There is a specific face every builder makes when you ask, 'When can I move in?' It’s part grimace, part prayer. After an anxious clearing of the throat, you’ll usually get a Gantt chart or a projected move-in date. I’ve handed out hundreds of those schedules over the years. I know the rhythm of the trades, the lead times for windows, and the cadence of the inspections. I thought I knew exactly what to expect.
Then, I built my own home.
Read MoreSince the recent Palisades fires, I am being asked more than ever for our "price per square foot" for a new build. It’s a natural question; homeowners need a baseline to begin their recovery or their dream project. In 2026, I generally tell people that $1,000 per square foot is the standard "handshake" number for a high-quality custom home in our neighborhood.
But here is the reality: that number is just a starting line. It shifts
Read More…The reason I love our niche in residential construction is that it is so relationships-based. We work closely with homeowners, design teams, and with tradesmen who share our values. Building a home is a process that can take months and even years from start to finish, with a lot of surprises and friction along the way. Just like a basketball team (or any other team), success requires the effort of a lot of people with sometimes polar opposite skillsets. Building a house isn’t just about the materials, design, or even the individual skills of each team member. It’s about how well these individuals come…
Read More…This is exactly where the art of building occurs. Successfully bridging that gap between theory and reality is what what separates an artisan apart from someone mindlessly following a plan. We look to Palladio’s sketches to serve as a reminder that every one of our homes starts with a vision, and our task is to intuitively understand the spirit of that vision. Only then can we create something special that will stand the test of time. We hope that as our city continues changing, our homes will stand for generations, monuments to this ideal.
Read MoreRay Bradbury once wrote: “Everyone must leave something behind, something your hand touched some way. It doesn't matter what you do, so long as you change it from the way it was before into something that's like you after you take your hands away.”
Read More
