Chelcie Bugner and her husband are self-building their 3,600-square-foot home in Ohio
Credit: Chelcie Bugner
NEED TO KNOW
- Chelcie Bugner’s viral TikTok highlights her practical, budget-conscious approach to building her family’s dream home in Ohio
- The couple is self-building their 3,600-square-foot home using lumber milled from trees on their 24-acre property
- Bugner emphasizes designing a home for her family’s needs rather than following fleeting trends or outside opinions
When Chelcie Bugner shared a TikTok video about some of the popular kitchen features she was intentionally leaving out of her new home, she expected a few opinions. She didn't expect the conversation to take off online.
The 34-year-old registered nurse and mother of two — who is currently expecting her third child — recently went viral after posting a video highlighting several of the "unpopular" decisions she and her husband are making while building their dream home in Ohio.
Among them: skipping a pot filler, placing the sink in the island and avoiding some of the finishes and materials that are especially popular right now.
"Not at all," Bugner tells PEOPLE when asked whether she expected the response. "I thought it would be a fun video sharing some of the choices we were making, but I didn't expect it to resonate with so many people."
"I think it sparked conversation because home design trends can be surprisingly polarizing, and a lot of people appreciated hearing a perspective that focused more on practicality than what's currently popular," the mom adds.
@chelcie.b
I know the kitchen sink in the island is going to trigger some people 😂 #customhome #newhomebuild #kitchendesign #newkitchen #unpopularopinion
♬ original sound – Chelcie | DIY Home Build
For Bugner, however, the decisions were never about pushing back against trends. Instead, they were about creating a home that works for her family.
She and her husband are currently self-building a 3,600-square-foot home in Tiffin, Ohio, acting as their own general contractor while completing a large portion of the work themselves.
The project has been years in the making. After her husband built a sawmill, the couple purchased 24 acres of wooded land and began clearing the area where their home would eventually sit. Many of the trees they removed are now becoming part of the house itself.
"My husband milled the lumber that will be used for our hardwood floors, kitchen island, dining table, stair treads, front door, pantry and laundry room countertops, fireplace mantles, and parts of our deck," she says.
Credit: Chelcie Bugner
Because they are building the home from the ground up, Bugner says they have been able to be intentional about every decision. Rather than simply following what's popular, they have focused on creating a home that reflects their lifestyle, priorities, and budget.
"Every decision came back to function," she says. "We wanted a kitchen that would work well for our family, be easy to maintain, and fit within our budget."
"We're building and designing our house for the life we actually live, not for a future buyer or a trend that'll pass by."
Credit: Chelcie Bugner
That practical mindset also played a major role in determining which trends made the cut and which ones didn't.
"Building a home is a huge investment, and honestly our primary goal is to keep our build within a set budget," she says. "A lot of these trends have a higher price point."
"It's obvious that trends come and go, and I knew I'd be happiest if our design choices were made based on what we like and what fits in our budget."
@chelcie.b
Replying to @Boymommy2627 We are doing Savona Gold Quartz! It’s simple with gold veining. Because we are having a live edge white oak island, I didn’t want the perimeter countertop to have too much character to it. #kitchendesign #newkitchen #customhome #newhomebuild #countertops
♬ original sound – Chelcie | DIY Home Build
Since sharing her video, Bugner says she's received her fair share of criticism. She notes that social media often makes people feel comfortable sharing strong opinions, especially when it comes to home design.
Still, she says she's learned not to take the comments personally.
"I've learned that every choice will have people who love it and people who hate it. At the end of the day, we're the ones who will live in the house, so that's what matters most."
Credit: Chelcie Bugner
While the viral video focused on kitchen design, Bugner says the reality of building a home has involved far more than choosing finishes and fixtures.
"The mental load has probably been the hardest part," she says.
"Since we're acting as our own general contractor, we're constantly making decisions, coordinating subcontractors, tracking budgets, and planning the next steps," she adds.
"Add in raising two young kids, working as a nurse, and expecting our third baby, and there have definitely been moments where it felt overwhelming," she continues.
@chelcie.b
It’s all about “trusting the process…” right? I’m just thankful all windows are here and intact 😂 #buildingahouse #homebuildingtips #customhome #windows #splurge
♬ Hey, look at this! Look!Hey! – aqunos
The family purchased the property in 2020 and spent years preparing the land before breaking ground on the house earlier this year. The project is currently in the mechanical and drywall stage.
Despite the challenges, Bugner already knows the moment she's most looking forward to once the home is finished.
"Honestly, after spending so much time planning, budgeting, and building, I think the most rewarding moment will be something simple, sitting around the island with my husband and kids and finally getting to enjoy the home we've worked so hard to create."
Credit: Chelcie Bugner
Looking back, she hopes others take away a simple lesson from both the home-building process and the viral discussion surrounding it.
"One thing I've learned through this process is that you don't have to build your home based on trends or what other people think you should do," she says.
"The best decisions are the ones that fit your lifestyle, your budget, and your family… build your house for the life you actually live," she adds.
Read the full article here
