Mazatlan Mexico – a colonial seaport
Ok – You’ve remodeled …Are you ready to build a new home????
You’ve done a remodel or two … now it’s time for a new home right?
“What would it take to build a new home?”
Sometimes I look at it this way:
A remodel is like editing an existing book.
A new home is writing one from scratch.
With a remodel, the structure, layout, and site already exist.
A new home begins with a blank canvas:
• The site
• Orientation to sun and views
• Grading roads / driveways
• Structural systems and soils conditions
• Energy requirements
• Fire and zoning regulations
• Septic, utilities, and access
Every decision affects the next.
And in areas like Ojai and Ventura County, hillside conditions, scenic resource review, fire zones, and permitting can add additional layers to the process.
The advantage of a custom home is that everything can be designed intentionally — around the way you actually live.
Part of my role is helping homeowners organize those layers early through design, 3D visualization, and navigating the permitting process before construction begins.
If you’ve been thinking about building a new home — even casually — I’m always happy to talk it through.
Thanks,
Otis Bradley
Otis Bradley Company, Inc.
OtisBradley.com
310-963-7900
3D Printing
This Starbucks was 3D printed in 2025 In Brownsville Texas
Approximately 90% of the homes built in the United States are made out of wood. We’ve been building this way for 200 years
But this kind of 3D printing creates a concrete wall which has many advantages such as faster construction, less labor, earthquake resistant, fire resistant, pest resistant, energy efficient. a technology like this might be really good for fire prone areas in the West Coast
I have built 2 homes in Ojai out of concrete.
Call me to talk house! Otis Bradley
Otis Bradley Company, Inc.
OtisBradley.com
Big Toys for Big Boys
Big toys for big boys… Do you need this on your job maybe maybe not but if you bought a chunk of land in Ojai you definitely will
Otis Bradley
Otis Bradley Company, Inc.
New homes • Complex Remodels • Permits • Consultation
OtisBradley.com
Calle Ocho
How to Start Your Project
Starting a project can be daunting – plans, permits, budgets …
After looking at the architectural plans for our new home, my wife told me, “you may as well show me a page of Chinese writing – it makes no sense to me!”
It wasn’t until I made her a model out of foam core boards (old school – this was 20 years ago) that she could finally understand how the house worked.
Now – I can show you exactly what your home will look like from models I create on the computer. The models continue to get better and better …
You can see it before it’s built!
Teardown … almost level to the ground!
The Wave House
This is a conceptual design, The Wave House, for the remodel of an exiting home. The existing home is about 2000 SF, outdated and in a neighborhood that has become very expensive.
This is a radical idea to create a unique beach home with a nod to traditional style as well
Heavy Timber Exposed Trusses – OBC
I love the look and added dimension of open ceilings with timber trusses. They aren’t typically used for structure in California due to strict earthquake structure requirements, but they look great and we can still use them.
Here you see a set of heavy timber trusses – Douglas Fir in this case – being installed in a ICF or insulated concrete form house.
Grading for New Construction, Hillsides and Driveways
Grading
Not typically a part of remodeling, but if you are building a new home or a home on a sloped lot or a driveway or a pool or even possibly a large addition, grading may be a major part of your project.
The grading department is usually a separate department, not a part of the building department, and involves a lot of specialists such as soils engineers, civil engineers, big equipment, lots of inspections and of course lots of rules and regulations.
Call me on your next project
Thanks
Otis