Dream Farmhouse Reveal: Our Homestead House Build (Real Life Lessons, Family Traditions & Modern Must-Haves)

Welcome, friend! If you’ve ever caught yourself daydreaming about the perfect farmhouse—the kitchen with enough space for the whole crew, the mudroom for muddy boots, the kind of pantry you can actually walk into—then you’re in the right place. I’m Deeanne, founder of Hummingbird Acres, and today I’m sharing the real, sometimes messy, always meaningful story of our own homestead house build.

Spoiler alert: It didn’t go exactly as planned…and that’s the best part.

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Where the Dream Began

Let’s rewind. I’ve been searching for house plans since I was in middle school. Seriously! Something in me always longed for a home that wasn’t just a house, but a gathering place—a space for family, food, and the old-fashioned togetherness you just can’t fake. My inspiration? The house my parents built back in Maryland. Everyone gathered around the wood-burning stove, and the basement became our unofficial pantry for all those jars of summer.

Of course, there were things we knew we’d update. I wanted a big kitchen island, one open to the dining and living room, so everyone could be together no matter what we were doing. Jamie—my husband—absolutely fell in love with this double basin, double drainboard sink he found at Assateague. Yes, the sink was non-negotiable (and trust me, it’s a game-changer).

But above all, we knew this house needed to be simple, flexible, and able to grow right along with our family.

The Plan That Found Us

Here’s where things got interesting. I spent years hunting down the “perfect” floor plan. I found a few almosts, but nothing that truly checked every box. Then, after my Nana’s house build fell through, I saw a photo pop up on Facebook. The outside of the house looked exactly like what I’d imagined. I clicked through, and the floor plan? Almost perfect—except for one big thing: no wood stove.

I saved the link and showed Jamie. When we got serious about our homestead house build, I sat down with my dad and Jamie to review the plans and make a few changes:

Add a wood-burning stove
Rearrange the basement stairs for Nana’s chair lift
(Sorry, not sorry) No linen closet in the master bath!

At first, I thought my dad would want to sketch the changes, but he suggested going straight to the designer. I reached out online…and waited. Three weeks later, I got a call from a local number. Turns out, the house was originally built just 45 minutes from our new build site in Virginia. Talk about fate! The designer could make our changes, quickly and affordably. We said yes.

Family Roots, Real-Life Changes

One of the most important changes came from a conversation about furniture—specifically, my grandmother’s hutch and farmhouse table. To fit those family pieces, we needed to lengthen the dining room wall. Sometimes, home design is about so much more than blueprints; it’s about carrying on family memories and traditions.

For our modern homestead life, we made three changes I’m so grateful for:

Removing the linen closet gave us space for a real mudroom with washer and dryer—a lifesaver when you’re dealing with Virginia’s red clay!
Moving the laundry meant more pantry space on the main floor (because, let’s be honest, every homestead mom knows the snack struggle is real).
The walk-out basement became dedicated cold storage and pantry space, perfect for canning and preserving our harvests.

These changes may seem small, but they’ve made a world of difference in our day-to-day life.

Lessons for Your Own Homestead House Build

If you’re dreaming of your own homestead house build—whether it’s a future farmhouse, a cozy cottage, or just a few updates to your current place—here are my best tips:

1. Save What Inspires You:
Start a note or photo album on your phone. Every time you see a feature you love (in a friend’s home, an open house, or scrolling Instagram), save it. When you’re ready to plan, you’ll have a treasure trove of real-life ideas.

2. Work with Someone Who Listens:
Find a builder or designer who takes time to understand your real family needs, not just what’s trending. It’s not about perfection—it’s about what works for your actual, messy, beautiful life.

3. Build for Living, Not Just Looks:
A home isn’t just how it looks. It’s how you live in it. Make choices based on how your family really functions, not what’s “supposed” to be ideal.

4. Be Ready for Plan B:
Sometimes, the universe has better plans than we do. Our first homesite didn’t pass the soil test (“perc”), but our second choice turned out to have the best mountain views in the county.

Why Our “Plan B” Became the Perfect Spot

Here’s a little secret: This wasn’t even our first-choice home site. The first spot didn’t “perc”—if you’re new to country living, that means the soil couldn’t handle a septic system. I was crushed at first.

But looking back? It was the biggest blessing in disguise. Our “second choice” spot has the best mountain view I’ve ever seen. Now, I can picture myself with a glass of tea, sitting in my great-grandmother’s rocking chair, watching the birds over the garden as the sun sets. It’s not what we planned, but it’s everything we need.

Carrying Family Forward

Building a homestead house isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about honoring where you came from, being present for your family now, and saying “yes” to changes—even if they’re not in the plan. Every choice, from that dream kitchen sink to the placement of our pantry, is a reflection of the people and stories we want to carry forward.

If you’re dreaming, building, or just starting your own homestead house build, remember—it doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. Focus on what matters most to your family. Be open to change. And never underestimate the magic of Plan B.

Thank you for being part of our Hummingbird Acres family. If you have questions about our house build, want to swap stories, or just need some encouragement—drop a comment or subscribe for weekly updates. Let’s build a life we love, together.

Live simply—without giving up what you love.