After months of dedicated planning, countless decisions, and a considerable amount of elbow grease (not to mention a car packed with vases and egg chairs!), we’ve finally reached the grand finale of our Homearama Showhouse journey. It’s been a marathon, a labor of love, and an incredible learning experience that we are thrilled to share with you.
To celebrate the culmination of this whole-house design project, we’re kicking things off with a comprehensive video tour. Join me as I walk you through each space, sharing insights and behind-the-scenes details, giving you a real feel for the Homearama Showhouse experience.
While the video provides an immersive overview, there are still several key rooms on each floor that we haven’t extensively highlighted or sourced for you. So, let’s take a closer look at the stunning dining room, the charming powder room, the highly functional mudroom, a welcoming guest room, its accompanying guest bathroom, and the efficient laundry room – each space designed with careful consideration and unique flair.
The Sophisticated Dining Room: A Play of Light and Dark
For the dining room, we embraced the dramatic appeal of dark wall colors, opting for Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal. This deep hue creates an immediate sense of intimacy and sophistication, perfect for memorable gatherings. To prevent the space from feeling too heavy, we meticulously balanced it with crisp white trim and striking linear wainscoting. This architectural detail, expertly crafted by John the Carpenter, adds texture and visual interest, elevating the room’s formal yet inviting ambiance. You can delve deeper into the inspiration behind this wainscoting project here.
Beyond the architectural elements, we infused the room with vibrant color through carefully selected furnishings and decor. The goal was to create a dynamic space that felt both elegant and lively.
The distinctive peacock chairs, generously donated by World Market, introduce a touch of bohemian chic and unexpected texture. A substantial weathered trestle table from Green Front Furniture anchors the room, offering a rustic counterpoint to the more refined elements. The captivating artwork, sourced from HomeGoods, provides a focal point and injects a burst of complementary colors, while a plush rug from West Elm adds warmth and defines the dining area.
Adding another layer of texture and color, the custom curtains were expertly fabricated by U-Fab in a rich, patterned fabric that beautifully complements the room’s palette, softening the architectural lines and enhancing the overall warmth.
The exquisite light fixture, a focal point above the table, hails from Shades of Light, casting a warm glow over the space. On the table, a subtly wrinkled (and perfectly imperfect) table runner and charming blue-rimmed glasses from World Market add a relaxed, inviting touch. The remaining tabletop decor, curated from HomeGoods, completes the look, ready for any dinner party or family meal.
The Practical & Stylish Mudroom: A Hub of Organization
Beyond the well-appointed pantry, which we showcased in detail in this post, lies the mudroom – a truly essential space for any active household. Like the dining room, the mudroom is painted in Kendall Charcoal, demonstrating the versatility of this sophisticated shade. However, the generous use of white, particularly on the custom built-ins and two prominent doors, ensures the room feels bright and expansive rather than dark. This contrast creates a clean, organized aesthetic vital for a functional entry point.
We provided Carpenter John with specific design directions for the mudroom’s built-ins, including charming beadboard backs and a durable stained wood bench. He masterfully brought these concepts to life, creating a highly practical and visually appealing storage solution. The elegant prism light fixture from Shades of Light adds a touch of classic charm, while the resilient tile floor from Mosaic is perfect for high-traffic areas. A comfortable floor runner from HomeGoods softens the space, and the baskets and styling accessories, mostly from our own collection, provide both storage and character. We particularly love the playful “I Like Big Books And I Cannot Lie” bag, a unique find from Fountain Bookstore, which adds a personal touch.
As highlighted in the video tour, the glass door on the left provides easy access to the back patio, while the solid door (visible in the photo below) leads directly to the garage. This strategic layout ensures seamless transitions for daily routines. Looking back, we wish we’d had a few extra hours for styling this room to perfection; the mismatched baskets and sparsely filled shelves didn’t quite capture our full vision. In the final frantic push, time simply ran out. It’s almost miraculous we didn’t just resort to taping a note saying, “Imagine this bursting with soccer gear, school supplies, and all the delightful family clutter!” It’s a testament to the real-world challenges of showhouse deadlines, but the core functionality and design remain strong.
The Bold Powder Room: A Happy Accident in Design
Directly across from the pantry, the half bathroom, or powder room, offered an exciting opportunity for a bold design statement. Our concept was to create a dramatic accent wall, covered entirely in tile from floor to ceiling. The tile we ultimately chose is called Snow White Seaweed Wave from Mosaic. Interestingly, the wave pattern appeared much more subtle in the initial sample we reviewed. However, the actual shipment of tile arrived with a notably deeper accent color. Mosaic had forewarned us about potential variations in shipments, but we found ourselves unexpectedly delighted by the change. We now consider it one of those ‘happy accidents’ in design, as the bolder pattern turned out to be a resounding success. In fact, many visitors to the showhouse single out this stunning tile wall as one of their absolute favorite features, proving that sometimes a slight deviation from the plan can yield extraordinary results.
The elegant pedestal sink is the Kohler Tresham, a line we admire so much that it’s also featured in the toilets throughout the house, ensuring a consistent and high-quality aesthetic. The sophisticated Brizo Baliza faucet, in a polished nickel finish, adds a touch of luxury. Above the sink, a sleek mirror from Target provides both function and style, reflecting the unique tile. Flanking the mirror, the sconces from Shades of Light cast a soft, inviting glow. While Sherry wished the lampshades were a crisper white to match the trim and sink, I found their slightly softer hue to be perfectly charming, contributing to the room’s warm glow.
The Invigorating Laundry Room: Where Function Meets Flair
Ascending to the upper floor, we arrive at one of our absolute favorite spaces: the laundry room. This room truly shines, thanks in large part to the captivating wallpaper adorning the back wall. We selected MissPrint’s Pebble Leaf design, a beautiful pattern that was generously donated by WallpaperDirect. Its organic motif and serene color palette instantly elevate what is often considered a purely utilitarian space into a delightful one.
To add an unexpected and playful element, we chose our farmhouse pendants from Shades of Light in a vibrant, happy lime green. This pop of citrus provides a refreshing contrast to the room’s otherwise subdued palette of black, white, gray, and blue, injecting a sense of fun and energy into laundry chores. The walls not covered by wallpaper are painted in Steam by Benjamin Moore, a hue chosen for being just slightly warmer than the Simply White used throughout the rest of the house. This subtle difference ensures the non-wallpapered walls perfectly complement the background tone of the wallpaper, preventing any unwanted yellowing effect by comparison.
The flooring consists of large 12 x 24-inch tiles, named Travertino White Field Sunrock, sourced locally from Mosaic. Once again, we opted for lighter elements here to thoughtfully balance out some of the darker features in the room, such as the rich, deep wood-toned cabinets and the sleek steel gray appliances. This careful selection ensures the room feels bright and airy while still incorporating sophisticated, durable materials.
The countertops are made of luxurious soapstone, providing a durable and elegant surface for all laundry tasks. Similar to our kitchen design, we incorporated a generous deep stainless steel sink paired with a convenient pull-down faucet – specifically, the Leland faucet from Delta. We dream of having a dedicated work sink like this in our own home, as it would be perfect for everything from washing paint brushes to tackling tough stains, making household chores much more efficient.
As detailed in this earlier post, we made a crucial 11th-hour decision to have the carpenters construct a wall-to-wall floating shelf above the counters and appliances. This strategic addition serves two key purposes: it effectively fills the visual void above the functional elements, creating a cohesive look, and more importantly, it offers invaluable convenience and function. This sturdy shelf can elegantly house everything from dust pans and laundry soap to baskets brimming with washcloths and various cleaning supplies. We artfully arranged an assortment of items from HomeGoods and Target to demonstrate its versatile storage potential, showcasing how practical storage can also be beautifully integrated into a well-designed space.
The Guest Bedroom: A Design Journey with Lessons Learned
The other significant room at the top of the stairs is the guest bedroom, a space that both Sherry and I affectionately refer to as “the one that got away.” While far from being a failure, it didn’t quite coalesce into the cohesive vision we had originally envisioned. The relentless pressure of finishing approximately 25 distinct spaces in a mere 2-3 weeks meant that perfecting every last detail for every room was an ambitious pipe dream. We scrambled to make as many adjustments as possible, but some elements simply ran out of time. We certainly don’t consider it “horrible” – indeed, many showhouse visitors specifically praised elements like the curtains or the artwork. However, with just a few more tweaks, we believe it could have been much more aligned with our signature style and preference.
Our initial design concept for this guest bedroom was to introduce warm tones to provide a pleasant contrast and variety within the home, preventing the overall aesthetic from feeling too cool or stark. Unfortunately, this room inadvertently evolved into a space where an excess of brown elements created a somewhat subdued, even “blah,” atmosphere. We initially selected Taupe Fedora by Benjamin Moore for the wall color, a shade we loved from previous book photo shoots. However, once all the other furnishings – a tan bedspread, a wood nightstand, and various accessories – were brought into the space, the brown-on-brown effect became overwhelming. We quickly pivoted, introducing lighter bedding, crisp white furnishings, and vibrant, colorful art framed in clean white. In hindsight, we strongly believe that a different wall color, perhaps a soft platinum or a subtle gray-blue, would have truly unified the room had we had the precious time for such a significant change. Speaking of the art, you might recognize these calendar pages-turned-artwork from our old hallway, a nostalgic nod to past projects.
Despite the challenges, there are still elements within this guest bedroom that we genuinely adore. The curtains, custom-made by U-Fab, feature a more subdued colorway of the ikat fabric from our previous dining room (which now gracefully resides in our current guest room). The elegant lamp from HomeGoods adds a touch of sophistication, and the sturdy nightstand, sourced from Green Front Furniture, provides practical bedside storage. These pieces, individually, are truly lovely.
The queen-sized headboard, another custom piece from U-Fab, is a particular favorite of ours. Upholstered in a beautiful metallic fabric and accented with exquisite gold nailhead trim, it exudes luxury and sophistication. Once again, the wall color inadvertently worked against us, causing this stunning piece to blend in more than stand out. (For those interested, this headboard is also available for sale!). The soft, inviting bedding is from Target, perfectly complemented by an assortment of decorative pillows from HomeGoods, adding layers of comfort and style.
On the wall opposite the bed, a handsome dresser from Green Front Furniture is paired with a vibrant, colorful armchair – a fantastic last-minute acquisition from World Market that truly brightens the space. Another crucial eleventh-hour purchase was the patterned rug from HomeGoods, which made a monumental difference, preventing the room from feeling stark and unfinished. Had we been able to change the wall color, we firmly believe this room would have achieved a far more harmonious and intentional aesthetic, truly showcasing the potential of these beautiful individual pieces.
Completing the decor, the art and vases were carefully selected from HomeGoods, adding delightful splashes of color and texture. A chic gold candle, sourced from Target, provides a subtle touch of warmth and elegance, enhancing the room’s inviting atmosphere.
The Serene Guest Bathroom: A Hint of Vintage Charm
For the guest bathroom, our vision was to create a space that felt simple, classic, and refreshingly light, especially since it’s a more compact space compared to the expansive ensuite bathroom off the main bedroom. We also aimed to subtly incorporate a hint of “vintage” charm, allowing certain details to gently nod in that direction without overwhelming the clean aesthetic. This approach ensured the bathroom felt both timeless and inviting.
We opted for an elegant tile wainscot throughout the main section of the bathroom, utilizing the beautiful Imperial Ice Gray Gloss tile family from The Tile Shop (The Tile Shop). This wainscoting quickly became my favorite feature of the bathroom, creating a sophisticated backdrop. Complementing this, the exquisite bridge faucet from Brizo adds a refined, vintage-inspired touch. The countertops are crafted from classic Carrera marble, offering timeless beauty and durability. A sleek mirror from Target, paired with an elegant light fixture from Shades of Light, complete the vanity area. Delicate bud vases on the toilet, sourced from World Market, provide a small, charming detail.
Having already expressed my admiration for the Tresham toilet, I’ll now direct your attention to the floor. Here, we installed the captivating hex version of the beloved penny tile we previously used in our last kitchen, also from The Tile Shop. This choice adds a subtle graphic element and a touch of nostalgic charm. We further enhanced the cabinetry with elegant glass knobs, generously donated by Liberty Hardware, and installed a seamless glass shower door. To clarify, it’s not an open shower; there’s a door on the right that swings shut to effectively seal the water in, cleverly hidden behind the main bathroom door in that first photo, preserving the clean, uncluttered aesthetic.
Our initial plan involved using the same tile, but in a different color, within the shower. However, we ultimately decided that this might feel too jarring for such a cozy and intentionally serene bathroom. Instead, we opted for a more cohesive approach, continuing the identical Imperial Ice Gray Gloss tile used on the wainscoted walls directly into the shower enclosure. This decision created a seamless transition and a wonderfully unified look that we absolutely loved once the clear glass shower door was installed, allowing the beautiful tile work to be fully appreciated. A rustic wood bench from HomeGoods provides a practical and stylish accent within the shower, completing this tranquil space.
Concluding Our Homearama Showhouse Adventure
And so, our grand tour of the Homearama Showhouse comes to a close. This extensive project, from conceptualization to the final styling, has been an incredible journey. We are currently developing a dedicated House Tour page, which will feature a comprehensive photo gallery of each room, a detailed rundown of all sources, and the full video tour, all conveniently located in one accessible spot. In the interim, we invite you to explore our previous showhouse posts, which chronicle our progress from the very beginning. You can peruse them all here, simply by scrolling back through the archives.
It was a profound honor to be invited to contribute to such an inspiring undertaking. We are immensely grateful for this unique opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge about new construction, far beyond what we could have ever imagined. Working alongside an incredible team of people, who have now become like family to us, was an absolute privilege. Furthermore, the ability to direct our design fee to Richmond’s Habitat For Humanity fills us with immense pride and joy, knowing our efforts contributed to such a worthy cause (you can read more about this initiative here and here). And rest assured, Sherry is already plotting a “house crash” to visit the future owners, eager to share how this beautifully designed home truly functions for a real family, as opposed to an imaginary one. There’s always something exciting to look forward to!
Psst – Eager for even more showhouse insights and photos? Click here for Our Full Showhouse Tour, your ultimate resource! This exclusive page includes a complete collection of final pictures for every room, the detailed floor plan, transparent budget information, another immersive video walk-through, and a meticulously curated grid of shoppable showhouse furniture and accessories to inspire your own home design projects. Don’t miss out on all the inspiring details!