Distinguished by a profound commitment to historical preservation and sustainability, Home Front Build embodies a philosophy rooted in attentive listening and thoughtful design. With an in-house team comprising framers, finishers, masons, and more, the firm seamlessly integrates design and construction processes, garnering recognition as the best construction firm by “This Old House.” Home Front Build passionately preserves southern California’s architectural legacy by adapting existing homes while honoring their distinctive character.
Los Angeles contains examples of almost any American architectural style you can think of, though it’s best known for its Spanish Mission Revival, Craftsman, and Art Deco structures. It’s an aesthetically eclectic city, with notable buildings including the gonzo Al Struckus House, the elegant skyscraper 777 Tower, and the Late Moderne style Burbank City Hall.
Global supply chain delays are continuing to plague the U.S. home-building industry. A surge in demand for new housing, coupled with closures and delays in factories and transportation hubs brought on by the pandemic, mean that the materials most commonly used in home construction are in short supply. According to the housing market research firm Zonda, 90% of American home builders surveyed said that their business had been impacted by supply issues.
Most people would have sent the wood to a landfill. But for sustainable builder Steve Pallrand, founder and principal designer of the L.A. firm Carbon Shack Design, the dilapidated barn’s redwood siding was the impetus for what came next: an 888-square-foot zero energy accessory dwelling unit, or ADU.
Two decades in the design industry have led Greg Roth to design commercial and residential spaces with an artful sense of color informed by his career in architecture, interior and graphic design. Sticking with his Southern California roots, you can find Roth’s designs in the most soothing, airy, and transformative of spaces. Greg is the Senior Interior designer for not one, but two firms, CarbonShack and Home Front Build, and his designs can be found up and down the Western Coastline. Take a peek into these bespoke interiors for this week’s Designer Friday, Greg Roth.
Over the past year, homeowners have been rethinking the functionality of their homes. Pandemic lockdowns have turned houses and apartments into places of work, learning, and entertainment, and creating a dedicated office space is more important than ever.
Some renovators are finding that working remotely creates opportunities to transform formerly sterile work areas into offices that are bright, personalized and inspiring places. And appearing on camera for video meetings means people are giving particular thought to design choices, from lighting to furnishings to wall color and decor. Here’s how homeowners are approaching their home office upgrades.
With that, today you are going to hear from Steve Pallrand, founder and principal designer of Home Front Build, a design/ build firm with wellness and environmental design at the core of their work. In another life, I hosted a show called The Green Detective. I know this subject and I don’t agree with everything, and you will hear that in my conversation with Steve. But, it’s important to note that we don’t have to agree about everything to agree that the changes for greater environmental consideration in design is important, and necessary. Are you subscribing to the podcast, if not, please do so you get every episode automatically when they are published. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts and now, you can find us on DesignNetwork dot Org, a destination dedicated to podcasts, all things design and architecture so make sure to check it out.
Without a doubt, the kitchen is the most hardworking spot in your home. Whether you're making the most of the square footage in your galley kitchen or luxuriating in a palatial chef's kitchen created just to your specifications, maximizing space is still a must. Cabinetry has long been the go-to for corralling and concealing all your cookware, but increasingly, trends are turning back toward an even older convention—shelving.
LIKE THE stories our parents tell us of their youthful struggles, even our fondest recollections of our earliest flats are colored by compromise. The verses of the first-apartment blues may differ in their details (huffing up six flights of stairs, storing shoes in kitchen cabinets), but everyone sings the same chorus: We all did what we could to spiff up our digs.
