Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica homes, thoughtfully built.
Whether you are planning a new residence or reconsidering an existing home, the architecture and the construction strategy should develop together. We work with Santa Monica owners, architects and interior designers on custom homes and major renovations that connect considered space with precise execution.
Discuss your projectCustom homes · Whole-home renovations · Design partnerships
Site & scope
Make the retained and the new work together.
The value of what is already there
An existing home's plan, structure and character deserve a deliberate assessment. Decide what is worth retaining and which changes would make the greatest difference. A major renovation needs clear drawings for both demolition and new work, including the connections between them.
Resolve earlyDefine retained elements and necessary investigations before pricing the final scope.
A build within a neighborhood
Access, deliveries, staging and protection influence how the work is organized. Review them early with the actual site rather than leaving them as a generic contractor assumption. Proposed occupancy during a renovation requires its own practical assessment.
Resolve earlyPlan construction access and protection alongside the scope and sequence.
Continuity from inside to outside
Door and window openings, terraces, floor levels and exterior drainage need to be coordinated with the interior design. Large openings should support the architect's intentions while leaving room for structure, weathering details and maintainable systems.
Resolve earlyReview threshold and envelope details before ordering major assemblies.
Architects, designers & owners
A shared plan for architecture, interiors and construction.
Our approach to collaborationWe help your design team test buildability, align trade information and identify procurement decisions early. Bespoke finishes work best when their installation requirements are considered while the architectural and systems drawings are still being coordinated.
- One clearly identified current drawing set
- Early review of structure, services and interior elevations
- Samples and owner decisions matched to procurement needs
A useful first conversation
What to bring to the table.
The direction
Tell us whether you are considering a new home, a major renovation or an addition within a wider transformation.
The existing information
Bring plans, available permit records, a survey and any professional assessments.
The design and budget
Share your architect and designer's work, construction budget and the decisions still to be made.
Before the build
Questions about building in Santa Monica.
Are Santa Monica permits issued by LADBS?
No. Santa Monica has its own City building and planning processes. The project team should confirm the applicable review type and supporting documents with Santa Monica for the particular scope.
Should we renovate the home or replace it?
That decision needs a comparison of condition, design goals, applicable approvals and construction scope. Investigating the existing structure can change the comparison. We help the owner and architect make the construction assumptions explicit rather than treating either option as automatically less expensive.
Can we retain architectural character while changing the plan?
Potentially. The architect should identify the elements to retain and any applicable planning or historic-resource requirements. We then coordinate protection, temporary work and the connection between existing and new construction.
How are energy and wellness goals included?
Applicable energy requirements are addressed by the design and compliance team. Additional air, water, material, lighting or acoustic goals should be written into the project scope, with agreed specifications and independent testing where required. Those goals should be coordinated early with the architecture and systems.
Local planning resources
Use the relevant authority’s current guidance for your property and proposed work.
Your next home