“If this isn’t the classic Malibu tale,
then I don’t know what is....” Steve
Yett cracks a wry smile and shakes
his head in disbelief. “So two
sisters inherit their mother’s house.
They can’t agree on what to do with
it. One sister starts a bootleg
remodel. The other sister turns her
into the City. They end up hiring a
local architect to come up with
plans for the remodel and clear the
violation. By the time they’re done
with this exercise, they don’t have
enough money to do the remodel,
so they sell the property with
entitlements. My client buys the
property for a song. I don’t know if
then I don’t know what is....” Steve
Yett cracks a wry smile and shakes
his head in disbelief. “So two
sisters inherit their mother’s house.
They can’t agree on what to do with
it. One sister starts a bootleg
remodel. The other sister turns her
into the City. They end up hiring a
local architect to come up with
plans for the remodel and clear the
violation. By the time they’re done
with this exercise, they don’t have
enough money to do the remodel,
so they sell the property with
entitlements. My client buys the
property for a song. I don’t know if
some of the crazy ideas that they came up with in
the original design were those of the previous
architect, or the two sisters. At any rate, my client
didn’t like the City-Approved design, and hired me
to make adjustments and get the project re-
approved as a ‘Substantial Conformance’ which
enabled the project to be approved relatively
easily and quickly.”
One of the first things that Steve Yett changed was
the two large dormers that the previous design
had as integral design elements. This was going
to require moment frames and grade beams.
“I didn’t see any real benefit to having them. The
front door and stairs to the second floor were in
the center of the house. If the Master Suite were
positioned to take advantage of the spectacular
view, I would’ve kept one of them. It made much
more sense to me to break them down into three
smaller dormers that could be wood frame, and
require only minor underpinning to the existing
foundation.”
The proposed Master Bathroom was facing the
frontage street; not the spectacular ocean view.
the original design were those of the previous
architect, or the two sisters. At any rate, my client
didn’t like the City-Approved design, and hired me
to make adjustments and get the project re-
approved as a ‘Substantial Conformance’ which
enabled the project to be approved relatively
easily and quickly.”
One of the first things that Steve Yett changed was
the two large dormers that the previous design
had as integral design elements. This was going
to require moment frames and grade beams.
“I didn’t see any real benefit to having them. The
front door and stairs to the second floor were in
the center of the house. If the Master Suite were
positioned to take advantage of the spectacular
view, I would’ve kept one of them. It made much
more sense to me to break them down into three
smaller dormers that could be wood frame, and
require only minor underpinning to the existing
foundation.”
The proposed Master Bathroom was facing the
frontage street; not the spectacular ocean view.
“I think the only reason why they were keeping it there was to keep the plumbing lines in the same
place. But it really didn’t make any sense, the old cast-iron piping that they kept should’ve been
replaced. And where they did replace the plumbing, they were using PVC. At any rate, we moved the
Master Bath to take full advantage on the ocean view, placing the new tub in one of the dormers. It
really made a world of difference.”
place. But it really didn’t make any sense, the old cast-iron piping that they kept should’ve been
replaced. And where they did replace the plumbing, they were using PVC. At any rate, we moved the
Master Bath to take full advantage on the ocean view, placing the new tub in one of the dormers. It
really made a world of difference.”
“My client wanted a deck off the
Master Suite, taking in the blue
water views and a trellis at the
Entry. The Planning Department
didn’t see how this work could be
considered part of the original
approval, so we made that part of
a second phase that we were
able to catch up with the rest of
the work during construction.”
Master Suite, taking in the blue
water views and a trellis at the
Entry. The Planning Department
didn’t see how this work could be
considered part of the original
approval, so we made that part of
a second phase that we were
able to catch up with the rest of
the work during construction.”
