This phase of the build took longer than we expected—but looking back, it’s easy to see why. Between painting, trim installation, and exterior access, there were a lot of details packed into this stage. These are the kinds of projects that don’t always feel exciting while you’re in them, but they completely change how the house feels once they’re done.
Paint Colors & Finishes Throughout the House
We hired a private painter for the main interior walls, and he used Sherwin-Williams paint. My daughter helped pick out the colors for the upstairs, which made her feel really involved in the process.
We chose soft green and blue tones in some spaces to add warmth and personality something a little unexpected but very “us.” We also made sure to purchase extra paint in every color for future touch-ups, which I highly recommend doing during a build.
In the master bedroom, we went with a dark blue ceiling and gray accents to help the room feel cozy. The space is very large, and the cooler tones helped bring it in and make it feel more relaxing. In the main living areas, we chose gray. While it’s definitely a trend, we wanted a neutral base that would work with any décor changes over time.
Painting Trim Before Installation
Before any trim went up, my husband and I painted all of the interior trim ahead of time. We used Interior and Exterior Door and Trim paint from Sherwin-Williams, tinted to match our wall colors. Painting before installation saved us a ton of touch-up work later and made the install process much cleaner.
Installing the Interior Trim
Once everything was painted, my husband Josh and dad Jason, along with Bob and Kevin, handled cutting and nailing in the trim throughout the house. Seeing the trim go up room by room instantly made the house feel more finished.
This part was truly a family effort, and we were so grateful to have the extra hands and experience.
Details That Took the Longest
One of the most time-consuming tasks was painting all the window casing the same color, along with all the doors. With the number of windows and doors in this house, this alone added a significant amount of time to the project, but the consistency was worth it.
We also installed all of the interior door knobs ourselves, choosing a matte black finish. Matte black is the theme throughout the house for handles, door knobs, and shower heads, and I love how clean and modern it looks.
The Not-So-Glamorous Work
Every nail hole in the trim had to be drilled, filled, sanded, and painted over. Even our daughter helped out through this part of the process. Once everything was filled, my uncle came in to handle caulking, especially in the larger areas where the trim meets the baseboards.
This step made a huge difference in how polished everything looked, but it definitely took patience.
Exterior Walkways and Gravel Driveway
Outside, we had a private company deliver and spread gravel to create our driveway. While this isn’t our final plan—we’d eventually like to pave—it was the most cost-effective option for now.
To protect the driveway long-term, we made sure to have proper drainage installed around it so it doesn’t wash away. Having a functional driveway made everyday life easier and helped the home feel more accessible and livable.
Why This Phase Mattered
This stage took longer than many of the others, but it tied everything together. Trim, paint, and exterior access may not be the flashiest parts of a home build, but they’re the details that turn a structure into a finished space.
It was exhausting, messy, and time-consuming—but seeing it all come together made it worth every bit of effort.
Follow along as I share the next phase of our home-building journey.
- Finding Our View & Prepare Construction Site
- Foundation Delivery & Basement Concrete Pour
- Complete Rough Framing
- Rough Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC
- Installing Insulation, Drywall, and Our Fire Sprinkler System
- Interior Fixtures & Start Exterior Finishes
- Painting, Interior Trim & Driveway Installation
- Flooring Installation
