My Story…

After a successful career in the television business both as a Producer and for the past 20 years as SVP Specials for CBS Network, on a whim purchased a run down plot of land with a run down house on a gorgeous road in Ojai. They say buy the worst house on the best street right? So that’s what I did. My family has lived in Ojai for about 35 years and even though I reside in Venice, CA, I would head to Ojai every chance I got to see my family. Purchasing land here made sense and I figured I could eventually build my dream guest house in the back where I would stay when I came to visit.

I knew nothing, I mean absolutely nothing about building houses but I figured hey, how hard can it be? I’ve produced elaborate and complex TV shows, I can do this! So I met with one local architect firm that came recommended and hired them on the spot. After the plans were done, it was time to choose a contractor. I met with several but there was one who had been building homes in the Ojai Valley for decades. I just knew he was the one. This began my love for build & design and an amazing partnership with Dave Meisch my Contractor of Top Gun Builders.

First we built Casa Nova. I filled her with all of the things I love in homes…. We brought the outdoors in with tons of full length windows and sliding doors, there’s a gorgeous indoor shower but also an amazing outdoor shower. She is luxurious yet comfortable and inviting. A friend who stayed there told me, “this is you if you were a house”. I learned a lot during the process of building Casa but wasn’t quite ready to take on the bigger house in the front of the property and I needed to recoup some of the money I had spent on making Casa so special. So, I started to AIRBNB Casa and it was booked non stop with maybe ten down days a year. The reviews were glowing and that encouraged me to do it again.

Then came Casita Nova. There was a tiny old shed next to the Casa but I had a vision for it so we tore down the shed and I built a space very different from Casa but with that same high end boho feel. Casita has taller ceilings and gorgeous exposed beams. There are French doors that open to the fire pit area and it has a unique and very special feel of its own. Casita also became a hugely popular AIRBNB and I especially loved when people would bring family or friends and rent both the Casa and Casita and use the space to connect and relax. It was so wonderful being able to host people from around the world who loved my property!

About a year and a half ago, I was finally ready to take on the biggest project of all, Villa Nova. I had worked with Two Trees Architects in designing the Casa and the Casita and had commissioned plans for the Villa simultaneously, so I wouldn’t have to wait when I got the courage to build the bigger house. In December of 2018, I said let’s go for it. So, we tore down the main house foundation and all. And then the rains came. Unprecedented rains came and didn’t stop for weeks. Starting construction in the Winter was definitely not the best idea. What was I thinking? And when it finally stopped raining, the land was completely drenched, flooded! Where there was once a house and a front yard, there was now a massive muddy pond. It took us 6 months before the land was dry enough for the County to give us the go ahead to commence the build. We started again in June '19 and finished in November ’20.

Building Villa Nova reinforced my love of designing and building houses. From the big decisions down to the tiniest details, I relished every moment. Dave my contractor was a champ in executing my crazy, creative ideas and came through every time. Villa is a true expression of what I envisioned it to be, modern yet inviting with gorgeous details like a console with striated granite lit from underneath to floor tiles embedded in the white concrete floors. Villa Nova is truly not just a home it’s an experience. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did creating it.

Please tag us in your memories on instagram @casanovaojai.

xx
Jodi