Travertine Creates Revival Design for Upscale Development

October 3, 2008

Construction was recently completed on a trio of luxury homes - referred to as the Rival Collection - in the Mission Hills section of San Diego, CA. The design of two new spec homes was inspired by renowned San Diego architect Homer Delawie, whose 1965-built house is part of the collection.

Nestled in the Mission Hills area of San Diego, CA, is a trio of luxury modern residences - featuring open floor plans and natural materials - that are reflective of their habitat. The homes, which have been named the “Revival Collection,” were inspired by the mid-century architectural works of Homer Delawie - a renowned San Diego architect.

The two newly constructed homes feature wide-open floor plans with 24- x 24-inch travertine floor tiles running throughout the first floor.

While two of the residences are newly constructed spec homes, the third was actually designed and built by Delawie in 1965. Nakhshab Development and Design (NDD) of San Diego, the developer for the project, renovated the original structure while also creating the fresh designs for the new houses, which are located next door to each other.

For the residence known as “3433 Jackdaw,” slabs of granite were used to form the top and sides of a large center island in the kitchen. The movement contained in the light-colored stone adds contrast to the subtle tones of the travertine floor.

“These are very tenuous lots to build on,” said Soheil Nakhshab, CEO of NDD. “The property was on the market for over 12 years. People were scared to build because of the slopes.”

Nakhshab went on to explain that his firm came up with the concept of building into the hillside. “Our goal was to come in and build the most efficient homes,” he said. “We wanted to use natural materials, and we also wanted a minimal use of materials. We feel that you don’t need to overdo it to come up with beautiful styles.”

The beige color of the travertine, along with the rich wooden cabinetry, create a warm and welcoming interior environment.

The spec home designs

The spacious floor plans of the two 4,400-square-foot spec homes help to achieve a clean open look for each interior space. Further contributing to the overall design of each residence are large-format travertine floor tiles that create a fluid transition from room to room.

Completing the look of the two new residences in the Revival Collection, the 24- x 24-inch travertine tiles were carried outdoors to the patios. “There are large slider doors which make the houses look a lot bigger when standing in the room,” said Soheil Nakhshab, CEO of Nakhshab Development and Design (NDD), the project developer.

“I find that travertine is a really classic material,” said Nakhshab. “In the mid-century, there was a wave that started using it. We wanted to introduce it back into our designs.”

The large-format travertine tiles were also employed for the exterior to create a fluid transition from the interior of the home to the exterior.

While the two new spec homes share similar designs, each does have its own unique character. For the residence known as “3433 Jackdaw,” slabs of granite were used to form the top and sides of a large center island in the kitchen. The movement contained in the light-colored stone adds contrast to the subtle tones of the travertine floor.

Although the homes in the Revival Collection feature modern-style designs, the travertine tiles used for the patio bring a classic Tuscan feel to the space.

In the kitchen of the home known as “3427 Jackdaw,” CaesarStone was used for the large center island and countertop. “We used it because we mainly wanted clean-cut lines,” said Nakhshab. “It looks flawless. With natural stone, you can get some inconsistencies.”

Both homes also feature a gas fireplace, fronted by a bench that runs the full length of the living room wall. The benches are made of black slate from India. The dark color of the slate, as well as the Walnut wood steps of a floating staircase, provide a nice accent to the travertine.

Both new spec homes feature a fireplace fronted by a bench that runs the full length of a living room wall, which is made of black slate from India.

Completing the look of the two new residences in the Revival Collection, the 24- x 24-inch travertine tiles were carried outdoors to the patio. “The reason that we brought the stone out to the patio was to flow the interior of the home to the exterior,” explained Nakhshab. “There are large slider doors, which make the houses look a lot bigger when standing in the room.”

The Delawie renovation

The 24- x 24-inch travertine tiles are also prominently used throughout the interior of the renovated Delawie home. Additonally, Brazilian Cherry floors were also employed in some areas of the living space. The rich tones of the wood complement the stone tiles - adding to the overall warm environment of the residence.

It took approximately 15 months of construction to finish the work on all three residences. The stone materials were all supplied by Tosca Natural Stone of San Diego, CA.

In the kitchen of the Delawie house, the beige-colored travertine floor was accented by black granite countertops. The same black granite was also used for the vanity top in the master bath, while travertine was used for the floor and shower walls.

According to Nakhshab, it took approximately 15 months of construction to finish the work on all three residences. The stone materials were all supplied by Tosca Natural Stone of San Diego, CA. The stone installation was completed by a team from NDD.

In the kitchen of the Delawie house, the 24- x 24-inch beige-colored travertine floor tiles were accented by black granite countertops.

Beyond the stonework, each residence has its own unique flair and features an exclusive collection of amenities, including an elevator; computer-controlled, state-of-the-art sound, intercom and security systems in every room; sunken living room; custom-designed floating staircase; water features; eight-foot-wide gas fireplaces and steam showers.

The Revival Collection
Mission Hills
San Diego, CA

Original Architect: Homer Delawie (renovated home)
Designer/developer: Nakhshab Development Design, San Diego, CA
Stone Supplier: Tosca Natural Stone, San Diego, CA

Jennifer Adams has been covering the stone industry since 1996 as Managing Editor of Stone World and Editor of our sister publication Contemporary Stone & Tile Design. Much of her work focuses on design, and it has also appeared in a range of consumer and shelter publications. Email: jennifer@stoneworld.com