Welcome to our second installment following an in-depth, behind the scenes look at building a custom home with Bardwell Homes in Willow Grove. In Part 1, we explored the inspiration, excitement, and challenge of the initial planning phase as prospective homeowners collaborate with architects and builders to settle on a plan that captures the ideal vision within the desired budget. Now, we take a closer look at the design details and personal choices available when you build a custom home.
1. Can you describe the inspiration behind the home’s style and layout?
My husband and I have traveled all over Europe, and we’re very drawn to timeless, old-world design. As we were looking through exterior images, we kept coming back to this modern Tudor look, which blends the classical elements of a Tudor home with contemporary design features and materials, creating a look that feels both historic and modern. This defines what we were hoping to achieve, so we’re continuing the blend of historic and current through the new house and landscaping.
2. What elements of your custom home are you most excited about?
We chose to go the custom route because there are a few things in our current house that don’t work well with how we live. First, we have an open concept living area with no place other than a bedroom to visit or watch a movie. So, we are bringing back the family den, which is going to be a comfortable place the family can be in the evenings (or if my husband and I need to get away from a house full of kids).
Second, we currently have our sink in our island. And, with a husband who is always cooking for people, it makes it difficult to host gatherings when there’s stacks of pots and pans on the island, where people naturally want to congregate. So, we have added a scullery to our new house, which has a second sink and dishwasher, double ovens, the pantry, and plenty of countertop space to prep food and/or stash dishes. There’s a door on it too, so it can all truly be out of sight, out of mind, until we’re ready to tackle it. Many people didn’t know what this was at first, but I’ve seen a few articles saying sculleries are making a comeback, so we may start to see more of these!
3. How has Bardwell guided you through the design and materials selection process?
It can be very tempting when looking online at pictures to want a specific look, but unless we can source it locally AND can find a trade to install it, it’s going to be tricky to achieve certain looks we see on the internet. So I looked through many of Bardwell’s pictures of past jobs to see what’s been done before.
Even though we are building a fully custom home, I’ve learned it’s best to stick with the builder’s trade and vendor base as much as possible, which helps alleviate hiccups and unknown costs that may arise by going too far out of the sandbox.
4. What personalized features or unique details did you prioritize in your home design?
We had limited space to work with for the master bath, so the architect presented an option for barrel arches above the vanity and tub to give some architectural interest to the room, which is one of my favorite details in the house.
Sometimes limitations can produce beautiful results.
5. Do you have any reflections you’d like to share about the journey of building a custom home?
Building a custom home is a big undertaking, whether you’re in the business or not. Even though I’ve been in the industry for over 12 years, when it’s your home, you want to make sure you’re making the right decision. So, I have spent many late nights researching, scanning Pinterest, and sketching out ideas. It’s a lot of work, but it is incredibly rewarding.
Build for the Long Run with Bardwell
From notable architectural features to uncommon practical spaces like family dens and scullery kitchens, this custom build reflects the family’s vision for a timeless yet functional space that offers a sense of retreat, space to connect, and the freedom to entertain well. Thoughtful design and attention to detail are what transform a house into a home you could have only imagined.
Parade of Homes 2025
Every year, Bardwell Homes is proud to participate in the Home Builders Association of Greater Baton Rouge for the Parade of Homes. Come and tour Emily’s completed custom home in Willow Grove and learn about the thoughtful design and innovative home building that makes Bardwell a Baton Rouge pillar. Whether you’re a first-time home buyer, scoping out local vendors for your custom home, or just looking for inspiration, it’s an unique event that offers variety, style, and community.
April 26-27 and May 3-4
1:00-5:00 pm
In the meantime, stay tuned for our final installment, where we’ll share insights from the construction phase and celebrate the most exciting milestone yet: moving into the new home.