<![CDATA[Groundwork: The Art & Craft of Utah Custom Homes]]>13bad1c4-e939-5f10-b6a9-16447a5b65b2Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:53:44 +0000Captivate.fmGordon Milar Constructionhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/44d27ca8-5fb0-48bf-8655-0c602c4a6eaa/groundwork-art.jpgGroundwork: The Art & Craft of Utah Custom HomesGordon Milar ConstructionGordon Milar ConstructionGroundwork: The Art & Craft of Utah Custom Homes Building a custom home along Utah’s Wasatch Front is an extraordinary experience, but turning a vision from raw dirt into a legacy estate takes far more than just blueprints. It takes real groundwork. Welcome to Groundwork: The Art and Craft of Utah Custom Homes, the podcast that demystifies the entire custom homebuilding and residential development journey. Hosted by Pete Codella, chief marketing officer at Gordon Milar Construction, this series pulls back the curtain on high-end residential construction across Northern Utah. Whether you’re dreaming of building your first custom home, actively planning a mountainside build, exploring property and lot development, or working as an artisan trade professional passionate about the craft, this show is built for you. What You’ll Discover Inside Each Episode Custom homebuilding can often feel daunting, complex, and full of hidden surprises. In Groundwork, we replace guesswork with transparency, actionable insights, and master-level trade knowledge: - Site Selection & Complex Topography: Understand how heavy civil excavation, slope engineering, soil conditions, freeze-thaw frost lines, and lot grading protect your home's foundation and maximize panoramic Wasatch mountain views. - Architecture & Spatial Design: Learn how top architects, drafters, and interior designers translate a family’s lifestyle into functional floor plans, tailored spaces, and timeless aesthetics. - The Invisible Building Science: Explore the modern technology behind the sheetrock, from pre-drywall 3D digital-twin scanning and advanced framing to smart electrical routing and high-performance building envelopes. - Artisan Craftsmanship & Custom Finishes: Go behind the scenes with master woodworkers, stone masons, finish carpenters, and design innovators to discover the details that define true quiet luxury. - Value Engineering & Smart Planning: Learn proven strategies for navigating municipal permitting, establishing detailed specifications, making finish selections without stress, and keeping project budgets aligned. Decades of Real Wasatch Front Experience Rooted in over 50 years of Utah homebuilding history, Groundwork is built on the belief that enduring homes start with enduring relationships. Gordon Milar Construction has spent decades shaping Northern Utah’s residential landscape by collaborating hand in hand with the region’s finest subcontractors, artisan trades, engineers, and financial leaders. In each episode, GMC's Chief Marketing Officer, Pete Codella, sits down with these very experts, the craftspeople, builders, designers, and project leaders who make Utah’s most impressive homes a reality. You'll hear firsthand stories, lessons learned from real job sites, practical building advice, and the essential questions every prospective homeowner should ask before breaking ground. From lot acquisition and foundation pours to four-way walkthroughs and the day you receive your keys, building a custom home should be an inspiring collaboration. Subscribe to Groundwork: The Art and Craft of Utah Custom Homes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and let’s dig in. Connect with us at gmilar.com or follow @GordonMilarConstruction.https://gmilar.com/news/category/PodcastfalseepisodicnopodcastDesign Trends in Utah Custom HomesDesign Trends in Utah Custom HomesWelcome 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


Connect with Beljar Home + Design


#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 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


Connect with Beljar Home + Design


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

]]>5172eaca-c081-48b0-b198-3a02dfabe1aeWed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -060031:43falsefull22Curating Curb Appeal: Old-World Stone & Wasatch ClimatesCurating Curb Appeal: Old-World Stone & Wasatch ClimatesWelcome 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


Connect with Stone Connections


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

]]>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


Connect with Stone Connections


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

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