S7, E1: Big Dreams, Big Design Decisions
20 Houses for 20 Years: Big Dreams, Big Design
We're Back! The Art of Custom Season 7 is here and it is going to be extra special because it’s a season that has been 20 years in the making. We’re celebrating by highlighting 20 incredible builds from the past 20 years!
To kick things off, we’re sitting down with St. Louis homeowner Lisa Valenti to talk about her stunning home, Villa Augusta, and Park City homeowner Kelly Day, along with her designer, Lydia Huffman from LH Design. They’re sharing their home-building experiences—and some invaluable advice on managing the overwhelm that comes with a big design project.
You can read the transcript below, or...
Episode Tool Box:
LINK: Villa Augusta Home Tour
LINK: Villa Augusta on AirBnB
LINK: Kelly's SkyRidge Masterpiece
DOWNLOAD: Dream Home Worksheet
SEASON SEVEN, EPISODE ONE | Podcast Episode TRANSCRIPT
They say hindsight is 20/20. And after 20 years of custom home building, Hibbs Homes has plenty of clarity to share.
This season, we’re celebrating Hibbs Homes’ 20th anniversary by highlighting 20 of our favorite projects from the past two decades. Each home tells a story of vision, creativity, and collaboration.
In today’s episode, we feature two unique projects:
- Villa Augusta in Augusta, Missouri A Mediterranean-inspired masterpiece designed with both family living and Airbnb hosting in mind.
- A SkyRidge retreat in Park City, Utah A stunning vacation home that became a forever home for one family.
Villa Augusta: A Mediterranean Dream
Our first story takes us to Augusta, Missouri, where Lisa Valenti dreamed of building a Mediterranean-style villa.
Villa Augusta Highlights
- Thoughtfully designed with both private living space and flexible Airbnb accommodations.
- Stunning details: stucco exterior, rich finishes, and cohesive Mediterranean styling.
- Designed with help from Hibbs Homes designer Anne Fritz, who guided Lisa through countless decisions with organization and creativity.
Client Perspective
Lisa shares how organization, inspiration boards, and trust in the Hibbs team helped bring her vision to life. She describes the process as fun—even when faced with decision overload. The result exceeded expectations, earning rave reviews from both family and Airbnb guests.
A Park City Retreat: The Day Family Home
Next, we head to Park City, Utah, where Kelly Day and her family built their dream retirement home in the SkyRidge community overlooking Jordanelle Reservoir.
SkyrRidge Home Highlights
- Designed with Lydia Huffman, a Seattle-based designer, in close collaboration with Hibbs Homes.
- Built for both daily living and family gatherings, with guest suites downstairs and main living areas upstairs.
- Seamlessly managed across time zones with technology, vision meetings, and on-site visits.
Client Perspective
Kelly describes the process as smoother than expected, thanks to strong communication, trust, and organization. The result: a home that turned out even better than she originally envisioned.
Lessons from Both Custom Home Projects
- Organization is key. Mood boards, design guidance, and a clear process prevent overwhelm.
- Trust the process. Building a custom home involves surprises—flexibility makes the journey smoother.
- Design support is invaluable. Having an experienced designer ensures cohesive decisions and fewer regrets.
- Build for lifestyle. Both clients created homes that reflect their passions and long-term goals.
From the Mediterranean beauty of Villa Augusta to the mountain retreat in SkyRidge, these projects show what’s possible when vision meets craftsmanship. They remind us that every custom home is as unique as the family who dreams it.
This is just the beginning of our 20 Homes for 20 Years celebration. In the next episode, we’ll explore two bold, modern homes that broke the Midwestern mold and proved that modern design has a lasting place in St. Louis.
OUTRO: For more information visit www.artofcustompodcast.com or find us on Facebook and LinkedIn as The Art of Custom. Be sure to subscribe to get the latest episodes and please rate and review. The Art of Custom is produced by HugMonster sound with original music by Adam Frick-Verdeen. Thanks for listening.
