Design x Dani

FULL TIME WORKING MOM | MODERN FARMHOUSE LIVING | FITNESS ENTHUSIAST

How Was Building Your Home Yourself?

People ask me this more than anything else: how did we build our own home? The short answer — we planned to GC it ourselves from day one. The longer answer is two full-time jobs, spreadsheets after dinner, and a few years living with my parents to make it happen. Here's what it really looked like.

Dani

2 days ago3 min read

modern farmhouse construction on rural land

Finding Land for Your DIY Build: The Hardest Part Nobody Warns You About

Finding land is the hardest part of DIY building — and no one warns you. We got ours through pure luck: a farmer selling acreage off-market, after 3 months in my parents' basement with zero luck elsewhere. My husband saw it once, we made an offer, and 20 acres became ours. Here's our story, plus exactly where to look, what questions to ask before you buy, and why you need to be ready to drop everything and drive the second a lead comes in.

Dani

Aug 36 min read

What It Actually Cost to Build a House (And the Budget Mistakes I Wish We’d Avoided)

What It Actually Cost to Build a House And the Budget Mistakes We Wish We’d Avoided.

Dani

Jul 214 min read

MEET DANI

Welcome to my blog! I'm Dani. I'm a full time working mom of two building her career and dream home at the same time. 2 years ago, my husband and I sold our starter home, moved in with my parents, bought some land, and built our modern farmhouse on 20 acres. Join me as I share my latest finds and tips to create the life of your dreams, too!

Purchase Our House Plans

I remember her telling me it would never work out.

“Don’t get your hopes up Dani.”

Little did she know, the remote world would take off..

But I still choose to commute in every day.

But seriously, why are we listening to people with small minds?

You can literally do anything you want.

This is your sign to GO FOR IT.

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

I had a professor in college tell me it would never work out.

I’d never get a job in fashion AND get to live in the country.

Little did she know the remote world would take off..

But I actually commute in every day. That’s how much I love it.

Needless to say,

Don’t let small minds put you in a box.

Get whatever it is you’re after in this life. You can do it. 💛

#blogger #modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countryliving #countrylife

Remove quitting from the table.

How do you proceed?

If this hit your feed, know I’m praying for you. 🙏

#modernfarmhouse #blogger #countrylife #countryliving #lifelessons

I get asked a lot why I commute so far for work. And honestly, the answer is pretty simple:

I love what I do, and I love where I live.

I spent years working toward a career I’m proud of, and we worked just as hard to build a home and lifestyle we never wanted to give up.

So yes, some days the commute is exhausting.

But then I pull into our driveway, the kids run around, the dog is living her best life, and I remember exactly why we chose this.

I don’t think you have to choose between having a career you love and having the life you love outside of work.

Sometimes you just have to be willing to drive a little farther for it. 🤍

Special thanks to @instacart for making my life easier.

Anyone else choose the long commute because the life waiting at home is worth it?

#blogger #countrylife #modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #commute

Need I mention I was also pregnant with our 2nd daughter at the time 😅

Wild times haha but it CAN be done!!

Just here to share how we made it happen, and to hopefully help or inspire you.

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

Almost 8 years of marriage and never thought our journey would be here.

We always dreamed of finding land and building, but honestly never thought the opportunity would come this soon.

I share how we did it all on my blog for free.

Because it’s the roadmap we wish we would’ve had.

We hope it can help at least one family achieve the same dream we once had.

Grateful to say the least. 💛

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

And a huge part of that is because of @halocollar 💛

When we moved from the outskirts of the town with a fenced in yard to a completely rural 20 acres, we were worried she wouldn’t stay around.

Halo Collar has changed everything for us, and her 💛

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #gpscollar #blogger #countryliving

I started taking my blog seriously about a year ago when I kept getting asked so many questions about our home.

After deciding to share our story online,

I realized there’s a lot of families trying to achieve the same dream:

Finding land, and building your dream home.

If that’s you, welcome 🤗 I hope I can help you along your journey!

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

It’s true, I never saw our land before we put an offer in.

Read the full story on my blog and how you can find land in your area too!

As well as what questions to ask before buying 🫶✨

#blogger #modernfarmhouse #modernfarmhousestyle #countryliving #countrylife

I share our full story because I hope it can help inspire the next family on the journey we once were on.

I share every detail on my blog.
I hope it can reach the right people who need it💛

#countryliving #countrylife #farmhousestyle #farmhousestyle #blogger

All the things ✨ round 2!

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

It helps I have a husband who let me pick out ✨every ✨ single ✨ detail ✨ 🤌 don’t settle ladies!!!

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

Happy to share anything that’s helped us get here 💛✨

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countryliving #countrylife #blogger

Bad days happen.

Don’t let them turn into bad months, or years 💛

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countryliving #blogger #dreamhome

I get called crazy a lot.

But this past week, at the Women in Business Academy event @wibacademy , not one single person said it.

Why?

Because I was in a room full of the right people — the ones who understand that sacrifice is just the price of admission for something greater.

I drive 75 miles to work every day, because I love what I do.

I drive home to my 20 acres every night, because it gives me peace.

Best of both worlds.

And it’s okay if that doesn’t make sense to you.

I hope this post finds the ones it will resonate with.

And know, you’re not crazy 🫶

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #commute #countryliving #blogger

My Most-Asked Questions 👇

🏡 How did you get a construction loan without a GC?
Relationships, preparation, and being organized. We built as owner-builders, and I break down exactly how we got approved in my FREE blog post (linked in bio).

🏡 Why build instead of buy?
We wanted land, privacy, and a home designed for our lifestyle. Building gave us that—even if it meant making sacrifices along the way.

🏡 Did you really live with your parents?
Yep! We sold our starter home and lived with my parents during the build so we could make the numbers work. Not glamorous, but worth it.

🏡 How did you build while working full-time?
My husband managed the build while I handled finish selections and helped where I could. Priorities, teamwork, and accepting that some seasons are just hard made it possible.

🏡 Do you regret being your own GC?
No—but it isn’t for everyone. It takes organization, communication, and a lot of problem-solving. It saved us money and gave us control, but it was definitely stressful.

🏡 How do you afford everything you share?
Years of planning, career growth, and intentional choices. Social media shows the highlight reel, not the sacrifices behind it.

🏡 Where do you find everything?
Most of our home finds are linked in my Amazon storefront (link in bio).

✨ If you’re building, dreaming, or just trying to figure it all out, I hope sharing our journey makes yours a little easier.

My blog is full of free resources—including our budget tracker, finish selection organizer, and step-by-step guides.

Have another question? Drop it below or send me a DM. I’m always happy to help! 🤍

Top tier in my opinion 🤌

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

I plead the fifth 😶 … If you’re counting slides 🤭

I share how we got here on my blog 💛 and tons of FREE✨resources to help you if you’re on your build journey.

✨Free build guide
✨Free budget guide
✨Free finish selection organizer

I share it all for free cause it’s the blue print we wish we had.

And if it helps one family build their dream home on land like we did, it will be worth it 💛

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #farmhouse #countrylife #countryliving

Perspective truly is everything.

🙏
#blogger #modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countryliving #countrylife

Many people don’t understand why some of us choose to commute so far to a job.

This is my why.

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

I share in hopes it can help just one family achieve the same dream we once had 🫶

If it’s helped you, be sure to share so other families can have the confidence to just START too!✨

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

I share how we got here on my blog 💛 and tons of FREE✨resources to help you if you’re on your build journey.

✨Free build guide
✨Free budget guide
✨Free finish selection organizer

I share it all for free cause it’s the blue print we wish we had.

And if it helps one family build their dream home on land like we did, it will be worth it 💛

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #farmhouse #countrylife #countryliving

Front porch views of 20 acres 💛

#countrylife #countryliving #blogger #modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle

Living OUR American dream.

It legit still doesn’t feel real.

I share our story to hopefully inspire others who have the same dream we once did.

To build a forever home on land.

I share how did everything on my blog. Link in bio 💛

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

Living OUR American dream. And beyond grateful for it and the journey that brought us here.

I share how we did it all on my blog for free.

I hope it can help just one family achieve the same dream.

#blogger #modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving

It still feels like a dream even almost 3 years later.

#modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving #blogger

A long over due re-introduction!

Thanks so much for being here. Truly.

I remember posting my first blog post and feeling SO DUMB.

Like gosh that was awful I can’t believe I signed up for this haha.

Looking back, the amount of families I’ve been able to help was worth it all.

Thank you so much for being a part of it. 🫶

Cheers to making this YOUR YEAR!!
I’m praying for you and you got this!!

EDIT [sorry I typed too fast we sold our house in 2022 not 2020 🙃].

#blogger #modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countryliving #countrylife

Link in bio for my blog 💛

#blogger #modernfarmhouse #countryliving #countrylife #farmhousestyle

I drive 75 miles one way to work every day.

I was told I was crazy for wanting a job in the city, but wanting to live in the country.

In fact in college, a professor told me I’d never succeed that way.

You can do anything you want in this life.

Don’t let small minds dictate it for you.

Just GO!!

#blogger #modernfarmhouse #farmhousestyle #countrylife #countryliving

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Design x Dani

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How Was Building Your Home Yourself?

Finding Land for Your DIY Build: The Hardest Part Nobody Warns You About

What It Actually Cost to Build a House (And the Budget Mistakes I Wish We’d Avoided)

Purchase Our House Plans

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