The exhilarating rush of hitting a major deadline is a feeling few can truly appreciate, especially when it involves transforming a house into a show-stopping exhibit. As of yesterday at 5:30 PM, we triumphantly crossed the finish line for our second significant Homearama Showhouse deadline. What a whirlwind! The builder was hosting an exclusive preview party, which meant every detail, from the grandest furnishing to the smallest accessory, had to be impeccably placed, thoroughly cleaned, and perfectly poised to captivate a diverse audience. Realtors, prospective buyers, and generous local companies who graciously donated furnishings and accessories were all on the guest list, eager to witness the culmination of our efforts. Even the weather, almost as if on cue, decided to grace us with a picturesque evening, providing an ideal backdrop for the final touches and a perfect photo opportunity.
Stepping back and seeing the house come alive with a vibrant mix of people, music, and delicious food was a truly surreal yet incredibly exciting experience. Professional caterers were on hand, not just to feed the guests, but to expertly showcase the kitchen’s state-of-the-art appliances and the overall flow of the space. Sherry and I, having spent the entire day in hyper-drive, practically gorged ourselves on the delightful spread, a well-deserved reward after hours of frantic activity. It was a true testament to our dedication, with picture frames being hung and window treatments adjusted in the final minutes before guests arrived. These are the down-to-the-wire moments that define a showhouse launch.
Amidst the controlled chaos, we managed to snatch a few precious moments to begin capturing some “after” photos in a couple of the rooms. We knew they would never look cleaner or more perfectly staged than at this precise moment. Our inherent impatience, coupled with the lingering energy from the event (and perhaps a few too many cookies), had us at 11 PM, diligently sizing and uploading pictures. We couldn’t wait another moment to share these transformations with you.
So, without further ado, we are thrilled to present the initial batch of rooms we managed to photograph before the crowds fully descended: the tranquil study, the charming butler’s pantry, and the luxurious main bedroom. Prepare yourselves for an abundance of inspiring photos and a comprehensive list of source links, so you can bring a piece of the showhouse magic into your own home.
Designing a Productive Oasis: The Feminine Study
You may have caught glimpses of the office in its various developmental stages, including its initial conceptualization in this inspiring mood board. Now, we are overjoyed to unveil its final, refined state, a space crafted for both productivity and serene contemplation.
Here’s a broader perspective, with the double doors thoughtfully pushed entirely out of view, allowing the room’s elegant design to truly shine. The plush rug and comfortable accent chair were generously donated by West Elm, providing a foundation of modern comfort. The robust table, a true statement piece, hails from Green Front Furniture, a local purveyor known for quality pieces (we believe the manufacturer is Barkman, though a direct link isn’t available). Illuminating the space is a striking light fixture from our exclusive Shades of Light collection, casting a warm, inviting glow. The bespoke curtains, expertly crafted by U-Fab, feature a beautiful fabric that adds a touch of bespoke luxury, while the curtain rods were sourced affordably from Lowe’s. The walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Simply White, a crisp and airy choice, perfectly complemented by the serene Benjamin Moore Skydive on the ceiling, creating an expansive and inspiring atmosphere.
As we previously shared, our vision for this office diverged from the typically masculine, study-like aesthetic often seen in showhouses. Instead, we aimed to create a distinctly feminine and inviting workspace. Sherry thoroughly enjoyed the creative process of designing this little haven, imagining it as a spot she would genuinely love to call her own.
Thoughtful accents like the sophisticated metal tray and elegant vases were discovered at Target, adding functional beauty to the desk. The grand fiddle leaf fig, a touch of vibrant greenery, was sourced from a local nursery, bringing life and freshness into the room.
Tucked along the inside wall, a section of open storage provides essential organization for our fictional work-at-home mom. This striking whitewashed wood and metal shelf, another fantastic find from West Elm, beautifully combines style and practicality.
A consistent theme throughout all the shelved areas in this showhouse is a slightly more minimalist approach than we might adopt in our personal homes (where, admittedly, we tend to have a bit more delightful clutter!). However, due to budget constraints, tight timelines, and the practicalities of outfitting nearly 25 spaces in just two weeks, we opted for a lighter touch in our styling. While perhaps not entirely realistic for everyday living, we carefully curated a selection of office-specific details—binders, stylish file boxes, a few cherished frames, and containers brimming with everyday essentials like paperclips and rubber bands—to maintain functionality without overwhelming the space. The goal was to inspire, not to replicate a lived-in mess.
These thoughtfully arranged shelves are predominantly stocked with affordable yet chic items from HomeGoods or Target, interspersed with some of our favorite magazines and books brought directly from our own home, adding a personal touch.
During a recent local craft fair, we discovered more of these wonderful motivational “wisdom cards,” which we love to scatter throughout our own living spaces. This particular one, prominently displayed, serves as a powerful reminder: “know when to show up.”
Speaking of inspiring art, once the elegant curtains were hung and the metal shelf was positioned, we found ourselves with less wall space than initially anticipated for the two larger prints from Help Ink. Our original plan involved sizeable 24″ x 36″ prints, but the kind folks at Help Ink generously provided some smaller extras. These smaller pieces allowed us to make a last-minute addition, framing them literally minutes before we captured these very photos yesterday, adding another layer of motivation and personality to the room.
Indeed, the fictional professional inhabiting this beautifully curated study truly has zero excuses for lacking motivation. Every detail is designed to inspire and facilitate a productive, enjoyable work environment.
Our initial plan was to have the electrician install a floor outlet, perfectly positioned for plugging in desk essentials like a laptop charger, based on our final furniture arrangement. However, we ultimately decided it would be more practical for the eventual homeowner to customize this feature to their specific furniture layout, rather than ours. This decision ensures maximum flexibility, especially since a real laptop won’t be a permanent fixture on the desk during the show; instead, a neatly stacked collection of notebooks will serve its purpose for the duration.
A Bold & Beautiful Connection: The Butler’s Pantry
Now, let’s gracefully transition through the butler’s pantry, a petite hallway connecting the kitchen and dining room. Despite its modest dimensions, making it notoriously challenging to photograph, this space is an absolute delight in person and garnered significant attention during last night’s event. It was truly gratifying to witness the positive reactions firsthand. We envisioned this area as a versatile hub for a family – a charming spot to jot down weekly meal plans, exchange quick notes, or even craft a festive drink menu for a party, transforming it into a makeshift bar. For the show, however, we opted to style it as a fun and functional coffee/wine station, embracing a bolder, more impactful aesthetic.
To bring our vision to life, we reached out to Urban Farmhouse, a local restaurant renowned for its exquisite chalkboard menus and signs (we even Instagrammed one of their creations last summer!). Within a few days, the incredibly talented Li arrived, transforming the pantry wall into a hand-lettered masterpiece. Her artistry truly elevated the space. (Locals interested in commissioning her for signs or chalkboard art can reach her directly at [email protected]).
As Sherry mentioned previously, this stunning artwork is created with chalk marker, ensuring it’s completely dust-free and smudge-proof. While incredibly durable for the show, it offers flexibility for future homeowners; it can be easily erased with a magic eraser or simply painted over if a different aesthetic is desired. For the purpose of the show, however, it serves as a delightful surprise, perfectly capping off our charming coffee/wine setup. It was truly fantastic to see how many guests posed for photos in front of it during the party, a testament to its unique appeal.
A Serene Sanctuary: The Main Bedroom
Now, let’s shift our focus and step into the luxurious main bedroom, a true sanctuary designed for rest and rejuvenation.
It’s an interesting coincidence that both the office and the main bedroom, presented in this very post, share a similar underlying color palette. While the office’s design journey began with a beautiful rug Sherry discovered and the impactful Help Ink art, this bedroom found its initial inspiration in an incredible painting. This captivating piece was generously donated for the duration of the show by the talented Lesli Devito (and for those smitten by her work, all her art is available for purchase and she ships anywhere in the US!).
The stately king-sized bed features a stunning woven banana leaf frame, a natural texture that instantly adds warmth and character, sourced from Green Front Furniture. This same local gem also provided the elegant wood nightstands and the beautifully crafted dresser by Universal. Echoing the office, the curtains here are fashioned from the same exquisite fabric, but in a calming aqua hue, also expertly made by U-Fab. The walls are adorned in Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray, a sophisticated neutral that promotes tranquility.
Currently, the wall above the bed remains bare, as we haven’t yet discovered the absolute perfect piece to complete this central focal point. Our philosophy dictates that a bare wall is preferable to hanging something we don’t genuinely love. However, a clever trick of the eye comes into play: when viewed at eye level during a walk-through, the elegant light fixture gracefully descends into this space, visually filling it in a subtle yet effective way. Despite this, we are still hopeful of finding that ideal piece of artwork or decor before the show’s official opening to truly elevate this prominent wall.
As you may have noticed, we’ve deliberately experimented with incorporating a mix of gold and brass accents throughout this house. You’ll find two stunning gold fixtures over the kitchen island, a captivating piece in front of the living room fireplace, another in the hallway above the stairs, one right here in the main bedroom, and several more thoughtfully peppered throughout the various spaces. Our intention was never to use gold or brass exclusively; we were also enamored with several silver and oil-rubbed bronze lights, and even a few colorful or painted options. The goal was to create a harmonious blend, ensuring that each fixture felt intentionally chosen and none appeared as the ‘odd one out.’ In this particular instance, the fixture above the bed beautifully pairs gold with chrome elements, creating a seamless connection with the all-chrome fixtures in the nearby en-suite bathroom, ensuring a cohesive design flow.
This exquisite wood ring chandelier, a true statement piece, was generously donated by Shades of Light, adding an organic yet sophisticated touch to the room.
Underfoot, a luxurious Fair Isle 9×12′ rug, a wonderful donation from Dash & Albert, grounds the space with pattern and texture. The elegant bedside lamps, adding both illumination and style, were fantastic scores from HomeGoods, proving that stunning decor doesn’t always come with a hefty price tag.
We purposefully kept the nightstands simple and uncluttered, aiming for a cleaner, more refined version of what our own bedside tables typically look like. Sherry’s keen eye led her to World Market, where she discovered some inexpensive yet chic jewelry, along with a simple mug and a plate. These pieces were thoughtfully arranged to casually hold the small personal items our imaginary lady might remove before settling into bed, adding a touch of lived-in elegance without excess.
As we briefly touched upon yesterday, the sumptuous bedding, sourced from Pine Cone Hill, perfectly complements Lesli Devito’s captivating artwork, creating a harmonious and inviting color story throughout the room.
Our initial inclination was to place additional lamps on the dresser, but quickly realized this would make the room feel somewhat “lamp-heavy,” especially with two already gracing the side tables. Instead, we opted for a more organic approach, styling the dresser with an arrangement of verdant plants and beautifully textured baskets, which brought freshness and balance to the space.
At the foot of the bed, two charming woven benches, a fantastic clearance find from Target for just $33 each, perfectly round out the texture-rich space. We particularly love how they elegantly tie into the woven headboard, creating a cohesive and inviting look. You’ll also notice where one of our original Help Ink prints, initially considered for the office, found its perfect home here, as its colors beautifully complemented the existing palette. This highlights the undeniable benefits of consistently carrying a thoughtful color scheme through multiple rooms of a home.
If we had the foresight, we likely would have commissioned a version of the print mounted on wood, to more seamlessly integrate with the existing wooden furniture. However, for now, the simple white frame from JoAnn Fabrics serves its purpose beautifully. This entire process has been a significant learning curve, filled with invaluable insights and “aha!” moments about what we would do differently next time. We are already contemplating writing a dedicated post sharing these lessons learned, offering a candid look at the trial-and-error method that truly defined our journey in staging this showhouse. It’s a giant learning curve, and we’re excited to share our takeaways with you once the whole show is said and done.
Directly across from the bed, the feminine elements of the room find a delightful balance, thanks to the introduction of sophisticated gray nailhead chairs adorned with plush blue pillows—all fantastic HomeGoods discoveries. These are complemented by a collection of gritty, framed photography, adding an edgy, artistic contrast. The stylish side table is a practical piece from Target, while the striking gold planter adds a touch of metallic glam from HomeGoods. In the background, you can catch a glimpse of what we affectionately call the “atrium,” featuring a captivating Shades of Light driftwood fixture and a sleek, brass-framed mirror from West Elm, all contributing to the room’s layered appeal.
Modern Artifacts, a wonderful local shop, graciously loaned us some exquisite artwork for the show. At the very last minute (specifically, yesterday afternoon), we selected a series of urban photographs by Bill Dickinson, characterized by their captivating yellow hues. These pieces beautifully resonate with some of the yellow tones present in Lesli Devito’s artwork, creating a subtle yet impactful visual connection. And for those with a keen eye, you might even catch a little peek into the adjacent bathroom there, hinting at another beautifully designed space.
The preview party commenced before I could fully photograph the main bedroom’s stunning en-suite bathroom, but rest assured, we are incredibly eager to share that room with you all – it’s undeniably one of our favorites! This post has already grown quite extensive, so we hope to return at least once more this week with even more “after” photos and comprehensive source lists to complete our initial reveal.
Psst – Eager for even more showhouse insights and photos? Discover our comprehensive Full Showhouse Tour here, which includes final, high-resolution pictures of every single room, detailed floor plans, crucial budget information, an immersive video walk-through, and a curated list of shoppable showhouse furniture and accessories. Don’t miss out on the complete experience!