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Pro Spotlight: Create Your Own Jewel by the Sea
A Carmel general contractor shares his tips for building a new home in the beautiful beach town
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Who: Harlan Bradley of Masterwork
Where: Carmel, California
In his own words: “In the city of Carmel, there are an extraordinary number of constraints that we are faced with, from small lots to design specifications and bay protection. There’s a lot to consider.”
Filled with storybook homes and boutiques, Carmel-by-the-Sea has a rich architectural heritage. “The city really values architecture. It’s because of this that there are various commissions that oversee and ensure that the building never goes awry,” general contractor Harlan Bradley says.
Bradley, who owns local design-build firm Masterwork, navigates these constraints to help his clients get the most out of their new homes. “I love to work with homeowners and show them what’s feasible in this area,” he says.
Where: Carmel, California
In his own words: “In the city of Carmel, there are an extraordinary number of constraints that we are faced with, from small lots to design specifications and bay protection. There’s a lot to consider.”
Filled with storybook homes and boutiques, Carmel-by-the-Sea has a rich architectural heritage. “The city really values architecture. It’s because of this that there are various commissions that oversee and ensure that the building never goes awry,” general contractor Harlan Bradley says.
Bradley, who owns local design-build firm Masterwork, navigates these constraints to help his clients get the most out of their new homes. “I love to work with homeowners and show them what’s feasible in this area,” he says.
Driven by creation. Bradley began his career in woodworking, and later started building homes. “I fell in love with building after helping my dad rebuild their farmhouse in Sonoma,” he says. “I like to create things, and I get a lot of satisfaction out of such a tangible, creative process. I get to collaborate and imagine these spaces, then see them take shape for homeowners.”
Creating a home. “As humans, we’re hardwired to create our own environment,” Bradley says. “It’s really satisfying to work with people throughout that creative process, in that space. Homeowners really enjoy it.” A good home is one of the most transformative and life-changing things out there, he says.
Learn what’s possible for you and your new home with Bradley’s advice below.
Learn what’s possible for you and your new home with Bradley’s advice below.
1. Work Together
“It’s really important to involve your professional team as soon as possible,” Bradley says. “From the moment you’re actively pursuing the right home, a builder can help you understand exactly what you can do with the space, and focus on what’s possible within Carmel’s requirements.”
Bradley saw the space seen here “as an opportunity to create something that was authentic,” he says. “We remodeled the home into a traditional Carmel cottage with a twist of current California style. It has great integration between the indoors and outdoors.”
See more of this project
“It’s really important to involve your professional team as soon as possible,” Bradley says. “From the moment you’re actively pursuing the right home, a builder can help you understand exactly what you can do with the space, and focus on what’s possible within Carmel’s requirements.”
Bradley saw the space seen here “as an opportunity to create something that was authentic,” he says. “We remodeled the home into a traditional Carmel cottage with a twist of current California style. It has great integration between the indoors and outdoors.”
See more of this project
2. Focus on Priorities
Homes in the area are small, so you’ll need to prioritize your space. “Determining the experience that you want to have in your home is the pathway to establishing the priority,” Bradley says. “Focus on what brings you joy in the home, and narrow your attributes to those features.”
The owners of the Carmel home seen here had a clear vision for their remodel — they wanted to create a classic Carmel-style cottage. “We used authentic century-old cottage detailing,” Bradley says. “When we added on, it was a priority to replicate that so it felt cohesive and intentional.”
See more of this project
Homes in the area are small, so you’ll need to prioritize your space. “Determining the experience that you want to have in your home is the pathway to establishing the priority,” Bradley says. “Focus on what brings you joy in the home, and narrow your attributes to those features.”
The owners of the Carmel home seen here had a clear vision for their remodel — they wanted to create a classic Carmel-style cottage. “We used authentic century-old cottage detailing,” Bradley says. “When we added on, it was a priority to replicate that so it felt cohesive and intentional.”
See more of this project
3. Upgrade Your Materials
Building in Carmel offers an opportunity to take advantage of the area’s natural resources. “You can indulge in a really concentrated level of quality materials, because the scale of the homes is much smaller, keeping costs down,” Bradley says. “Incredible materials really enhance your small jewel of a home. In this Carmel home, we used copious amounts of Carmel stone. There’s onyx in all the bathrooms and incredible marble in the kitchen.”
More: For more information on Harlan Bradley and examples of his work, visit Masterwork’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Building in Carmel offers an opportunity to take advantage of the area’s natural resources. “You can indulge in a really concentrated level of quality materials, because the scale of the homes is much smaller, keeping costs down,” Bradley says. “Incredible materials really enhance your small jewel of a home. In this Carmel home, we used copious amounts of Carmel stone. There’s onyx in all the bathrooms and incredible marble in the kitchen.”
More: For more information on Harlan Bradley and examples of his work, visit Masterwork’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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Review by HU-453613029:
Harlan is a true master craftsman. He is extremely creative, easy to work with, and the quality of work is phenomenal. His team of professionals pay attention to every detail and leave the job site ...More
Beautiful pics from a beautiful little town.