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Pro Spotlight: Get Your Custom Home Off to a Good Start
A Newport Beach builder offers tips for keeping the planning and building process on track
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Who: Mike Close of Spinnaker Development
Where: Newport Beach, California
In his own words: “I love that there is no ordinary day. Every day throws you a curveball.”
Building a custom home is probably the largest single investment you’ll ever make. Narrowing down your priorities and understanding the perceived value of what you’re putting into your home can help you make wise choices, says builder Mike Close, the owner of Spinnaker Development in Newport Beach.
Where: Newport Beach, California
In his own words: “I love that there is no ordinary day. Every day throws you a curveball.”
Building a custom home is probably the largest single investment you’ll ever make. Narrowing down your priorities and understanding the perceived value of what you’re putting into your home can help you make wise choices, says builder Mike Close, the owner of Spinnaker Development in Newport Beach.
Plan for longevity. Focusing on what you need rather than what you want is essential. “Plan for the long term,” Close says. He advises choosing a neutral palette as a starting point and reserving bolder colors for easily replaceable accents: “Make an impact with what’s interchangeable.”
Keep things in perspective. Explore different ways to solve any problems that crop up rather than sticking to one approach. Considering all the possibilities is something Close has years of experience with. After working in every aspect of the business, from the trades to management to customer interactions, he started his company in early 2009. “I enjoy working with all the different personalities,” he says.
Planning to build a custom home? Read Close’s advice below to help you get the home you want.
Planning to build a custom home? Read Close’s advice below to help you get the home you want.
1. Assemble Your Team Early On
Include your builder and designer in discussions with your architect throughout the design process, as they can offer additional perspectives and solutions, Close says. He collaborated from the start with the architect and designer to build this home in the Cliffhaven neighborhood of Newport Beach for a busy family of six. “No one was guessing what to do,” he says.
The centerpiece of the home is the large dining area seen here, visible from the entry. Knowing the size of the room ahead of time allowed the designer to plan for a massive table and allowed Close to plan for the installation of three cascading light fixtures.
See more of this project
Include your builder and designer in discussions with your architect throughout the design process, as they can offer additional perspectives and solutions, Close says. He collaborated from the start with the architect and designer to build this home in the Cliffhaven neighborhood of Newport Beach for a busy family of six. “No one was guessing what to do,” he says.
The centerpiece of the home is the large dining area seen here, visible from the entry. Knowing the size of the room ahead of time allowed the designer to plan for a massive table and allowed Close to plan for the installation of three cascading light fixtures.
See more of this project
2. Determine the Details
Make all the design decisions and order the materials before building starts to avoid stress and delays later. “Once the shovel hits the ground, you can relax and enjoy the process,” Close says. For instance, this home in Corona del Mar required an unusual number of upfront decisions about design and materials.
The lot features a panoramic view of the ocean, but options for privacy screening and for the outdoor entertaining space the family wanted were limited. After the architect added the indoor-outdoor courtyard seen here to meet the clients’ needs, Close was able to keep the project on schedule by ordering the additional materials — pavers, glass panel railings, sliding doors and even a concrete pingpong table — early on.
See more of this project
Make all the design decisions and order the materials before building starts to avoid stress and delays later. “Once the shovel hits the ground, you can relax and enjoy the process,” Close says. For instance, this home in Corona del Mar required an unusual number of upfront decisions about design and materials.
The lot features a panoramic view of the ocean, but options for privacy screening and for the outdoor entertaining space the family wanted were limited. After the architect added the indoor-outdoor courtyard seen here to meet the clients’ needs, Close was able to keep the project on schedule by ordering the additional materials — pavers, glass panel railings, sliding doors and even a concrete pingpong table — early on.
See more of this project
3. Understand How You Live
Be realistic about the level of upkeep you want. “If you entertain a lot and know people won’t always find a coaster available, don’t choose marble for countertops,” Close says.
Clients with two children and two dogs in the Balboa area wanted their home to feel timeless and elegant. They entertain often, so functionality was also key: “There will be red wine,” they told Close. He designed a classic beach home, seen here, that’s low-maintenance and user-friendly, with stain-resistant quartzite countertops, durable engineered wood flooring and plenty of ocean views.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Mike Close and examples of his work, visit Spinnaker Development’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Be realistic about the level of upkeep you want. “If you entertain a lot and know people won’t always find a coaster available, don’t choose marble for countertops,” Close says.
Clients with two children and two dogs in the Balboa area wanted their home to feel timeless and elegant. They entertain often, so functionality was also key: “There will be red wine,” they told Close. He designed a classic beach home, seen here, that’s low-maintenance and user-friendly, with stain-resistant quartzite countertops, durable engineered wood flooring and plenty of ocean views.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Mike Close and examples of his work, visit Spinnaker Development’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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