Groundwork: The Art & Craft of Utah Custom Homes

Welcome to Groundwork: The Art and Craft of Utah Custom Homes, where we demystify the custom homebuilding journey along Utah’s Wasatch Front. In this episode, host Pete Codella sits down with Amber Hutchings, director of events at the Utah Valley Home Builders Association (UVHBA). With over 20 years in the association and 13 years leading its flagship showcase, Amber pulls back the curtain on how the Utah Valley Parade of Homes evolved from a 1976 single-street showcase into a nationally renowned, bucket-list benchmark for luxury homebuilding.

Pete and Amber explore the operational logistics required to manage over 400,000 ticket scans across two and a half weeks, the impact of virtual tours on out-of-state visitor growth, and how record-breaking builds, like McEwen Custom Homes’ 2026 44,000-attendee compound, elevate the entire industry. They also discuss why firm parade deadlines benefit custom homebuyers, how ticket proceeds fund over $3 million in local college endowments, and what builders need to plan 18 to 24 months in advance.

Chapter Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction to Groundwork
• 00:23 – Meet Amber Hutchings & The Utah Valley Home Builders Association
• 01:25 – Utah Valley's Rapid Growth & 20+ Years of Industry Relationships
• 02:40 – A National Bucket List: Out-of-State Crowds & GMC’s Alpine Build
• 04:10 – History of the Showcase: From 1976 Watercolors to the 40-Home Cap
• 05:46 – Founder Roots: The Herbert Legacy & Decades of Utah Parades of Homes
• 06:17 – Technology & Parade Apps: Scanning 400,000 Visits Seamlessly
• 08:35 – Opening Day Logistics: Traffic Flow & Working Out Glitches
• 09:12 – Regional Hotspots: Mapleton Expansion, Alpine & Highland
• 10:15 – Marathon Schedule: Why Midday-to-9 PM & 3 Weekends Work
• 11:05 – Record-Setting Builds: Crumbl Founders & 44,000 Visitors at McEwen
• 13:20 – Unifying the Trades: How Shared Deadlines Build Craft & Trust
• 15:02 – Homeowner Advantages: Guaranteed Timelines & Community Giving
• 15:52 – Endowed Scholarships: BYU, UVU, Snow College & Member Grants
• 16:50 – The Subcontractor Reality: Do Parade Homes Save Money?
• 17:35 – Year-Round Planning: Virtual Film Crews & The June 2027 Cycle
• 20:25 – COVID 2020 & The Virtual Parade: Fueling National Recognition
• 22:58 – Spotlighting GMC’s Deerfield Estate at The Cove in Alpine
• 23:45 – Gordon Milar Memories: Trash Hauling Roots to Sandy HQ
• 25:00 – UVHBA Benefits: 1,000 Members, Government Affairs & Fair Fees
• 26:30 – Giving Back: Cougar House & Subcontractors for Santa
• 28:35 – Economic Impact: Utah Housing, Interest Rates & 18-Month Lead Times
• 29:50 – How to Connect with UVHBA, Free CE Credits & 2027 Parade Dates

Connect with Gordon Milar Construction

• Website:https://gmilar.com/https://gmilar.com/
• Deerfield Estate Tour & Details:https://gmilar.com/newshttps://gmilar.com/deerfield
• Podcast: https://gmilar.com/news/category/Podcast
• Instagram: @GordonMilarConstruction
• Inquiries & Consultations (call or text): (801) 406-1002

Connect with the Utah Valley Home Builders Association (UVHBA)

• Website:https://uvhba.com/https://uvhba.com
• Instagram: @UVHBA
• Facebook: Utah Valley Home Builders Association
• Visit the Office: Vineyard, Utah

#GordonMilarConstruction #GroundworkPodcast #UVHBA #UtahValleyParadeOfHomes #ParadeOfHomes #UtahCustomHomes #WasatchFront #AlpineUtah #MapletonUtah #CustomHomeBuilder #LuxuryHomesUtah #HomeBuilding #ResidentialConstruction

Welcome to Groundwork: The Art and Craft of Utah Custom Homes, where we demystify the custom homebuilding journey along Utah’s Wasatch Front. In this episode, host Pete Codella sits down with James and Desiree Bastian, founders and designers at Beljar Home + Design. Operating from their shop and design studio in Midway, Utah, James and Desiree bring over 20 years of custom residential building experience alongside a cinematic set-design background to luxury estates across Northern Utah.

Pete, James, and Desiree explore why great custom home design prioritizes personal storytelling over fleeting fads, how Utah's mountain terrain shapes architectural orientation, and the artisan craftsmanship behind their latest collaboration with Gordon Milar Construction: Château de la Fossette in Sandy. They also unpack what's driving today's luxury market, from integrated cold plunges and airy daylight basements to why building smart, intentional square footage is far better than building oversized.

Chapter Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction to Groundwork
• 00:27 – Meet James & Desiree Bastian (Beljar Home + Design)
• 01:14 – From French Farmhouses to Film Sets: Discovering Interior Design
• 03:00 – Storytelling vs. Trends: Why Custom Homes Need Character
• 05:15 – Creative Space & Finding Inspiration Across European Genres
• 06:33 – Designing from the Land: Scandinavian Textures & Utah Views
• 08:48 – Inside Château de la Fossette: The Orchards at Dimple Dell
• 10:14 – Blending French Bastide Architecture with Scandinavian Colonial Details
• 12:20 – Sourcing Old-World Materials: Reclaimed Farm Timbers & Antique Lanterns
• 13:28 – The Artisanal Touch: Hand-Scraped Oak Floors & 60-Year Pewter Ironwork
• 18:18 – Utah Parade of Homes & The Shift in Luxury Design Trends
• 20:00 – Wellness Rooms, Daylight Basements & Avoiding "So 2026" Fads
• 22:20 – Anchoring to Historical Genres to Prevent Design Expiration Dates
• 25:22 – Essential Advice: Why Bigger Isn't Better & Planning Intentional Square Footage
• 30:30 – Where to Find Beljar Home & Closing Thoughts

Connect with Gordon Milar Construction

• Website
• Podcast
• Château de la Fossette details
• Instagram
• Inquiries & Consultations (call or text): (801) 406-1002

Connect with Beljar Home + Design

• Website
• Instagram
• Visit the Shop in Midway, Utah

#GordonMilarConstruction #GroundworkPodcast #BeljarHome #UtahCustomHomes #WasatchFront #CustomHomeBuilder #InteriorDesign #Architecture #ChateauDeLaFossette #SandyUtah #TheOrchardsAtDimpleDell #ParkCityDesign #LuxuryHomesUtah #HomeBuilding

Welcome to Groundwork: The Art and Craft of Utah Custom Homes, where we demystify the custom homebuilding journey along Utah’s Wasatch Front. In this episode, host Pete Codella (chief marketing officer at Gordon Milar Construction) sits down with BayLa Anderson, stone and exterior finish specialist at Stone Connections, a family-run company with over 20 years of craftsmanship and a trusted partner of Gordon Milar Construction.

Pete and BayLa discuss what every prospective homeowner needs to know about designing timeless, weather-resilient exterior curb appeal. They break down how Amish-manufactured stone withstands Utah's brutal freeze-thaw cycles, compare the maintenance and installation realities of manufactured versus natural stone, share the design process behind an 8,600 sq. ft. Alpine parade home, and explore why warm, traditional materials and earthy textures are replacing stark, cold aesthetics.

Chapter Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction to Groundwork
• 00:26 – Meet BayLa Anderson & Stone Connections
• 02:18 – Navigating the Showroom: Texture, Grout & Natural Lighting
• 04:36 – Weathering the Wasatch: Freeze-Thaw Testing & ASTM C1670 Standards
• 06:50 – Inventory Logistics: Ohio Amish Craftsmanship to Utah Job Sites
• 07:44 – Case Study: The 2026 Alpine Parade Home (Genoa Volterra & Overgrouting)
• 11:06 – Manufactured vs. Natural Stone: Porosity, Masonry Mortar & Cost
• 13:28 – Emerging Exterior Trends: The Return of Warmth, Earth Tones & Timelessness
• 15:35 – Architectural Styles: European Transitional, Cottage Stucco & Craftsman Siding
• 16:40 – Exterior Longevity: Hardie Board, Stucco Cracks & Fading
• 17:58 – Before You Break Ground: Full-Size Brick Ledges & Utah's 4-Inch Grade Code
• 20:25 – Busting Exterior Myths: Stucco Versatility & Dark Accent Costs
• 21:52 – How to Guide Homebuyers Toward a Timeless Aesthetic
• 23:25 – Decision Timelines: Decisive Buyers vs. Multi-Session Design
• 24:26 – Where to Find Stone Connections & Closing Remarks

Connect with Gordon Milar Construction

• Website
• Podcast
• GMC's 2026 Utah Valley Parade of Homes entry: Deerfield Estate at The Cove
• Instagram
• Inquiries & Consultations (call or text): (801) 406-1002

Connect with Stone Connections

• Website
• Instagram
• Visit the showroom in South Salt Lake

#GordonMilarConstruction #GroundworkPodcast #StoneConnections #UtahCustomHomes #WasatchFront #CurbAppeal #ExteriorDesign #Masonry #ManufacturedStone #NaturalStone #CustomHomeBuilder #UtahRealEstate #ArchitectureAndDesign