The owners of this beautiful ocean-view home in Solana Beach, California, wanted a few exterior upgrades that would expand on their existing Southeast Asian accents.

The couple (who took inspiration from their travels to the far east) wanted to extend the theme beyond the previously added Thai mosaic-tiled outdoor shower and kitchen with built-in BBQ.

The custom Thai awnings—not all together unfamiliar to Jon Dore who married his wife on Phuket where his father-in-law lived for decades—provided shade and added character to the already unique home and surrounding exotic tropical gardens.

This was a fun project completed in prep for our first home in Carlsbad, California, to hit the market.

Originally just a shaded lean-to built with reclaimed wood from various projects (and later transforming into an aviary for quail followed by a storage shed for gardening equipment), the She Shed only took shape as it was being reimagined for future buyers.

Having received as a gift from a construction job this set of French Doors that couldn’t be returned after they were customized but before the owner decided to go in a different direction, Jon put them to good use on the She Shed to give it more style + contrast.

So, just like that, a doorway was (free-hand) cut out of the wall with a chainsaw to incorporate the doors.

The She Shed was then staged (for pics + showings) as a Japanese tea room using some of our own decor and kitchen items. It was a key focal point in the outdoor space and smash hit with the buyers.

This was part of the final phase of our remodel to say goodbye to our Southern California home in style.

Over the years, the atrium had gone through many redesigns. But we had always wanted to add awnings with the option of covering them with translucent panels to bring more shade to the center of the home during the hot summer days.

Of course, when you're a busy general contractor, the less critical and more creative projects for your own home tend to go on the back burner.

So, this one was more a gift to the new owners, and it really was. They loved it.

The reclaimed wood came from many projects over the years. We knew one day it would go to something special and here it is.

What’s more, our son helped out, and got to learn some additional building techniques along the way.

I will always be honored to have been hired by world renowned sand sculptor, Gary Kirk, to lead construction of Pelly's Miniature Golf in Del Mar.

After three seasons of building massive sandcastle forms and managing excavation + running heavy equipment on the beach for Discovery Channel's "explosive" television show, Sand Blasters (they blew up the sandcastles as the friendly competition narrowed to its winner), Gary Kirk, founder of the World Sand Sculpting Academy, who led the competition for the show, won the contract for Pelly’s Mini Golf, and he invited me along for the ride.

Collaborating with Kirk, who's sand sculpting and aquatic vision for the course won the contract, I was charged with adding form + function through construction, concrete and plumbing. In partnership, we brought to life his sea creatures + surf scenes. I also enjoyed building the piers, lighthouse and pirate ship that Kirk envisioned as the centerpiece.

It was such a privilege working on this project + reviving the old mini golf property, which I visited as a kid, and spent countless hours skateboarding the pools next door at the historic Del Mar Skate Ranch.

It was a pleasure working with Gary. He was a great man, artist and friend. He is sorely missed..

Photo credit: Gary Kirk

In Del Mar, California, where I grew up, Torrey Pine trees are illegal to cut down. A permit is required but they’re hard to get.

Basically, the tree has to fall on its own to remove it, and only then, it must be completely impossible to save.

Some family friends spent years cabling their Torrey Pine to keep it from falling. However, one night of a big storm it finally came down in pieces, and on their roof.

So, we were all invited over to take what we wanted for woodworking projects. One slab became a bench on our patio and the other a resin-coated kitchen island.

When we sold our home to move to Idaho, the buyers—newlyweds and first time homeowners—asked if we’d be willing to part with it.

We happily gifted it to them.

It felt right to leave it where it came from and to a young couple just starting out who appreciated it as much as we did.

Now we’ve found a new property in Spirit Lake with plenty of beautiful trees to work with on a project or two in the future.