I built this house in an intermountain area after retirement in a beautiful place where it occasionally snows a bit during winter. I always wanted to design & build my own place on a piece of property I had owned for 30+ years. It's modest compared to lots here. Also the view and sunsets are great.

Winter snow.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592498718.jpg

Livingroom.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592499004.jpg

Down canyon.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592499112.jpg

Sunset.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592499297.jpg

That looks a lot like where I grew up in California...spectacular place and views, Marv.

We are looking to downsize and have been exploring.

Great thread.

What is that on the roof?

:D

Withe a detached garage, that is all I need.

Alaska.

It’s small, but technically three stories. Built on top of a garage and basement. Small lake with trout. And the ten minute to mow yard was the cherry on top.

For a twentieth what a comparable house would have cost in LA.






I’m trying to buy my neighbors barn. Need a place to nurture my motorcycle hoarding problem.

Ours is a work in progress. It was built in 1990 by a guy who obtained a copy of the original blueprints for a 1910 Spanish Colonial home he fell in love with in Montecito. So it's built to modern building codes, but it's otherwise a pretty close copy of the original (14" thick walls, Saltillo tiles, etc).

It was also the worst house in the neighborhood when we bought it as the second owner fell on hard times, and in the process left (literally) hundreds of tons of debris (mostly building materials from his business) strewn around the property, and there was major neglect.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592505750.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592505750.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592505750.JPG

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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592505750.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592505750.JPG

The following interior shots were when it was staged by the realtor...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592505750.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592505750.JPG


I also had to add a new roof - which was a *****.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592505750.JPG


So while I was at it I added 30 solar panels.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592505750.JPG

Just a glimpse of some of the debris we had to deal with

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592507325.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592507325.JPG

This original patio was added after the house was built. By the time we bought it it was completely rotten. We demo'd it, repoured the patio slab 6" higher (so interior and exterior floors are at the same level and same tiles), then raised the roof up to replace the original eaves:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592507325.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592507325.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592507325.JPG

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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592507325.JPG

Wow. It looks like you almost lost your house entirely!

One of my favorites, David. I also live in a Spanish, in my case a Spanish colonial revival rather than the Mission style you have. Both are my favorites but I slightly favor the Mission because of the balconies and porches. My 2nd favorite style is an Arts and Crafts bungalow.

I have some old plans like your builder had and I'd really like to build them out in an A & C style along the lines of the Gamble House in Pasadena. But at my age I'm sure that's a long, long shot.

Thanks Zeke.

And I get that dream - Arts and Crafts homes are truly my favorite as well. And don't get me started about the Green and Green homes....

This is a great book on Charles and Henry Greene...


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592512523.jpg

And a few books on the early styles of 1920's cottage homes....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592512587.jpg

Hey Craig - thanks for the tip - I never miss an opportunity to see one of their houses whenever and wherever I can.

Sorry in advance for the thread hijack:

Gamble House:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592513211.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592513211.JPG


This one is the "Darling House" - I think it's the furthest east they built - in my hometown:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592513211.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592513211.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592513211.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592513211.jpg

"Thorsen House" is in Berkeley. I stumbled across an article that said a fraternity owned it, and that if you knocked on the door you stood a good chance of getting a tour - no appointment necessary. So while on a work trip I did just that, and a young man (each freshman gets stuck with this - but they DO train them a bit) gave me an E-ticket tour! Plenty of partying going on, but they take great care of the place AND way more fun than the docents at Gamble lol

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592513211.JPG


Original Bachelder Tile fireplace

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592514188.JPG


Their exposed joinery is just sooo good!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592514188.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592514188.JPG

I have tons more pics, but I probably oughta stop...

Amazing place! Love the view.

Lots of beautiful places on this thread.

Not sure if you knew but there is a Greene and Greene bunkhouse built for the Sespe Ranch that was owned by the Spalding (sporting goods) family that is in Fillmore by the train station. There were actually 2, the other was moved out near your area to a citrus history museum...

https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ca2392/

Very nice gents, I am starting to think my house is even more boring than I suspected. Surprised it doesn't have 3.24 rooms.

Frank Loyd Wright was an awesome architect

Copied from the Japanese .
As it should be be.

The oldest wooden structure in the world is ~1400 years old.

There are some great places on here.
I got a lot of great ideas for my place by looking at these.
Thanks, Guys

Paul. I was talked into buying this 2 1/2 acres in the late seventies by a friend, At the time I paid $10K for it. Unfortunately the land is now valued somewhere around $140+K. Finding land or a place to buy & live in Cali is expensive now days. If I had to move, I think I'd look at southern Utah/northern Arizona. But I'm certain I'll live out my days here.

Dave. Beautiful place. I love Spanish/southewestern/Mexican architecture. To me it has such a tranquil feel.

Wow - I had no idea. And I've driven past that train station a hundred times - thanks!

This is lovely. Wonderful and timeless.

Wow!