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    Home » Home Decor

    Constructing a New House with Vintage Charm - Our DIY House

    Published: Mar 6, 2013 · Modified: May 10, 2013 by Christina Dennis · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 64 Comments

    Constructing a New House with Vintage Charm - Our DIY House by The DIY Mommy

    After 6 years of living in our tiny Garage House (if you missed it a couple of weeks ago, here's the grand tour), we decided to begin construction on a new, larger home on our acreage - "Our DIY House". We broke ground during the first week in August of 2012, and now we are finally at the drywall stage. Hooray!

    It's been a process, let me tell you.

    We have done almost everything ourselves (except for some framing and the drywall). By "ourselves", I mostly mean my wonderfully talented hubby, Sean. My dearest husband is the general contractor, he dug the hole with a bobcat, he stacked the ICF, he smoothed the cement, he did the electrical, plumbing and heating, he installed the windows... etc, etc.

    (Here's the hole that started it all):

    Our DIY House: Building a New House with Vintage Charm

    I am very blessed to have such an able-bodied hubs who is an electrician by trade and owns a spray foam company.

    Our DIY House - The Hubs

    Without going into too many of the terribly boring details of the actual construction of our home, here are some of the more interesting notes on the construction phase:

    I have always loved "foursquare" style heritage houses, and we were able to design our home to look like a little heritage foursquare house (like the ones we see all over our Albertan prairie landscape). The fact that this house had a simple footprint also made my husband happy. I've always wanted a heritage foursquare and he's always wanted to build - this was our "meet in the middle" solution.

    Here's what foursquares look like. Yes, they are just what you pictured: a pretty little square house.

    I love Foursquare houses - The DIY Mommy

    • We purchased and had modified this house plan from Cool House Plans - they were fantastic to work with, and they were able to make the few changes we wanted done in a snap for a reasonable price.
    • The foundation was built with ICF for its ease to work with, it's great insulation qualities, and for its cost efficiency.
    • We spray foam insulated our entire home to help with energy efficiency - we don't want to be stuck with massive heating bills once we're in!
    • We're in the midst of installing an in-floor heating system with a boiler and also splurged on a large, real wood fireplace. We hope both will also help with the ol' heating bills.
    • Hubby is "over-wiring" the home because he has the skill and wire isn't that expensive. Later, when we have the funds, we can add in some little extras that might be nice (like a whole home sound system and more TV's).

    Our DIY House: Building a New House with Vintage Charm

    Now that we are having the drywall put in, we are having to modify some of our finishing choices so that we can stay on our (very tight) budget. Everything I've heard about house building is absolutely true: it WILL cost you more than you think and take you longer than planned!

    Our DIY House: Building a New House with Vintage Charm

    What I am the most excited about is getting my hands dirty in the finishing stage of our home. With the help of my family, we're going to continue our crazy DIY house building journey and install all of the finishes ourselves! The finishes will be budget-friendly, but we want them to have the heritage charm that this house conveys.

    I'll share with you some of our plans and how-to's along the way, and I truly hope (by the grace of God and with some very hard work) that we'll be in this place very soon.

    Our DIY House: Building a New House with Vintage Charm

    Meanwhile, here's a mini-tour of the new place. We absolutely love the floor plan and we think it will work quite well with our busy family & home business lifestyle.

    Our DIY House: Building a New House with Vintage Charm

    If you're interested in the progress of the house in real time, I'm always excitedly posting things on Instagram as soon as each phase is complete: http://instagram.com/thediymommy

    Fellow house builder survivors: please comment below and say hello! Did you go crazy at the drywall stage (like I feel I'm going right this very minute)?

    Our DIY House by The DIY MommyThis post is part of my "Our DIY House" series where I'll share with you my most exciting DIY ever - building a country house from the foundation up with my talented hubby! We're crazy, we're creative, we're on a limited budget and we're planning on having it finished in the Spring of 2013.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Betty Minnes

      March 11, 2013 at 10:11 am

      I love the look of foursquare houses from the outside and your inside floor plan looks very practical. What a huge awesome project!

      Reply
    2. Amanda | naturalmommie.com

      March 13, 2013 at 1:12 am

      Such a process! It's going to be beautiful. Your coffee bar intrigues me...looking forward to seeing more!!

      Reply
    3. Christina Dennis

      March 14, 2013 at 12:05 am

      Thanks so much to you both! I am in love with it already. The coffee bar was my little luxury addition... I need my coffee! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Get Organized Already

      April 05, 2013 at 10:43 am

      Christina,
      This is an amazing undertaking!
      We've been restoring our craftsman house for the 11 years we've lived in it. I think it's a good idea to just live somewhere else and get it OVER WITH if you can. Smart lady!

      Great Blog. And my favorite part may very well be the polka dot background. <3

      #UBP13
      -Nonnahs

      Reply
      • Christina Dennis

        April 06, 2013 at 8:00 pm

        Thank you! I LOVE polka dots. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Kristi Sheeler

      April 25, 2013 at 2:06 pm

      I just came across this blog and we share this same dream of building our own country home! My husband is also an electrician and jack-of-all-trades so he will be the general contractor. We are hoping to start building this summer or next spring. Have you guys found that getting a late start in the season (August) cost more in the long run because of building in the snow?

      Reply
      • Christina Dennis

        April 25, 2013 at 8:19 pm

        Hi, Kristi! I think we probably could have saved some money if we were able to start in the spring. We payed extra money to keep our driveway snow free for the trucks, more money to keep the house heated, and concrete can be more expensive. We definitely didn't start as early enough in the year as we wanted to. Good luck in your build! It's an emotional roller coaster, but very exciting too.

        Reply
    6. Kyran Trader

      June 05, 2013 at 5:05 am

      Impressive. Your husband should diversify the business to home construction.

      Reply
    7. Sophie Lafleche

      July 20, 2014 at 9:57 am

      I would love to chat - my fiance and I just bought a small house - even smaller than your original one! 726sq ft. And we are thinking of jacking up the house and building a new ground floor with the "square" inspired house look. My fiance is also an electrician and amazing at DIY projects. We would love to do most of it DIY but it is rather overwhelming to get started.

      Was he alone when he did the foundation? That seems like a huge undertaking for one person.

      Reply
      • Christina Dennis

        July 22, 2014 at 11:09 pm

        Hi, Sophie! He did a lot of the work on his own, but we did have friends and family to help us with a lot of the "grunt" work! It is overwhelming and a lot of work to DIY a house, but I think it's completely worth it. You save SO much money, and it's a really great feeling when you look back and see what you've accomplished! Good luck with your project!

        Reply
    8. Ivor

      April 11, 2015 at 10:24 am

      Wow! This is a massive building project. Kudos to yourself and your husband. I am curios about the coffee bar?

      Reply
    9. Jason Strong

      September 30, 2015 at 4:16 pm

      I'm sure it takes a lot of patience and hard work to be a building construction worker. They do so much to make sure that our buildings are safe to use, and for that I'm grateful. I'm excited to learn more about them and all that they do.

      Reply
    10. martin

      October 23, 2015 at 11:47 pm

      waaao great job bro.. lot of patience and hard work needed to be a building construction worker.....good luck....

      Reply
    11. Brisbane custom built home

      November 15, 2015 at 9:43 pm

      Building your home requires the right people, contractor. They should be very good at what they do.

      Reply
      • construction company

        March 11, 2016 at 3:56 am

        Yes always you’ve got to hire someone you can trust to do good work and act with integrity. Find someone with an excellent reputation and strong track record in the community.

        Reply
    12. Bennett Fischer

      December 03, 2015 at 12:10 pm

      My wife and I are wanting to build our first house soon, but we aren't sure on what kind of style we want to do. That being said, I really appreciate you sharing with me some vintage layouts that I can try out. I think having a vintage looking home would look really good. I'll make sure I show this to my wife right away and see if she likes this. Thanks a ton Christina for the help.

      Reply
    13. garages Mooloolah Valley

      January 18, 2016 at 12:42 am

      Really cool shed. Clean and organize. I need to do that to my steel shed.

      Reply
      • shed homes QLD

        February 16, 2016 at 7:10 am

        Home improvement, by definition, is making changes to one's home by making improvements on the house's looks. Home improvement is usually done by professional contractors, handymen, and even the house owner himself.

        Reply
        • home renovations Somerset County NJ

          February 23, 2016 at 7:40 am

          If you're looking to improve the look of your home without the painting, vinyl siding is a popular, affordable choice. Many homeowners and builders choose it because it's long lasting, durable, inexpensive and relatively easy to install and maintain. Vinyl comes in a variety of grains, thickness and colors making it also a practical choice for many homeowners.

          Reply
          • Brisbane new home design

            March 08, 2016 at 6:45 am

            Selecting the appropriate construction and building materials for a project entails more than just placing an order at a building supplies firm. There are several other factors that you need to consider to come up with the best choices and in compliance with building regulations.

            Reply
    14. Dianaa Hilton

      March 31, 2016 at 6:44 am

      Hey, great share....

      This is an amazing DIY project. It looks great. I must say it really needs a great effort and determination for this sort of DIY undertaking.

      Thanks for sharing this post.
      Cheers!!

      Reply
    15. Kaitlyn

      November 07, 2016 at 9:55 am

      Foursquares are such a neat concept. Your floor plan looks so practical. It's great you're sharing your progress along the way!

      Reply
      • Lindsay - The DIY Mommy

        November 07, 2016 at 11:47 am

        Thank you Kaitlyn! We do really love the floor plan 🙂

        Reply
    16. landscaping Brisbane

      March 10, 2017 at 11:25 pm

      Landscaping can increase a property's value by making it more attractive. A well-manicured property with appealing landscaping is often a selling point for a home.

      Reply
    17. drilling equipment

      December 21, 2017 at 5:43 pm

      That is pretty nice. The only problem there is it's not hurricane proof not like the houses made out of cements of wall.

      Reply
      • Lindsay - The DIY Mommy

        December 22, 2017 at 7:33 am

        Thanks! No hurricans here so plans would need to be adjusted to location 😀

        Reply
    18. insulation materials

      January 22, 2018 at 1:27 am

      Insulation assists greatly in keeping heat within a building in winter and slowing the flow of heat into the building in summer. An insulated building will therefore be warmer in winter and cooler in summer, creating a more comfortable environment all year round.

      Reply
    19. insulation materials

      January 22, 2018 at 1:29 am

      Insulation assists greatly in keeping heat within a building in winter and slowing the flow of heat into the building in summer. An insulated building will therefore be warmer in winter and cooler in summer, creating a more comfortable environment all year round.
      Home insulation will reduce your energy bills and the costs of cooling and heating your home.
      Adding home insulation to an existing home will also increase sound control. Insulation creates a sound barrier, keeping unwanted sounds out and protecting your privacy by keeping the sounds from inside your home from being audible outside. Insulating your home also creates a moisture barrier, keeping unwanted moisture out of your house.

      Reply
    20. green building manufacturing

      May 11, 2018 at 4:14 am

      Thanks for your nice post .really this article is very helpful for us Please keep it your writing .
      If anyone want to read this kinds of post or topic Please visit here for best info .
      Thanks

      Reply
    21. Jones

      July 12, 2018 at 9:51 am

      Hello! Built-in storage always looks sophisticated, saves space and can further add to the function of your new room. Always try to plan for the maximum amount of storage possible: from drawers carved out under the stairs, to built-in shelving and closets — one can simply never have enough.

      Reply
      • Lindsay - The DIY Mommy

        July 12, 2018 at 9:34 pm

        We completely agree!

        Reply
    22. noor

      August 20, 2018 at 7:48 am

      Hello, Such is the great process! It’s going to be wonderful. Your coffee bar intrigues me…looking forward to seeing more!!

      Reply
    23. Carl whalen

      October 10, 2018 at 12:16 am

      Hi,

      Nice post, I was planning to design my house and searching for some important tips to be considered, I have gone through your post and it finds me very useful I will keep these points in my mind.
      keep sharing more post.

      Thanks a lot

      Reply
      • Lindsay - The DIY Mommy

        October 10, 2018 at 6:39 am

        How wonderful

        Reply
    24. Jessica

      December 20, 2018 at 5:12 pm

      Love seeing the process documented here! Construction can be tough and making sure have the right people in place from electrical to dumpster rentals is key to fewer headaches.

      Reply
      • Lindsay - The DIY Mommy

        December 21, 2018 at 5:47 am

        We couldn’t agree more

        Reply
    25. residential construction contractor Brisbane

      January 15, 2019 at 11:23 am

      A custom built home must be done in perfection. It should pass any requirements and the contractors should be excellent.

      Reply
    26. Senvas Dulnaun

      February 27, 2019 at 2:36 am

      Hey, it's a wonderful share. All the construction and floor planning of DIY home. It was just seriously amazing. I will definitely take this blog as a reference for constructing my future home.

      Reply
    27. Senvas Dulnaun

      February 27, 2019 at 3:00 am

      Hey, it's a wonderful share. All the construction and floor planning of DIY home. I will definitely take this blog as a reference for constructing my future home.

      Reply
      • Lindsay - The DIY Mommy

        February 27, 2019 at 8:26 am

        Thank you and thanks for stopping by

        Reply
    28. steel handrails for outdoor steps

      June 02, 2019 at 2:31 am

      If ordering an attached or hanging stair, like a fire escape, you should provide information on how it will be mounted to the wall and how much weight the structure can support.

      Reply
    29. Daniella bello

      July 05, 2019 at 10:56 pm

      Such is the Impressive process! Just wonderful!
      And the coffee bar.... oh 🙂

      Reply
    30. LAKAKI

      August 28, 2019 at 4:18 am

      THANKYOU FOR SHARING SUCH AN GOOD QUALITY INFORMATION

      Reply
    31. lakaki

      September 13, 2019 at 6:11 am

      thankyou for sharing this blog

      Reply
    32. bapafa

      January 15, 2021 at 12:08 am

      We have done almost everything ourselves (except for some framing and the drywall). By “ourselves”, I mostly mean my wonderfully talented hubby, Sean. My dearest husband is the general contractor, he dug the hole with a bobcat, he stacked the ICF, he smoothed the cement, he did the electrical, plumbing and heating, he installed the windows… etc, etc.

      Reply
    33. lisa

      January 15, 2021 at 2:34 am

      Hi, We have done almost everything ourselves (except for some framing and the drywall). By “ourselves”, I mostly mean my wonderfully talented hubby, Sean. My dearest husband is the general contractor, he dug the hole with a bobcat, he stacked the ICF, he smoothed the cement, he did the electrical, plumbing and heating, he installed the windows… etc, etc.

      Reply

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