After 20 years of homebuilding, Ken and Michele knew better than anyone that the design-and-build process, while exciting, could also be marked by challenges. The first (and most significant) hindrance came immediately. The lot the Samsons chose was perfect for giving them panoramic views of the Tortolita Mountains and Catalina Mountains, but, true to its community’s name, it was almost completely covered by stone. “It was all solid rock,” Ken says. “We had to chip and grind all that rock out of here…so we could build a foundation.”

The next task was selecting a group of subcontractors who could make the Samsons’ visions a reality—a process made significantly easier by Ken’s industry contacts. “We have faith in all of our subcontractors, and once we’re able to give them an initial design, most of our people can take it from there and make some positive changes to it,” Ken says. From kitchen countertops to bathroom tile to flooring, the subcontractors took care of the details, allowing the Samsons more time to focus on the elemental aspects of the home’s design.