Traditional rebuild designs.
The architectural vocabulary of Altadena was decades in the making. Rebuilds can honor it without being pastiche.
The architectural vocabulary of Altadena was decades in the making. Rebuilds can honor it without being pastiche.
Traditional rebuild design in Altadena draws on the styles that defined the neighborhoods: Spanish Colonial Revival, California Ranch, Mediterranean, Craftsman, and a handful of period vernaculars. These styles remain highly appropriate when executed with real detailing rather than superficial appliqué.
Authentic traditional detailing on a rebuild means proportions that match the original precedent, real material thickness (not foam moldings), shadow lines from deep trim, and integration of modern code requirements (WUI, Title 24, CALGreen) invisibly.
We have designed over forty traditional style rebuilds across the past three California fires. The key to a traditional rebuild that does not feel like a costume is restraint in the detail budget paired with quality in the materials and the craftsmanship.
Spanish Colonial Revival in Altadena: tile roofs (Class A), stucco walls, wood beam ceilings, wrought iron accents, courtyards oriented to shade. The courtyard is both aesthetic and performance. It buffers heat and fire, provides outdoor living, and gives the house its identity.
California Ranch in Altadena: low slope roofs, wide eaves, brick or stone accents, covered patios, horizontal emphasis. Rebuilds update the original low ceilings to 9 or 10 foot, improve window sizing, and add thermal performance while preserving the signature silhouette.
Mediterranean in Altadena: hipped tile roofs, stucco walls in warm tones, arched openings at primary entries, cast stone accents. This style works well for larger rebuild projects where scale justifies the material investment.
Craftsman in Altadena: low pitched gable roofs, deep eaves with exposed rafter tails (fire detailed with ember resistant vents), wood siding (ignition resistant treated), stone accent bases, deep covered porches. Authentic Craftsman requires investment in material quality.
Our role on Altadena rebuild projects covers design, permit documentation, and construction administration. David Foote, Associate AIA, draws every project personally. No junior designer intermediaries. Forty years of California residential design, 1,532 completed homes.
We accept new Eaton Fire rebuild clients on a limited basis to preserve project quality. If your rebuild lot is in Altadena and you want to explore working with us, the next step is a free 90 minute consultation. Call (805) 444 1230 or email dcfoote@dcfoote.com. We respond within one business day.
Published hourly rate $350. Most rebuild projects quoted as fixed fee or percent of construction cost after initial scope is clear. Insurance often reimburses the design fee as a covered claim expense.
Depends on the specific neighborhood. Spanish Colonial Revival and Mediterranean are common in many Altadena areas. California Ranch dominates certain streets. The neighborhood context analysis at the start of the project identifies the appropriate style direction.
Yes. Open plan living with traditional exterior vocabulary, large master suites, integrated office, gym, media room all work within traditional exterior styles. The exterior reads historic; the interior reads modern.
Proportions, material thickness, shadow depth in the detailing, and restraint in the ornamentation. Superficial applied moldings on a foam substrate read as costume. Real stucco thickness, genuine tile roofs, and deep window reveals read as authentic.
Not by style. A well detailed traditional home performs identically to a modern home with the same envelope specifications. The efficiency is in the envelope, not the style.
Ninety minute consultation, no fee. We meet at our Camarillo office, your temporary housing, or your Altadena lot. From there, we decide together whether we are the right match for your rebuild.
David C. Foote, Principal Designer, Associate AIA. 40 years practicing residential design. 1,532 completed homes since 1986.