Hello!

WOW - Several months have passed since the last newsletter. Ever since the beginning of this year, lots of things have kept me very busy: the demands of project work, active involvement with Ojai Valley Green Coalition (OVGC), and recent developments with the guesthouse prototype. These have all kept me from staying connected with many of you.

First and foremost, my focus is to maintain a high level of quality and dedication to my clients and to my projects. Next to this, my focus is on developing the prototype and making a difference in my community.

But I've also felt disconnected. I find that one of the most rewarding part of growing my business is the relationships I have built upon and the connections I have made. These connections matter to me. It's the foundation of building a COMMUNITY.

This newsletter is a two-part series. This is Part One which gives an update on the latest news, and Part Two will discuss the new developments with the guesthouse prototype. I'm excited about the progress, so please stay tuned for more ...

I am fortunate to have such an awesome network of people. Thanks to all of you who continue to support my endeavors.

Warm wishes,
Vina

For the past several months, I have had the pleasure of working with Stan Tenpenny and his team at Tenpenny Construction. The house sits on a hillside property in Ventura with panoramic views of the ocean. The project consists of an extensive remodel of the existing single family residence, an addition of a pool and spa, and a new detached structure with an office and garage.

The process of design was highly collaborative between the clients, Tenpenny Construction, and Sol Haus Design. It was a wonderful approach where "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." With such collaboration, we refer to ourselves, simply, as the TEAM.

The month of March was very busy finishing the set of drawings for permit submittal. The project is currently in plan check, and Tenpenny's team is ready to mobilize for construction as soon as the permit is approved.

As an active member of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, I am proud to announce that I have been elected as a Board of Director acting as Vice President to Kathy Nolan, current President. I am humbled to be nominated, and hope to make a difference in our community.

We have several events coming up this year, such as the annual Green Home Tour in October. Here are examples of their efforts (and click for more info):

ACTION REQUESTED: OVGC is in need of a space for the Resource Center. Our current lease next to Ojai Pizza in downtown has expired, and we are actively looking for another suitable space. Please let us know of any leads in downtown with the following: 300-500sf, with storage space preferred, ground level with good foot traffic, $500/mo.

On April 21st, the annual EarthPlay event took place at the grounds of Oak Grove School in Ojai. It was fun and educational with food and entertainment for the entire family. Sol Haus Design featured the scale model of the guesthouse prototype, shown center of table. For more details, stay tuned for Part 2 of the newsletter, coming soon.