KKC partners with Growing Great for a better tomorrow

KKC is proud to be a company that cares about the future of our community, on a day-to-day basis KKC continues to set the standard for green living in the South Bay and now they have joined forces with Growing Great to ensure a better and healthier future for our children. This non-profit garden and nutrition organization inspires children and adults to adopt healthy eating habits through classroom nutrition lessons, school gardens and community events. At KKC we try to not only build, but help create a way of living here in the south bay, it’s not just about style but also about maintaining an atmosphere that encourages the people in our community to live a healthier and greener life.

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Building The Surf Community

KKC is proud to be involved in a movement which is designed to bring the surf community together. Kim Komick serves on the board of the South Bay Boardriders Club. Their mission: to introduce families, youth and our community to all aspects of ocean activities, and become guardians of our local shoreline.

On April 9, a group of over 300 people attended the inaugural meeting of the SB Board Riders. This group included such local surf legends as Mike Purpus, Ted Robinson and Chris Frohoff. Founder Mike Balzer told the Easy Reader, “We’re thinking the adult members can mentor the kids who want to be pro surfers, shapers, lifeguards or surf photographers. And we want to hold surf contests and beach days where our kids can meet other local kids who surf.” Other ideas, he said, include surf camping trips, beach cleanups, and surf, paddling and SUP lessons.

Surfing is typically seen as an individualistic sport; however, there is a great need for mentoring in our community. Many parents would like to teach their kids the wonders and benefits of the ocean, yet lack the knowledge themselves. A surf community offers yet another way for us to pass along hard earned knowledge, and build rapport with the younger generation. This is just one more way that we show respect for our beautiful beach cities.

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KKC and Dean Nota: Creating Together

Olivares Project

KKC Fine Homes has teamed up with local Architect, Dean Nota, to design and build a single family residence for longtime residents of Manhattan Beach. The Olivares house has undergone an 8-9 month planning process, and it will entail a modern style construction, with a clean and an open living plan, level changes, and an abundance of light.

Dean Nota graduated from Southern California Institute of Architecture in 1973. Nota went on to design the much recognized Marsh Residence in 1988, in Hermosa Beach, CA. He has been featured in many forums, books, and periodicals. Nota is known for his sculptural building plans, which are gorgeous and light filled.

“Living in a modern house is a choice of lifestyle”, says Nota, and “the most important thing for a client to do is to take some time to figure out how they want to live and what they need, and then find someone who understands that”

With all the focus on “green living”, Nota says in his Beach magazine interview, “The ultimate green building is a modern building, with the idea of doing more with less”. In June 2007, Nota created the Harless residence, which was subsequently featured in the book, “Green is Beautiful: Building Sustainable Houses”, by Claudio Santini.

Our current collaboration with Mr. Nota is sure to be yet another work of art, and we are confident that Manhattan Beach will yet again appreciate the concept of Southern California modernism.

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Another Green Trend: The Eco-District Community

An Eco-District is defined as: “an integrated and resilient district or neighborhood that is resource efficient; captures, manages, and reuses a majority of energy, water, and waste on site; is home to a range of transportation options; provides a rich diversity of habitat and open space; and enhances community engagement and wellbeing”.

Portland is already on the bandwagon with this one, encouraging the creation of greener communities where residents have access to most services and supplies within walking or biking distance. These areas would also incorporate green spaces and green certified buildings. The creation of walkable, low impact communities in the suburban setting is rapidly gaining steam.

Many of us in the beach cities already live within walking distance of stores and merchants. Riding a bike to the local market is common. We have the benefit of smaller communities, and the idea of an eco-district is certainly within the realm of possibility. This green building trend seems to fit right in with our beach lifestyle. KKC Fine Homes is constantly working to find ways in which we can serve our community, and this is another trend we support.

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Green Building Trends Are Taking Over

We have talked quite a bit about Green living and building in concurrence with this trend. Earth Advantage Institute has released “Top Green Building Trends” and we are very excited to bring these ideas to you.

Energy conservation has been a concern of homeowners for many reasons in the past, and now, more than ever, we are hearing how our clients are conscious of this. There are a lot of ways to save energy, but one of the more recent concepts is called a “smart grid”. This device uses custom and web-based display panels to show real-time home energy use, and even real-time energy use by individual appliances.

We will continue to discuss these exciting new trends in the coming months. Topics will include such things as reclaimed flooring, water conservation, and eco-district communities.

Our beach is precious to us, and everything that we can do to help conserve our beautiful community is a step towards preserving and honoring that. KKC Fine Homes uses only the best designers and architects in order to provide our clients with options which serve the community, as well as their individual needs.

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Storage Space: Another Trend We Like

Lack of adequate storage causes a myriad of problems

Can you ever have too much storage? Sure, you can increase the storage in your home by adding shelves, installing cabinets, and buying wardrobes and armoires. But the best time to think about storage is while you are building or remodeling your home.

One way to increase storage space is by looking up. As in, higher ceilings, and taller cabinets. A kitchen or great room can be designed to accommodate this easily. Many homebuilders are incorporating this into their designs, as the demand increases. We also find storage under the stairs, and in the attic.

The garage is also an important part of today’s home storage design. Many people, especially two-car families, have at least one SUV, and the largest of these vehicles would not fit in a standard garage. Additionally, with our active beach lifestyles, garage storage is essential for the variety of surfboards, bicycles, and exercise equipment which we collect.

KKC Fine Homes is committed to helping you to find the right design for your home storage needs, and beyond. Our talented team will create beautiful storage solutions which are tailored to your, and your family’s, needs.

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Universal Design: Something for Everyone

These kids might need an outdoor shower ........

Universal design means creating spaces that meet the needs of all people, young and old, able and disabled. From the arrangement of the rooms to the choice of colors, many details go into the creation of accessible spaces. Working with talented and creative designers, we can help you to build a space which works for a variety of situations.

No matter how beautiful, your home will not be comfortable or appealing if you cannot move freely through its rooms. Even if everyone in the family is able-bodied, a sudden accident or the long-term effects of illness can create mobility problems or visual impairments.

Many things go into developing a floor plan and custom touches. Make sure you provide plenty of floor space, and include tables or counters that are a variety of heights to accommodate standing, seating, and a range of different tasks. Be aware of installing mirrors and cabinets in a way that they may be reached by a child or a person in a wheelchair.

Working together, we can provide you with many different options, which best suit your individual needs, as well as take into account needs which may arise in the future. KKC Fine Homes and the designers we work with are pleased to offer suggestions and services to make your beach dwelling the best it can be for you.

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Reuse Network and KKC Give Back to the Community

Workers disassemble 112 Manhattan Avenue

As part of the building process, demolition is necessary. However, KKC Fine Homes has discovered a way in which this generally wasteful process can actually benefit the community, as well as save the environment, at no additional cost. The company is called Reuse Network, and they are a non-profit organization, specializing in deconstruction. Deconstruction is the careful dismantling and reclaiming of a structure’s reusable, finished materials and rough lumber.

Miles McGray, South Bay representative for Reuse Network, states, “Part of our mission is to keep reusable materials out of the landfills.” McGray explains that, in partnering with companies such as Habitat For Humanity, all sides benefit. Working directly with the builders and contractors, Reuse brings in a team to collaborate and disassemble the structure in an efficient and environmentally-friendly way.

This week, we will be talking more about this company, and some common misconceptions the public might have about the process of deconstruction. We are excited that we have found yet another way to preserve our beautiful beach and still offer the same great service to our clients.

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Could Your Home Be Making You Sick?

One of the great ironies of the twentieth century is that the very technologies intended to enhance our well-being have often undermined our health. Chemical additives, mass produced synthetics, and composite construction materials all have the potential to make us sick. Breathing in toxic fumes every day can have devastating health effects.

The healthy home nurtures those who dwell inside and also protects the world beyond its walls. Designed with sensitivity for the environment, it is energy-efficient, economical, sustainable, and non-polluting.

You don’t need to set up housekeeping in a monolithic dome or an earth-sheltered dwelling to live in harmony with nature. Even the most traditional home can be adapted to incorporate the key principles of healthy design.

Living at the beach, every day that we watch a sunset, or enjoy the ocean, we see the importance of preserving this wonder of nature. KKC Fine Homes would like to help you build the healthy home of your dreams.

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Feng Shui and the home design

Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) is an intuitive art. This ancient art prescribes lengthy and complex rules that may strike modern homeowners as quirky. For example, your home should not be built at the end of a dead-end road. Round pillars are better than square. Ceilings should be high and well-lit.

Yet even the most baffling practices have a basis in common sense. For example, feng shui principles warn that a kitchen door should not face the stove. The reason is that a person working at the stove may instinctively want to glance back at the door. This creates a feeling of unease, which can lead to accidents.

Despite the numerous complicated rules, feng shui adapts to many architectural styles. Indeed, the clean, uncluttered appearance may be your only clue that a home or office building was designed according to feng shui principles.

The beach life adapts well to the simplistic feng shui philosophy. KKC Fine Homes, and the architects we work with, are ready to help you implement this into your home and create the “ch’i” or “positive energy” which you desire.

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