the Spanish Colonial Revival style was introduced, and the style with tile, stucco facades, and restful courtyards blossomed in Southern California. These structures paid homage to California’s Spanish heritage, and yet were modest and affordable housing for middle-class families. The birth of Hollywood coincided with the spread of the Parisian Art Deco style to America, and the Zig Zag Moderne style of
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1
the 1920s and the Streamline APPLETON Moderne style of the 1930s hit their ARCHITECTS stride in Los Angeles. The glamorous, glittering Art Deco style was seen everywhere, from gleaming downtown high rises to West Hollywood apartment buildings. Hollywood’s lasting effect on architecture continued throughout the ensuing years. Starting with film, but jumping very quickly to television, the homes of the stars and homes depicted in Hollywood scripts began to have increasing effect of the tastes of average families. The classic Dutch and American Colonial Revival sets of series like Leave it to Beaver or Father Knows Best showed an idealized suburban neighborhood facing none of the social and intellectual complexities of the new American suburbia depicted in films ranging from Pleasantville to Revolutionary Road. The sunken living room elegance of the popular Dick Van Dyke show may well have paved the road for acceptance of Midcentury Modern and Ranch Houses, which swept the country in the 1950s and 1960s.
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NMA ARCHITECTS
AND NOW WHERE TO? Where does California architecture go from here? We’ve already been there. We are the groundbreakers. The Case Study Program firmly established California as the innovator, the one who foretold the future. Even the quintessential reason to visit California, Disneyland, showcased its popular “House of the Future” exhibit. Opening in 1957 and seeking to project a “modern home” of 1986, the attraction closed in 1967 after welcoming 20 million visitors to an increasingly obsolete attraction. So as the 21st century ends its second decade, we might ask where California architects are leading us in this millennium. The ongoing fight against the “McMansionization” of historic districts is still going strong, despite a decades-long uphill battle. Beverly Hills,
once flourishing under the architectural tutelage of architects such as Paul Williams and Gordon Kaufmann, is now awash in garish, out-ofplace Corinthian columns which neither grace the original structures nor speak to the community of place that our neighborhoods should have. While still grappling with the problems posed by mega-mansions, architects must be keenly aware of the importance of historic preservation, environmentally conscious design, and denser living. Perhaps our best bet for sustainability is to take a cue from the downsizing ways of the Millennial generation, some of whom do not aspire to roomy, singlefamily homes with a back yard, but rather to smaller living spaces in condos with a clean, modern look, easily accessible to work and public transportation.
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A RC H I T ECTS | Essential Guide
Harrison Design DISTINCTIVE ARCHITECTURE FOR CALIFORNIA LIFESTYLES With studios in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Harrison Design offers high-end architecture and interior design, including new construction and renovation. The company also offers landscape architecture in its Los Angeles office. Rather than a signature look or style, our homes reflect the needs and desires of the owners. Our portfolio spans classical to modern. Managing principal Anthony Spann, AIA, established the Santa Barbara office in 2004 and Los Angeles in 2007. Barbara Lowenthal is principal of interior design and Anthony Grumbine, AIA, is Santa Barbara principal. Harrison Design, 1875 Century Park East, Suite 1300 Los Angeles, CA 90067, 310.888.8747, losangeles@ harrisondesign.com 921 De La Vina Avenue Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 805.899.3434, santabarbara@harrisondesign.com, harrisondesign.com
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(2) PHOTOGRAPHS BY JIM BARTSCH
PHOTOGRAPH BY JAKE CRYAN
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ARC H I T ECTS | Essential Guide
Landry Design Group A CLIENT-RESPONSIVE APPROACH TO CREATING HOMES THAT CHALLENGE THE IMAGINATION Founded in 1987 by architect Richard Landry, AIA, Landry Design Group (LDG) has evolved into a team of 50 professionals whose creative and technical expertise results in extraordinary living environments. The culture of collaboration promoted within the office extends to relationships with clients, who inherently become part of the design process. The LDG team is fluent in a wide variety of genres, each of them rigorously researched and meticulously executed. An appreciation for both traditional European styles and contemporary aesthetics enables them to reflect the distinct lifestyles of each of their clients, whether in the United States or abroad. LDG has repeatedly been honored on Architectural Digest’s AD100 list; its projects have been named “Ultimate Home” five times by Robb Report; and the firm has received scores of coveted national and international design awards, including the prestigious “Stars of Design” Award from the Pacific Design Center; 70 Gold Nugget Awards from the PCBC; three Best in American Living Awards from the NAHB; the national Builder’s Choice Award; and the International Property Award, Americas Division. A new monograph celebrating the firm’s work, Modern to Classic, Volume II, has just been published by ORO Editions. Landry Design Group, Inc., 1818 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025, 310.444.1404, landrydesigngroup.com
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A RC H I T ECTS | Essential Guide
Paul Brant Williger Architect
ORDER, RESOLUTION & BEAUTY For more than three decades, Paul Brant Williger has dedicated his talents to fulfilling the residential requirements and dreams of a host of discriminating high-end clients. The reputation he has built is that of a gifted architect with a proven ability to engage with patrons in such a way as to permit them to articulate and realize their own visions. Williger began his career in the office of Robert A.M. Stern and, like Stern, displays a keen understanding of the requisites for luxury living, his bespoke skills having been honed in the affluent enclaves of Southern California, from Laguna Beach and Montecito to Malibu and Beverly Hills. Although known for his fluency in a number of architectural traditions, Williger is not one to place style over substance. “The signature or brand is not crucial for me. What is important is that I have realized my clients’ desires and gone beyond their expectations. That’s when I know I have done my job.” This mantra has served him well and has been one of the keys to his building the exclusive and discerning client base that has followed him to his namesake architectural firm, Paul Brant Williger. “My approach,” he explains, “is to begin with the clients’ dreams, together with the site and the project parameters, and to articulate these into a built form. My task is to find the opportunities in each situation which, when addressed intelligently, add depth and richness to a project.” My clients come to me because they know that along the way we will navigate that process without losing sight of the aesthetics. The goal is order, resolution and beauty--not just getting a building permit.” Paul Brant Williger Architect, 110 N Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211, 310.490.2742, willigerarchitect.com
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A RC H I T ECTS | Essential Guide
EBTA Architects
TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY A harmonious balance of aesthetics, creativity, and functionality is essential to good design. EBTA follows a holistic approach to architecture, in which every aspect from floor plans to details is equally important. Only when each space is developed, refined, and resolved can the design truly be cohesive and complete. Building a custom home begins with building a strong client relationship. It is important for both architect and client to be proud of the quality and integrity of the finished product. We are entrusted with our client’s vision and understand the intimacy of the process. The creative freedom gained through earning their trust allows us to take their vision to the next level, ultimately transforming the dream into reality. Principals: Carlos Elenes, John Ilkcagla, Amat Tajudin. EBTA Architects, 17871 Mitchell North, Suite 150 Irvine, California 92614. 949.955.3282, ebta.com
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A RC H I T ECTS | Essential Guide
Michael G. Imber Architects
WESTERN SPIRIT WITH A CLASSICAL TWIST Michael Imber was born and bred in Texas, and his classical, yet modern ranch and country houses dot the plains like so many tumbleweed. There’s something pleasingly familiar and site appropriate about his work; clearly he speaks the Lone Star lingo. But with the opening of a San Francisco office, the award-winning architect is set to expand his vernacular. And, according to him, it won’t be that much of a stretch. “In many ways, Texas and California have a similar history,” he says. “They were both somewhat culturally isolated, they were both once part of Spain and Mexico, and they share similar landscapes that have forged a fortitude in the people. The architecture reflects all of that.” For Imber, who says the heritage of a place influences all of his work, it was a natural second home. But that’s not to say he considers his current home of San Antonio and his adopted San Francisco one in the same. “San Francisco is among the most beautiful and unique cities in the world,” Imber says. “Working on some projects here, and now opening this office, helps us understand the city and the transitions it’s going through. It also helps us better know the landscape, which ranges from cool, foggy urban landscapes to wide open, sunny spaces.” The new setting is providing him with some new cultural references to incorporate in his work. “I love the texture and character of the Bay Area,” he says. “Clinker brick, shingled houses in the style of Willis Polk or Ernest Coxhead—I look forward to referencing this West Coast character while looking toward the future.” Michael G. Imber Architects, 210.824.7703, michaelgimber.com
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ARC HI T ECTS | Essential Guide
Erik B. Peterson ERIK B. PETERSON AIA, FOUNDER OF PHX ARCHITECTURE, OFFERS CUSTOMIZED SERVICES
Architect, Erik B. Peterson specializes in lifestyle projects including custom luxury residences, boutique hospitality, clubhouses and signature dining. Erik’s projects have won numerous design awards, and his firm, PHX Architecture is now recognized throughout the southwest for outstanding design. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona with a second office in Beverly Hills, California, PHX Architecture is a collection of talented architects, designers, and project managers dedicated to providing quality architectural service and design to a variety of clients. With projects located throughout the west, including Arizona, Idaho, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and California – PHX Architecture is experienced in creating innovative, elegant and timeless design that meets and exceeds each client’s expectations. PHX Architecture, 9696 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 205, Beverly Hills, California 90212, 888.217.1117, phxarch.com
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Wade Weissmann Architecture WWA SERVICES PROJECTS FROM THEIR SANTA BARBARA OFFICE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA & THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES Wade Weissmann Architecture is a nationally recognized, full-service boutique architecture firm with projects spanning the United States and abroad. From small-scale renovations to master planning estates and residential enclaves, WWA draws inspiration from environments that have endured time, in order that we might create classics, refreshed to reflect today’s modern lifestyle. With an office in Santa Barbara, WWA has serviced the Southern California region, working on a number of projects including major historic house renovations, a grouping of new residential buildings on a biodynamic farm, and new construction in historic neighborhoods. WWA strives to reflect the delicate balance of showcasing a client’s personal style while maintaining the community and environment’s history and integrity with each design. The Santa Barbara office works collaboratively with colleagues based in Milwaukee, Chicago, Nashville and Pittsburgh. As the founder and principal of WWA, Wade has carved out a niche for clients desiring heirloom design that is worthy of being passed down from generation to generation. From his sophisticated manor houses to his modest lakeside cabins, Wade’s appreciation for excellence and permanence is apparent. Wade Weissmann Architecture, 740 State Street, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 805.845.7654, wadeweissmannarchitecture.com
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NMA Architects
NO ONE KNOWS QUITE HOW TO CREATE A SENSE OF PLACE LIKE NMA NMA Architects work with clients who appreciate what the Santa Barbara life is all about. People who not only want a home designed around their own unique lifestyle, but one that’s also sensitive to the local environment and connected to the beauty around it. This way of working comes directly from the deeprooted beliefs of partners Dave Mendro and Mary
Andrulaitis. They have been in California over 25 years, earning their credentials as old-school locals, and constantly evolving their understanding of the central coast, creating close relationships with local craftsmen, designers and agencies so their clients get the very best results. It’s also important to NMA that they spend as much time as possible with each client, from first sketches to the last day of the build, being there every step of the way. It’s all of these things together that make the difference between a good project and a great one. NMA knows their work needs to be more than just beautiful, it also needs to complement and respect this place we’ve all grown to love. NMA Architects, 888 Linden Avenue, Carpinteria, CA 93013, 805.684.8885, nmaarchitects.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY CIRO COELHO PHOTOGRAPHY
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Brion Jeannette Architecture BJA HAS ENJOYED FOUR DECADES OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM Brion Jeannette Architecture creates excitement and comfort in all of their homes, as these homes exemplify. Decades of experience enable them to maximize the benefits of each site and bring the site’s amenities to the forefront of the interior experience. Their design sophistication comes from careful planning with their client, understanding their goals, and Jeannette’s design magic. BJA’s professional team employs energy strategies in every home they design. Over the years Jeannette’s knowledge and unique skill for harnessing the sun set him apart from all others; a master at blending the outside and inside. Principles of Feng Shui and a keen understanding of natural daylighting provide an immediate sense of comfort and...simply feel good. The firm was established on three principles: Enhance the quality of clients’ lives through design; maintain a firm sized to give personal attention to each client; and retain professionals who share the vision of excellence. The firm has enjoyed four decades of national and international acclaim; sought by discerning clients seeking their reputation for distinctive design. The integrity of the firm’s work relationship is appreciated by their clients who benefit from this finely tuned team working diligently on their behalf, from the beginning of design to the end of construction, and throughout the life of their home. “Architecture is not just something we do, it is who we are.” Note: This page: Interiors by Courtney Ziething. Construction by Chris Gallo. Opposite page: Construction by Corbin-Reeves, Interiors by Michael Fullen. BJA works closely with all the trades and professionals to form a cohesive team resulting in an exceptional home. Brion Jeannette Architecture , 470 Old Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663, 949.645.5854, CustomArchitecture.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC FIGGE PHOTOGRAPHY
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Oatman Architects ARCHITECTURE IS A LIFELONG PASSION
Designing homes that feel like resorts, and hotels that feel like home, Oatman Architects, Inc. is a design collaborative specializing in distinctive residential and hospitality projects around the world. Founded by Homer and Laura Oatman in Newport Beach, California, Oatman Architects, Inc. provides unparalleled personal service to discriminating clients for ultra-luxury resort-like high-end custom homes in distinctive Orange County communities such as The Strand, Shady Canyon and Crystal Cove, as well as specializing in sustainable “green” luxury hotel, hospitality and spa projects throughout the world. Homer Oatman’s architectural career reflects the fulfillment of a lifelong passion for art, architecture and travel. In addition to designing some of the most significant homes on the Newport Coast, his resume includes projects in Latin America, Hawaii, Asia and the Middle East. Oatman Architects, Inc., 412 31st Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663, 949.675.1755, www.oatmanarchitects.com
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Joseph Spierer Architects THIS ARCHITECT DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM ICONIC ARCHITECTURE “I was exposed to architecture and design at a young age. I grew up in Palos Verdes and was always seeing amazing homes throughout the region,” says Joe Spierer, principal, Joseph Spierer Architects, Inc. “After college, I interned for several notable architecture firms in Los Angeles before opening my own firm in the South Bay.” The coastal cities from Venice to Manhattan Beach have become home to hundreds of companies of the burgeoning tech industry. “We have been working with many of its residents to create a variety of coastal residences from urban modern to Cape Cod traditional,” Spierer says. “And we are always staying up-to-date on cutting edge resources and technology for ‘Silicon Beach’ homeowners and investors.” Spierer draws much of his inspiration from iconic architecture. “For example, I’ve studied the thought and design processes that Richard Meier went through to develop the Getty Museum into a stunning piece of original architecture,” says Spierer. Throughout the South Bay, Spierer has developed a reputation for harmoniously blending indoor and outdoor spaces and making best use of the spectacular views for which the area is known. Joseph Spierer Architects, Inc, 707 Torrance Blvd. Suite 100 Redondo Beach, CA 90277, 310.876.8761, calarchitect.com
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Michael Lee Architects
THIS AWARD WINNING FIRM PROVIDES UNIQUE AND DRAMATIC ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS Since its inception in 1991 Michael Lee Architects has focused on the design and construction of primarily residential projects throughout the Los Angeles Basin. The firm has been honored by the American Institute of Architects and published internationally. The current portfolio includes residential, mixeduse, office re-habilitation and restaurant work with the priority remaining always on providing unique and dramatic architectural solutions. This single family home on a walk street in Hermosa Beach maximizes the indoor outdoor culture of its South Bay location. The central courtyard shown here integrates seamlessly with the kitchen and living room while also providing easy yet private access to the beach just down a bamboo lined pathway and past the outdoor shower. An open beam trellis for filtering light above the spa visually connects the second story bedroom spaces on either side of the house and provides for a compelling central design element. Meanwhile, a palette of ipé wood (chosen for it’s durability and sustainability) combined with custom concrete brick and the colored concrete monoblock of the fireplace gives the project a vintage modern vibe. Michael Lee Architects, 2200 Highland Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, 310.545.5771, www.mleearchitects.com
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DESIGN COLLABORATATION BY JONES LANDSCAPES, PÉPE STUDIO AND BALDWIN CONSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAITLIN ATKINSO
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THE AMERICAN DREAM BUILDING YOUR OWN UNIQUE HOME
A TEXT BY BRET PARSONS
HOME OF YOUR OWN. IT’S THE QUINTESSENTIAL
American Dream. And while everyone may share in that dream together, you have your own unique ideas about what kind of house is right for you. Perhaps that is why more and more Californians are choosing to build a house that reflects their own vision rather than merely settling for someone else’s. Last year, new home construction in California rose by more than 10% with much of that rise driven by individual builder/occupants. Building your own home is one of the most exciting and rewarding decisions you can make. It is also the most expensive, which can be downright terrifying when you consider the dizzying complexities of home construction. Fortunately, all the help you’ll need is available through any licensed California contractor. If your builder is licensed through the state, it means he or she has undergone a rigorous approval process overseen by the California Contractor’s State License Board and are sworn to operate in a safe, competent and professional manner.
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And while the architect or designer may create the plans it is the builder who literally brings the dream into reality. They do so much more than merely put one brick on top of the other. They plan and keep the project on time and on budget. They navigate their way through a myriad of ever-changing, ever-growing rules and codes. They keep themselves at the forefront of technology, using computer models and geological studies to ensure your home is truly built on a solid foundation. And by embracing such technologies, builders are able to construct homes on plots of land, which only a short time before, would have been considered unbuildable. The smart builder also often has an ace up their sleeve in the form of a realtor. The builder may know how to build, but it is the realtor that must sell what is built and their knowledge is priceless when it comes to what sells – and what doesn’t – in this
highly-competitive market. Realtors must also keep up with rules and regulations a builder might not otherwise anticipate, which could dramatically affect plans, such as local, state and national historic preservation ordinances. As you can see, building a home in California has come a long way from the days of the Spanish pioneers whose plans were usually little more than sketches drawn out in the dirt with a stick. Today there are more than two centuries of experience behind California’s building professionals, which is great news for anyone planning to build the home of their dreams. But with more than 100,000 general contractors licensed in California, how do you find the right one for you and your project? Thankfully, California Homes has done the leg-work and put together the following helpful guide of highly-qualified professionals from across the Golden State.
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Crawford Custom Homes
ORANGE COUNTY’S MASTER BUILDER OF LUXURY HOMES FOR OVER 35 YEARS Incorporating the highest level of quality, meticulous attention to detail, and a professional approach to construction, since 1981, Crawford Custom Homes continues to be the Master Builder of luxury homes for Orange County families. Devoted to honesty, integrity, and fairness, Crawford Custom Homes is committed to providing unparalleled customer service, expert management, flawless quality and diligent project scheduling for timely completion. Crawford Custom Homes creates a dynamic atmosphere by vesting into a partnership with you, your design professionals, and the best artisans and material suppliers in the industry to provide a unique, sophisticated and luxurious custom home for you and your family to enjoy for many years. Crawford Custom Homes, 245 Fischer Avenue, Suite B-1, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, 714.545.0904, crawfordcustomhomes.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARLENE HALABY
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Corbin Reeves Construction CORBIN REEVES CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES TO HELP THEIR CLIENTS RECEIVE THE CUSTOM HOME OF THEIR DREAMS Approaching three decades in the home building industry gives Michael Reeves an intimate knowledge of his craft. His firm, Corbin Reeves Construction, was founded on a desire to combine his myriad of passions. “I wanted to be a carpenter, then an architect, a developer, a general contractor, and then I realized that home building encompasses something in each of those,” he says. “The process of creating is what motivates me.” Building various architectural styles and locations throughout Southern California – from an ultramodern home in the Hollywood Hills, an authentic French château on the ocean to an Italian cliffside villa overlooking the ocean – Reeves and his team possess experience in precisely executing the client’s vision and fulfilling their dream. “At this stage I like to do projects that are unique and challenging,” he says. “I enjoy learning about the latest products and designs and implementing them.” A philosophy based on a collaborative spirit has resulted in a steady stream of impressive clients and residences for Corbin Reeves Construction. Whether the project is traditional or contemporary, the firm aims to meet the client’s needs and the architect’s vision. Currently a majority of Reeves’ projects are second and third homes, commissioned by clients who trust him to execute their vision while they reside elsewhere. “My favorite part of a project is revealing the end product to the client, especially when they have been gone for months and haven’t seen much of the construction process,” he enthuses. “When we do an unveiling, they are often moved to tears. That is an extraordinary moment for us.” Corbin Reeves Construction, 3199-A2 Airport Loop, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, 714.540.3700, corbinreevesconstruction.com
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Kitchell Custom Homes
THE NAME HOMEOWNERS HAVE TRUSTED FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS Kitchell Custom Homes’ craftsmanship and versatility spans sophisticated, complex projects such as the renovation of the iconic Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara to some of the most elegant residential estates in the West, such as the Villa Della Costa. Drawing on more than 68 years of multi-faceted construction capabilities, employee-owned Kitchell has become the signature homebuilder of Santa Barbara. With its new office in Beverly Hills, Kitchell is now working on a growing roster of luxury homes in Malibu, Orange County, Palm Desert and throughout Southern California. The company has a successful track record managing extensive projects in Hawaii, Colorado, and Arizona. Homeowners turn to Kitchell Custom Homes for its high level of service, unparalleled quality and client-focused experience, in addition to its deep well of technological expertise and resources. There is no job too ambitious—as evidenced by the firm’s completion of large-scale custom home properties of every architectural genre. Homeowners trust Kitchell Custom Homes to create their legacy, knowing that the company’s high-skilled builders provide a superior level of detail and originality, ensuring project excellence every time. Kitchell Custom Homes, 925 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 805.969.1531, kitchellcustomhomes.com
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Dowbuilt
A BUILDER YOU’LL KEEP IN YOUR CONTACTS & RECOMMEND TO FRIENDS At Dowbuilt, one of the highest measures of success is a recommendation to a friend. “Over the last 40 years, referrals have led us all around the country, building extraordinary, one-of-a-kind homes for our discerning clients,” says Jim Dow, founder and principal. “Relationships are the backbone of our business–with architects, clients and our staff – each founded on integrity and trust which sets the stage for a smooth and successful project and what we strive for – the best building experience.” Dowbuilt has built and renovated residences in the Hollywood Hills, Santa Monica, the South Bay and Malibu with several large estates in Woodside, Palo Alto and San Francisco. “We can proudly say that each one of our projects has come to us from a relationship we have nurtured over the years,” says Mike Smith, principal in the Bay Area. Perhaps it’s the undeniable sense of comfort that comes from working with contractors who truly love beautiful, exceptionally crafted architecture. From laborers and carpenters to site and project managers, everyone in the company shares a passion for and real commitment to building inspired architecture. “It filters down to everyone we work with,” says Drew Giblin, principal in the Los Angeles area. “The attention to detail, the care and patience we have for each of our projects is second to none in this industry.” Dowbuilt, 10881 Washington Blvd #204, Culver City, CA 3248 17th Street San Francisco, CA, 415.941.6111, dowbuilt.com
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ARCHITECTURE/ DESIGNED BY KRISTEN BECKER, MUTUUS STUDIO, WITH DESIGN MENTOR TOM KUNDIG PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN SCOTT
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Filling your home with LIFE... one piece at a time.
ASID Orange County 23807 Aliso Creek Road Suite 205 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949.643.1549
www.asidcaoc.org
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CALIFORNIA DESIGN AN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LIVING EXPERIENCE
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N 2019, THE IDEA OF CALIFORNIA DESIGN SEEMS
firmly rooted in a singular vision of high-ceilinged rooms that serve a multitude of purposes - living, dining, cooking, working. Said rooms open out onto beautifully landscaped outdoor areas with sparkling pools, where more of the same living/dining/cooking/working is done. But California design wasn’t necessarily always this way. With architectural styles ranging from English Tudor to Mid-Century Modern and Spanish Revival - all inspired by the diverse geographical terrain and history of the region - this neo-modern style of ‘openness’ is fresh and vibrant, especially compared to the compartmentalized rooms - dining spaces and dens specifically - that were once a hallmark of Californian architectural style. Los Angeles, after all, is home to statement-making designers in the league of Peter Dunham and the mother-son team of Tommy and Kathleen Clements, designers who have worked on the multi-million dollar estates that dot the Southern California landscape. Barclay Butera, the Newport Beachbased designer, has even made the brilliant blues of sky and sea a signature; many of his Californian interiors feature some rendition of the shade - from a classic navy to a soothing aquamarine, helping to foment that indoor-outdoor connection that is a trademark of Southern California living.
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“Design in Southern California has definitely evolved since I’ve been designing homes,” said noted interior and furniture designer Michael Berman, who lives between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, and has done collaborations with names such as Kravet, Walker Zanger and Fromental. “For one, the way Southern Californians live and entertain today is much more of an indoor-outdoor living experience. This translates into an easy California Casual style. Our residential clients are much more aware of design trends and consequently the new ‘it room’ has become the outdoor living room or open chef’s kitchen, often open to the outdoor patio and swimming pool spaces.” Much of this shift can be attributed to lifestyle or cultural factors. Californians enjoy spectacular landscape and scenery, and exposure to a wide breadth of outdoor activities. The current focus on fitness and wellness - unprecedented in modern history - means a lot of living takes place outdoors.
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This has seeped into all sectors, say experts. Outdoor textiles, said Berman, are now “incredibly sophisticated….(they) rival gorgeous luxe indoor fabrics with many more vibrant colors than the requisite beige, natural, white and navy. Think Tangerine, Citron, Plum and Cerulean...outdoor durability with the tactile softness of cotton chenille, the depth of various weaves and sheen of fine silk.” Furniture designers and producers have also responded in kind. Tom Kreiss, who has worked on residential interior design projects in California for 40 years, and whose family popularized the quintessential “California look” says that he drew influence from designers like Michael Taylor, Angelo Donghia and Stephen Chase. Some decades ago, said Kreiss, “the look consisted of natural materials
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like stone, rattan, wrought iron and oversized upholstery. Everything was large in scale. Mediterranean and traditional style with a more formal look.” Contrast that to today’s aesthete, said Kreiss, and the contemporary California look “is comprised of clean lines with a more modern and transitional feel. “Simple is better,’ he said. “Functionality is more important than form. Back to mid century mentality with an emphasis on simplicity and integration of nature. The focus is more organic and less formal.” Audrey Dunn, Principal and Co-owner of McRae Lambert Dunn, says she views California design as being “cyclical” in nature, and drawing much of its inspiration from fashion trends and colors.
“Kitchens in the past were small and designed for tight functionality and possibly had a small peninsula. Now, kitchens incorporate open layouts having large islands, even two, for entertaining and a renewed interest in cooking and having all professional appliances. Colors and materials seem to be the most cyclical. The warm shades from the 60s and 70s of brown orange, avocado with geometric shapes and florals are continually reinventing themselves.” Dunn says she is seeing a return to warm grey shades, as well as what she describes as a “big resurgence in all-white environments.” Long gone, however, s a major trend in
previous decades where everything in a living or bedroom had to match. “(That) has evolved into expressing our individuality with a more collected look, mixing and matching furniture pieces and decor,” said Dunn. “Drawing influence from fashion, California interior design, as well as across the country, has been impacted by many famous fashion designers creating their own lifestyle brands for the interiors industry. They are branding their own furniture, bedding, and houseware lines which broadens selections for customized spaces that truly reflect ones personal taste.”
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Barclay Butera Interiors
A DESIGN FIRM KNOWN FOR ITS CHIC INTERIORS Internationally renowned interior and lifestyle designer Barclay Butera has established himself as the premier designer in Southern California and across the country. Over his impressive career these last 25 years, Butera has been the creative force behind his iconic design firm and showroom in Newport Beach, California since 1994. His success in Newport prompted Butera to establish showrooms in Corona del Mar, California and Park City, Utah. Butera is recognized for his approachable elegance and glamorous, coastal-chic interiors. Butera’s passion for interior design began over two decades ago, and has grown into an impressive lifestyle enterprise that is known and sought after around the world today. Barclay Butera Interiors has been transforming homes across the country for over 20 years and is one of the most sought-after luxury interior design firms specializing in primary and secondary home residences. It’s no surprise Butera has had a long-term love affair with Southern California. Often inspired by cinema and fashion, his firm specializes in classic design with a fresh twist that is flawlessly integrated into traditional, transitional and contemporary interiors alike. The master of effortlessly mixing patterns, textures, colors and pops of animal print, Butera’s signature style is instantly recognizable and has been featured by the most prestigious media and magazines in the country. Barclay’s philosophy is “client for life.” And ultimately it’s the quality customer service, flawless execution and his impeccable taste that keeps them coming back for more. Barclay Butera Interiors, 2824 East Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625, 949.662.1140, 1745 Westcliff Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660, barclaybutera.com
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McRae Lambert Dunn
THIS DESIGN FIRM HAS A HANDS-ON APPROACH
Approaching four decades in the interior architectural design industry, Ladd McRae Lambert & Audrey Dunn, co- owners of McRae Lambert Dunn have been designing innovative, approachable environments that are a stylish reflection of their clients’ discerning tastes and lifestyles. Their objective is focused on providing clear and concise solutions that improve and capitalize on the fullest potential of a space. Taking a more architectural and practical approach to their designs is key in achieving a level of contemporary but comfortable sophistication. Their goal is to create timeless stunning living environments that are a reflection of their clients’ personalities, while enhancing their quality of life. Every venture is a true strategic collaboration, taking in full consideration the clients discerning wishes, needs, and budget. Whenever possible, they prefer to be involved in a project from the initial stages, working closely with the architect and builders in defining a space functionally as well as visually. They are committed to creating a “visually seamless” result throughout a project. Their “handson” approach to design and installation assures quality and excellence in all phases of the project, and to the needs of their clients. Working as a team on every project, they believe that their clients benefit from a combined experience as well as service. Regardless of a projects size and scope of work, each job receives both Partners attention. Their distinguished designs results in repeat long-term relationships with their satisfied clientele. McRae Lambert Dunn, 12 Via Loma, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, 949.495.6101, mcraelambertdunn.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARLENE HALABY
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Cabana Home
THIS SANTA BARBARA SHOWROOM IS THE DESTINATION FOR LUXURY DESIGN Cabana Home is the premiere interior design and home furnishings gallery based in Santa Barbara’s artisanal neighborhood, the Funk Zone. Co-founders Caroline Thompson and Steve Thompson’s signature “livable luxury” aesthetic infuses classic elegance with a relaxed Santa Barbara vibe evoking the American Riviera lifestyle for their international clientele. One-of-a-kind global textiles and artifacts are thoughtfully edited along side some of the country’s most lauded furnishing designers including Milo Baughman by Thayer Coggin, Janus et Cie, Alfonso Marina, Lee Furniture, Amalfi Living and Bernhardt in both their studio and their online gallery. An ever-changing installation of fine art in collaboration with Edward Cella Gallery makes Cabana Home the uniquely singular destination for luxury design in Santa Barbara. Cabana Home, 111 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 805.962.0200, cabanahome.com
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ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019
CALIFORNIA HOMES
VOLUME 23 NUMBER 2