Autobiography in architecture.

After architecture school at UC Berkeley, I worked in a few different architectural offices. Eventually I learned I wouldn't be designing the projects that I wanted to. And later I realized I only wanted to design homes. I never had any interest in designing commercial projects.

In 1975 I quit the architectural firms and went out on my own. It has been that way ever since. I got my Building Contractor's license and bought a vacant lot, designed a home for it, put together a crew and went to work. I always wore the toolbelt and led the crew on site. I, we, loved it. The finished house was sold within a few weeks. By being on site every day I could truly design the project down to the last detail.

I built my second house in 1984, and it included an ADU. It was a studio separate from the main house. Of course, the term ADU would not be invented for another 20 years. There I discovered my passion for "retro styled" homes. This one was inspired by the Sonoma Mission; my next would be in the Arts and Crafts style. What appealed to me was the fact that these homes would never go out of style.

All my homes were built on speculation. This means that I was the owner and would have complete freedom of design. It could be risky…what if the market drops before the house is finished? But my homes sold quickly for good prices. In all my homes I included an ADU…often attached, sometimes detached.

I continued this way until about 2017, when I couldn't afford any of the land nearby. That's when we, Maggie and I, found a beautiful lot in El Sobrante and built a home just for ourselves. Everyone is invited to come and see, as all projects start from here.

Since finishing this house in 2019 I have officially "taken off the toolbelt." Now I devote myself to designing and managing the construction of my clients' homes. Usually, they are ADUs, as I have chosen to specialize in these small homes. Why? That's another story here somewhere.