It’s been quite a journey to get where we are. It’s been about compromise and teamwork and living within our means. We are building the homestead of our dreams where we will make amazing memories with our children and each other.

When we set out to build our dreams, we continually filtered our wishlist through several ideals which we regarded highest. For our home and homestead we wanted longevity. We wanted a homesite that would accommodate us and our family into the future and that could grow right along with us.

We wanted adaptability, a homestead which could support all of our dreams as well as our most basic needs and a platform upon which our family could grow and change throughout the years. We needed affordability, a way in which we could begin to build our grand dreams that wouldn’t enslave us to them.

We wanted it to be wholly ours through concept and creation. Ultimately what we came up with was essentially a three phase design that could be built to grow and adapt as our family did the same.

When the two of us began building, there were no little ones and all we needed was a cozy space for two dreamers to dream. We built out of pocket as we were able and made this small 900 square foot studio concept house our home.

Our bedroom was a small loft and every inch had a purpose. Once we found out that our little Frankie was on her way, we began the process of phase 2 construction.

Phase 2 is essentially two larger bedrooms with an entryway between them. Ultimately, phase 1 and 2 will be the ‘kids side’ of the house with their bedrooms and a rec-room and the final phase 3 will be a large common living/kitchen/dining area, a master suite and an attached garage.

Construction of phase 2 started shortly before Frankie arrived and the concrete was poured the week we came home from the hospital. Being as it was designed to be added onto, the preparation for construction was limited.

The small shed roof front porch was removed and a small amount of siding was removed. After that, it was go time for the new construction. Trevor’s full time job only left nights and some weekends available to work on the addition, but every spare moment was dedicated to getting Frankie’s nursery complete.

We laid out the structure, dug footings and hung form boards the week before Frankie’s surprise early entrance into this world. Once she was home and we were settled, we poured concrete and framed the structure within the week.

Trusses came, the roof was stacked and we began to see the shape of our dreams taking place. Frankie grew very accustomed to the pounding of hammers and nail guns and the constant noise never phased her. Once framing was complete, the windows, siding and roofing all went on to create a ‘dried in’ structure, as we were building in October and rains were on the way.

Once the exterior was trimmed, painted and the sidewalks and porch were poured, the outside was ready for rain and we went in for the winter. Not to hibernate, not even close.

It is easy during this phase of construction to feel like a majority of the work is complete, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. We started on the electrical and the small amount of plumbing which included a clawfoot tub in the nursery and a few exterior faucets. This is followed by fire sprinklers and insulation.

After all the behind the scenes work was complete, it was time to cover everything up with sheetrock and texture. Next we stained our concrete floors with an acid stain, hung the doors and did baseboards and casings followed by paint.

We made a hard push to finish at this point because we had a trip scheduled and we very much wanted to come home to a completed home. Closets were completed, HVAC mini splits installed and furniture moved in!

By this time our tiny Frankie was 4 months old and we left our project for a family vacation. We escaped the cold wet winter to the warm beaches of Maui. Upon returning, the only projects remaining were the rough sawn trusses and the rock wall in the entryway.

These were the finishing touches to wrap up our project and settle into our newly expanded home. We have been so grateful for the way everything has come together and can’t wait to take everyone along when it’s time for phase 3!!