 Years ago, while managing the construction of a major residential project in Los Angeles, I was standing in the backyard talking with an acoustical engineer. “The bigger the job, the more consultants,” he said. So true! For many years I worked with Fort Hill Construction in Los Angeles. We built for the “who’s who” — Hollywood royalty and Wall Street wizards. Big, expensive, complicated projects. This particular project was a good example. One of the country’s top interior designers brought in a big-name architect from New York, who worked with a local architect, structural engineer, soils engineer, energy consultant, landscape designer, acoustical engineer and others. We’d meet at the job every week—the owner, interior designer, myself, and a rotating cast of architects, engineers, consultants and subcontractors. What most people never see is what happens after someone says: “What if we changed this?” On a project of this complexity, a seemingly simple design decision could travel from the interior designer to the New York architect, then to the local architect, then to the structural engineer, and eventually back to me. Now I had to figure out how we were actually going to build it. Drawings might need to be revised. Engineering changed. The building department might need to approve it. Costs had to be calculated and a change order prepared. Meanwhile, construction didn’t stop. That experience taught me something I’ve carried through my entire career: Great homes aren’t created by one brilliant designer. They’re created by a team—and someone has to understand how to bring all the pieces together. Today, my projects may range from a remodel or addition to a complicated custom home, but the thinking is the same. Design. Structure. Budget. Permits. Construction. Clients. Consultants. They’re all interconnected. Understanding how they work together is the Mind of a Builder. — Otis Otis Bradley Company, Inc. Residential Design for Custom Homes & Major Remodels If you’re considering a custom home or a major remodel, I’d be happy to walk your property with you and explore the possibilities before the design begins. Otis Bradley Company, Inc. OtisBradley.com 310-963-7900 !  Mazatlan Inspirations Mazatlan Mexico This is my fourth visit to Mazatlán, and each time I come away with a greater appreciation for its history, architecture, and culture. Unlike many resort destinations, Mazatlán is a real working city with a remarkable history. It’s one of the few colonial seaports on Mexico’s Pacific coast, and much of its historic center was built during the mid-1800s, when trade flourished along the Pacific. During that period, German and other European immigrants helped shape the city’s architecture, commerce, and culture. Their influence can still be seen today. Mazatlán’s famous Pacífico Brewery was founded in 1900 by German entrepreneurs, and the lively brass sound of banda music traces many of its roots to German military and folk bands brought to the region. I hope you enjoy this short tour of one of my favorite cities on the Pacific. Tour of Mazatlan Mexico CLICK HERE  Small Building. Big Possibilities – ADUs Thinking about an ADU? Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) can create flexible space for family, guests, rental income, or a future home office — but they also involve layers of zoning, utilities, access, parking, grading, and permitting that are not always obvious at first glance. I’ve created simple local ADU reports for both Ojai and Ventura County to help homeowners better understand the opportunities, constraints, and process before getting too far down the road. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON ADU’S Please share this letter ! Kitchens … See It Before You Build It    |
| Otis Bradley Company, Inc. Residential design for custom homes and major remodels |
 |
Design for new homes and complex remodels