The Architect Behind Orange County's Most Iconic Homes (Full Interview)

What's the most expensive home you've been involved with in Orange County? "$100 million." That's our architect, Chris Light, one of the most sought-after residential architects in all of Southern California, and the man behind our oceanfront home here in Laguna Beach. I sat him down the morning after we celebrated our Ocean Boulevard build going to market and he told me everything.Chris shares the real story of how he walked through our property, looked Joe and me in the eye, and said "all of it" when we asked what needed to change. We get into how he evaluates a property in under five minutes, the daylight basement technique he pioneered at the Montage, the origin story of the open concept floor plan (a 100-person Christmas party in 1994), his honest take on AI in architecture, why remodeling can cost more than tearing down, the $100 million Emerald Bay project, his dream team with interior designer Frank Barry, the Selling OC feature Jason Oppenheim called the finest finishes he's ever seen, and his rapid-fire advice for anyone thinking about building or remodeling in Southern California. Spoiler: triple your budget and double your timeline.SUBSCRIBE for more behind-the-scenes luxury conversations 🔔🎧 Amy Plus Podcast: https://www.amyplusjoe.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyplusjoe 🛍 Shop my looks: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/@amyplusjoe