White Cedar Way Custom Home in Newton, NH

White Cedar Way is a ground-up build of about 3,100 square feet with a $1,000,000 budget band. It sits in the middle of our recent custom homes: larger than the 1,700 sq ft lakeside cottage in Atkinson ($800,000) and smaller than the 5,000 sq ft estate at Andover Country Club ($3,000,000). As a guide, our custom home timeline guide puts a typical build at 8 to 16 months, depending on design complexity, weather and how long the town takes to issue permits.

The homeowners were drawn to classic New England architecture and wanted a house that suited an active family and felt bright inside. That set the brief: a traditional farmhouse look from the street, with modern living spaces inside.

Working with the homeowners through design and construction, our team developed a custom floor plan that keeps traditional proportions while giving the family open living space. The open-concept main floor centers on a custom kitchen with quartz countertops and custom cabinetry, and hardwood floors and custom painted millwork run through the house. The primary suite includes walk-in closets.

The look comes from crisp white siding, black windows, detailed trim and carefully scaled rooflines with several front-facing gables. On the outside: James Hardie lap siding, PVC exterior trim, architectural asphalt shingles, black Andersen windows, fiberglass entry doors, composite porch decking and natural granite steps on a concrete foundation. A covered front porch and an attached two-car garage complete the front.

Behind the finishes is a high-performance, energy-efficient building envelope. A designer lighting package runs inside, and outside the project included decorative exterior lighting, custom paver walkways, landscape plantings and professional landscaping.

Norman Builders is based at 63 Peaslee Crossing in Newton, so White Cedar Way is a home we built in our own town. For how we plan and build a new home from the first lot visit, see our new home construction page and our guide to what custom homes cost to build.