Parade of Homes marches on

COEUR d’ALENE — Thousands of North Idahoans enjoyed blue skies, crisp fall weather and spectacular homes as they journeyed along the Parade of Homes presented by the North Idaho Building Contractor’s Association.

Each year, the Parade of Homes showcases houses designed and built by the region’s leading builders.

It highlights the latest trends in new home design, as well as the talents of North Idaho’s architects, interior designers, landscapers and building supply providers.

There are 24 homes to visit this year, including “The Sparrow” at The Nest on Lakeside in downtown Coeur d’Alene, billed as a place “for those looking for the extraordinary.”

“We want people to see what our dream was,” said Allan Measom, who developed the five high-end townhomes that comprise The Nest alongside his wife, Carol.

The couple are retired entrepreneurs who owned Houston-based Raptor Technologies LLC, which provides school safety management systems.

The townhomes stand on the former site of the historic J.C. White House, which was moved in 2019 and will soon be the new home of the Museum of North Idaho. The Measoms purchased the property in 2020. StanCraft Construction Group, part of the family of StanCraft companies best known for custom wooden boats, built the townhomes.

The 3,600-square-foot Sparrow boasts an open floor plan, oak flooring and wood ceilings, quartz counters, four bedrooms — three of them suites — and a rooftop deck.

The asking price for the Sparrow? A cool $2.4 million.

“I wanted people to come in and feel that there’s something so sophisticated and not available elsewhere in town,” Carol Measom said as she perched on a stool in the kitchen.

With the Sparrow, she said she aimed to combine a sleek, modern design with a Scandinavian flair that gives the feeling of a mountain home without becoming rustic. She wanted the home to feel simultaneously comfortable and luxurious.

“It lives a lot bigger than it looks from the outside,” she went on, referring to the home’s three floors, connected by floating stairs and an elevator.

Taking in the view of downtown Coeur d’Alene from the spacious rooftop deck, Justin Petersen said it’s hard to picture living in the space.

“It doesn’t seem like you would raise a family here,” said Petersen, a Coeur d’Alene resident.

The Sparrow was his third stop along the Parade of Homes on Saturday afternoon, alongside Amanda Walt, also of Coeur d’Alene.

“It seems more like a vacation home,” she said of the townhome.

Still, the pair said they think the home is well-crafted, nestled among trees whose leaves are just turning yellow.

“The outside decks are awesome,” Petersen said.

More than 700 people had walked through The Sparrow by Saturday afternoon. Among them was Coeur d’Alene resident Natalie Fisher, who said she previously checked out the Parade of Homes with her mom.

“It gave us ideas for our home,” she said.

That was a common refrain Saturday. Many of those exploring the homes said they were seeking inspiration for future remodels or considering their options for new builds of their own.

If the Sparrow has an opposite number, at least in terms of design, it might be “the Honeysuckle,” a three-bedroom home in Hayden that recently sold for $923,000. The rustic two-story home sits on a dual frontage lot and includes a 42-foot RV bay. Each room is awash in natural light, giving the home an airy feel, even as wooden trim materials, cabinets and collar ties across the great room ceiling keep the design grounded.

Dave Davey of Anthem Pacific Homes said much of the home’s appeal lies in its location on Secretariat Lane, with easy access to Honeysuckle Beach, English Point and other outdoor offerings.

“If you’re on the east side of Highway 95, you’ve made it,” Davey said. “There’s not many parcels available like this.”

The Parade of Homes continues today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For tickets and a guide to the homes: nibca.com.