I’ve been collecting your questions since I first started sharing bits and pieces of the build, and there are so many good ones! I’m going to do my best to get through as many as I can here, and I’ll keep answering as we go. This is obvi going to be an ongoing conversation. ◡̈

Whether you’re following along for custom home build inspiration, new construction design ideas, or you’re knee deep in your own build… welcome, you’re in the right place!

What did the process look like from the beginning?

We started with land. And from what I understand, that is where a lot of people start too! Once we had our plot secured, we moved to an architect. For us, working with Schill Architecture again felt really full-circle. We originally worked with them on our current home after a contractor took our deposits and left the house in terrible condition. They came in, helped us get everything back up to code, and we’ve trusted them ever since. When it came time to designing our home, they are who came to mind!

From there, we went out for builder quotes. Shawn and I came in with a clear vision — Pinterest board, an idea of materials wed like to use. And we gathered quotes and compared! We also toured model homes as well. 

Is this build sponsored?

This is probably the most common question I get! We did not work with a sponsored architect or builder on this project. We hired our builder and our architect separately & at separate times. Architect in 2023 and builder in 2025. 

That said, there are some details within the home that have sponsors and I will share as those things come to fruition! 

Should you ask for discounts, even if you’re not an influencer?

I wanted to follow up with this answer because…Yes. 100x yes! When we renovated this house back in 2019, I had maybe 5,000 followers, nobody was jumping to work with me. Just being honest! But I asked anyway. I asked every brand I was interested in. I asked for rebates, discounts, any kind of offering, because the costs add up fast and the worst anyone can say is no.

Even as someone without a platform, you should be negotiating. You should be checking for rebate programs! You should absolutely be hunting for discount codes before you check out. I was ordering tile recently and just happened to see a Pinterest pin from the brand with a promo code, PIN15, that wasn’t even influencer-affiliated. Just 15% off because I was paying attention! The Honey browser extension is great for this too. ◡̈  Not sponsored LOL

If you have a following of any size, absolutely mention the social component when you’re reaching out. But even if you don’t, ask! The only thing that set me apart early on was that I wasn’t afraid to reach out and put myself out there!

What are the hidden costs of a new build?

I wouldn’t call them hidden, but there are absolutely costs that come up that you might not anticipate going in. My biggest piece of advice is to get your selections price-pointed early and negotiate to get that into your quote as accurately as possible. But also have a padding in mind or a number you’re comfortable going over. The tile I’m sourcing, for example, is anywhere from 4x to 5x the price of what was in our original quote. Because I’m providing so much of the material myself, a lot of that is now coming directly out of pocket alongside the build contract…so it evens out differently than you might expect.

There are also decisions you don’t even know you’re going to make until you’ve started the process. We decided we wanted to try a custom front door shape (I drew the little shape myself haha!!), that was a quote we had to go back and get after the fact. I also bought hand-painted Delft tiles that I didn’t even know I wanted until I was three months into designing the interior. These aren’t really surprises, I feel like it’s just the nature of designing a home you care deeply about. ◡̈  My advice is to get your base number as low as you’re comfortable with, and know that there will be additions. Plan for it mentally and financially! 

How do you add character to a new build, especially on a budget?

This is one of my favorite topics. The biggest thing I’d say is to look at what older homes have that new builds don’t and then figure out where you can incorporate that, either during the build or after.

Trim work and doors is where I’d put my money first (when talking about the inside). The trim profiles in older homes are not flat! They’re beveled…they have detail, they have depth. Getting the profile right from the start means you have so much more to work with down the line. Same goes with doors. We’ve been living in this house for 7 years and I never once thought about changing out our doors. So for our new house, we’re going with a custom 4 panel door for the single doors and that will add some charm and old-world feel to the space!

Here are some things I’d think about doing after you move in: Limewash is an easy one… it adds so much warmth and character to a space and is relatively low cost wise. Antiques are another. I’ve actually been talking to a friend about this! If cabinet costs come in high, consider pulling a unit out of the budget and replacing it with a freestanding antique piece down the road instead. Not saying it’s ideal to live in a space without furniture in it but like…it isn’t the end of the world. Home takes time and I don’t think it’s super realistic to finish the entire space in 1 year or less! Anyways..For us, that could mean leaving a run of cabinetry out and sourcing something vintage to go there once we’re settled. And when it comes to flooring, even if you’re doing engineered hardwood or LVP, choose something that reads old. Think about what was in old homes built a hundred years ago and work toward that. Just try to find something that’s inspired by that time period, doesn’t have to necessarily be from that time period…know what I mean!? 

How did you give design direction to your architect?

I came in with a very clear vision, which I think helped a lot. I had my Pinterest board, I had my material pulls, I had feature windows and sections of floorplans that I liked. I also had a strong sense of how Shawn and I actually live. That’s really where everything started! Not with aesthetics, but with function. Our architect sent us a worksheet to fill out going over wants/needs/how we lived so it helped him design as well. 

Do we host? Yes, so we wanted a flow between the kitchen, dining, and living spaces. We wanted a coffee bar, and that eventually became the bistro. We wanted arched openings. We’re planning to homeschool, so we designed around that. We wanted a playroom. Every decision traced back to real life first!

Are you sharing the cost of the build?

I’m not planning to share a total number, and honestly I don’t think it would be that helpful if I did. Feels like I would be sharing our contracted price more for click bait. We’re adding and removing things on a weekly basis, so there’s no final figure to give you right now anyway! What I do plan to share is cost per square foot once we’re further along and things are more settled. I think that’s a much more useful metric, especially when you’re thinking about specific finishes and details that I have in my home. 

What flooring and tile are you doing?

Engineered hardwood throughout the main living areas, and limestone wherever there’s tile floors. We found a local company called Castelli Marble that has an incredible selection of limestone in stock in the exact tones and shades I’d been searching for!! They also do custom work, which I love. Being local means we can actually go pick it up too which feels like a small miracle after months of ordering samples online lol. 

Our bistro has 14-foot ceilings, so I’m planning for a slightly oversized tile to feel proportionate to the space, and it’ll carry into the pantry as well.

I’ll do a dedicated post once we land on exact tiles for showers and backspaces. I’ll be sharing all of my limestone flooring sources, tile finds, and where I’m shopping for the new build as we go so lots to look forward to!!

What finishes are you doing throughout?

For lighting & hardware we’re doing unlacquered brass, it is charming and Is a nice mix/contrast to our plumbing!

A lot of our plumbing fixtures are Kohlers Artifact line in Vibrant French Gold. I am genuinely so in love with this finish. You may have seen me talk about it on stories! It’s soft, it’s warm, it reads more like an antique brass than a shiny gold, and I’m a little surprised more people aren’t using it! We are also doing Polished Nickel to play off the softness of the French Gold!

What are your exterior paint colors?

We haven’t had our final exterior meeting yet, so nothing is fully locked in… but here’s where my head is right now -> I’m planning to do Shaded White by Farrow & Ball on the Hardie siding and shake & French Gray by Farrow & Ball for the trim around the windows. And for the front door, if we go painted, I’m leaning toward Pigeon by Farrow & Ball. It’s an enclosed porch entry, so the color will read darker than it would in full light, which I think will give it a beautiful depth and contrast against the French Gray!

How long does a custom build take?

Our builder quoted nine months start to finish. From what I’ve seen with friends who’ve built, it can range from nine months to fifteen or more! It really depends on the complexity of the project, how much you’re sourcing yourself, and any surprises that come up along the way. We’re bringing a lot of our own materials, so I’m curious to see how that affects the timeline. I’ll keep you posted obvi ◡̈  

What’s your plan for the closets?

We intentionally left them blank! We took all closet hardware and built-ins out of the contract because we plan to do IKEA built-ins post-move. You know those beautifully trimmed-out closets you see people do?! That’s the direction. My closet, Shawn’s closet, and the bedroom closets are all being left as a blank canvas on purpose. Decorating and sharing the process online is our full time job, and I know I’ll have better ideas once I’m actually living in the space!

What about the memorial garden from your current home?

We are planning to take bits of it with us! We’re not 100% sure yet, still brainstorming. We love the garden and don’t want to take it apart so we may just take the arbor, not sure! Also, when we were designing the Willow House a couple years ago, Loki and Penny were still with us! And because Odin and Loki didn’t get along, we sectioned out parts of the home so they could be separate and Penny could roam throughout the spaces. So they are still are a part of our new home in their own unique way ◡̈  

That’s it for round one! Keep the questions coming !!! I read everything, and if there’s something I didn’t get to here I’ll circle back in a future post.