I must say that I have a dream job, working with couples to design their dream custom home plans in Spokane, Washington. Drafting custom home plans and plans for additions and shops is what I do most of the time. But each year I have been lucky enough to get to build at least one of the custom home plans or addition plans that I have drawn. As I put on my nail bags and become the framer I have been since I was 19, and then the sider, and then painter and then finish carpenter, I always feel very lucky.
I don’t work alone and usually not all day in the field. I have a small crew that I work with and that is another thing I find rewarding. The teamwork and camaraderie involved in working on a custom home for months is something I have enjoyed for 25 years.
And then there are the homeowners, in this case, Cal and Delain Miller. I don’t know why, but I have been lucky through the years to have built homes only for people that are easy to get along with and fun besides. The Millers were no exception. Unlike most other custom home builders, I encourage and enjoy having the homeowner work on their home all they want. There is the reward of teamwork, camaraderie and a sense of accomplishment we share that adds to the experience for myself and them as well.
The Millers both worked hard right along with me and my crew and all the subcontractors we hired as we raced to beat the calendar and the weather to get them in for Christmas. We were not sure if we could make it and the pressure was on as they had their three adult children and their families flying in from all corners of the country on 22nd of December. It was with a huge amount satisfaction that we left late in the day on the 21st with the Miller’s new custom home clean and the certificate of occupancy, the ink still wet, waiting for them on the kitchen counter.
Take a pictorial tour from start to finish:
First came the plot of land Cal and Delain bought and
lived on in a temporary mobile home
Next came the development of the home they always wanted to live in on the piece of land they had found to build it on.
From the model, I developed the custom home plans required to bid, permit, appraise and build the home.
First, our April start date was delayed by road restrictions and then by the rock we hit while digging the hole.
Finally, the foundation was in and backfilled and ready to go by mid July.
This my favorite part of the framing. Snapping lines for the gut walls from plans I drafted.
For a three man crew this house was a handful.
Both of the Miller’s put in a lot of time working on their home. This Delain putting a good first coat ont the fascia boards.
Here is Call digging out the egress window with on our Bobcat.
This may be my last project with my son Eli as he graduates from college and heads on to better things. I will miss him sorely.
Scaffolding to get up to the back deck gable.
When the scaffolding came down we had the gable end sided and painted.
We do the same all around the house. Siding, then caulking and then painting. Most carpenters don’t like to paint but I find it mentally relaxing.
Once we were finished with the outside we moved inside. These false beams were not easy. But Ross and my nephew, Trevor, do good work.
It turned out great!
The kitchen also turned out great.
This was tricky tile work but I enjoyed the challenge.
As with painting, I enjoy tiling but I do not find it mentally relaxing.
The Miller’s really did fantastic at picking out all of fixtures and finishes.
The master suite also featured a roomy walk-in closet which they had customized.
The front porch is the focal point of the front of the home.
And the back deck turned out great.
Working with Millers from drafting the custom home plans to completing the beautiful custom home by the Holidays was a joy and an honor.
Here is a tour of the 3d model if you would like to see more of the layout and the basement.
