14 | Oregon Home Their wish list centered on a home that would work as well for everyday life as it would for entertaining. They wanted primarily main-level living, an open kitchen and living area large enough for family gatherings, an outdoor living space, and a spacious yard for Kim’s vegetable garden and their two dogs. Building a custom home from across the country might sound daunting, but Clark says Renaissance’s process made the experience remarkably manageable. “They have such a nicely structured process,” she says. “We always knew exactly where we were in the process and what was needed and what was coming up next.” Renaissance also adapted the process to the couple’s distance, helping them determine which decisions could be handled remotely and which were worth making in person. “They were very flexible with the fact that we were out of town, and they were helpful in us deciding what could be done over Zoom or what we should be in-person for,” Clark says. For the Clarks, that flexibility provided something even more valuable: confidence. “One of the things for us was just having that confidence that, even though we weren’t going to be there every single day, they were going to follow through,” Clark says. That confidence extended through the entire process, including the many details that turn a house into a home. Clark worked with Renaissance’s in-house design team to select surfaces, fixtures, appliances and other finishes. “One of the things that was really wonderful about working with Renaissance was that they have really strong relationships with their vendors,” she says. “They were all incredibly helpful in helping us make our decisions.” WELCOME HOME From the beginning, August 2025 was the target completion date for the Clarks’ home. And, just as planned, it was ready. The couple moved in that August and, just four months later, hosted their first Christmas in the new house — with 55 family members and friends. “Seeing it all put together really felt like it was home already,” Clark says. Part of that feeling came from Blane’s history with Oregon and the years the couple had spent visiting family here. But the home also felt familiar because of how personally involved they had been in creating it. “We were so intimately involved with designing the house and the whole process,” Clark says. “I don’t know how else to describe it. It just felt like it was home.” After years of building a life together in Tennessee, the Clarks had finally built something new in Oregon. In the end, though, it didn’t feel like starting over. It felt like coming home. renaissance-homes.com
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