bettershelter Featured In OC Register

Says Pete Zehnder, bettershelter co-founder: "How many places do you go to years later and (the homeowners) say I don't want to move? It's usually the other way around."

Indeed!

Pete and I spent a few hours at 1.7 Ocean the other day and the whole place looks great!

An awesome place to call home.

See whole article HERE  

Thank You Westways!

The Sept issue of Westways Magazine has a "Tiny Houses" story.

bettershelter was honored that we were included in the article, we are in good company and it is nice to see 1.7 Ocean featured alongside the other great examples.
Thank you!

1.7 Ocean - A Few Years Later

I recently visited 1.7 Ocean and LOVED how the complex is looking.
It is just as we pictured it; the buildings have aged a bit, the landscaping has filled WAY in and the whole place has softened in a good way. You can barely see the bungalows!
Still loving the "green" carports!

A great place to call home.

1.7 Ocean-A Few Years Later

I visited 1.7 Ocean for the first time in a while and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised!

The whole site has aged very well and I especially like the vine-covered "carports", the ultimate in a green parking spot.
The place looks great.

Party!

There is a party at 1.7 Ocean today!
When we first started the project, we envisioned a group of "like-minded" people living together in a well designed setting.
It is rewarding to see people enjoying their homes and their community.

1.7 Ocean on Apartment Therapy

Chris + Erica over at 1.7 Ocean have their home profiled on Apartment Therapy!

From AP:
Who Lives Here: My husband, Chris and I. Oh, and our canine son, Omar!
Location: Costa Mesa, California
Size: 850 square feet
What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? Our small, cool home is GREEN! When we first moved to California from Idaho we knew little about the green movement, but we quickly caught on to the importance of green living. Our home is a mid century bungalow remodeled with green features. We recently planted an herb garden and plan to expand to an organic vegetable garden soon. Our toilet and shower are low flow. We have Energy Star appliances and low maintenance, native California landscaping with underground drip irrigation. We keep energy use/costs down by taking advantage of all of the natural sunlight and fresh air we get through our windows and doors. At least 75% of the new decor/furniture we have purchased for our home is second hand. We've found some great pieces at local flea markets, craigslist and thrift stores!

See the whole story here

Distinctly Cozy!

Orange Coast Magazine profiled a few of the 1.7 Ocean inhabitants, the article is in March issue.
Check it out, it looks good!

Andrew Virtue At Greystone Show House 2008

Our good friend Andrew Virtue is participating in the Greystone Show House 2008.
Says the LA Times: "Veranda magazine editor-at-large Carolyn Englefield, lined up 28 interior and landscape designers from Southern California and beyond -- a list that includes Martyn, Lawrence-Bullard, Suzanne Rheinstein, Windsor Smith, Rose Tarlow and David Phoenix. Englefield's directive: Create the feel of a Great Gatsby-style home taken into the 21st century." Her second request, perhaps even harder to fulfill: "Make it feel like a real home."

We had Andrew decorate one of our model homes at 1.7 Ocean, his home looked FANTASTIC and people LOVED IT.
We know Andrew to be extremely talented and creative.
Bravo, Andrew!

Andrew's room at Greystone



Andrew's home at 1.7 OceanAndrew relaxing in his 1.7 Ocean bungalow

Like-Minded People Sticking Together....

You probably will not see many McCain posters at either 1.7 Ocean or 12@ELDEN.....
Another reason to live in a bettershelter community.
GO OBAMA.

Why Not?

1.7 Ocean In DAMSEL Magazine

Megan Koehn, one of the members of our 1.7 Ocean community is profiled in the June issue of DAMSEL Magazine (full disclosure: I am interior design editor for DAMSEL Magazine and profiled Megan for article). It looks great, thank you Megan for sharing! You can pick up DAMSEL Magazine at better surf shops in Orange County. And thanks to Stephanie Lauren for the photos, she did an awesome job.
bettershelter says: READ IT!

1.7 Ocean In Los Angeles Times!

1.7 Ocean was featured in a photo gallery in the Los Angeles Times titled "Cute Houses That Don't Cost A Fortune-In LA?"
The photos were a sidebar to Christopher Hawthorne's article "Fledging Home Projects Emerge From L.A.'s Small-Lot Ordinance". Mostly it was about the Maltman Bungalow project, which yours truly has blogged about in the past. Great project.
Thank you for thinking of us LA Times!

1.7 Ocean Update

1.7 Ocean is SOLD OUT!
The last 2 homes went into escrow today.
We want to thank everyone who participated in the success at 1.7 Ocean, we are indebted to all of you for creating such a fantastic community.
Ask anyone who lives there and they will tell you the same thing: THEY LOVE IT!!
THANK YOU!

Another Reason To Be On Westside

Now, if you lived at 1.7 Ocean, you could just ride your bicycle to this sale.
Another win for the Westside!
bettershelter says: DO IT!

Hey 19th!

The current issue of Riviera Magazine is the food issue.
They profiled the "chimichanga corridor" along 19th St in Costa Mesa.
The Westside strikes again, another win for 1.7 Ocean!
bettershelter says: EAT IT!

Smart Car-FUN

Shima Soffer came by 1.7 Ocean in her Smart Car and she let me take it for a spin. As expected, it sure does get a lot of attention. That car sure knows how to pull the emotional strings. And it handles way better that I thought it would. Prognosis: FUN!

1.7 Ocean In DAMSEL Magazine

We recently shot Megan Koehn and her boyfriend Simon's home for DAMSEL Magazine, which happens to be at 1.7 Ocean! Their place looks awesome, another style-y couple ensconced at 1.7!
Stephanie Lauren shot the piece and as usual we employed the services of the Modern Beachcomber, AKA Jim Olarte to style the shoot. The dream team strikes again.