Getting into the construction business was not the long-term goal for Zach Bane. It was a way to pay off student loans after finishing school in the mid-90s. After spending time working for several different companies and learning the business of building, from log homes to typical stick frame construction, Zach found himself craving a signature of his own, so he and his wife, Katie, formed Bane Built in 2005. Fairly quickly, Zach realized a passion for working with clients one-on-one from design through completion. This allowed him to assist clients on timeline, design choices, and budget throughout the process. He also eventually chose to keep the company small enough that he could stay involved in every project, visiting the site and staying connected on a daily basis. This was easy with his most recent build.

Zach has had three builds in the North Idaho Building Contractor’s Parade of Homes through the years. His first was in 2007, second in 2014, and without really planning it, his most recent project finished up in time to participate in this year’s parade. However, this was the first year the project was his own private residence. “It was an eye-opening experience having 2,000 people traipsing through my home. It gave me a healthy understanding and respect for clients who have allowed us to use their homes in previous parades,” Zach says. While Zach never intended his private residence to be a “show home,” he was purposeful about using construction details, fixtures, and appliances that could be used as an example for clients. In essence, his home was built to “sell” examples and options his clients can touch, feel, and experience.

Zach and Katie chose a ten-acre parcel of land south of Coeur d’Alene a distance off Highway 95 for their home. The home, designed by Zach, is a grand example of Bane Built’s commitment to quality, attention to detail, and creativity of design, but the location was also intended to impart the lifestyle component of the design-build process. When you turn down the long driveway to this western-ranch-style home you are treated to a manicured view of paddocks, pastures, and the house, nestled between shop and barn, as the focal point of this equestrian lifestyle. The home’s rugged timber-constructed exterior appeals to the outdoor, western lifestyle sporting a large wrap around exposed sand porch/patio, flagstone fire pit area and rear deck that take advantage of views of the riding arena, barn, shop, and surrounding pasture.

Unique details on the exterior of the home are the first sign of Bane Built’s approach to the design-build process. The siding is an intriguing blend of cedar shake, horizontal lap siding, stone, and an unusual application of vertical board and batten siding. Enjoying the sizeable look of log and timber construction, Zach chose 2” x 12” kiln dried select structural red fir specifically fabricated and custom finished for siding installation by Edgewood Structures north of Coeur d’Alene. He applied it in a reverse board and batten so the 2” x 12” rests on top of the batten strip instead of below. The result is a substantial visual adding mass to the home implying “log” without using entire timbers.

The detail continues throughout the home, from the cathedral ceilings throughout the entry and open-style great room, to the nine-foot ceilings, eight-foot knotty alder doors, and sliding barn doors throughout the rest of the home, to the timber beams and posts, even the flooring. The vaulted entry ceiling is covered with rusted corrugated metal siding, as is another section of the living room. The asymmetrically vaulted great room ceiling is covered with Alaska yellow cedar treated with a patented aging process created by CDA Woods. The treatment provides a variation of color creating an old or repurposed wood look. In addition to the huge stone fireplace and the Bane Built signature old-growth snag mantle, the space is fitted with creative small details such as several custom-built lighting fixtures designed and fabricated by Zach that contain repurposed wood and metal elements, and custom exhaust hood and iron accents applied on timber girder trusses fabricated by Costa Fabrication of Hayden. These are the more obvious creative options in the home, but the detail continues in other elements solidifying the worn and comfortable feeling throughout the home.

Zach treated the rough-sawn red fir timber posts and trusses in the space to give them an aged appearance. They were distressed, sanded, and etched out to imply years of exposure, then lightly stained and rubbed down with a healthy coat of tinted hand wax resulting in a pleasingly seasoned finish. Accent Tile and Design provided an engineered flooring that worked with the radiant-floor heat throughout the 2,452 square foot main floor. Unlike normal engineered wood floors that come prefinished, Zach chose a raw wood floor that could be screened, stained, and finished to their liking. He chose to do a natural stain and applied three coats of tung-oil giving the floors a seasoned hardwood appearance that could be refinished or altered in the future. There were several different woods used through the home, but using matching stains throughout provided unity overall.

In the kitchen Zach and Katie used rustic hickory Huntwood cabinets sporting iron handles topped by granite counters with a laminated edge providing a thicker slab visual. Modern and high-tech Miele appliances, such as a speed oven and induction cook-top, provide a contemporary twist in the design. Again, Zach blended hand-built cabinets with custom cabinetry through the entire home including two bedrooms, a living space, and bathroom in the 850 square foot bonus space above the garage.

While the rustic western charm of old ranch houses is not preferred by everyone, the skillful combination of organic substances and masterful marriage of contemporary design aesthetic with hand-crafted, repurposed charm is accomplished in this beautiful home by Bane Built Construction. This is supported by the three Titanium Awards this project received during this year’s Parade of Homes: Craftsmanship, Exterior Appeal, and Use of Technology.