A Builder's View

A weekend home beckons recreational activities with sweeping views from every angle. 

This lakeside home is located on a 95-acre parcel along the northwestern shore of Lake Berryessa. Up a half-mile driveway from Knoxville Road running along the lakeshore, this home is off the grid, not connected to municipal utilities, with a spring on the property providing fresh water, photovoltaic solar panels providing electricity. The weekend home’s systems include on-demand hot water and in floor radiant heating to help on days when the passive cooling might need assistance.

The continuous images of devastation left by the recent fire are more than stunning. The extent of the damage can only be described as historic and will remain in our memories for a lifetime. The reality is that the effort to rebuild will require efforts that extend well beyond our local communities and it will take time. It will not be easy but our community is strong and resilient; we will get through this together.

When thinking about what makes the new Davies Tasting Room special, the word placemaking immediately comes to mind. The structure and space was envisioned to capture the heart of the Wine Country community. Before discussing how this present day space went from a vision into reality, it is important first explore the winery’s past.

Barns are being reimagined for modern living and transcending their original function to become comfortable and appealing for modern dwellers. Recently, our team at Centric General Contractors worked together with architect William Duff of San Francisco to relocate and transform an empty barn for contemporary art collectors and philanthropists Cindy and Howard Rachofsky.  

When you think of Wine Country homes, do you conjure up images of old country homes? Here is proof the Wine Country possesses a wide range of homes from modern to traditional.

Recently, we had the distinct honor of installing the Mariposa Mural Project at the Cope Family Center in downtown Napa. While we played a minor role in helping the Mariposa Mural Project, it is rewarding to be a part of this community cause. In order to help facilitate a dialog about the community arts project, we are sharing the Mariposa story with you.

Building The LMR Rutherford Estate Poultry House 

There is no shortage of Napa Valley restaurants serving farm-to-table fare made with fresh local ingredients.  Farm-to-table, or farm-to-fork, essentially covers the process of providing fresh food to the consumer. The process includes harvesting, storage, processing, packaging, sales, and consumption. This process is closely related to the local food movement, typically fostered by agriculture, food service, and restaurant communities. For a lot of restaurants, farm-to-table fare is preferred because fresh produce and ingredients are filled with nutrients, don’t have to be chemically preserved for transport, and taste great.  All in all, the farm-to-table movement is a win-win-win experience from the farmer to the chef to the diner.