Case study · 18 months

The making of Casa de la Cresta.

Eighteen months, six phases, nineteen artisans across three countries. A documentary of how we delivered a Montecito estate from first walk to final photograph.

Month 1 – 2

Discovery

“We walked the property three times before we drew a single line.”
  • ◆Site assessment and existing-conditions documentation
  • ◆In-depth client interviews and lifestyle analysis
  • ◆Architectural and structural evaluation
  • ◆Landscape survey and topographic study
Discovery — Month 1 – 2
Month 3 – 4

Concept

“The home told us what it wanted to be — we just had to listen.”
  • ◆Room-by-room concept boards and mood studies
  • ◆Immersive 3D renderings and spatial walkthroughs
  • ◆Material palette development with hand-selected samples
  • ◆Client presentation and collaborative refinement
Concept — Month 3 – 4
Month 5 – 8

Design development

“Every drawer pull, every tile, every light fixture — specified, sourced, scheduled.”
  • ◆Complete construction documents and specifications
  • ◆Procurement planning with lead-time scheduling
  • ◆Vendor coordination across nineteen artisan workshops
  • ◆Permit support and code-compliance review
Design development — Month 5 – 8
Month 9 – 14

Construction & procurement

“Nineteen artisans. Three countries. One vision.”
  • ◆Lime plaster by Kamp Studios, hand-applied over six weeks
  • ◆Custom ironwork fabricated by SB Forge
  • ◆Zellige tile hand-cut and shipped from Fez, Morocco
  • ◆White-oak flooring sourced and milled in France
Construction & procurement — Month 9 – 14
Month 15 – 16

Installation

“The day everything comes together. Room by room, piece by piece.”
  • ◆White-glove furniture delivery and precision placement
  • ◆Art hanging with gallery-grade hardware and lighting
  • ◆Textile styling, drapery installation, bed dressing
  • ◆Landscape planting and outdoor furnishing
Installation — Month 15 – 16
Month 17 – 18

The reveal

“The clients walked in at golden hour. Nobody spoke for a full minute.”
  • ◆Final photography by architectural photographer
  • ◆Publication submission to Architectural Digest and Luxe
  • ◆Client handover with comprehensive home manual
  • ◆Ongoing maintenance guide and vendor directory
The reveal — Month 17 – 18
Ready to begin your own?

Your house deserves this much care too.

Every Cerro Studio project moves through this same discipline — scaled to the house, held close by the principal.