Some love stories begin with a chance encounter later in life. For Diana and Brett Baker, theirs began in high school.

Born and raised in San Bernardino, the couple met while attending the same small private high school. What started as a teenage romance eventually became a lifelong partnership built on family, perseverance, and shared values.

"We did life a little backward," Diana says with a smile. "We got married, had kids, and then went to college. It was an adventure to say the least."

Married just one year after graduating high school, the Bakers learned early how to navigate life's challenges together. While raising a young family, they continued their education and built careers that would eventually bring them to Newport Beach, where they have lived since 2019. Their move was inspired by the lifestyle they had long envisioned for their family.

"We fell in love with the outdoor lifestyle that came with it," Diana says. "The beach, the community, there's always something to do."

Today, the Bakers have fully embraced coastal living and have become deeply connected to the community they are proud to call home.

Family First

At the center of the Bakers' life is family.

Their son, Luke Baker, was born in Redlands and has always been eager to explore the world beyond Southern California. Currently in his third year at Nagoya University of Commerce and Business in Japan, Luke previously spent two years studying in France before continuing his education abroad. While attending school in Japan, he plays soccer, occasionally practices with the university's basketball team, and enjoys spending time with friends as he experiences a different culture.

Their daughter, Brooke Baker, also born in Redlands, is preparing to begin her sophomore year at Newport Harbor High School. A Newport Beach student through and through, Brooke attended Newport Elementary School and Ensign Middle School. She is also a competitive rower with NAC Newport, one of the nation's premier rowing programs. As a coxswain, she recently helped guide her boat to a first-place finish at championships. When she's not on the water, she enjoys biking the Peninsula with friends and spending time at the beach.

Watching their children pursue their passions while creating their own paths has been one of the greatest rewards for Diana and Brett.

Ask the Bakers what they value most, and neither hesitates to mention the relationships that fill their home

Their house has become a gathering place for family, friends, neighbors, and their children's friends. On most evenings, there is rarely an empty seat at the table

"Our home is the gathering spot," Diana says. "Between our own kids, their friends, and our friends, there's almost always a full table at dinner."

One family tradition has become especially meaningful over the years. At dinner, everyone shares something they learned that day.

"It's become one of our favorite rituals," Diana says. "Sometimes you'll be surprised at what everyone says."

The simple tradition has created countless conversations, memorable moments and opportunities for connection, even as life has become busier and their children have grown older.

Building Together

Although family comes first, both Diana and Brett have built careers that reflect their creativity, work ethic, and appreciation for craftsmanship.

After earning her degree in Interior Design from Chaffey College in 2010, Diana began a design internship before deciding to venture out on her own. Early on, she landed a project designing a small tract-home development and has never looked back. Over the years, her work has grown to include everything from remodels and large-scale renovations to custom homes and ground-up new construction projects.

Brett's path into the building industry began long before college.

"Brett came up the hard way, in the best sense," Diana says. As a teenager, he worked alongside his grandfather laying bricks and later became an earthwork and excavation contractor, learning every stage of the building process from the ground up.

After earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Management with an emphasis in Sports and Hospitality from California State University, San Bernardino, Brett found his calling in luxury residential construction. As an Executive Project Manager with Forza, he helped bring some of the region's most beautifully crafted custom homes to life — architecturally distinctive residences known for their meticulous detail and exceptional craftsmanship. That passion for building has never left him. Today, Brett serves as President of Operations for Category Company, a premier multifamily and hospitality developer based in Los Angeles. Yet despite the demands of his professional career, Diana says he has remained her greatest supporter.

"When I decided to build Neptune, Brett was all in," she says. "He brings decades of real construction experience that helps bring my vision to life."

Founded in Newport Beach, The Neptune Company combines architecture, interior design and general contracting into a seamless design-build experience. Working on projects throughout Orange County and across the country, the company reflects the strengths each brings to the table.

For Brett, the most rewarding part of the work is watching an idea evolve into something tangible. "It's taking something that began as a two-dimensional concept on paper and watching it become real, seeing a home come to life from the first sketch to the finished build."

For Diana, it's all about the people. "Translating a family's vision into a space that truly feels like them, and being there for the moment they walk in and see it.

Together, they have found a way to combine their talents while continuing to build something meaningful not only for their clients but also for their own family.

Living the Newport Beach Lifestyle

When they're not working, the Bakers are happiest outdoors.

Diana, a former high school volleyball player, still enjoys beach volleyball whenever she gets the opportunity. The family also loves biking the boardwalk, swimming in the ocean through the Pier Club and spending as much time as possible at the beach.

"Honestly, my favorite things are simple," Diana says. "Being on the sand, socializing with our friends and neighbors, and spending time with our kids and their friends."

Those simple pleasures are part of what drew them to Newport Beach and continue to make the community feel like home.

Newport Favorites

When it comes to local dining, the Bakers enjoy supporting a variety of neighborhood favorites, including Pho Lantern, Dory Deli, Buddha's Favorite, Fly N Fish Oyster Bar & Grill, Herst Coffee, and The Alley.

As for shopping, Diana admits that spending her professional life sourcing materials, furnishings, and finishes has made recreational shopping a little less appealing.

"I shop for a living," she says with a laugh. "So personally, I do not like to shop."

Grateful to Call Newport Home

As they reflect on their journey from high school sweethearts in San Bernardino to raising a family in Newport Beach, the Bakers remain grateful for the life and career they have built together and the community that surrounds them.

"We are incredibly grateful to be part of a community that values beauty, quality and appreciation for craftsmanship. At Neptune, our work goes beyond designing and building homes. We help create the backdrop for life's most important moments."

Whether hosting a table full of family and friends, cheering on their children or enjoying another day by the ocean, the Bakers have created exactly what they set out to build: a life centered on family, community, and connection.