A Homeowner and His Dream Home

With its spectacular vistas, personal touches, and a design that leans masculine, this home is everything the homeowner wanted — and more.

For Mike Rustici, the hilltop property he owns in Brentwood’s Witherspoon neighborhood offers views of the valley that stretches toward downtown. He turned to Castle Homes to design and build a home that preserved the views.

“I wanted a quality house that didn’t feel grandiose but warm, comfortable, and functional. Alan and Castle Homes have the reputation of building high-quality houses,” the client explains. “I was impressed and pleased with the ability to take ideas of a single dad with no clear sense of style and design vocabulary, listen to him ramble, and give him exactly what he wants — but better.”

“The house was designed for the amazing views,” explains Alan. “The layout and roof lines are arranged to capture the most natural light in the house and give the best vantage points for sunrises and sunsets.”

The home’s front exterior nods to the architectural stylings of an English Tudor home and the interior uses large windows to capture the sweeping landscape. Throughout the house, the design features a  masculine aesthetic that doesn’t compromise warmth and comfort. The open kitchen and living area prioritize function, and a darker color palette is offset by the natural light that comes through large windows and doorways leading to the backyard. The positioning of the backyard pool guarantees it gets the most afternoon sun, but the surrounding lounge areas are just as accessible at night when you can catch a glimpse of the downtown lights.

Imagining, constructing, and completing the home required extreme attention to detail to ensure every inch fit the homeowner and his family. “It is always the best outcome when homeowners trust our process and value our input,” Alan says. “The experience starts by showing the value to the client, respecting their budget and ideas, and helping them understand how they spend their money. Mike was a wonderful client who relied on us to give him a home that worked for him and his daughters.”

The symbiotic relationship between the homeowner and the builder was built on a foundation of communication. Finding the right partner to bring your vision and needs to life can be a daunting task, but the result of a good partnership is the creation of a remarkable family home that surpasses all expectations. Mike wanted a house that would stand the test of time, and Castle’s commitment to craftsmanship and attention to detail gave him confidence in his investment.

“As I was interviewing builders, Castle Homes stood out for their business-like approach. I think of Alan as a business guy who does construction — in contrast to a guy who can swing a hammer but doesn’t know business.

What impressed me most was the commitment to a clear pricing structure. Many other builders would ask me to trust them, but Alan was clear on what the project would be and how much it would cost. During the design process, they respected my budget but pushed me to do the things needed to get the quality I wanted.”

Throughout the project, the team stayed committed to their process. “It all starts with having great people on your team,” says Alan. “This elevates the experience from the design phase through the build phase. The more we listen to the client, the better the project.

We never tell the client no, but we respect their budget and help them get what they want within that.”

The homeowner had one goal: to avoid being annoyed with anything in the house once it was complete. This took many rounds of revisions with Kevin Coffey, the project’s architect, and Joy Huber, the interior designer. “We grinded on every detail, and I love Castle’s process of deciding everything ahead of time and getting the details on paper before we started. We made big and small revisions, and they remained helpful and patient throughout the process.” The result is a home that captures the surrounding views, incorporates personal touches, functions for the entire family, and doesn’t leave any room for annoyances.