[quote=Oxford]I want something unique with post & beam architecture, open, lots of glass and earthy.[/quote]
Depending on what exactly you mean by post and beam you could have lots of trouble getting plans approved by San Diego. If you mean a real timber frame with pegged joints, I’ve been told that San Diego building dept. will not approve tension joints without metal securing the joint. Also, there aren’t many timber framers working in this part of the country. However, the Timber Framers Guild (tfguild.org) is a good source.
On a broader note, overseeing the building of a custom home is a pretty big undertaking. Be prepared to spend lots of time on it, and to have lots of things to deal with. But in the end if you are diligent, you can get what you want.
Lots of issues to tackle and lots of ways to make costly missteps or be taken advantage of, so be diligent, and don’t be too trusting when someone says, “sure not a problem.”
