Sprawling home along the river boasts luxury and comfort

Builder: Monarch Homes

When trying to come up with a very special name for a very special custom home, builder Shawn Anderson perfectly paired two favorite elements of North Idaho life: whiskey and river.

The river part is easy to guess the origin: the elegant home overlooks the scenic Spokane River along West Riverview Drive. And the whiskey? Simple. The home’s basement has a lovely room ideal for a private bar with a whiskey lounge.

Large windows create a spacious feel in this home office.

Anderson, owner of Monarch Custom Homes, said the contemporary yet nostalgic home called Whiskey River places a focus on enjoying what’s outside while being surrounded inside by comfort.

“The river is really a focal point,” she said. “We made sure to bring the natural elements inside as much as we could.”

The spectacular view of the river is a focal point in the great room.

The 7,963-square-foot home offers five bedrooms, five bathrooms and two half-baths.

One main area that captures attention right away is living room, with tall, vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. The view makes it easy to appreciate so much of the area’s natural surroundings, including the river and the forestland beyond it.

A vaulted ceiling and expansive windows give an open air feel to the kitchen.

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Anderson says the view of the adjacent shoreline and canopy of trees will likely remain undeveloped since it’s city-owned and part of Kiwanis Park.

Beyond the unparalleled vista, the home has plenty of other appealing features, including a farmhouse-style kitchen and a main floor patio that can be accessed from the dining area.

It’s not hard to see why this home was named the Whiskey River.

This floor also includes two master bedrooms, each at opposite ends of the home. There’s also a one-bedroom casita with its own entrance and private balcony overlooking the river.

The studio can be a great place for a family member who may want to live independently, or it can be rented as an apartment.

A large window in the master bath frames the tub and brings in plenty of natural lights.

The basement includes plenty of room for a gaming or entertainment area and includes access to a lower patio.

Anderson said the basic floorplan is like the plan used in her personal home, which was featured in NIBCA’s Parade of Homes in 2016. The plan has also proved popular with Monarch’s other projects, especially since many elements can be easily customized by clients as needed.