MAR VISTA CUSTOM HOME BUILD
THE STORY
Mar Vista
LOCATIONLos Angeles Westside neighborhood
Custom Home Build (Teardown + Rebuild)
SERVICEFull design coordination, construction, and systems integration
New Construction Residential
PROJECT TYPEBuilt from the ground up around modern family living
Indoor–Outdoor Family Living
LIVING STYLEOpen shared spaces balanced with private zones
Layout + Flow + Daily Function
PRIMARY FOCUSDesigning a home that works naturally day to day
Open · Functional · Modern · Cohesive
OVERALL FEELA home designed to be lived in, not just looked at
Some homes are built around design.
This one was built around how people actually live.
The project started with an existing house
but not one that could support how the space needed to function.
The layout was limited. The structure wasn’t aligned with the vision.
Trying to adapt it would have meant compromising the outcome.
So the decision was made early:
Start over. Build it right from the ground up.
Nothing was carried forward.
Everything had to be intentional.
The starting point
The existing layout didn’t support how the home was meant to be lived in.
Spaces felt segmented and disconnected, with limited natural light moving through the interior. The structure restricted openness, making it difficult to create a continuous relationship between the main living areas.
The kitchen, dining, and living spaces functioned independently instead of as a unified environment.
Circulation was inefficient, and the connection to the exterior felt secondary rather than integrated into daily use.
Trying to work within the existing structure would have meant designing around these limitations instead of removing them.
So the direction was set early.
The house was fully demolished.
From that point forward, the project shifted completely.
Not how to improve what existed—
but how to build it correctly from the start.
The existing home was limiting what the property could become.
The question wasn’t how to remodel it—
it was whether it made sense to keep it at all.
PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS
✔️ Full demolition of the existing structure to remove limitations
✔️ Design a new layout centered on flow, light, and usability
✔️ Engineer framing to support open-concept living
✔️ Build all systems new for long-term performance
✔️ Define clear separation between public and private zones
✔️ Integrate indoor–outdoor living into the layout from the beginning
Planning a similar project?
We work across Mar Vista, Culver City, Venice, and the Westside helping homeowners determine when remodeling makes sense and when starting over leads to a better outcome.
Our Approach
This project was defined by one decision early:
Start over and get it right from the beginning.
From that point forward, the focus wasn’t design.
It was structure, layout, and execution.
Clear the Site Completely
The existing home was removed in full.
Not as a construction step but as a way to eliminate limitations and reset the project entirely.
This allowed every decision moving forward to be made without compromise.
Resolve the Layout Before Anything Else
The layout was defined first.
The kitchen, dining, and family room were positioned as a single connected environment forming the core of the home.
Private spaces were placed intentionally to create separation without disconnect.
Flow, circulation, and usability were established before construction began.
Engineer the Structure to Hold the Space
Open space requires precision.
The structural system was designed to support large spans, clean transitions, and uninterrupted movement through the home.
Nothing about the openness was left to chance.
Integrate Systems Into the Structure
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems were planned alongside the structure not layered into it later.
This ensured cleaner routing, better performance, and long-term reliability.
Keep the Architecture Controlled
The design was kept intentional and restrained.
No unnecessary moves.
No elements competing for attention.
Just proportion, clarity, and spaces that function the way they’re meant to.
Behind the Build
The work behind the finished spaces.
What looks simple in the finished home was built through coordination, sequencing, and early precision.
BEFORE — ORIGINAL CONDITION
The property began with an existing structure that no longer supported how the home needed to function.
The layout was restrictive, the structure limited what was possible, and the systems were not aligned with a modern rebuild.
Rather than work around those conditions, the house was fully demolished to reset the project.
DURING — IN PROGRESS
Construction began with a clean site.
The foundation and structural framework were established first, defining the layout exactly as planned.
Framing was executed to support open spans and uninterrupted transitions between the main living spaces.
At the same time, all major systems were installed from the ground up.
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC were coordinated within the structure—not added later—requiring precise alignment across trades from the early stages.
Because everything was new, accuracy early in the process was critical.
There was no existing structure to adjust to—only one opportunity to build it correctly.
By the time finishes began, the structure, layout, and systems were already fully aligned.
That’s what allows the home to feel simple.
Nothing forced. Nothing added later. Nothing working against itself.
What’s visible is clean and controlled.
What’s behind it is what makes that possible.
Key Decisions
The decisions that define how the home works today.
Projects like this are defined by a few key moves. These were the decisions that shaped a home built from the ground up to feel open, functional, and aligned with how it’s actually lived in.
1
REMOVE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE COMPLETELY
Rather than working within limitations, the house was fully demolished.
This allowed the project to be designed and built without compromise from the start.
2
DESIGN THE LAYOUT AS ONE CONTINUOUS ENVIRONMENT
The kitchen, dining, and family room were positioned to function as a single connected space.
Not partially open fully integrated.
3
SEPARATE PRIVATE SPACES WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THEM
Bedrooms were placed intentionally to create privacy while maintaining a clear relationship to the rest of the home.
4
ENGINEER THE STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT OPEN LIVING
The framing and structural system were designed to allow large spans and uninterrupted movement through the main areas.
Openness was built into the structure—not created after.
5
BUILD ALL SYSTEMS NEW AND INTEGRATED
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems were installed as part of the structure.
This ensured performance, efficiency, and long-term reliability.
6
INTEGRATE INDOOR–OUTDOOR LIVING INTO THE PLAN
Outdoor spaces were considered from the beginning—not added later.
The transition between interior and exterior is part of how the home functions.
Before & After
Drag to reveal the transformation.
Project Timeline
13 months from planning to completion.
Planning + Pre-Construction
Layout development, structural planning, and permitting to define the home before construction began
PHASE 1PHASE 2Demolition + Site Preparation
Full removal of the existing structure, clearing the site and resetting the project for a complete rebuild
PHASE 3Foundation + Framing
Construction of the structural framework, establishing the layout and supporting open-concept living
PHASE 4Systems Integration
Full installation of electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, coordinated within the structure from the start
PHASE 5Finishes + Completion
Interior, exterior, and material coordination, final walkthrough, punch work, and project delivery
Early alignment between demolition, structure, and systems allowed the project to move efficiently from a cleared site to a completed home without rework.
The Result
A home that feels natural the moment you walk into it.
The layout doesn’t need to be explained.
It makes sense immediately.
The kitchen, dining, and family room function as one continuous space connected without feeling oversized or forced. Movement through the home is direct, intuitive, and unobstructed.
Natural light moves through the interior throughout the day, changing how each space feels without relying on anything added to it.
Private areas feel separate, quiet, and intentional without losing their connection to the rest of the home.
And the transition to the outdoors isn’t something introduced at the end.
It’s built into how the home works from the beginning.
What stands out isn’t a single feature or moment.
It’s how effortless the house feels to live in.
Project overview
total living space
construction timeline
structure + systems
built from the ground up
ARCHITECT
INTERIOR DESIGN
PHOTOGRAPHER
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Thinking about rebuilding your home?
Projects like this start with one decision whether to work within the existing structure or start over.
Getting that decision right early changes everything that follows.
If you’re planning a custom home or considering a teardown in Mar Vista or Los Angeles, start with a conversation.
We’ll help you evaluate the property, the options, and the right way to approach it before anything moves forward.