My Custom Home Build Regrets

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I’m letting you in on a little secret. I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes list of my own custom home build regrets 9 years after building my house.  The good news is that I still LOVE my home nine years later, but there are a few things I would do differently if I built this house again […]

Dec

07

Podcast

Should You Hire a Designer when Building a Custom Home?

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One of my ‘Before You Build’ course students recently asked me, ‘is it worth it to hire a designer when building a custom home?’ Maybe you’re wondering the same thing. We talked about her specific situation and her comfort level with bringing her dream home to life and we ultimately determined that she probably didn’t […]

Nov

30

Podcast

Must Haves When Building a Custom Home

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When you google the phrase, ‘must haves when building a custom home’, you’ll find lists of what *other* people consider to be must-haves in their own homes. However, these lists might not include things that are must-haves in your own dream home. A must-have for one person may be something that you don’t even care […]

Nov

16

Podcast

Productive First Meeting with Builder: 7 Steps to Prepare

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I’m giving you seven specific steps to help you prepare for a productive first meeting with your builder so that you feel confident and organized when your builder fires questions at you about your design ideas and your budget for your future home. If you follow these 7 steps (in no particular order), you’re going […]

Nov

09

Podcast

How Long it Takes to Build a House

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Curious about how long it takes to build a house? I’m not going to lie … this is a tricky one to answer (especially in our current home-build climate).  I can tell you that six months is the average for how long it takes to build a house. However, the length of time depends on […]

Oct

26

Podcast

How to choose timeless design finishes vs trendy featured

Timeless Interior Design vs. Trendy

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How to choose timeless design finishes vs trendy featured

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Are you building or renovating a house and you find yourself thinking … ‘there are so many decisions and I’m afraid I’ll make the wrong one!’ OR ‘what if I make a trendy decision and end up hating it in two years?’  You are NOT alone! This is a very common fear. In this episode, […]

Oct

19

Podcast

hey there,

I designed my own custom home from the ground up, inside and out. A home that is cozy, comfy, laid out perfectly for the way my family lives, and makes us happy every single day. Oh, and did I mention I did this all without going over budget?! 

Yep, it’s true. I’ve been there, done that, and actually lived through it … and you will too. Pinkie promise!

a.k.a. Caroline on Design

I’m Carrie Barker.

DREAMING OF BUILDING A                   HOME BUT AREN’T SURE WHERE TO START?

Get My free  
Home Build Prep Guide

yes! I need this!

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