South Bend, Indiana/ 1,668 sq ft Ground/ 1,624 sqft Basement / 3 bedroom/ 2 bath/ Wood/
After spending the past ten years moving from one place to another with their children, Kate and Spencer finally found the perfect opportunity to settle down on a beautiful property near their parents. The site, nestled in a community with schools and other families, offers the best of both worlds: a connection to a local neighborhood and breathtaking views of surrounding woodlands.
Their new home, the Hygge House, stands quietly among towering hemlock and birch trees. The dark, modern facade contrasts with the bright, light-filled interiors, creating a warm, tranquil atmosphere. Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac in South Bend, Indiana, the house blends modern simplicity with serene views of the surrounding forest, offering peaceful seclusion in a family-friendly neighborhood.
Planning for a House
The client had longed to build their own home, prioritizing functionality and making it truly theirs. They began researching various house designs, floor plans, and building codes, but the overwhelming number of options—tens of thousands—made the process daunting. Eventually, they stumbled upon our designs at Design with Frank, where our 3BD Standard option aligned closely with their vision. With a few simple modifications, our combined ideas took shape, ready to become their dream home.
They have a budget of around $400K, with a house size of 1,666 square feet on the ground floor and an additional 1,625 square feet in the basement. This layout provides ample space for their family to grow and settle comfortably.
Design Process and Floor Plan
After browsing through our catalog of floor plans, the client approached us to customize their house plan using the 3 Bedroom Standard House Template. The design process was streamlined, where they sketched out their ideal house based on our template plan. The design process was streamlined, and they sketched out their ideal house based on our template plan. We split the process into 3 milestones and scheduled design meetings and a series of floorplan designs back and forth. After working on their suggestions through careful planning, we modified the floor plan to their preferences and developed the floor plan. After receiving the floor plan, this allow them to have a clear vision on building journey.
The building houses a family of five, the young couple and their three children. The house follows an open plan layout floor plan – the living, dining, and kitchen are one space, yet the kitchen is tucked in, visually away from the living area. The laundry room and the pantry are designed right next to the kitchen to keep the utility's core spaces together.
The living room features a big slider to a covered deck, encouraging outdoor living and the interior spaces were filled with natural light. The kids love to spend time here, soaking in the sun and environment. The deck is also accessible directly from the kitchen. On each side of the open living zone are the parents’ and kids’ rooms, providing privacy to the couple. The long corridor between the bedrooms doubles as a play-n-run space for the kids. The master bedroom has been modified to accommodate a walk-in closet and a compact bathroom. All the bedrooms have big windows, bringing in natural light. The basement is a spacious area for the kids to play. It also has provision for an extra bedroom and bath.
The final design resulted in a house with a ground floor area of 1,668 square foot with an additional square footage in the basement. The house also includes a 3 car garage connected with an enclosed walkway way as the main entry.
Spencer and his father, being from the construction industry, had a fair amount of building knowledge. He is an excavator with over ten years of experience. This background gave him an advantage as he could visualize the house on the site and manipulate the land accordingly. His experience transformed this piece of wood into land art, carefully planning and executing his vision with impeccable siting and orientation for the house. They also chose to preserve as many trees as possible on the site; this restricted the use of larger machinery - lengthening the construction process. But, as a result, the trees are closer to the house and patio, a conscious and genuine approach to living in nature amongst the wilderness.
After finalizing the design, they started the search for a reliable and honest builders with a devoted team of contractors. After receiving several quotes ranging from 327k to 480k. Some were out of their budget and some didn't seem flexible. After much deliberation, they decided to go forward with one general contractor. The builder suggested a few changes in the drawing details and building materials to standardize the materials according to Indiana building practices. The home construction lasted eight months, from excavation to interiors. A total of close to 50 people would work closely through the different phases of the project to achieve a compelling functional home.
Construction Process
The construction process requires careful planning. The project started with the excavation process on November 21, 2022. The work on the foundation and basement continued throughout the month. The construction of the walls and floors took place in December. The framing was installed in a week during the first half of January, after which the interior walls and windows were constructed. The installation of the faucets and plumbing continued into February. In March, the siding and drywall were erected. The month of April was all about flooring and painting. May saw the completion of the furnishings and cabinets, then the lighting. On June 6th, after eight months of laborious work and commitment, the clients and their children moved into their new residence.
The family, including parents, siblings, and friends, helped immensely throughout the process. They were essentially sub-contractors for the builder, working hands-on on several elements of the house themselves. The client and his team excavated and landscaped the exteriors, including the concrete curb, walkway, stone, and retaining walls. The family collectively did most of the interior work - from the flooring and tiling to the minutest detailing of the stairwell railing. They hunted beautiful ceramic sconce light fixtures and installed closets, doors, and bathroom faucets. This family effort personifies the Design with Frank ideology of building your own house.
The couple also acted as their own interior designers by keeping the design simple and minimal list. The house interiors radiate a Scandinavian flair – exemplifying natural elements with straightforward design aesthetic. The walls are washed with a warm white from the purple family, an earthy tone, soft on the eyes. These walls are a perfect contrast to the white trim and windows. The kitchen counters and cabinets are a natural green tone assembled through a local cabinetry manufacturer. The furniture is sourced from IKEA, keeping it modest, simple with easy to clean materials. The house comes together harmoniously with just enough mood lighting in the evening through the mid-level wall sconces.
When we asked the couple about the most exciting part of the journey, they reminisced about the invigorating and the stressful moments. One of them was seeing the plan built when the siding came up with the framing. It is the moment when you can finally see the shape of the house after months of planning and imagination. The foundation was amusing for the kids owing to the movement of big cement trucks. The structure's magnitude - with the ten-foot-tall metal pieces, was remarkable. The unique and exclusive house design motivated everyone to give their best effort. The client recollects, "The contractors loved coming here because it was different. They were excited to try and do something different and use their artistic skills."
One of the challenging aspects for them was the electrical layout. They wanted switchboards strategically placed for accessibility without overdoing it. Each decision felt critical, as changes would be troublesome once implemented. Additionally, The wife found selecting interior finishes and details overwhelming due to the vast array of options. Ultimately, after careful consideration and discussions with loved ones, they achieved their perfect dream home.
When naming our company, we drew inspiration from the story of the three little pigs who painstakingly built their own dream homes with determination and care. This project beautifully mirrors the client's dedication and commitment to creating their new home. The design and construction process of this remarkable residence embodies our core values.
