Need a New House Really Fast? ‘100 Day Dream Home’ Has the Key

With today’s supply chain delays, it seems amazing that anyone can build a house in a year, let alone in a hundred days. Yet on “100 Day Dream Home,” hosts Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt manage to pull off this feat time and time again—and on the latest episode, the home in question is for a family of nine. That calls for a very large house!

In “Forever Farmhouse,” the Kleinschmidts are working with Jasmine and Gene, who have moved from New Jersey to bucolic Wimauma, FL, about 30 miles outside of Tampa, to experience country life. The couple already have a huge plot of land, seven cows, and six kids, and they’re ready to welcome another (child, not cow) into the world in just a few weeks.

“We would like to be able to bring our new baby to our new home, and not into the chaos we’re in right now,” says Jasmine.

That chaos includes the entire family living in their grandmother’s three-bedroom, two-bath home. Six kids are sharing one bathroom, two of the boys are sharing a bedroom with Grandma, and two more kids are sleeping in the same room as Jasmine and Gene. Yikes!


“There’s not even room for a crib in here,” laments Jasmine as she surveys the space and worries where they’re going to put the new arrival.

The couple say their ideal home would be one story and have five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a great room, and a big kitchen because they cook a lot. Their budget is $435,000.

The Kleinschmidts don’t bat an eyelash and get straight to work on a 2,700-square-foot home with everything Jasmine and Gene desire.

“This is the largest family we’ve ever built for,” says Brian. “We better get moo-ving.”

Check out what they do—and learn a ton about how to build and design a house, even a big one, in record time.

Pick an architectural style to match the setting

100 Day Dream Home
The couple and the Kleinschmidts meet in the cow pasture near where the home will be built.

HGTV

Jasmine says she’s always wanted to live in a coastal-style home. But all that changes when Mika takes them out to look at different homes for style inspiration. Their first stop is a typical coastal-style residence, and it turns out Jasmine likes nothing about it.

The sea-green exterior is “too bright,” and that tin roof? “We have enough noise with all those kids inside the house,” she says. “I can just imagine how it would be in the rain.”

But the farmhouse they visit, with its generous porch, white exterior with black trim, and brick accents? Now that’s something she can wrap her arms around.

“I’m really surprised that I’m liking the farmhouse exterior more than the coastal,” she admits. “I can picture this on our lot.”

A split floor plan offers more privacy

New primary suite
The primary suite is located far from the children’s bedrooms.

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“We’re going to design this house with a split floor plan, with parents on one side and the kids on the other,” says Brian.

“So they can go to their room away from the kids and relax at the end of the day,” adds Mika.

They devise an entire suite for the parents with a spacious bathroom and walk-in closet, separated from the kids’ quarters by a great room and kitchen set conveniently in between.

By the way, the couple also want a bathroom with a water closet—an enclosed space for the toilet separate from the rest of the loo.

“I can’t picture myself getting ready in the morning with him on the toilet,” says Jasmine.

“We’re close but not that close,” Gene jokes.

With countertops, consider the size of the veining


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Counter material samples
Small veining compared with large veining on the marble

HGTV

When selecting countertop material, the couple decide on color quickly. They like cool grays and whites, rather than warm beiges and browns. But then Mika brings up an issue most people don’t usually consider: the size of the veining.

Looking at small, subtle veins besides larger, more definitive ones, the choice becomes obvious for Jasmine and Gene.

“I like the smaller veins better,” says Gene. “This other one’s just too big, too veiny.”

Jasmine agrees.

Cement blocks are a fast and budget-friendly way to build

Block build
Using cement blocks as a building material

HGTV

Viewers who are accustomed to houses built with wood framing and drywall may be surprised to see Brian use cement bricks as the main construction material. But he quickly demonstrates that cement bricks are fast, sturdy, and cost-effective—all important factors when trying to build a home quickly on a budget.

Stucco can look just like bricks

Making stucco look like bricks
Making stucco look like bricks

HGTV

Another clever way to save time and money is texturing the stucco to give the exterior the look and feel of bricks.

“We’re putting stucco on the walls, like normal, then we’re going to texturize a little bit, then we’re going to score the grout lines, and we are going to make brick appear out of stucco, almost like a magic trick,” Brian explains.

Paint it all white, and you can hardly tell the difference!

Take advantage of sales

Brick backsplash
Brick backsplash

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When Mika finds out that the brick they’ve decided to use for the backsplash is on clearance and that they can get four times as much for the same price, she goes for it.

“Not only are they going to have a unique backsplash, they’re also going to have a unique something else in this house,” she explains. “Now I just have to figure out what I’m going to do with this extra brick, but I’m sure I’ll find a place for it.”

She decides to use the brick on the floor of the foyer, so it reminds the family of their urban life in New Jersey when they first step in. Jasmine and Gene go gaga when they see it.

Brick floor
The extra brick is used on the floor.

HGTV

outdoor theater with custom stadium seating.
The family enjoying their outdoor theater with custom stadium seating

HGTV

Brian has put aside an extra $10,000 from the budget so the family can have a surprise. He constructs an outdoor theater with a motorized pergola roof, projector, popcorn maker, and stadium seating so the whole family can comfortably watch movies together. Once they see it, the kids are ecstatic.

Jasmine ends up going into labor early, bringing the new baby home before their dream house is finished. In response, Brian works overtime to finish construction a few days shy of the 100-day deadline so this family can move in and finally stretch their legs!

Farmhouse
The finished house

HGTV

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