Valley Club Mid-Century

The Valley Club Mid-Century renovation is nestled on two acres along a private road in the heart of beautiful Montecito, CA. The original plan for this residence was to nearly tear it down, lift, and flatten the roof over the main public space and turn a tired old home into a contemporary glass, concrete, and structural steel masterpiece. Upon learning of the home’s rich history and studying the architectural significance of George Washington Smith’s understudy, Lutah Maria Riggs, we reconsidered the value that the original architectural style provided. In retrospect, it became evidently clear to work within the existing footprint and keep the timeless Japanese architectural vernacular that has occupied the property for the past 50+ years. Just prior to starting the project, we were notified of the great news that the owners were going to have their first baby, and their biggest hope was to bring the baby back to a newly remodeled home. Once the design and budget took further shape (navigating the various challenges a historical restoration presents) and the County permits were ready to pull, we hit the ground running on an intense 9 month schedule and 2 million dollar budget to realize the dream of the homeowners and their growing family.

With budget being a limiting factor to every great idea originally conceptualized, the home’s original post and beam construction required a major overhaul to create an open floor plan with long uninterrupted spans to reorganize the interior of the home. The project was on a rigorous nine month schedule, a tighter time-frame for the average custom whole house remodel. The project stayed within this deadline largely due to the efficiency of the DD Ford leadership team as they coordinated trade contractors effectively, helped the client to make design decisions in a timely manner, and organized the overall course of construction with great detail. The challenge with all remodels, especially those with historic significance, is to find the balance of maintaining the existing integrity with the need & desire to modernize its functionality. With the help of an effective building team, we were able to navigate all presented challenges.

The entrance through a central corridor leads to a series of transitional spaces, every room in the home has access to spectacular views over acres of newly landscaped contemporary grounds. New pocketing exterior sliders beneath cantilevered eaves have transformed the use of this home into a blend of architectural brilliance and well-designed living. The white interior walls serve as a blank canvas for the furnishings and fixtures to draw attention to the new ‘retro-chic’ design. All details of the new furnishings, fixtures, and finishes keep any home enthusiast guessing around every corner of the home. From wide plank flooring, spectacular cabinetry, to walls clad in tile and stone slab work, no detail was left untouched! When all was said and done, the homeowners’ dream of carrying their baby girl into their newly remodeled home was realized. They could not be more thrilled as the completion marked a new beginning for their growing family--in fact, they recently just welcomed their second child! The solid team effort of designers, trade contractors, and fantastic clients made this one of our most enjoyable renovations to date. While building new affords its luxuries, restoring a piece of history is truly a welcomed pleasure in our building industry.