Designing for disaster

By Haley Chouinard

With severe weather events now more common than ever, the world is adapting. Real estate platforms have incorporated climate risk assessments into listings alongside their reviews of nearby schools; home insurance companies are changing their policies to account for new vulnerabilities; and homeowners, architects and designers are seeking new ways to fortify homes against disaster.

For designers in two of the country’s most populous states, California and Florida, which also often happen to be the epicenter of natural disasters, conversations with clients about how to make their homes more resilient are now standard. We spoke with designers from the two states to discuss how their jobs are evolving and what steps they recommend when working in high-risk areas.

Hurricane Winds and FloodsIn the Sunshine State, hurricanes are not a matter of if, but when. As rising ocean temperatures contribute to stronger storm systems, designers across the state are adopting a more proactive approach. A lot of that thinking comes down to material selection. Wall-to-wall carpeting, for example, is a hard pass for most coastal designers, as any flooding is going to render the material a soggy, moldy mess. Cheryl Kees Clendenon, a designer based in Pensacola, says that she often has to educate clients—particularly those from out of state—on the trade-offs they’ll need to make to accommodate the region’s unique conditions. “We had clients from Washington state who bought a home [here] that was a bit removed from the coastline, but we had to explain to them that [even though] it’s not a waterfront property, you still have risks to consider,” says Kees Clendenon. “We talk to our clients not just about why we’re picking certain materials, but how those materials might hold up if they get wet.”

Dwayne Bergmann, a designer with offices in Fort Myers and Naples, accounts for flood risks in ground-floor kitchens and bathrooms by opting for outdoor-grade cabinetry when possible. He also foregoes a traditional toe kick in favor of elevating cabinets a few inches off the ground using either metal or wooden legs—or opts for a floating, wall-mounted approach. In other cases, he tiles the baseboards to give the drywall an additional layer of protection. “I’m just planning, ‘OK there’s going to be water in here at some point, potentially sooner rather than later,’” he says. “If we can build in a few inches to prevent floodwater from ruining your kitchen, let’s do that from the start.”

It’s not just interiors that designers are taking into account. Faith Fix, founder and president of Bonita Springs–based Freestyle Interiors (which was acquired by Bergmann in 2023), pays special attention to exterior lighting, where anything that hangs on a chain, like a dangling fixture in an outdoor foyer or entertaining area, must be installed in a way that allows it to be easily taken down or secured to the ceiling.

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“It’s a very detailed, thoughtful specification process,” says Bergmann. “Even if the house doesn’t get a direct hit from a hurricane, what is going to stand up to humidity? What is salt water going to do to a product? These are things that might not be top of mind in other climates, but even exterior door handles and hardware—especially in saltwater climates, it’s key to be really conscious of what you’re using. The products need to be well thought out or they will not last.”

When you see a picture of a beautiful outdoor entertaining area in a Florida home, your first thought is probably not, “Where are the homeowners going to put all that when hurricane-force winds come through?” But for Florida designers, it’s an increasingly important consideration when furnishing exterior areas. In new construction projects, Bergmann has started recommending outdoor storage rooms where tables and chairs can easily be stashed. He’s also largely specifying pieces that are either so heavy that they’re not at risk of blowing away (like a table with a concrete base and removable top) or light enough that it can be put away without a team of professional movers.

Kees Clendenon advises clients with waterfront properties to invest in an off-site storage unit for peace of mind. “If you know that a major storm is heading your way and you’re packing your things and evacuating, it’s a small comfort to already have a place where you could take some of your things, whether that’s clothing or furnishings,” she says. “You do typically get some warning that a hurricane is coming, but it’s such a stressful situation. I’ve suggested this to so many clients at this point that I really should just open up my own storage facility—I’m missing a revenue stream. But if I can help provide my clients with some peace in stressful circumstances, especially if they’re new to the area and haven’t lived through storms before, that’s a great feeling.”

Kees Clendenon has also learned to accept that there’s only so much that a design-build team can do, particularly as hurricanes have become more powerful and more frequent, with storms in the past few years occurring in quick succession. “Ultimately, if you’re going to get a direct hit, it’s probably a safe bet to just kiss the house goodbye and get out of town,” she says.

Fires and EarthquakesIn the wake of January’s Eaton and Palisades wildfires, real estate losses from the catastrophes have been estimated to top $30 billion, with nearly 13,000 households displaced. Within days of the blazes, “fireproof homes” that withstood the flames were going viral, and the idea of rebuilding more resiliently was the talk of the town. Steve Pallrand, the founder of Los Angeles–based design-build firms Home Front Build and CarbonShack, says that the conversations have been difficult. Because of the disparity between what a home lost to the fires might be insured for versus the cost to build that same home to the standards of today’s ordinances, Pallrand has been advising clients to consider a smaller footprint in order to make the most of their budget—a suggestion that hasn’t always been well received. “I’ve had people hang up on me,” he says. “But that’s OK. I’m a realist.”

His other suggestions are not dissimilar to those followed by his fellow designers in Florida: Focus on your home’s shell. “Think about fire-resistant finishes like stucco, metal siding and Hardie Plank; and a cement or metal frame instead of wood, with a metal roof. Dual-pane windows are much better than the single-pane that some older homes have—and if you can afford triple-pane windows, all the better,” says Pallrand, noting that many of the homes in Altadena—where the Eaton fire destroyed 9,400 structures—were built between the early 1900s and the 1960s, and had wooden-framed single-pane windows. “Those windows just popped out during the fires, letting fire inside the house,” he explains. “If you drive through and look at the remains, you can see that these houses burned from the inside out.”

While a concrete frame might be a practical consideration to resist hurricane-force winds in South Florida, L.A. designer Linda Hayslett points out that, in addition to wildfires, Californians also have to account for earthquake risk. “A lot of the homes that burned down were older and made of wooden structures, so now everyone wants to talk about building with concrete—but this is still earthquake country, and wood absorbs the shocks of an earthquake in a way that concrete won’t,” she says. “If you have a wooden house and a mild earthquake hits, the house will sway and move, but then it will settle. With concrete, that’s not going to happen. Even a minor earthquake could crack the structure of your house.”

Harper Halprin, a partner at architecture firm AAHA Studio, says that while clients are certainly coming to her asking for “fireproof” homes, she’s trying to gently adjust expectations and create homes that people are still happy to live in, not concrete bunkers. “You have to say, as appropriately as you can, ‘We can’t do that. That’s not possible,” says Halprin. “We still want the architectural integrity to shine through. The goal is not to rebuild a bunch of homes that look like concrete boxes with no eaves or anything interesting going on. Instead, we’re finding different ways to highlight tactics that we’ve always been incorporating into our projects.” Talking about the fire rating of a material, for example, has come up more with clients in recent months. Halprin notes that because California has progressive building codes that aim to make newly built homes more energy-efficient and sustainable, some upgrades, like more insulated windows and doors, are inherently more weather-resistant than what older homes would have had.

Other, more extreme conversations are happening too, where clients are inquiring about putting sprinkler systems on their roofs. “Once we get into the weeds of the mechanics of that—because putting in a full-fire sprinkler system makes adjustments to the whole landscape, the roof, and you have [to have] enough water in a cistern that the system can draw from—most of these people [move on from the idea, because they] are going to have a hard [enough] time rebuilding their structures in general, [let alone] baking in a very expensive system like that,” says Halprin. “It’s not that people don’t want to do things like put in steel window casings, it’s just that most people can’t afford it. So, what’s the next-best option? Maybe we consider aluminum window casings. It’s a question of, How do we make a home more resilient, while also making it a realistic economic proposition for a normal family?”

Halprin’s firm had recently completed a project that ultimately withstood the Palisades fire on a street where most homes suffered damage or total loss—a project that has offered a helpful model for other clients looking to rebuild. In this particular home, an outer pane on one window cracked, but the inner pane remained intact. There were other architectural details that they believe also helped its durability, including a slab-on-grade-foundation—a type of shallow foundation in which a concrete slab rests directly on the ground below and the house is built on top of the concrete instead of on a raised foundation made of wood. The home also had a mix of finishes on the exterior: One side was stucco, while another was wood shingle with a fire-retardant treatment. Part of the roof was metal, while another was asphalt shingle. “I feel like there’s a thinking that you have to go all in and take an extreme approach, but there are a lot of ways to use what’s already available in creative ways that will perform very well,” says the architect.

In areas prone to wildfires, another area that designers have sway over is the landscaping. Features like wooden fences are a bad idea, as they are combustible, much like trees and shrubs. Pallrand says that major foliage should be sited at least 50 to 100 feet away from a house in a fire hazard area. “Our homes and commercial spaces are more resilient with today’s building codes, at least in California, but the landscaping is not, and that is a very critical part of the resilience puzzle,” he says. Hayslett recommends that clients take seemingly small measures in their landscaping and exterior living spaces, like putting a tiled or stucco half-wall around a patio, or creating a stone barrier between plant beds and the rest of the yard—both elements that would ideally slow a fire before it could reach the house. “Even a little bit of a concrete barrier can be beneficial,” she says.

Ultimately, building resilient structures comes down to thoughtful, creative planning. “It’s about bringing all of the people to the table that have knowledge of both active and passive systems,” says Halprin. “Fires have been part of the California landscape since well before the architecture was here. It’s less about how we are going to stop the fires from happening—we’re not—but, How are we going to be smart about the way we’re designing?”

Source: https://businessofhome.com/articles/interior-design-weather-disasters

The story of Home Front Build is one of roots and revivals

Distinguished by a profound commitment to historical preservation and sustainability, Home Front Build embodies a philosophy rooted in attentive listening and thoughtful design. With an in-house team comprising framers, finishers, masons, and more, the firm seamlessly integrates design and construction processes, garnering recognition as the best construction firm by “This Old House.” Home Front Build passionately preserves southern California’s architectural legacy by adapting existing homes while honoring their distinctive character. The firm’s dedication extends to historic preservation and green construction, where they blend past strategies with modern technologies to craft revolutionary, energy-efficient designs.

“Too often older homes are bulldozed and sent to the dump, and replaced with a new building.  So when a home presents itself that has been in the family for many generations and is full of cherished memories, we welcome the opportunity to adapt and remodel it for the way we all live today, while preserving the historicity of the home,” states Steve Pallrand. “People often think of ‘adapt and reuse’ as limited to multifamily homes. But applying this process to older single-family homes is a cost-effective strategy and can yield huge payback for homeowners, while also upholding a home and neighborhood’s character, and lowering a community’s carbon footprint.” 

Recognizing that a home is not just about its spaces but also about harmonizing with the surrounding community, Home Front Build leads the way in creating sustainable, historically resonant living environments. What follows is the story of their most recently completed project, The Fuller Residence, as told by Home Front Build founder, Stephen Pallrand. Photos by Erika Bierman Photography:

Angeleno Native

There is sometimes a perception about the history of Los Angeles that would have us believe that native Angelenos – as in, families with well-established roots in the city – are few and far between. While it may be true that the City of Angels endlessly attracts new and diverse citizens, it’s not so difficult to find families with a deep generational heritage.  Case in point: our Fuller Resident clients. 

Located in the mid-city Beverly Grove area, this 1928 home’s original owners were the great-great-grandparents of our client, its current homeowner.  Having grown up frequently visiting the house, then owned by his grandparents, his connections to the home are profound. But as he relocated his family to LA from the Sacramento area and prepared to assume ownership of the place, his attitude about updating it was not overly precious.

The transformation showcases a sensitive remodel that embraces contemporary family life while preserving the charm of the home’s original architecture – which the client was committed to. It also exemplifies Home Front Build’s penchant for enhancing functionality, creating visual connections, and seamlessly blending old and new elements. With meticulous attention to detail, the home’s thoughtfully reimagined spaces meet the needs of an active family, while honoring the home’s rich heritage. 

Preserving history with modern flow

The updates started with opening the dining room to the kitchen and recreating the original arch detail found in the entryway, which produced a harmonious flow between these two central areas of the house. The timeless arch design adds authenticity and continuity to the space.

Removing an antiquated maid’s room and bath located at the rear of the house, the kitchen is further opened to the backyard, resulting in a welcoming open kitchen/family/dining room concept. The open-plan design allows not only for a direct visual connection to both the front and back yards, but also invites natural light to flood the entire area. This new sense of openness encourages the family to prepare meals together and enjoy them in the formal dining room on a regular basis. 

Sustainability and home tech

Bifold doors in the family room lead to a spacious new pergola-covered patio, creating an ideal setting for outdoor entertaining and relaxation, and enhancing the connection to the outdoors. Adjacent to one side of the patio, a secluded walled garden features a gurgling fountain and outdoor furniture for intimate gatherings.  At the opposite end of the patio, a fresh new driveway extends to the rear of the property, hugging the lush green lawn that encircles an ancient Chinese Elm, before winding its way to a newly-installed EV charging station – old meets new meets green!

Getting to an all-electric home is the gold standard, but getting to an almost all-electric house is maybe a better mindset.  Not everyone can afford or needs to update all their systems and any movement in the right direction is critical.  In this case, while the owners just couldn’t let go of their gas range, we Insulated the home, changed the furnace and hot water heater to all-electric units and put a solar array on the roof to lower the operational carbon footprint, the day-to-day carbon cost of living in a home.

The kitchen embraces multi-cultural cuisines

With ties to Japanese, Filipino and Jewish cultures, a diversity of foods and cooking styles figure prominently in daily family life. As such, the spacious new kitchen, with its ample central island and 60” Blue Star chef’s range (which includes griddle, charbroiling and wok functions), accommodates both the father’s deep love of cooking and the teenage daughter’s burgeoning baking passion. A combination of stained and painted cabinetry – color-matched to the range and refrigerator – achieves a balanced aesthetic in the kitchen.

The elegant Taj Mahal Quartzite countertops and the lively customed-glazed tile backsplash further elevate the kitchen’s visual appeal, while the new plaster hood, drawing inspiration from the living room’s original fireplace surround, lends a touch of traditional charm infused with a contemporary feel. Enhancing the overall ambiance, new wood flooring in the kitchen and family room blends smoothly with the refinished existing flooring in the living and dining rooms, breathing new life into these spaces.

Adjacent to the kitchen, an underutilized breakfast nook space has been given new life as a powder room with an energetically-patterned tile floor, adding functionality and convenience to the main floor layout.

A book-lovers haven

In the living room, new floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcases, complete with a rolling ladder, maximize storage, create a focal point in the space, and provide a perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics. To further preserve the home’s character, the original magnesite flooring in the entry and staircase was carefully cleaned and resealed, and the original silk-rope handrail refurbished, ensuring their longevity and beauty for years to come. 

The home’s newest generation

Upstairs, the living areas were updated to accommodate the home’s newest resident generations. Existing original light fixtures were re-wired and reused throughout, and original hardwood floors were repaired and refinished. Adjacent bedrooms for the teen daughters are connected with a re-configured Jack-and-Jill bathroom, sheathed in restful deep-teal tile walls offset by vibrant Moroccan-inspired geometric floor tiles. 

The rear-yard-facing bedroom’s new custom-built bookcase and ladder mirror that of the living room, and provide ample display for collections of books, mementos and favorite movie swag.  All bedrooms now feature walk-in closets, and a reclaimed space off the central hall now does double-duty as a laundry and crafts room. The ensuite primary bath, completely remodeled and updated, features an animated palette of bright yellows and blues tied together with an exquisite quartz slab laced with luscious cobalt veins.

Remarkable Revival

Author:Lindsey Shook

Home Front Build ushers a historic Spanish Colonial Revival home into the future while honoring the past

In the living room, the custom sofa is covered in Schumacher chenille, the club chairs are by A.Rudin and the coffee table was found on 1st Dibs. Photos by Nolasco Studios.

In the family room, three swivel club chairs and the ottoman are custom, the treatments are by Valley Drapery and the rug is by Patterson Flynn & Martin. Photos by Nolasco Studios.

“When working in a historic vernacular structure full of period character, we strive to enhance the space without overwhelming it,” says Greg Roth, senior designer at Home Front Build. “Designs in traditional homes don’t have to be period or dated; they can be fresh, even contemporary, if the statement is synergistic with the existing style of the home.” Known and widely respected for their work in restoring historic properties throughout Southern California, the design/build firm was enlisted to elevate the interiors inside a 3,800-square-foot Spanish Colonial Revival home perched on a hill overlooking much of L.A.

In the breakfast room and kitchen the dining table is by RH, the dining chairs and island stools are by Palecek and the pendant fixture is from Arteriors. Photos by Nolasco Studios.

The TV room has a custom sofa covered in Pindler fabric and custom coffee table ottomans. The rug is from Patterson Flynn & Martin. Photos by Nolasco Studios.

A wine room was built for storing and tasting. Photos by Nolasco Studios.

Originally built in the 1920s, the clients wanted a home where they could enjoy life after building successful careers. “Our clients came to us through another client who was happy with the addition and remodel we had recently completed of their Spanish Colonial home,” says Roth. “They are an accomplished couple with an eye towards easing away from professional responsibilities, they were looking at ways to comfortably age in place, entertain friends and family, and stay closely connected to their work lives.”

Home Front Build seamlessly installed an elevator so the clients could avoid climbing the 40 stairs to the entrance.
Photos by Nolasco Studios.

The primary bed headboard is covered in a neutral mohair by Janet Yonaty, the bench is from1st Dibs.
Photos by Nolasco Studios.

A marble checkerboard floor adds drama in the primary bathroom that opens up to the back terrace.
Photos by Nolasco Studios.

The main challenge the team faced was creating accessibility to the steep entrance that sits 22′ above the main entry gate and driveway. “The design problem was that one of the owners has joint issues, so the steps up, even without lugging groceries or other loads, presented an insurmountable problem,” he says. “But how do you put an elevator on the front of a house and yet make it look original?  To do this we rebuilt the existing garage upwards, in a ‘wedding cake’ tier, each story going up, but also smaller in size.  The cupola at the top is really the top floor of the elevator.”

A terrace extends off the home gym with inspirational views. Photos by Nolasco Studios.

The second challenge was integrating the couples’ collected objects into the new design. “Our clients had a collection of family heirlooms and pieces they had picked up during extensive travels, and these became the touchpoint of the remodel,” says Roth. “Our challenge was to incorporate these disparate elements into a synthesized whole, while lending freshness, ease and comfort to the home.”

The back terrace holds a custom Cedar dining table and dining chairs by Palecek. Photos by Nolasco Studios.

The barbecue area island stools are by Room & Board and the outdoor kitchen is Lynx, found through Snyder-Diamond.
Photos by Nolasco Studios.

The team effortlessly delivered on the clients’ dream to have a home where they could comfortably unwind, entertain and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views. “They were extremely pleased that we were able to provide them not only a house that functions the way they want and need it to, but that also sets them up for ease and comfort as they age; and to top it off, a new home that is filled with furnishings they know and love, refreshed and rejuvenated,” Roth remarks.

Flipping the script on a ‘granny flat’

The inside of Mary Nichols “granny flat.” (Nolasco Studios)

After 40 years in the historical Los Angeles home where she raised her family, Mary Nichols knew she wanted to make a change. She was ready to design a so-called granny flat — without the fuddy-duddy connotations.

Nichols, a respected environmental lawyer and former government official in climate policy, needed a space that was bright and modern, reflective of how actively she is still engaged with the world.

By converting the attic, a former teenage rec room, into a self-contained apartment, she was able to define a space of her own while giving the home’s main floors over to the next generations.

Mary Nichols approached her son and daughter-in-law with the idea of living together about a year after her husband died. (Rick Loomis for The Washington Post)

“It had always been our idea that my son and his family would move into this house one day, but when my husband died in 2016, I followed conventional wisdom and didn’t make any big decisions,” Nichols recalls. She spent a year on her own and realized she didn’t want to leave the neighborhood. “I really wanted to stay in the house.”

Nichols decided to approach her son and daughter-in-law with the idea of living together and embracing the growing trend of multigenerational housing. At first, she worried about being seen as “a built-in babysitter,” she says. “I’m still working and traveling a lot.” Last year she was part of a United Nations expert group clarifying net-zero emissions standards. Advisory roles with nonprofits and universities frequently take her to New York City and Washington, D.C., and she recently returned from Italy’s Lake Como, where she was writing a forthcoming book about her climate work.

To consider what life might look like under one roof, the trio went to a favorite restaurant for dinner and pulled out their respective checklists. “Luckily, there was a lot of overlap!” Nichols says.

Mary Nichols's “granny flat” is located on the third floor, where plenty of natural light is available. (Nolasco Studios)

The living space is about 750 square feet and includes a sitting area, small kitchen and workspace with plenty of storage. (Nolasco Studios)

The family called on Steve Pallrand, founder of Home Front Build, a design-build company that specializes in environmentally responsible remodels. “Turning the existing attic space into her own separate home was essentially a tiny house project, which is all about living beautifully and efficiently in a small space,” Pallrand says. “The main challenges were working within the limitations of the existing parameters, and how to create this separate living area without impeding on the home’s grandeur.”

Nichols was used to adapting her home to her family’s needs. Over the years, she had updated the 1918 Craftsman with new bathrooms, a motorized chairlift for her late husband, and a converted carriage house — which she happily decamped to with her rescue dog, Mutti, as work crews once again filled the home.

The new project’s most significant structural addition was an elevator that now safely carries Nichols from the ground floor to her third-floor apartment. “We all agreed that it was a good idea, but my son was pretty insistent on it,” she says. (The only one who doesn’t love it is Mutti, who needs a little extra coaxing to hop into the cab.)

Pallrand found space for the lift by relocating basement access, repurposing the butler’s pantry on the first floor, and removing the entire back staircase on all three levels, which also gave Nichols’s children the chance to do a few second-floor renovations of their own. With new windows and skylights, new insulation and upgraded electrical and HVAC systems, the once dark and uninspired garret became a sunny penthouse. “I’m self-sufficient up here — I have my own computer, my own television — and there’s lots of natural light. Daylight is critical for me,” Nichols says.

The renovation included the addition of an elevator, as well as a “front door” to Nichols’s apartment at the top of the stairs. (Nolasco Studios)

“Mary is a vibrant and stylish lady,” says Goli Karimi, design director at Home Front Build. “She has beautiful art, clothing and furniture, and this apartment really reflects her.”

The third floor offered about 750 square feet, just enough room to accommodate Mary’s specific needs: a comfortable sitting area, a breakfast table and small kitchen, and a workspace with plenty of storage. “We approached the design like a great room, making different zones,” says Karimi.

Removing the back stairwell also created newfound space that let them design a more private and comfortably proportioned bedroom with generous closets and a bathroom that could be fitted with a separate tub and shower and the most un-granny appliance of all: a smart toilet.

Environmentally conscious design was “a given,” Nichols says. Karimi brought in naturally durable cork floors, paints with no or low levels of volatile organic compounds, water-saving plumbing fixtures, and LED lighting. She also collaborated with Nichols’s longtime interior designer and friend, Michael Blakeney, who returned to help choose colors and repurpose existing pieces, including Nichols’s Saarinen dining chairs and her late husband’s desk, a simple wood trestle table.

“I wanted things to be light and bright, but I also wanted things to be small and efficient,” Nichols says.

Though the family often dines together downstairs, especially for Friday night Shabbat dinners, a kitchenette offers Nichols just the right amount of culinary freedom. A convection-microwave oven, slender fridge and dishwasher drawer are all concealed behind the cabinetry, and a plug-in cooktop sets up easily on the counter when needed.

And it’s cheery, too. “The bright orange cabinetry is a wonderful balance to Mary’s love of blue,” Karimi says, noting the blue and white zigzag tile backsplash that packs a graphic punch.

Built-in cabinetry helps save space and keep the flat tidy. (Nolasco Studios)

“I like color,” says Nichols, “and I definitely didn’t want this apartment to be all neutral.” It’s anything but. It’s as authentic, no-nonsense and as lively as its inhabitant.

Built-in cabinetry and bookcases throughout the home keep things tidy and add even greater flexibility to the layout by reducing the need for bulky storage pieces. “I have a tendency to pile books and papers, but this is an easy space for me to keep uncluttered,” Nichols says. It’s also given her space to exercise. “After the move upstairs, I started working out at home, first with an online Pilates coach and then with someone who comes over. It’s really a very good space for exercising!” And while Nichols may occasionally host large meetings in the bigger rooms downstairs, her apartment’s sitting area is perfect for smaller gatherings.

But it wasn’t until the pandemic struck, shortly after the project was finished, that Nichols saw the renovation through an entirely different lens.

“My family was my lifeline,” Nichols says. “They did all the online ordering. We shared chores. We all looked after each other.”

These days (when she’s home, anyway), she still happily pitches in by running errands and popping down to sign for packages.

“I haven’t slowed down at all and coming home to this apartment after traveling makes me happy,” she says. “I really enjoy having this private space where I can be completely self-sufficient.” But in true granny spirit, Nichols is most excited by the fact that she gets to see and talk to her family more often. And despite Mutti’s hesitations about the elevator, she, too, has settled in comfortably. “She owns my entire place!” says Nichols.

Maile Pingel is a writer in Los Angeles and a former editor at Architectural Digest.

Making a Splash With Bold Colors For This Beautiful Mediterranean Home

When a family in L.A. needed much-improved floor plans for the kitchen and bathroom spaces in their home, they sought out Goli Karimi, director of design at Home Front Build. Read the full article on Kitchen & Bath Business Magazine.

Atomic Ranch Presents “An Infusion of Character”

We are proud to showcase our exquisite Altadena Project, recently featured in the esteemed Atomic Ranch Magazine. Join us on a captivating journey through our collaboration as we invite you to explore this breathtaking mid-century modern atomic ranch home in historic Altadena.

Partnering with Atomic Ranch magazine, we hosted a remarkable self-guided tour, allowing over 75 attendees to witness the meticulous craftsmanship of our post-and-beam masterpiece. From the period-sensitive upgrades in the kitchen, bathrooms, dining room, and living and family rooms to the stunning views of the San Gabriel mountains from the flower-filled garden and deck, every detail was thoughtfully designed to create an extraordinary living experience.

To celebrate this remarkable achievement, guests were treated to refreshing drinks and delightful refreshments served al fresco. The ambiance was enhanced by the presence of guests dressed in classic period outfits, perfectly accentuating the home's authentic style and aesthetic.

Adding to the enchantment of the event, we had the privilege of welcoming the daughter of the home's original owner, who shared heartfelt memories of her childhood and her parent's involvement in the design and construction of this architectural gem. This special gathering culminated in a captivating conversation between Atomic Ranch's editor, Jickie Torres, and homeowners Deb Smith and Goli Karimi. Goli, our talented Director of Design at Home Front Build, served as the project designer and shared insights into the meticulous remodel process.

At Home Front Build, we believe in creating extraordinary spaces that blend timeless design with modern functionality. Join us on this remarkable journey as we showcase our passion for craftsmanship, attention to detail, and the art of transforming houses into homes.

Discover the captivating craftsmanship of Home Front Build and immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of our Altadena Project, where dreams become a vibrant reality.

Contact us for any new build or remodel needs!