Let’s be honest, building a custom home is a crazy journey. But, it’s been a wonderful opportunity for Conrad and I to blend our skills to create a space that is both functional, comfortable and beautiful for us. In Part 1 (found here), I covered the foundational steps in designing our custom Spokane home, from our unique route to acquiring land in Green Bluff to how we went about the building process. In Part 2, I want to dive into the fun stuff. Today I’m talking about the details of aesthetics, materials, and design advice to give some insight to anyone who may take on a custom home build in the future!
Vision & Inspiration
Every custom home begins with a vision. For this home, the goal was to strike a balance between creating a tidy farmhouse look, while taking full advantage of Conrad’s skillset to stay within budget. For design inspiration, I love Studio McGee and some of the more current works of Chip and Joanna Gaines. We aimed for a look that was both inviting and current—beautiful without feeling overdone, as the simplicity of our house shape wouldn’t fit with anything too extravagant.
My chosen color palette features neutral tones with organic accents. The exterior will be a rich forest green/blue (when it’s done!). Inside, materials like Taj Mahal quartzite, taupes, beiges, and richer tones like burgundy and evergreen add depth—creating a space that feels styled enough to meet my own taste, but still comfortable for Conrad. I wanted to be mindful to avoid anything too feminine, focusing instead on a natural, organic aesthetic.
Key Takeaway: I put a lot of thought into paint colors and landed on Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams for the whole house. I’m so happy with this choice. It has been such a perfect backdrop for everything in our home.
Balancing Aesthetics with Personalization & Functionality
Functionality was a key consideration, particularly given the constraints of space. We took every opportunity to create personalization with small spaces that could have easily “gone to waste.” After all, one of the biggest advantages of building a custom home is the ability to tailor every detail to fit your lifestyle. One example of this is unique storage solutions found in our home. Without a garage, under-stair storage became critical, offering a designated space for golf gear and other necessities. It was also necessary to include a spacious utility room designed to accommodate a reach in freezer and other items that may typically be stored in a garage. The kitchen was designed with efficiency in mind, incorporating an 18” Miele-brand dishwasher that widened a walkway to improve flow. These choices were all function.
Other times, we were able to balance functionality with added personalization as well as added aesthetic interest. Because of a small change in framing, we ended up with a one-foot-deep hallway nook. We decided capitalized on this space and create stylish yet practical coffee/bar area, complete with a evergreen cabinetry. This gave me an opportunity to add some more texture to our home. We did counter to ceiling tiling featuring knock-off Chloe tile from Bedrosians which turned out beautifully, as well as the same quartzite countertop found in the kitchen which blended beauty with usability.
Lastly, some choices were purely to add architectural interest. We chose an open ceiling space in the entryway, featuring walnut and cable railing on the lofted space above. This, plus a statement light fixture adds a stylish focal point when you walk in the front door. Awning details over the front entrance, a beautiful glass front door, large floor to ceiling entry windows and this thoughtful lighting choice really make it special to come home.
Materials & Finishes
I’ve talked about some tile and color choices above, but all the materials and finishes were really important to me as they help make the space feel like our home.
The flooring selections were sourced from Floor & Home in Liberty Lake. The lower level features luxury vinyl composite (LVC) flooring, while the upper level is carpeted. Given that we have dogs, we opted for a higher-end carpet, ensuring easier maintenance and longevity. The chosen carpet has a subtle pattern and it’s added a lot of warmth to the bedrooms and upstairs spaces.
In the kitchen, Taj Mahal quartzite countertops became a key design element, elevating the look and feel of the space. Stock white cabinets provided a high-end look at a more economical price point. And, I was insistent on gold hardware which makes a big impact throughout the house.
Key Takeaway: I'll share a link below, but when it comes to materials and finishes, there are SO many decisions. Hiring an interior designer for a consultation really helped with my decision fatigue!
Budget & Trade-Offs
Custom homes require balancing dream features with budget realities. Throughout the process, we carefully considered where to splurge and where to save.
Where We Splurged:
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Countertops – The investment in high-quality Taj Mahal quartzite really paid off, enhancing both the kitchen and the bar area.
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Carpet – Given the presence of our dogs, a more durable, higher-end carpet was chosen. It's made maintenance much easier.
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Lighting – Oh my gosh, I spent so much time looking at lighting fixtures, ensuring the right ambiance and style. Overall, I feel like these have been worth the splurge.
Plumbing Fixtures & Hardware – While this was another area of significant spending (I was tied to gold!) and overall I've been happy with the look, some items were an unnecessary splurge. The main sink fixture ended up being a slight regret—beautiful, but not as functional as hoped.
Where We Saved:
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Cabinetry – Honestly, we got lucky with timing and the cost went down on these. We were able to secure more affordable stock cabinetry that accomplished the look we were going for at a much lower cost than custom cabinets.
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Siding – Straightforward siding kept our costs down without compromising the home’s aesthetic.
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Bath Surround – A more economical bath surround allowed for savings to splurge in other areas.
- Conrad - I'm sort of kidding, but marrying a man who can do so much does have some huge budgeting perks!
Despite careful budgeting, the final costs of building our home still ran 15-20% over budget. To be honest, most of the overages came from necessary quantities of materials like gravel and paint, rather than unnecessary extras.
Lessons Learned & Advice for Future Custom Homes In Spokane
One thing I need to convey is the intensity of the building process. It requires a significant time commitment and countless decisions. One major lesson learned was the value of consulting with an interior designer. I found it incredibly helpful to schedule a couple of design calls with a Shaleesa Mize with Pacific Design Co. who provided guidance on color choices and a few design dilemmas. A one-hour consultation (costing around $150) helped clarify some key decisions, saved research time and prevented potential design regrets.
Key Takeaway: Don't forget how much time design research takes. Showroom visits take time. Seeing materials in person is essential but requires planning and effort. Lighting selection is a major task. We spent an entire week researching and selecting fixtures, emphasizing the need for patience. Overanalyzing paint colors is inevitable. Sampling and testing different shades can be overwhelming but is a necessary step for finding that perfect shade.
Overall, we are so in love with how our Spokane home turned out! The careful balance between aesthetics and function, smart budget trade-offs, and personalized touches have resulted in a space that truly reflects our vision and lifestyle. While no build is without its hiccups, the experience was rewarding, providing invaluable lessons for us.
Thinking about building your own custom home in Spokane? Our experience taught us invaluable lessons, and I’m here to help. Get in touch early in the land acquisition process to allow ample time for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Starting early, breaking the process into smaller steps, and staying realistic about the commitment involved can turn your dream home into reality.
