Explore how Corbin Reeves Construction crafts Southern California’s most ambitious luxury homes
Since 2012, Corbin Reeves Construction (Corbin Reeves) has been crafting the finest residences across Los Angeles and Orange County. By working with esteemed architects, designers and tradesmen who share its exacting standards and attention to detail, the company creates the most timeless, top-quality homes. Preferring not to confine itself to a single architectural style, Corbin Reeves builds traditional, transitional and contemporary projects ranging from 5000 to over 50,000 square feet. Many of these endeavors present complex construction challenges, which the firm does not shy away from. President Michael Reeves tells us more about what truly makes the company stand out in the Californian home building landscape. 
“This marks my 36th year in building high-end custom homes. I have a degree in finance and real estate, and I began my journey in the industry by doing some remodels in college, which gradually led to larger projects. At Corbin Reeves, we focus on high-end luxury housing in Southern California, specifically from Newport Beach to Dana Point, about 11 miles along the coast. As a full-service builder, we manage everything from the initial empty land all the way to project completion, ensuring homes are fully landscaped and ready for move-in. Rather than designing the homes ourselves, we implement designs created by others. Nonetheless, we can construct homes in any architectural style; as long as the home can be designed, we can bring it to life. Our portfolio ranges from ultra-contemporary to ultra-traditional and everything in between. Additionally, we undertake remodeling jobs, as long as they are large enough, where we oversee the entire project,” he opens.
Versatility and proficiency
Some recent highlights of Corbin Reeves’ work are Via Lido Soud (Lido), Emerald Bay and Ocean Boulevard, three distinct projects that demonstrate the company’s expertise and commitment to overcoming challenging circumstances. “The house we built in Lido spans about 10,000 square foot and is located on a double lot right on Newport Harbor. The owner and client is a well-known local developer who wanted to complete the project faster than we initially thought possible. Although what we do is build a product, we are ultimately in the service business, so we were up for the challenge. I originally thought that house would take 22-to-24 months to build, while the client believed it could be done in just 14 months, which seemed quite ambitious. However, we ended up finishing the project in 16 months. This achievement required extensive coordination and day-to-day collaboration with the interior designer, architect, and homeowner. When everyone is aligned, as was the case with Lido, homes can indeed be built faster. This project was particularly special because it combined high-quality craftsmanship with a rapid timeline, pushing us to challenge ourselves.
“Additionally, we built a home in Emerald Bay, a challenging place in which to build. As a gated community with existing residents, we had to work without disturbing people. Access was particularly difficult, as there is only one entry and exit point as well as limits on the number of vehicles allowed on-site. These factors often cause some projects to take longer, and this house was situated on a sloping site, further adding to the complexity. The home itself is four stories tall and features a very contemporary design, in contrast to Lido, which was a traditional house. This illustrates our versatility and proficiency in building in completely different architectural styles. Similarly, the house on Ocean Boulevard is also very contemporary. Not only did this two-story home include a fabulous roof deck complete with a pool and spa, but it also required us to create a basement. Given that the lot is sandwiched between two other houses, the logistics of excavating a basement while protecting the neighboring properties added another layer of complexity,” Michael continues.
Protective measures
In addition to the challenges presented by unique lots, Corbin Reeves takes into account the growing trend toward incorporating recreational spaces to create homes that perfectly align with each client’s lifestyles and preferences. “Of course, home theaters, wine cellars and gyms have been popular for some time now. Even though saunas have always been a well-liked option, we have recently noticed a shift toward larger models with more features, such as backlit salt walls and infrared lights. Alongside saunas, we have installed many spa-inspired areas that include both dry and wet saunas, as well as glam rooms equipped with hair styling and cutting sinks, makeup counters, and massage rooms. Furthermore, we are seeing a rise in demand for indoor golf simulators, and we have even installed a few indoor shooting ranges, though those are still relatively rare. The overarching trend indicates that homeowners increasingly want a variety of recreational spaces, both indoors and outdoors, with honorable mentions like plunge pools, steam rooms, and massage rooms,” Michael unveils.
Less optional and recreational are the changes in construction methods and legislation that have emerged following the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Michael shares insights into how these events have influenced the selection of materials and technologies in home building. “Fortunately, we are located south of Los Angeles, so we did not experience any major fires in this area. That being said, there is still significant potential for wildfires in some of the regions where we build. Many of our houses back up to wilderness areas, including one I recently visited that spans 15 acres with abundant brush. In this particular home, we have implemented a completely fire-resistant design, which means we did not use any wood to build it at all, it is all concrete, steel and glass. Due to its large size, we also had to bring fire hydrants onto the property for firefighting purposes.
“Moreover, we are incorporating exterior fire protection systems that can be deployed remotely to wet down surrounding areas. As a result, should a fire weather warning be issued in California, these systems would automatically activate to prepare the property just in case. Beyond these innovations, new codes are being implemented in California that mandate the use of noncombustible materials, fire-safe vents, and exterior fire sprinklers. We have been exploring more ways to enhance fire protection, especially since securing fire insurance for larger properties in California has become so cost-prohibitive. By implementing some of these measures, we hope to help reduce fire insurance costs for homeowners,” he ends.
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