Project Overview

Wichita Home Works completed this 71st Street custom home build near Clearwater, Kansas for homeowners who wanted a rural custom home with acreage character, comfortable everyday function, and a warm, modern farmhouse-inspired finish.

This was a full ground-up custom home project that began with site planning, a construction driveway, well, lagoon, septic, excavation, foundation, and concrete work before moving into framing, roofing, windows, exterior doors, mechanical systems, insulation, drywall, siding, paint, finish carpentry, flooring, tile, countertops, hardware, inspections, and final completion.

The home was built at 16400 W 71st St S in the Clearwater area. The approved proposal included full project management, permitting and inspections, onsite coordination, trade management, quality control, final walkthrough, and post-construction cleaning. 

The project investment was originally estimated at $725,777.91, with later closeout information showing a final showcase range of approximately $780,543.87. 

The finished home has a rural modern farmhouse style with warm transitional interior details. The Peppercorn board-and-batten siding, Tricorn Black exterior accents, black window trim, Charcoal roof, wood porch posts, stone fireplace, warm flooring, soft wall colors, granite surfaces, and Craftsman-style interior details create a home that feels comfortable, personal, and well-suited to its country setting.

The Homeowner’s Vision

The homeowners wanted a custom home that fit the land.

This was not a standard subdivision build. The project required rural-site coordination, a long construction drive, private water, lagoon and septic planning, a basement foundation, a safe room, garage and breezeway flatwork, porch slabs, and electrical service planning before the home could move into the typical framing and finish phases.

The vision was a home that felt grounded, practical, and welcoming. The exterior needed to feel strong and simple enough for a rural property, while still having the architectural presence of a true custom build. The board-and-batten siding, dark exterior colors, black windows, covered porches, breezeway, and garage all help deliver that look.

Inside, the homeowners wanted comfort, storage, durability, and warmth. The home includes finished main-level living areas, basement living space, bedrooms, bathrooms, a pantry, laundry room, wine/storage room, safe room, finished stair details, fireplace, kitchen backsplash, tile bathrooms, carpeted private spaces, and a mix of granite and laminate surfaces selected for daily use.

Scope of Work

Wichita Home Works coordinated the project from early rural-site planning through final inspection and closeout.

The project included:

Rural Site Planning and Construction Driveway

Before the home itself could take shape, the site had to be prepared for construction access and long-term use.

The project included a construction driveway with a 4-inch gravel base approximately 20 feet wide and 1,130 feet long, plus a 70-foot turnaround near the front of the home. The scope also included an additional 2-inch base of driveway rock toward the completion of construction. 

This was an important part of the build. On a rural property, access is not a small detail. Trucks, equipment, trades, concrete crews, material deliveries, and utility coordination all depend on a stable path to the home site.

Weather had a major impact during the construction process, especially around site conditions and driveway work. The project team continued adjusting sequence, access, drying time, and trade timing so the build could keep moving forward.

Well, Lagoon and Septic

The home was supported by rural utility systems, including a well, lagoon, and septic system.

The lagoon scope included excavation, erosion mat and grass seed, a 1,000-gallon septic tank with risers to grade, approximately 200 feet of Schedule 40 sewer pipe, bentonite lagoon work, and chain-link fencing with a double drive gate. The well scope included a cased water well with a 1 HP pump. 

These systems are a major part of rural custom home construction. They require planning, location coordination, trenching, inspection support, and communication with the homeowner so the home’s water and wastewater systems are ready for daily use.

Excavation, Foundation and Basement

The project included a full basement excavation and foundation package.

Wichita Home Works coordinated the basement dig, backfill, rough grade, final grade, foundation walls, stem walls, and footings. The foundation included 9-foot-6-inch foundation walls, three egress window wells, waterproofing, drain tile, sump basket with locking lid, and up to four buttresses as needed. The build also included a safe room with concrete walls, cap, and a steel fire-rated door. 

The basement and safe room added important usable space and storm-season peace of mind. For a rural Kansas home, that combination of storage, living space, utility space, bedrooms, bathroom areas, and safe-room planning is a meaningful part of the home’s function.

Concrete Flatwork

The concrete scope included several important areas of the build.

The basement floor slab was approximately 1,872 square feet. The garage slab was approximately 1,080 square feet. The driveway slab was approximately 30 feet by 30 feet, or about 900 square feet. The front porch slab was approximately 468 square feet. The back porch slab was approximately 738 square feet. The breezeway slab was also approximately 738 square feet. 

These concrete areas shaped the home’s daily flow. The front porch supports entry and curb appeal. The back porch supports outdoor living. The breezeway creates protected movement between spaces. The garage slab supports storage, vehicles, and work areas. The basement slab supports the lower-level living and utility spaces.

Framing and Exterior Shell

Framing gave the home its shape, volume, and structure.

The framing scope included all interior and exterior walls for the home and garage. Wall framing was planned as 2×4 construction at 16 inches on center, with treated bottom plates and sill sealer at exterior bottom plates. The exterior walls received Zip System sheathing with taped seams and window detailing. Roof sheathing was completed with OSB. 

The framing phase also included exterior windows and exterior doors. The home used Weather Barr Cornerstone windows with black exteriors, white interiors, Low-E glass, double panes, and argon gas fill. Main-level operational windows were single-hung, while basement windows were planned as sliders according to the exterior elevations. 

This shell package created the home’s farmhouse-style exterior profile and prepared it for roofing, siding, mechanical rough-ins, and interior finishing.

Roofing

The home, breezeway, and garage received a coordinated roofing package.

The roof scope included synthetic underlayment, black drip edge, starter strip shingles, black slant-back roof vents, pipe boots, matching ridge cap shingles, and approximately 63 squares of GAF Timberline HDZ Charcoal shingles. 

The Charcoal roof works well with the Peppercorn exterior walls, Tricorn Black trim, black gutters, and black garage doors. The roof helps anchor the home visually and gives the exterior a strong rural modern farmhouse look.

Exterior Siding, Trim and Paint

The exterior was finished with LP SmartSide board-and-batten style siding around the home and garage.

The siding scope included 5/4 LP Smart trim around exterior doors and windows and 2-inch LP Smart trim freeze board under the soffit around the home and garage. 

Exterior paint included Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn on the exterior walls and soffit of the home and garage. Tricorn Black was used on window trim, fascia, and exterior doors, excluding the front door. Clear wood sealer was applied to the posts and front porch gable, as well as the back porch posts. 

The result is a bold, simple, and attractive exterior that fits the rural setting without feeling plain.

Garage, Breezeway and Doors

The custom home included a garage package with two black insulated 9-foot by 8-foot garage doors with clear glass panels and two sidemount garage door openers. 

The garage was integrated into the project through concrete, framing, roofing, siding, paint, electrical, lighting, and door hardware. The breezeway gives the home and garage connection and function, while also adding character to the overall layout.

The garage electrical scope included a 100-amp subpanel, six 20-amp wall outlets, two garage door opener outlets, up to eight 6-inch puck lights, two 3-way switches, and a 50-amp plug on the exterior of the east garage wall. 

Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing

The home included full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing coordination.

The electrical package included a 200-amp interior panel, underground service planning, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors per code, a doorbell system, code-required outlets, white toggle-style switches, exterior soffit lights, wall sconces, basement lighting, garage lighting, safe room lighting, mechanical room circuits, HVAC circuits, sump pump circuit, water heater circuit, and a 100-amp garage subpanel. Electrical service included coordination for underground service with Sedgwick County Co-op, including two poles and one transformer, with underground service from the transformer to the house. 

The HVAC scope included a 4-ton Champion HVAC system with associated ductwork, bathroom exhaust fans, kitchen range hood ventilation, a 13.5 SEER condenser, high-efficiency indoor coil, single-stage gas furnace, programmable thermostat, and dryer venting to the exterior. 

The plumbing scope supported the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, mechanical room, water heater, sump, well, and rural utility systems.

Insulation and Drywall

The insulation package included R13 batt insulation in main-floor exterior walls, sound-dampening insulation in the master bedroom, bedrooms 1, 2, and 3, and interior laundry walls. It also included fireblock foam at plumbing and electrical penetrations, baseplate caulking, exterior corner and gap caulking, rafter air chutes at soffit vents, porch baffles as needed, and Class A loose-fill fiberglass in the attic to R30. 

Drywall work included 1/2-inch drywall on all walls and ceilings on the main level, plus the basement bedrooms and closets, living room, wine room, and bathroom. Walls and ceilings were smooth finished and prepared for paint. 

These layers helped turn the framed shell into comfortable finished living space.

Interior Paint and Color Palette

The interior paint palette was soft, warm, and livable.

Trim, interior doors, baseboards, casing, jambs, window sills, newel posts, and stair rails were painted Sherwin-Williams Egret White in semi-gloss. The kitchen, living room, master bedroom and closet, three bedrooms and closets, hallway, hall bath, wine room, and basement living room walls were painted Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa in satin. 

The master bathroom received Sherwin-Williams Livable Green. The pantry received Sherwin-Williams Rockwood Sash Green. The basement bathroom received Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray. 

The overall interior color story feels calm and grounded, with soft whites and green accents that work well with the rural setting and farmhouse exterior.

Flooring and Carpet

The main-level living areas and selected basement spaces received Karastan Cultivated Wood Beech 7×48 engineered hardwood flooring. It was installed in the kitchen, living room, pantry, main-floor hall bathroom, hallway, and basement bathroom. A Karastan Vinyl Flush Beech stair cap was installed at the top step. 

The master bedroom, master closet, and main-floor bedroom received Tufftex Faux Paw Toffee Cream patterned carpet over Napa urethane carpet cushion. The stairs, basement bedrooms, basement bedroom closets, and basement living room received Karastan Butlers Tray Contemporary Way random patterned carpet over Valencia XD rubber premium cushion. 

The combination of warm wood-look flooring and patterned carpet gives the home both durability and softness.

Kitchen Finishes

The kitchen was designed with warm, classic materials and a farmhouse-friendly finish package.

Sunset Canyon granite countertops were installed on the lower cabinets and island with a half-bullnose edge profile. The kitchen also includes an MSI single-bowl fireclay farmhouse sink. 

The backsplash uses Paramount New York Broadway 4×8 tile in a half-overlay pattern, with Soci Gatsby White Tin 8×8 tile above the stove to the bottom of the range hood. Trendline Cream edging, Ivory grout, and silicone completed the kitchen tile installation. 

The kitchen balances timeless farmhouse details with practical daily function.

Fireplace and Living Room Feature

The living room fireplace became one of the central focal points of the home.

The fireplace is a Heat N Glo SlimLine 5 with Intellifire Touch ignition system, ceramic logs, tempered glass, glowing embers, wall switch, battery backup, black front firescreen, reflective black glass back, and fan kit. 

The fireplace finish included Emser Travertine Silver Stacked 6×24 ledger stone on the face of the fireplace wall and hearth front. The hearth used Virginia Tile Charcoal Rustic Stone tile in a straight-lay pattern with Dark Anthracite edging. An Alder mantel was crafted and installed above the fireplace, approximately 60 inches wide, 12 inches deep, and 6 inches tall. 

This fireplace gives the main living area warmth, texture, and a strong gathering point.

Master Bathroom

The master bathroom combines soft color, warm tile, and functional storage.

The floor uses Daltile Saddlebrook Farmhouse 6×36 tile in a random pattern running parallel to the vanity cabinets. The shower includes two niches on the south wall, a low Kerdi shower curb at each entrance, a sloped mud bed, waterproof wall preparation, a Kerdi PVC drain flange, Schluter Pure brushed stainless grate, 2-inch Hexagon Mosaic Earth tile on the shower floor and niche backs, and Daltile Modern Hearth Mantlepiece Ivory 12×24 tile on the shower walls, curbs, window area, niche faces, and bench area. 

The tub area includes Soci Vintage Blanc 3×24 tile wainscot in a random pattern behind the tub, installed just past the height of the tub filler. 

Bonno granite countertops were installed on the two master bathroom vanity cabinets, with a 4-inch backsplash, half-bullnose edge, and two white rectangular undermount sinks. 

Hall Bathroom and Basement Bathroom

The hall bathroom and basement bathroom were finished with coordinated countertop, plumbing, lighting, tile, and accessory details.

The hall bathroom received Bonno granite on the vanity cabinet with a 4-inch backsplash, left sidesplash, half-bullnose edge, and a white rectangular undermount sink. The basement bathroom received Bonno granite on two vanity cabinets, with backsplashes and sidesplashes as needed, half-bullnose edges, and two white rectangular undermount sinks. 

The basement bathroom electrical package included vanity light boxes, customer-provided vanity lights, exhaust fans, a puck light over the shower, a puck light in the water closet, switches, and outlets to code. 

Laundry Room and Storage

The laundry room was planned for both function and finish.

Wichita Home Works built and installed a Granito Cascata laminate countertop for the lower cabinets on the east side of the washer and dryer, including an appliance edge. A floating paint-grade shelf was site-built between the upper cabinets above the washer and dryer. 

This gave the laundry room useful folding space, storage, and a finished look that matched the rest of the home.

Trim Carpentry, Doors and Stair Details

Finish carpentry helped define the interior style.

The home includes S156 primed poplar casing on all interior doors and under window sills on the main floor and basement, poplar sills under main floor and basement windows, and S256 poplar baseboards around finished main-floor and basement walls. 

Interior doors were Craftsman style, including prehung bedroom and bathroom doors, pocket door slabs at the pantry, laundry room, and basement bathroom water closet, utility room door, storage room door, and closet doors. Closet systems included paint-grade shelves and heavy-duty clothing rods in bedrooms and hall closets, plus his-and-her upper and lower rods and a corner shelf with up to eight shelves in the master closet. 

The stair railing included paint-grade newel posts, false newel posts, upper and lower rails, and a baluster pattern using plain and single-twist balusters. 

Hardware, Mirrors and Final Accessories

The final finish package included hardware, door knobs, bathroom accessories, and mirrors throughout the home.

Rok Hardware brushed nickel pulls were installed on cabinet doors and drawers. Hartford Satin Nickel privacy knobs were installed on bedroom and bathroom doors, with Hartford Satin Nickel closet knobs on closet doors. A Kwikset Montara Satin Nickel handleset was installed on the front door, and Kwikset Juno Satin Nickel knobs and deadbolts were installed on exterior doors for the home and garage. 

The bathrooms received Delta Cassidy stainless double hooks, Delta Woodhurst stainless tissue holders, and beveled mirrors sized for each bathroom area. 

Inspections, Touch-Ups and Closeout

As the build moved toward completion, Wichita Home Works coordinated final finishes, touch-ups, inspection readiness, handrail installation, plumbing refinement, garage door lighting, outlet covers, exterior window touch-ups, egress cleanup, and final detail work. 

The permit status was closed, professional photos were completed, and the project was marked for showcasing. 

The closeout stage is where the many details of a custom home come together. On this project, that meant working through the final interior and exterior touch-ups, inspection items, accessories, cleaning, and photo readiness so the home was prepared for the homeowners and for final presentation.

Design and Finish Details

This home has a rural modern farmhouse style with warm transitional details.

The exterior is bold and simple: Peppercorn board-and-batten siding, Tricorn Black window trim and fascia, black gutters, black garage doors, Charcoal shingles, natural sealed wood porch elements, and clean farmhouse lines.

Inside, the home softens through Greek Villa walls, Egret White trim, Livable Green in the master bathroom, Rockwood Sash Green in the pantry, warm wood-look flooring, patterned carpet, granite countertops, stone fireplace texture, Craftsman-style doors, and satin nickel hardware.

The kitchen and fireplace provide the strongest shared-space design moments. The kitchen uses Sunset Canyon granite, a fireclay farmhouse sink, New York Broadway backsplash tile, and a Gatsby White Tin range accent. The living room fireplace uses stacked stone, a charcoal hearth, and an Alder mantel for a warm focal point.

The bathrooms continue the home’s soft, natural palette with Bonno granite, warm tile, brushed stainless and satin nickel finishes, and classic mirror and accessory selections.

Construction Story

This project began as a rural custom home vision on acreage near Clearwater.

The first challenge was not cabinetry, paint, or tile. It was the land itself. The site needed access, utility planning, excavation, foundation work, drainage, well planning, lagoon planning, and septic coordination before the home could become visible.

Once the construction driveway was in place and the site could support ongoing work, the basement excavation and foundation phase gave the home its footprint. Foundation walls, egress wells, the safe room, waterproofing, drain tile, and concrete flatwork created the base for the home, garage, porches, breezeway, basement, and outdoor living areas.

Framing brought the home to life. The walls, roof, garage, breezeway, windows, exterior doors, and sheathing established the home’s form. The dark roof, board-and-batten siding, black windows, black trim, and wood porch elements then gave the exterior its modern farmhouse identity.

Inside, the home moved through mechanical rough-ins, insulation, drywall, paint, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, fireplace work, tile, trim, doors, stair details, hardware, and final accessories. The kitchen, fireplace, pantry, bathrooms, laundry, bedrooms, basement, and safe room each gained their own purpose within the larger custom home.

Weather created schedule challenges during the build, especially during site and exterior phases, but the project continued forward through ongoing coordination and sequencing. The finished home reflects the scale and complexity of building a custom home on rural property in Kansas.

Project Coordination Highlights

Rural Acreage Construction

This project required planning beyond the home itself, including a long construction driveway, well, lagoon, septic, excavation, utility routing, and weather-sensitive site coordination.

Full Basement and Safe Room

The home includes a basement foundation with 9-foot-6-inch foundation walls, egress window wells, waterproofing, drain tile, sump basket, and a concrete safe room with a fire-rated steel door.

Modern Farmhouse Exterior

LP SmartSide board-and-batten siding, Peppercorn exterior paint, Tricorn Black trim, black garage doors, black gutters, Charcoal roof shingles, and sealed wood porch elements create a strong rural farmhouse look.

Finished Main Level and Basement Spaces

The home includes finished main-level and basement living areas, bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, pantry, laundry, wine/storage room, and utility spaces.

Warm Interior Material Palette

Greek Villa walls, Egret White trim, wood-look flooring, patterned carpet, granite counters, stone fireplace, and soft green accent rooms create a warm and livable interior.

Detailed Fireplace Feature

The Heat N Glo fireplace, stacked stone face, charcoal hearth, and Alder mantel give the living room a custom focal point.

Inspection and Closeout Follow-Through

Final touch-ups, handrail work, plumbing refinement, exterior touch-ups, egress cleanup, and inspection coordination helped bring the custom home through completion.

The Finished Result

The finished 71st Street custom home is a warm, rural modern farmhouse designed for acreage living near Clearwater.

The exterior has a bold but simple presence, with dark board-and-batten siding, black trim, black garage doors, a Charcoal roof, natural wood porch accents, and generous porch and breezeway areas.

Inside, the home feels comfortable and personal. The open living areas, fireplace, kitchen, pantry, bedrooms, basement spaces, safe room, laundry room, and bathrooms all support everyday life. Warm flooring, soft paint colors, granite countertops, tile details, brushed nickel hardware, Craftsman-style doors, and custom trim complete the interior.

The result is a ground-up custom home that feels connected to its land, practical for rural living, and polished enough to showcase as a signature Wichita Home Works custom build.

Why This Project Matters for Future Custom Home Clients

This project is a strong example of what it takes to build a custom home outside the city.

A rural custom home involves more than choosing a floor plan and finishes. It requires driveway access, well planning, lagoon and septic coordination, electrical service planning, excavation, foundation, weather management, framing, roofing, siding, mechanical systems, insulation, drywall, flooring, tile, cabinetry, trim, inspections, and final closeout.

For homeowners near Clearwater, Wichita, Derby, Haysville, Goddard, Cheney, Andale, Maize, and nearby rural communities, this project shows how Wichita Home Works can coordinate a custom home from the land up.

Thinking About a Similar Custom Home?

If you are planning a custom home near Wichita or on rural property in south-central Kansas, Wichita Home Works can help you think through the full project.

That includes site access, driveway planning, foundation, basement layout, safe room options, well, septic, lagoon, electrical service, rooflines, siding, porches, garage layout, breezeway design, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, countertops, tile, flooring, fireplace design, paint colors, trim, storage, inspections, timeline expectations, and final closeout.

A custom home has many connected decisions. The right builder helps organize those decisions into a clear process from early site planning through move-in readiness.

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