The French Farmhouse was a major remodel of a 4,000 square foot home that grew to 5,900 square feet. The expansion and remodel were very tight fits on the lot. Chris has built many homes on tight lots, and he has significant experience with permitting, interacting with HOAs, scheduling and keeping the neighbors happy. Great project management tools help Chris keep many of these issues under control while his people skills also help the team play well with others. Chris is known for his project management process, which he created as the Director of Construction at Grady O’Grady and he brought them to O'Grady Homes.

One project management specific challenge was getting the demolition completed without disturbing the neighbors. He addressed this challenge by building temporary structures at the edge of the property lines to contain the demolition. The tight lot also created the challenge of hauling the waste material away. "This was a Rubik’s Cube challenge -- to keep the dumpsters on the property, maneuver heavy equipment, and stay on schedule," said Chris O'Grady.

Another instrumental part of the project was laying the foundation for this waterfront property. Chris O'Grady has built many homes on the waterfront with Grady O Grady and O'Grady Homes. Working with cites like Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, and Dana Point has given Chris tremendous experience with laying foundations and seawalls right up to the water. "People really want to live right on the water," said Chris O'Grady. "We have to make sure that the foundation and seawall will give them the waterfront lifestyle they demand. Building properly on the waterfront is very tricky and every detail must be exact."

In addition to the foundation space issues with the foundation was the pour itself. There were significant preparation and project management planning to get this slab right the first time. The foundation nearly went to the lot line and the water line. Since everything hinges on a good foundation, Chris and his team prepared the entire space to pour as one piece of concrete. Next, the trucks had to be scheduled with almost perfect timing while all the subcontractors were on site ready to pour. As a result of the copious planning and experience, everything went off without a hitch.

One of the most spectacular features in the French Farmhouse is the special waterfront pool. This pool needed a view; therefore, the fourth wall of the pool is constructed entirely of glass. The client wanted more than an infinity pool; he wanted a complete view of the water and a pool. "We have built many pools and used glass to deliver great experiences," said Chris. "When an entire wall of the pool is glass, then there are unique structural challenges. Our team delivered a great result on this pool."

Many of our clients have a very specific vision for their new home. We love clients with passion for details and this client was very specific. Chris believes that he is challenged with delivering "the brand called me," for the client.

This project had a great design team that included:

• Frank Stoltz at South Coast Architects created all the details to build the home.
• The interior designers on the project were Solanna Designs and Anna Shay.
• Lighting design was created by Lightstyles and Melvyn Kahn

It is always a pleasure to work with such a collaborative professional team that delivers quality designs and exceeds the client’s expectations.

This client wanted an open floorplan home with clean lines and subtle touches of old Europe woven into the details. The team blended the need to be somewhat modern while having aspects of solid tradition. The exterior demonstrates French Farmhouse which has been modernized and the Grand Entry invites visitors inside to see a spacious foyer with a grand sweeping staircase and a view of the water. The finished result is statement of elegance that is an impressive invitation into the home.

All of these design features of the home lend themselves to entertaining. Visitors are naturally drawn to the waterfront view and into the Great Room, which is an open floor plan that includes the Kitchen and a New York Yankees themed Bar. The waterfront experience is still front and center with fully pocketing glass doors that disappear entirely.

While the first floor boasts of beautifully crafted common rooms, the upstairs showcases a luxurious Master Suite with much privacy. The Master Suite retains the focus on the amazing waterfront view, and offers vaulted ceilings and windows that create a magnificent space for rest and relaxation. The Master Bathroom brings warm finishes that are typical of a French Farmhouse with a self-standing tub that allows the homeowners to soak in the tranquility. Just off the Master Suite is the Bonus Room for the homeowner's private retreat .

While the designs and high quality materials demand attention, the hidden details are all the technology incorporated throughout this home, which consists of approximately 7 miles of low voltage wire. Upon close inspection of the pictures, viewers may see some speakers, keypads, and TVs, but they are all elegantly included and built in to the design. Almost every window has a motorized roller shade that is perfectly concealed in pockets in the ceiling. The best technology is built-in, but it has its place.