by Christy Heigter-Ewing | photos by 360 Tour Designs
From their home in Brookhaven, Sarah McBee and her family enjoyed an idyllic life with a close knit community of neighbors. When developers announced the opening of Holliday Farms, slowly their little bubble of the neighborhood started to shift, so the McBees decided to follow suit.
“The close community feel is what drew us here,” says McBee. “And the lots were gorgeous.”
They purchased a private wooded lot in Holliday Farms, which they say feels like living on a nature preserve.
“There are animals in our yard all of the time,” says McBee, who calls their lot a little slice of private paradise. And yet, they are always socializing with friends—both old and new—at the clubhouse.
“Everyone is so kind and welcoming,” says McBee, who moved into Holliday Farms in September 2024.
When selecting a community, McBee suggests considering personal values, whether that’s privacy, amount of land, or an active social life.
“Those are things that can’t be changed,” she says.
The McBees met their eventual builder while touring the Home-A-Rama home by G&G Custom Homes.
“We had a great connection immediately,” says McBee. “ Joe is smart, honest, and responsive. Plus, everyone we talked to who built with G&G said it was a seamless experience.”
Joe Garcia, owner of G&G Custom Homes, invited the McBees to go through several of his homes that were in different stages of construction, then report back to him about what they liked and didn’t like. Ultimately, they hired him to build their 9,000-sq. ft. traditional home. Garcia prioritized connecting with the architect as soon as they were hired.
“He wanted to make sure we weren’t doing something that was going to blow our budget,” McBee says.
Garcia’s entire team impressed the homeowners.
“We went way outside the box on our trim detail and some custom things that were obstacles for everyone who had to look at it from a different lens and figure out how to make it work, but they did a great job,” says McBee.
As the team cleared the lot, a contracted arborist suggested creative reuse of the felled trees. Wood from the same property is now part of the millwork around the home. The large beams on their exterior patio came from 20 to 25 trees that were cleared from the lot and reused in the build. Additionally, they used the wood to make the tread on the stairways as well as several tables.
“I love that part of what was outside is still there inside the home now,” says McBee.
Are you ready to find a community that fits your family, lifestyle, and custom home vision? Contact G&G Custom Homes today to get the process started.
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15530 Shining Spring Drive
Westfield, Indiana 46074
