Our Ivory Homes Building Experience: Creating Our Home in Utah

Creating Our Home in Utah

We’ve spent years helping clients find their dream homes, and there’s something incredibly special about seeing their excitement when it finally happens. This time, it was our turn and honestly, it still feels a little surreal!

At heart, we’re two small-town guys who dreamed of building a life together. Getting to build a home that reflects who we are, how we live, and the people we love feels like a dream coming true. We’ve had plenty of moments walking through these rooms thinking, “Wait… we actually live here?”

Of course, getting here involved a few decisions. And by a few, we mean enough to make us question whether we could ever confidently choose a shade of white again.

Making the Floor Plan Our Own

One of the most exciting parts of building with Ivory Homes was being able to make thoughtful changes to the floor plan. We wanted more than finishes we liked; we wanted spaces that worked for our everyday lives and made our guests feel welcome.

On the main floor, we reconfigured three guest bedrooms into two guest suites, each with its own ensuite bathroom and walk in closet. Because we love having people stay with us, but we figured everyone would appreciate a little privacy; and fewer negotiations over whose turn it is to shower.

We also moved the entrance to our primary bedroom, which originally sat next to the living room fireplace. By expanding a section of the house two feet by eight feet, we created a private hallway leading to our room. A modest change in square footage, but a big improvement in how the space feels.

The Details That Gave Our Home Character

We wanted our new home to have warmth, personality, and architectural details that felt like us.

We arched the hallway openings, added decorative wall trim, and replaced the rounded drywall corners with squared edges throughout the house. Little details that probably occupied more of our conversations than they should have; but seeing them come together made it all worth it.

We also added a scullery, giving us a separate space for kitchen prep, extra storage, and the things we’d prefer weren’t on display when company arrives. Because while we love a beautiful kitchen, we also live here and sometimes there are dishes.

Each choice helped turn a floor plan into something that feels like our home.

Leaving Room to Grow

In the basement, we created a walkout entrance and a one-bedroom, one-bathroom accessory dwelling unit, or ADU. The space has an ensuite bathroom, its own laundry, a kitchen, and dining and living areas.

We wanted a comfortable, independent space while keeping flexibility for the future. With this layout, we preserved approximately 80% of the basement for us to grow into.

So yes, after all those decisions, we’ve left ourselves an entire future chapter of decisions. Very thoughtful of us.

Selling Our Home While Building a New One

While all of this was happening, we were also preparing and selling our previous home so we could close on the new one. Because apparently building a house wasn’t quite enough to keep us busy.

Coordinating a home sale with a new construction purchase takes planning, communication, and some deep breaths along the way. We help our clients navigate these transitions regularly, but experiencing it ourselves reminded us just how personal the process is.

There’s excitement about what’s ahead, a little sadness about what you’re leaving, and the occasional moment of wondering where you packed something you now desperately need.

It gave us an even deeper appreciation for the trust our clients place in us as Realtors. Behind every transaction is someone’s life, their plans, and a place that means something to them. We felt all of that during our own move.

A Dream Come True

We’re now working on the landscaping, which is taking longer than expected. At this point, we’re starting to think “almost done” is an official construction term with no actual expiration date.

We can’t wait to see it finished, but we’re also trying to appreciate this part of the journey. Seeing Paris and Bruno settle in, finding our favorite corners, and making this place feel like home has been pretty special.

Once everything comes together, we would love to welcome you and create more memories here. That’s what we’ve been imagining through all the planning: a home filled with friends, family, and good conversations.

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