Many of our household items packed away in a storage container during the build were not needed and not missed. We set up a table at the barn sale in North Chatham to lighten up, and make a few dollars.

Several years ago, when this company was still very young, we considered building a Blu home. We liked the precision and control of a factory-built product, and this brand sounded smart and high-quality. The illustrations on the website inspired modern-design-envy but not sufficient confidence (by now they showcase many completed homes). In our experience as first-time home builders, we can say that a house tour makes all the difference.

So, barely a month living in our brilliant new Passive House, we headed East out of Hudson on Route 23, to see the first Blu Homes Breezehouse in New York State. It was absolutely fabulous. Every room felt light and right, every green decision made sense, and every question we had was answered by a knowledgeable sales rep. It felt good to know that a steel frame supported those well-insulated walls and SIPs roof. It looked as chic as the crowd that came to visit this 2,320 sq ft home with 22 acres and a beautiful hilltop view, priced at $1.6 million.

The crowd gathered in Hudson this sunny Saturday morning included some familiar faces. “That man looks like the nicest and most happiest to be here,” said our 8-year-old, nodding towards Dennis Wedlick. Dennis volunteered the services of BarlisWedlick Architects to design the Columbia Passive Townhouses for Columbia County Habitat for Humanity. The event was to dedicate the townhouses, which were built by Habitat volunteers alongside the future owners: families from Bangladesh and Haiti who each invested 300 hours in construction. We met Dennis, Alan, Liza, Mark and Jason of BarlisWedlick at this event just a block or two from their Hudson Studio. If Habitat aims to create community as well as housing, this was our connection.

Elements of the townhouses made us feel right at home – the same Intus windows and doors, thick walls, how the kitchen opens onto the living and dining areas, the HRV and heat pump. The dove grey walls and white trim are so lovely that said 8-year-old was reconsidering her choice of turquoise at home.

We’ve volunteered to help Habitat create a users’ manual for the HRV which, if anything like ours, lacks decent directions. Fortunately, it’s easy to use: Press speed 2 and leave it alone mostly; Press the Clock symbol for a 10-minute boost to speed 3 when the bathroom or kitchen needs extra ventilation. Set the heat pump on automatic. Clean all filters once a month or more in pollen season.

We purchased unfinished cabinets and painted them to match the glu-lam beams. Chris has always preferred a brushed finish to something slick from the factory. Many, many hours later, he is pleased with the result, which seems softer and older and perhaps more like a painted Shaker cabinet. He special-ordered Benjamin Moore Advance paint in Cork. The product promises to deliver oil-like durability in a water based paint. Prime first with Fresh Start. Tips: Advance paint sets up so quickly that Chris thinned it and did multiple layers, sanding between layers when dry. By the way, you waive your warranty with Thomasville when you go for “unfinished” and when we met the rep in Home Depot one day he urged us to paint every surface very soon after installation to protect the wood. Then, at my request, he printed out the company’s statement about membership in the KCMA Environmental Stewardship Program.