Supporting Meal On Wheels

As many of you likely know, Meals On Wheels is truly a special organization whose mission is to empower seniors, disabled adults, and veterans to remain independent and drive out hunger and isolation in Monterey County. What you might not know, is that Meals On Wheels also aims to nourish the bodies, minds, and spirits of their clients through meals and events at their community centers in Pacific Grove, Seaside, Monterey, and Marina. Over 750 clients with daily deliveries, 350 clients daily at the community centers, and an elderly population expected to double in the next 25 years, this service is a vital component of our community, and near and dear to our hearts.

When Meals On Wheels approached us with their need for a full remodel on their Community Center Men’s & Women's bathrooms, we were happy to help donate our time, talent, and leverage of resources to accomplish the project and meet their deadlines. We thank our trade partners who were involved and helped contribute to the worthy cause.

We are also currently working on an outdoor living spaces project, which will be completed in the next couple weeks. So stay tuned to our social media for more updates!

If looking for volunteer opportunities this holiday season or anytime of the year, Meals On Wheels would love to hear from you. Click Here to find out how you can help.

Wishing you a joyous holiday from the entire Lewis Builders team!

Before & After: Our Whole Home Remodel In The Golden Rectangle

Written by: Lisa Crawford Watson

The location made it worthwhile. The footprint made it reasonable. The ability for the Lewis Builders team to see what it could be and how to get there made it possible. And thus, the buyers were willing to close on the coastal property.

Designed and built in 1933 by Michael J. Murphy, this bungalow was sturdy and stable, with strong bones that withstood the test of tempest and time. The architectural design, which accommodated a warren of small rooms tucked into microlevels, reflected the design sensibilities of the day. While the layout framed the modest lifestyle of the era, nearly 90 years later, it had become an anachronism in a quaint but contemporary city by the sea.

This a place that respects its history and expects it to remain as steadfast as the sea, preserved in the architectural façade of the city. Yet residents also require an interior designed with a modern lifestyle in mind. In redesigning the property, the Lewis Builders team never lost sight of the culture of the community as well the sensibilities of space, lighting, convenience, artistry, and enduring design. The result is a modern showpiece whose architectural aesthetic is both visually stunning and functionally innovative. 

Beginning with the entrance to the home. An undulation of steps down from the street, up into the house, and back down into the kitchen was simplified by elevating the patio and entry to the main level of the house. The introduction of a shed dormer enabled the entrance to accommodate a full-sized front door.

Before

After

The entry to a cramped, narrow kitchen, which reflected an era when cooking was not a social event, was widened to open the space, making it accessible to the main living area. A central island was introduced for casual dining, food prep, and socializing. Recessed lighting, white cabinetry, a complement of travertine stacked stone, and expansive framed windows introduced both space and light to the room, which now opens to an upper deck through a patio door and Fold-A-Door windows above the farm sink, which open to a bar top.

Before

After

In a community that intends to age in place, a layout of few levels and elevations is essential, as is a bedroom suite on the main floor. In the original floor plan, the main bedroom resided upstairs in a two-level loft space overlooking the living room. By trading spaces with a downstairs office, Lewis Builders was able to create a main-floor primary bedroom with contemporary private bath. Moreover, the office space, redesigned to one level, was provided its own powder room.

All of the bathrooms are modern, fresh, sculptural, indulgent, designed with an understated elegance created by clean lines and contemporary finishes.

The lower level, accessed via an open staircase crafted of black shiplap set in a unique chevron pattern, opens to a television lounge, built-in beverage center, and new laundry room. The expanded bathroom and laundry room, previously reached only through an intrusion on the bedroom, are now accessible from the main living space, and the bedroom now opens onto the lower deck.

The basis for this remodel is a three-dimensional vision that enabled designers to repurpose the layout and its elevations to support a contemporary lifestyle. The mastery of the project is the interplay of artistry and architecture that introduced a pair of trestles attached to a modern grid-framed skylight; that replaced a treehouse spiral staircase with a glass-enclosed stairway; that juxtaposed smooth plaster with textured travertine; that worked in clean lines and neutral tones to create the canvas for the new residents’ imprint.  

“I could see, in its prime, the house had merit,” said the new owners. “But it needed an intervention. We realized, if we could renovate the house with Lewis Builders, the place would become our masterpiece.”

Before

And they lived happily ever after…

Is Wallpaper Back? ... Let's “Ask Cari"

When you think of wallpaper what comes to mind?  Has wallpaper made a comeback!?  Could you see wallpaper in your home?  If so, what space?  Let’s ask our expert Cari and get the scoop.

Is Wallpaper Back?  

Over the last few years there has been a re-emergence, definitely not your grandmother's wallpaper, it’s a re-emergence of that material and how it's used in design.  It’s very versatile and how it can be used in many different rooms, formal, casual, fun, bold, it can be as subtle as having just a texture; creamy white texture, Or it can have a bold big pattern.  It’s a fun thing to use.

What has contributed to that resurgence?

In the design world, there's a lot of grace with experimentation, when a designer is feeling out a room they are drawn to fill in something that brings rooms together, wallpaper can be THE thing.  It gives designers room to experiment and to have  fun with other designs. The manufacturing of wallpaper has made it easier in terms of palette, natural wallpaper and better materials to produce the product itself.

What are some favorite patterns of yours?

I’m drawn to the subtleness of wallpaper, more the texture of it, so it softens the room, it's complimentary to other material you're putting in.  It's a little compliment, vs look at me.

It's not the punch for me, I want it to work and compliment the room, not steal attention, but play nice.  It’s funny because my personality is like that too.

It's like people, there is no right or wrong way to be, every wallpaper has its place in a design.  YES, you have your place in a specific design, in a specific room.

Is using wallpaper more sustainable?

Yes, a lot of eco based companies produce sustainable wallpaper in recycled material pre and post consumer content.  The adhesive has lower VOC (volatile organic compound.)  Similar to paint… emitted into air and causes indoor air pollution, that's an important factor that you're putting in that space because you're putting a permanent staple in the room.

By Justine Geisler & Cari Hill

We won!

We are pleased to announce we received the 2021 Chrysalis Award in the Outdoor Living category! The Chrysalis Awards program began almost 30 years ago, and recognizes the nation’s best work in fourteen general categories of residential and commercial remodeling. “We are honored to received another prestigious design award from this organization. And it a testament to the talents of our design team as well as the team to execute it,” commented Tammy Lewis.

For this project, the objective was to provide the family with a backyard to retreat and rejuvenate in. Due to the large 2-acre lot, a lack of privacy from the road, and a fast moving river on property, the homeowners defined the primary outdoor living space by adding a backyard fence within a fenced-in property. With efficient use of space, various gathering spaces are connected via flagstone and landscaping to include: detached home office, private master deck with outdoor shower and hot tub, putting green, fire pit, seating area, dining area, and outdoor kitchen with pizza oven.

BEFORE

AFTER

Take a tour of the backyard here!

Take a sneak peek of our premier project under development in the exclusive community of Tehama

With over 10,000 square feet, this beauty of a home is 2+ years in the making, with another year to go. We invite you along to view our progress.

The walls are forming, and progress is in the air. With our commitment to sustainability, we used Fox Blocks, recycled styrofoam with a concrete core

It truly is all fun & games at this house, it will feature a Bocce Ball court as well as a 100 yard, 9 hole putting green!

How did we make this happen? Through our proven process honed over 25+ years of industry experience, we are able to execute with excellence, projects of any size, from a kitchen remodel to a custom, state-of-the-art, new home build.

Stay tuned for more behind the scenes footage of our masterpiece coming to life!

Heart of Carmel

As part of our involvement with the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, and through Lewis Builders President, Scott Julian’s participation in Leadership Carmel, we are proud to share with you support of their legacy gift to the City of Carmel, a temporary art exhibit; Heart of Carmel.

In addition to structural design, planning, and permitting, Lewis Builders volunteered to install the hearts, painted by local artists, throughout downtown to unify our community. The hearts celebrate public art, engage community interest and promote exposure to local businesses, describes Leadership Carmel a group who seek to increase their knowledge of the Carmel Community and grow professionally as leaders.

The hearts will be auctioned off the last week of August and funds will be used to support our future leaders through scholarships from the Carmel Woman’s Club and the Carmel Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and ways you can be involved visit: carmelchamber.org/leadership-carmel-class-project

Philanthropy Build Project Begins in Salinas

“Giving back is just a part of who we are. It's a part of our core values,” explains John Lewis, CEO of Lewis Builders describing a philanthropy build project he has set into motion for Joseph Escalante, a Salinas resident now confined to a power chair after a major accident over 15 years ago. Learn more about Joseph and the project in the video above.

“At Lewis Builders we have the unique ability that we have the intellectual expertise when it comes to accessibility, we have the architectural design elements and of course we have the building expertise to really change someone's life by changing their space,” says Lewis.

Knowledge of Joseph, his mother Sandy, and Joseph’s equipment needs, led the design team to look at their existing home and presented the idea to convert their attached garage into a fully accessible studio apartment.

After an extensive permitting process with the City of Salinas we are approved to begin work!

We are reaching out to our friends and families and including our vendors and trade partners to help get this done! Something as simple as pulling weeds or planting flowers or picking up a paintbrush. In these unprecedented times we are experiencing a boom in home construction and renovation. Contributing funds may be one of the most valuable ways to help as labor and material costs have risen significantly.

A very special thank you to the following Trade Partners who have already committed their support:

Goldstone Masonry - Accessible Entry Ramp

Division Painting - Painting

CRP Plastering - Drywall and Stucco

Slama Door - Doors

Dusk Industries - Electrical Labor & Material

Don Chapin - Driveway Apron Labor & Material

Old Town Carpet & Floors - Flooring material

List of needs:

Framing
Decking
Demolition
Plumbing labor & material
Foundation work
General labor

Want to help? Sign up at lewisbuilder.com/getinvolved

Introducing the Lewis Family Farm!

Growing up in Salinas as the son of a berry farmer, John Lewis knows his way around a farm. When purchasing this home in Carmel Valley, he instantly saw the potential to cultivate the land.  The vision of this quarter acre family garden has been to produce enough to share with employees of Lewis Builders and our test year has been a success!

We recently invited employees and their families to get their hands in the dirt to help ensure coming success and share in the yield. The bounty includes honey, eggs, all types of herbs and greens, artichokes, berries, zucchini, ornamental flowers and more.

The garden will continue to serve as a gathering space for team building experiences and a harvest party is coming up soon!

Our remodeled cottage in Carmel-by-the-Sea wins Master Design Award from Qualified Remodeler

The Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards competition recognizes remodelers, architects, builders, kitchen and bath specialists and other professionals for outstanding project design and construction...and we won! We were honored to receive the 2020 Silver Award for Residential Interior in the 42nd annual awards.

Continue reading to hear the story behind the award winning project!

Envisioning and Executing Potential
written by Lisa Watson

Although the San Francisco Bay Area couple, Tim and Catherine Ramos, weren't entirely sure what they wanted in a vacation home in the legendary community of Carmel-by-the-Sea, they did know how they wanted to live in it.

When their Realtor introduced the couple to the cottage identified as “Pico” on the garden gate, they imagined it was too small to suit their needs. Yet they were instantly enamored of the verdant setting and seascape views accessible from every part of the property—except the house.

John Lewis, of Lewis Builders Design/Build firm, sensed something more.

When he looks at a property, Lewis sees beyond what is present to envision its potential. As he listened to his clients voice their interests and objections, he turned over the real estate flyer and began sketching the contemporary floor plan of a beach bungalow, without sacrificing the aesthetic of the 1960s cottage.

The Ramoses purchased the property.

“The entrance to the home is one of its most important visual and structural elements,” said Lewis Builders Director of Interior Design, Cari Hill. “We replaced a set of patio doors with a double window in complement to another pair of windows across the front. We installed a Dutch door at the entrance, with a windowpane grid to let in light, preserving a key architectural element appearing throughout the neighborhood, while maintaining the character of this house.”

Inside, the Lewis Builders team made a 1,600 sq ft house feel more like 2200 square feet of usable space, without actually increasing the square footage. They could have updated the kitchen where it was, yet to open up the space and suit the family-friendly lifestyle of the owners, they created a contemporary open-concept kitchen in the main living area. They replaced French doors with a retractable glass wall, extending the living space of the home out onto the deck, which they expanded by 4.5 ft, increasing the vantage on the seascape, framed by trimmed trees.

“When a residential construction project goes poorly,” said Tim Ramos, “you live with it every day, as the defects keep the memory ever present. We have just the opposite as we enjoy every feature of our home.”

Lewis Builders Announces New Partners

“I would like to announce a very exciting advancement in our company’s trajectory. Scott, Kenny, and I are taking on additional partners. This expansion of our ownership in key departments is going to help Lewis Builders exponentially grow in the same way as when I first took on Scott and Kenny as partners 4 years ago.

Please join me in congratulating each of them.” - John Lewis, CEO

Damien Georis
Vice President of Pre-construction & Design

Cari Hill, CKBD
Director of Interior Design

Matt Kremer
Director of Operations

Blake Stocker
Director of Business Relations