AROUND
THE BLOCK

About Mediterraneo

We’re Mediterraneo Design Build, a construction firm in Menlo Park that has served the Bay Area since 1991, working closely with homeowners and architects on more than 150 new residential and major remodeling projects.

Our Philosophy

There was a time when builders could frame a house with little more than a broad ax to fell trees and hew them square, and a knife with which to whittle the wooden pegs that joined the great posts and beams. It took dozens of neighbors to help raise those massive frames, so at every stage, house-building took great skill, close collaboration and constant communication.

When builders used the word “true” in those days it was often a verb. When you trued a log, you made its faces as flat as humanly possible. A trued wall was perfectly plumb. “Almost” didn’t cut it: either it was true or it wasn’t. Likewise, if a builder was “true as his word,” you had no doubt about the craft, quality or integrity that went into his houses.

Times and tools change. Long ago the sawmill supplanted the hewer of trees, and the plumb bob gave way to laser levels that today do everything but brew your coffee. But we’d like to think that integrity still has great value to everyone who designs and builds homes, or lives in them. And that exceptional skill, unstinting standards, close collaboration and constant communication are still the best paths to building it true—true to the owner’s vision, true to the architect’s design, and true to the great traditions of honest building.

February 28, 2020

Commitment to actively blog

Well, it’s obviously been quite some time since this blog has been update despite our best intentions.  We’ve been busy building and have been remiss in keeping up with things like this so we’re saying “out loud” to whoever might be “listening” that we’re committing to regularly update this blog.  

We will be posting all sorts of things from little details about projects, inspirations, noteworthy articles and also some entertainment along the way.  

So today’s post is about the fun in life.  I discovered, while visiting family in Oregon, the Solostove and had to have one.  It’s an amazing backyard, camping, anywhere fire pit/stove that is fun to use (including roasting marshmallows, hotdogs, etc) and produces an impressive amount of heat while producing a very low level of smoke (because of it’s design).  Fantastic addition to any backyard, camping kit, patio and a great way to unplug and bring people together.  

Here’s to more time around the fire enjoying the good things life has to offer…

Mediterraneo Builders