<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[designxdani]]></title><description><![CDATA[Designxdani]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 00:06:10 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.designxdani.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[How to Prepare for Your First Meeting With an Architect]]></title><description><![CDATA[After going through the custom home process ourselves, here’s what I wish more people knew before sitting down with an architect for the first time.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-to-prepare-for-your-first-meeting-with-an-architect</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69fc9bf84f7ebdc9f6a647db</guid><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 21:26:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_d366553cb1694f7cb3bd99cd14002144~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How We Left Our Starter Home &#38; Built Our Dream Life in the Country]]></title><description><![CDATA[There was nothing wrong with our starter home. But we always wondered what if. Here is our story. ]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-we-left-our-starter-home-built-our-dream-life-in-the-country</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f38b71bba4a2ace46fd6d0</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mom life]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 22:02:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_8173901977734007829b15fbfae76286~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Taking a Chance on Ourselves Changed Our Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[We had a starter home. Stability. Predictability. And we were talking about walking away from all of it… without a clear plan. We either take the risk now, or we keep talking about it forever.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-taking-a-chance-on-ourselves-changed-our-life</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ebc6f704fc81dfe259becc</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mom life]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:00:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_2a997057d775476ea1448d21c239b528~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Get an Easement to Build on Land]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’re buying land to build, this is the part no one talks about—but it can completely determine whether your land is usable or not.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-to-get-an-easement-to-build-on-land</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69dea4d4934ce577916c431a</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:30:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_3ca7f2b6693e4b53941d32bbb76c4588~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How We Knew We Were Ready to Build (Even When It Felt Risky)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Not sure if you’re ready to build a house? Here’s how we decided to move forward with our custom home—even when the timing felt risky.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-we-knew-we-were-ready-to-build-even-when-it-felt-risky</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d40a98072d140cb95c42ed</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mom life]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:25:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_1845ea96a3ef4ac5b8caf453238d2c18~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[We Didn’t Build Our House the ‘Right’ Way — Here’s What We Did Instead]]></title><description><![CDATA[We didn’t build our house the “right” way—but it worked. Here’s how we managed a custom home build while working full time and doing things differently.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/we-didn-t-build-our-house-the-right-way-here-s-what-we-did-instead</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d3fd8ac53e2b8fe124990e</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:27:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_b94b0046a8df411db6554619355292ac~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How We Saved Money While Building Our Dream Home]]></title><description><![CDATA[Saving money during a build doesn’t always mean doing everything yourself . It means being intentional. Here is how we saved money while building our dream home.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-we-saved-money-while-building-our-dream-home</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69cab57720141e70489cd341</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:01:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_e7342461ceb0409e8d4b7f08fb2c69a2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Best Investments We Made When Building Our Modern Farmhouse]]></title><description><![CDATA[When we tell people we built our home while working full time, the first question is usually how—but the second is always, “What would you do again?” Here's the things that didn't just add value, it improved the way we live day to day.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/the-best-investments-we-made-when-building-our-modern-farmhouse</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c453b6149f4fed5652d39c</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:55:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_f4c4f09454a441938c003ea63af5fed7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How We Built Our Home While Working Full Time]]></title><description><![CDATA[We were full-time working parents who built their dream home on 20 acres with ZERO prior experience. Here's how we made it work. ]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-we-built-our-home-while-working-full-time</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b85795da52b219c8601f3c</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:30:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_987c77046b224285b2f4fde4d47cd3fb~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Buying Land for the First Time: What No One Tells You]]></title><description><![CDATA[What you should know before buying land that might surprise you. ]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/buying-land-for-the-first-time-what-no-one-tells-you</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ac22c729fc34c427937f51</guid><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_96bd4ef04262437d93f959ced32a35f5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What to Measure Before You Buy: The No-Regret Furniture Guide]]></title><description><![CDATA[Buying furniture is exciting. Returning furniture is not. Before you click “add to cart” or fall in love with something in a showroom, there are a few critical measurements that can save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration. Here’s exactly what to measure before you buy.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/what-to-measure-before-you-buy-the-no-regret-furniture-guide</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a609e9f00dba1e6538af50</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_0401c7b1bdd54fa4a1469860323352f4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How We Budgeted for Land + A Custom Home]]></title><description><![CDATA[From unexpected flooring costs to skipping extra square footage, here’s how we built a 2,201 sq ft farmhouse we could actually sustain — without stretching beyond our means.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-we-budgeted-for-land-a-custom-home</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6994d4b4159d7fac96456377</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 18:30:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_81e3c7dcc4334af8bd21aa229f978f0f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why I Stopped Chasing Bigger]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why I stopped chasing a bigger house and chose a 2,201 sq ft home instead. A perspective on modest living, peace, and building intentionally]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/why-i-stopped-chasing-bigger</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6994cae8a8ff0d3b098075c1</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mom life]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_70c63217df664552a095c6608bd0b232~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Stay Patient When Your Dream Home Feels So Far Away]]></title><description><![CDATA[This was once our dream too. It's not so out of reach for you! The waiting can feel heavy, but don't compare your beginning to someone else's end.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-to-stay-patient-when-your-dream-home-feels-so-far-away</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68fb9a69be1c9042a1185737</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mom life]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:04:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_e96bcdd4786d47ffa4fb41f3611745b0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Room-by-Room Finish Checklist]]></title><description><![CDATA[A practical guide to help you make finish decisions without overwhelm, regret, or missed details.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/room-by-room-finish-checklist</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696a987ad896cb8b6939b041</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:46:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_2d4f303f4ce64485b015a129a17cb25d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_878,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Budget Splurges vs. Saves in Our Custom Build]]></title><description><![CDATA[Our hits, our misses, and what I’d do again (or skip) if we built another home.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/budget-splurges-vs-saves-in-our-custom-build</link><guid isPermaLink="false">694b1dfd49cd504c60ccbc63</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:00:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_6ed627547b964b65881f907415229884~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Most-Asked Questions — Answered]]></title><description><![CDATA[Instead of answering the same things one-by-one, I wanted to put everything in one place — so here are my most-asked questions, answered honestly and in one spot.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/my-most-asked-questions-answered</link><guid isPermaLink="false">694b1ed8922cfc95692d4ded</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mom life]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 20:50:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_040b40f9169e44d2a362e558f0415ac2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Budget Smart Without Sacrificing Your Vision]]></title><description><![CDATA[I had big visions for our house. Not “Pinterest-everything” big, but intentional big. I knew exactly how I wanted certain spaces to feel and how our budget walked hand in hand with it.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-to-budget-smart-without-sacrificing-your-vision</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68fb9a19b0bc17392b76bd61</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:54:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_ecba6bc1279b4364837f781aeb13bef2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How We Got a Construction Loan as Our Own General Contractor (Owner-Builder)]]></title><description><![CDATA[How we proved to manage the risk for a bank considering us for a construction loan to build our modern farmhouse.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/how-we-got-a-construction-loan-as-our-own-general-contractor-owner-builder</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696524e03f7b9d5cbee20210</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:44:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_52288b7dfaa84a6e813afc76f0c1fab1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Things That Went Wrong During Our Build Process]]></title><description><![CDATA[When you’re building a home, you want to prepare for everything. You want to be ahead of every possible curveball. But the honest truth? Some things are going to happen no matter how prepared you are.]]></description><link>https://www.designxdani.com/post/things-that-went-wrong-during-our-build-process</link><guid isPermaLink="false">694b1e4500b0d11d88869515</guid><category><![CDATA[Home]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 19:13:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/41e0e2_c4692925dbee4efd81bc653ec5ae2fba~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dani</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>