Home Feature: The Williams Family

Exterior of red brick and black siding home.

Abby Scruggs

Communications Specialist

When reflecting on the process of building their home, the only thing Jason and Meghan Williams would change is that they would have built it much sooner.
The couple bought their previous house in Gentry in 2013; it was just supposed to be home for three or four years. Three years turned to five, and five eventually turned to ten.

Jason has been a Benton County resident for most of his lifetime. He grew up in Gentry and his grandfather owned the local hardware store. His dad practiced law in Gentry for almost 30 years.

Meghan hails from a small town in Virginia, but the couple met by chance while attending a Christian college near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Before long, Meghan moved to Florida for nursing school and Jason attended the University of Arkansas to pursue civil engineering. After several years of long-distance, Meghan and Jason finally converged back in Gentry, Arkansas.

Home Sweet Home Jason and Meghan pose in front of their new home.

When it was time to build their dream home, there was no question that they would be going fully custom. Meghan had looked online exhaustively and never found the perfect plans. She drew up her dream home on the back of a napkin and took it to a drafter to help make her vision a reality.

The location of their new home was an easy choice. Down a rural dirt road outside of Gentry, Jason’s family has been living and farming on the land for decades. Meghan’s sister, also a Virginia native, ended up in Arkansas thanks to her husband’s career and built a home next door.

The Williams kids, August (8) and Otto (5), enjoy having cousins so close by and can often be found exploring the creek or wooded areas around the property.

Overall, Jason and Meghan remarked that the building process went smoothly. They worked with a contractor to help facilitate the process while they both worked full-time jobs. “I think overall it made it a lot easier just for him to keep the process going,” Jason said. “And to have somebody that could be here during the day when we couldn't be.”

A spacious walk-through pantry ensures everything has a place and the kitchen area stays clear.

Light stained cabinets and white marble tile island in a spacious kitchen.

Let’s Eat – This spacious kitchen features a custom island with room for company.

Custom Features – The pot filler faucet above the stove and coffee nook with receding doors are just a couple of the thoughtful accents in this fully custom home.

Coffee pot and supplies inside a cabinet with receding doors

Custom Features – The pot filler faucet above the stove and coffee nook with receding doors are just a couple of the thoughtful accents in this fully custom home.

Jason did not have many must-haves when it came to building the home. However, his civil engineering background insisted that energy efficiency be part of the original plans. “There are things you can come back and change down the road and upgrade,” Jason said. “But we wanted to make sure we put in the radiant flooring and the right insulation from the beginning.”

When asked what advice the couple have for others looking to build, they had a couple tidbits of sage wisdom. First, they recommend having at least 20 percent saved up for contingency. “You just never know,” Jason said. He served as the bookkeeper for the project and noted that while some projects came in under budget, some went over. Having a cushion helped ensure that they could continue construction without a hitch.

Meghan also recommends choosing your fixtures and finishings as early as possible. “When you start digging footings, you better start looking,” she advises. Meghan recommends making a list of options with low, middle, and high price points. As construction continues, you can quickly make decisions about where you want to splurge and where you want to save to make sure you meet your budget in the end.