The Art of Luxury Home Construction: From Concept to Completion  

Part II – Building a dream from the ground up.

In Part I, The Art of Luxury Home Construction: From Concept to Realization, we covered the essential attributes you need to make your dream home a reality…patience, engagement, and teamwork.

In Part II, we’ll focus on the key elements to consider when building your home.

The Location

The location of your home will be a critical factor in determining what is and is not feasible. It might be a hilltop location with acreage and an opportunity for panoramic views, or an elegant home on a single acre lot in a well-established neighborhood.

You will have to review local and municipal zoning regulations regarding size and height, drainage, and fire codes. The permitting process in California can be daunting and time-consuming. Your General Contractor and architect should be familiar with the nuances of the process and be able to help you navigate it.

Our expertise allows us to identify potential risks, raise concerns during pre-construction, and effectively problem-solve the issues that arise.

Many of our clients start by finding a property they like and ask us our opinion.

The Style

Is your dream home a Mission Revival, a Spanish Colonial, or a cliffside Contemporary? If you can dream it, we can build it.

Your architect is the expert in translating your vision into a buildable design.  What’s important is that the architectural style is executed in a way that meets your expectations as well as the municipal building codes.

In some cases, you may want to incorporate community design guidelines. For example, in the city of Saratoga, their guidelines suggest that modernization of the city’s aging housing be done in a manner that recognizes and respects the unique features and characteristics of each neighborhood.

This may influence many aspects of the home design, including its mass, height, scale, and proportions.

It’s Livability

It’s easy to fall in love with a particular home design but it’s important to consider how that design translates into your day-to-day living experience. If you focus exclusively on luxury and uniqueness, you may end up compromising comfort and livability. When considering floor plans, try to visualize your family going through their daily routines.

When you work with an experienced builder like us, we help point out the tradeoffs of different floor plans and adjustments.

Open floor plans are very attractive, but what about privacy? Do you entertain a lot? How well does the home accommodate your guests? Do you have live in staff or an au pair?

These are the questions to consider when designing your home.

The Materials

Whether you’re choosing wood, stone, tile, or fabric…each material can make a statement in your home. Some clients will spare no cost for exceptional marble, rare hardwoods, or intricate mosaic tiles.  While others want their choices to reflect their respect for the environment through recycled and sustainable materials.

If you need advice, we’re happy to present options and discuss the pros and cons.

No matter what kind of statement you want to make, your luxury home should be made with materials that are durable, reduce the cumulative cost of energy and ultimately enhance your standard of living.

The Technology

In the heart of Silicon Valley there is no shortage of innovation in security systems and in-home automation. At the push of a button, or simply through voice command, it’s possible to control lighting, temperature, shades, appliances, and entertainment systems.

Clients can opt for strategically placed cameras, which provide round-the-clock security, while viewing remotely from their smartphones.

Those who want to integrate green technology have options for solar-panel walls and roofs, geothermal energy, rainwater catchment and irrigation.

We also have clients who want nothing to do with technology.

It’s all a matter of preference.

With patience, engagement, and teamwork, we can make dreams come true.

For over 35 years, Conrado Home Builders has built, remodeled, and maintained extraordinary homes in Silicon Valley and on the San Francisco Peninsula.

Our honest and direct, teamwork approach has created enduring relationships with our clients that stand the test of time – just like the homes we build. Every relationship matters to every member of our team. We constantly ask questions of our clients and keep them informed throughout the process. We respect their concerns, budgets, and time, whether we are building a brand-new home or remodeling an existing one.

If you want a home set apart from all the others, while having fun creating it, we’d love to hear from you! Contact Conrado Home Builders today!