I designed and built two houses, one in Menlo Park (1984 - 1987) and one in Castro Valley (1993-1997). Design and construction work was done on weekends, evenings, and holidays while I worked full time (50+ hours per week).
3 bedrooms, 3 baths, kitchen, living room, game room, office, dining room, utility room, 1150 square feet of redwood deck, shop area + 2 car garage. Just under 2800 square feet of total living space.
Tore down all but 400 square feet of the old single-story house. Built additional 2400 square feet. Made maximum use of old foundation, adding some perimeter foundation and footings under house for interior support posts allowing for an "open" interior design.
Interior finished with cherry woodwork, maple hardwood floors with cherry inlay, granite countertops in the kitchen and office, marble bath countertops, vaulted ceilings with stained beams in the 2nd floor, 2 marble fireplaces, and a cherry and glass stairway. There are 43 windows and skylights, and 5 glass doors.
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5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 kitchens, 2 living rooms, 2 dining rooms, 1-car garage
The completed Menlo Park house had a 1200 square foot second unit added to an existing house. After building the second unit, I remodeled the old house. Finished house had 2500 square feet.
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Design
I designed both houses. I drew the Castro Valley blueprints on a CAD program. My dad drew the Menlo Park blueprints.
Construction
I did all construction except for the electrical (my dad did this) and stucco.