Brand New Homes in SLO are a Rare Find!

Nestled between award-winning vineyards on the quiet side of Highway 101, the brand new homes at Avila Ranch celebrate everything that makes this part of the California Coast so special. Homes in the neighborhood are connected to nine planned parks by a network of paths and trails, so you can leave the car in the garage and enjoy SLO’s natural beauty right outside your front door!

Come visit us today so you can tour the models, pick your homesite and floorplan, and take the first step toward the sun-drenched lifestyle you’ve always wanted.

With their combined experience, the Healeys knew whom to call on for the different aspects of their project. Jerry Shaw Residential Design worked with them to lay out the floor plan of the home—a two-story design with the top floor at the street level. They decided to place the main living area upstairs as you walk into the home from a practical standpoint, but also because the first thing that greets you is the stunning ocean view. Downstairs, they designed two ensuites for when friends and family visit with a separate living and entertaining area.

Windows and doors have always been high on the priority list, so the couple reached out to Steve Gardener of Old World Door Co. Gardner helped them design a custom front door that sets the tone for the house from the minute you walk up. Chuck Quinn at Quinn Home helped with the tile—the Walker Zanger backsplash is a favorite of almost everyone who visits. Brian Robertson at Green Goods built the cabinetry throughout the home and Zara Khan Interior Design worked closely with Michele to make sure the design was cohesive and added special touches throughout their home. >>

The design style for this home was more modern than what the Healeys were accustomed to, but they felt like it was what the home needed. They knew they wanted to keep with the coastal style due to their proximity to the beach and stunning views. It’s easy to assume when working on a new construction project that the lack of existing constraints makes the project easier, but that isn’t always the case, trade-offs still need to be made. The pair wanted to avoid using soffits to hide ducting on the bottom level of the home. Instead, they decided to run radiant heating in the floors, which enabled them to keep their ceiling height and not detract from the views.

It’s hard to choose a favorite design detail, but if they had to, Brian’s would have to be the windows and doors, especially the slider downstairs. On the bottom floor, when their slider is open it recesses completely into the side wall giving them an unobstructed indoor and outdoor living space. They opted to install the same travertine tile inside and outside so there was no transition between the spaces.

For Michele, the kitchen has her heart—from the statement tile, to the cabinet stain and hardware, everything came together perfectly and works with >> their lifestyle. Although, the range hood presented quite the challenge even though it didn’t look complicated in the renderings. From a construction standpoint, the dimensions had to be perfect since they framed the hood shape first and the cabinets had to go in before the countertops. The space in between the two had to be just right so that the countertops could slide in and complete the kitchen. Luckily, they had a strong team and after a lot of strategizing, they had a successful installation.

With their experience behind them, the Healeys offer a bit of advice. Brian strongly urges hiring a General Contractor. There are so many variables at play when it comes to pricing and scheduling, it’s wise to have an experienced professional on your team advocating for your best interest. Michele recommends keeping in mind that nothing will be perfect, and things won’t necessarily go as planned. Whether it’s improvising for construction constraints or the implementation not being exactly what you had in mind. She points out that sometimes it turns out for the better and often the hiccups feel like a much bigger deal than they will once the project is complete. SLO LIFE