Built Classical: A Designer and Builder Podcast

Why does building cost what it costs?
In this episode, we’re breaking down how pricing actually works in construction and design, and why it can feel so confusing (and frustrating) from the outside.

We walk through the most common pricing structures builders use across the country...fixed fee, cost-plus, and management fees, what they mean, who they work best for, and why we’ve landed on the approach we use at Heirloom Homes. We also talk about how pricing can (and should) vary by region.

On the design side, we unpack how designers typically charge per room, per house, per square foot, or hourly and what we’ve learned about fair compensation, sustainability, and setting expectations on both sides.

We also cover:

• Spec homes vs. tract homes vs. fully custom builds

• Why remodel pricing is different (and often trickier)

• What change orders are, why they happen, and whether they’re always necessary

• Why construction costs are so high right now—and what’s actually driving that reality

This episode is for homeowners, designers, builders, and anyone who wants a clearer, more honest understanding of the true cost of building well.

This is our last episode of the year, and we’re ending it the only way that feels right: laughing.

We’re sharing the craziest, funniest, most unbelievable things we’ve ever seen on job sites, and cold-calling some of our best friends to get their stories too. From moments that made us question humanity to situations you truly couldn’t make up, this episode is pure chaos and zero seriousness.

No lessons. No soapboxes. Just jobsite stories and a good laugh as we close out the year together.

In this holiday home talk, we’re reflecting on the year behind us and the sense of peace we’re choosing to end it with. We talk about starting the Built Classical podcast, working with some of our best clients to date, and what this season has taught us about slowing down and doing the work well.

We also take a detour into one of the most iconic holiday homes of all time, the Home Alone house, and explain why it’s such a perfect example of Georgian architecture, where it’s located, and what makes its proportions so enduring and recognizable.

We wrap things up by sharing a look ahead at a few upcoming projects and what we’re excited to build next. This episode is part year-end recap, part architectural deep dive, and part quiet holiday conversation about gratitude, growth, and what it means to build with intention.

After six weeks away, we’re back—and a lot has happened. In this episode, we talk honestly about seasonal burnout, finding out we’re pregnant, and what it feels like to run a small business in a market that seems determined to squeeze every drop of creativity (and sanity) out of you. We open up about the pressure to either adapt or quit, how that tension shaped our time away, and what’s next for Heirloom Homes and Built Classical. It’s messy, hopeful, and real—because sometimes the hardest seasons are the ones that end up rebuilding you.

This week on Built Classical, Konner takes the host seat to interview Amy on one of her favorite topics: wallpaper. Together, they trace wallpaper’s history from ancient China to English manor houses, unpack why it’s not a “trend” but a timeless design choice, and debate installation methods like paste vs. peel-and-stick. Amy shares her biggest wallpaper “icks” (spoiler: no accent walls), her favorite rooms for wallpaper, and why Schumacher is her go-to source. You’ll also hear personal stories of growing up with wallpapered ceilings, iconic movie houses like Home Alone, and how the right paper deepens the story of a home. If you’ve ever wondered how to choose the right pattern, style, or paint pairing — or if you just need encouragement to go for it — this is your episode.

What’s it really like to run a construction and design business with your spouse? In this episode of Built Classical, Konner and Amy pull back the curtain on the good, the messy, and the lessons they’ve learned building Heirloom Homes together.

From the chaotic early days of starting a company, to drawing hard lines between work and marriage, to laughing through jobsite arguments, they share how boundaries and humor have kept their partnership strong. They also talk about how their roles have shifted over time, and what it looks like to weave family into the business.

Of course, the episode kicks off with Fast 5 with Konner—five completely random questions that Amy has to answer on the spot.

Whether you’re married, building, designing, or just curious what happens when love meets lumber, this one’s full of stories and takeaways you won’t want to miss.

This week on Built Classical, we’re breaking down one of the most iconic movie homes of all time: the white house with blue shutters from The Notebook.

We cover:🏛️ Its real-life architectural history (Victorian? Greek Revival? Kinda both?)
🛠️ How the movie transformed the exterior for peak romance
🎬 Why the house is the main character
📚 What to study if you want to build (or restore) something like it

Plus:

🌾 Raised foundations, deep eaves, operable shutters, and dreamy porches🎤 Shoutout to screen doors, cedar roofs, and one-liner Ryan Gosling moments📖 And our advice for making your home feel like that—without faking the past

It’s charming, it’s nerdy, and yes… it made Amy cry (again).

In this episode of Built Classical, we dive into the world of build science and how it intersects (or collides) with traditional architectural design.

We cover:
🏠 What “build science” even means
🔧 Moisture control, mold fears, and the case for zip sheathing
🌬️ Why deep eaves, cross-breezes, and crawlspaces still work
📐 Can a home be both beautiful and airtight?

Plus:
🎶 Our life theme songs
👻 The celebrity ghost Amy would tolerate
🧠 And whether we’re just romanticizing the past (mini-ep coming soon!)

Whether you're a builder, a purist, or somewhere in between—come join us on the porch.

In this episode of Built Classical, Amy and Konner ask the big question: What if your home doesn’t need to be made new—just remembered?

We’re cutting through the Instagram fluff and flipping the script on what "restoration" actually means. From window myths to lost trades, to what makes something worth preserving—you’ll hear practical tips, strong opinions (as usual), and a whole lot of love for wood windows, old growth pine, and materials with soul.

Whether you're team “tear it out” or team “bring it back,” this episode will give you a framework for knowing the difference—and making the right call for your home.

Includes:

• Definitions that matter (not marketing fluff)

• When restoration is worth it—and when it’s not

• Trades we’ve lost (and how we’re bringing them back)

• How to evaluate materials before you rip them out

This tiny but tender reminder is for anyone feeling disconnected or at odds with their house. Instead of fighting it, what if you listened? What if you asked what is it really trying to become? In this short episode I share why your home may not need a total overhaul, just your attention. There's beauty in leaning into what's already there, and goodness waiting to be noticed.