During last week’s update about our Homearama Showhouse for Habitat for Humanity, we shared a few peeks at how some rooms were taking shape.
Technically, most of the design exists only in our heads and on mood boards for now—there’s still about three weeks before any furnishings can go into the house. As I write this the walls are being painted, then cabinetry will be installed and hardwood floors will be stained on site—so everything has been primarily shopping lists and plans up to this point.
Over the last week the builder and his team have made steady progress, and we’ve been able to finalize furniture and accessory plans for several rooms. Two spaces are furthest along: the study (home office) and the dining room. They’re the first rooms you see when you walk in, so we’re pleased they’re shaping up to convey the overall feeling we want for the house. One room leans light and cheerful while the other brings in a cozier, moodier atmosphere, and together they should help set the tone for the rest of the home.
Let’s start with the study—our imagined home office for a woman who works from home (perhaps blogs). We wanted it to feel different from the traditional, mahogany-heavy model-home studies, so the goal was light, cheery, and just a touch feminine. Here’s what we’ve planned so far:
- The walls and trim are Benjamin Moore Simply White, but the painters will add a bold accent to the 10′ ceiling: a rich, saturated turquoise called Skydive.
- A rust Wire Globe Lantern from our donated lighting collection will hang over the desk, which will float in the center of the room.
- Floor-length curtains in a textured, modern woven fabric (Dapp in Elephant) will frame the window. Our local fabric shop is generously donating them.
- West Elm is contributing a striped Saddle Office Chair; we’re hoping it arrives in time despite being on back order.
- We’ll add chic storage boxes to keep the desk tidy.
- A cheery mug for pencils and desk supplies will add personality to the workspace.
- The desk is a wood-and-metal piece from Green Front Furniture, which is loaning furniture to the showhomes. (We removed some display items from the photo to show the desk clearly.)
- We love art from Help Ink, which donates a portion of sales to charity. A print with the right colors and message would fit perfectly here.
- West Elm kindly donated a Torres Wood Kilim rug in Guava to keep the room casual and light.
- We’re considering another Help Ink print—choosing accessories with charitable ties feels especially meaningful when decorating for Habitat.
Most of the major items above are confirmed, while smaller accessories and art will be purchased and adjusted as the room evolves. Now, on to the dining room.
Last week the dining room was an empty frame waiting for its finishing touches, and we were still awaiting installation of custom glass pocket doors and a transom window at the wide entryway. Since then, our custom wainscot has been installed and freshly painted, which was a big step forward.
We wanted something a little different than typical wainscoting, so with a talented carpenter on hand we experimented with a subtle, wide-angled pattern made from wood slats with a 1/4″ gap between them. The result feels engraved into the wainscot rather than protruding. We worked directly with the carpenter—marking angles on the walls and testing various board widths and spacings—until the pattern read as distinct but not overpowering. For reference, we used 1×3″ boards, a 1/4″ spacing, and an angle of about 22 degrees from the floor.
With the wainscot in place, the next steps will bring more of the room into focus. Here are the main elements we’re planning:
- The upper walls will be painted Kendall Charcoal, a deep brown-gray to add mood and balance to the 10′ ceiling height.
- The wainscot will remain glossy white along with the trim, providing a crisp contrast.
- An Industrial Modern Island Chandelier in bronze is being donated for over the table to give the room presence and warmth.
- West Elm donated a Jute Boucle rug in Platinum that will anchor the space.
- We plan to add potted greenery as centerpieces to bring life and texture to the table.
- A rustic wood pedestal table on loan will sit under the chandelier as the room’s focal point.
- A collection of old wine bottles or green vases will mix in among the centerpieces for extra character.
- Dark upholstered dining chairs will pop against the white wainscoting and add depth to the palette.
- Floor-length curtains in Stri fabric in Ultramarine (donated by our fabric partner) will subtly echo the angled wainscot and introduce a rich color on the window wall.
We’re excited to reach the phase where rooms begin to feel like real, livable spaces. It’s wild to think this was just a dirt lot a few months ago, and in two short months we’ll have a finished showhouse with more than 20 different rooms to share. That will be a lot of before-and-after content—and a much faster timeline than we usually manage. Also, somewhere in the middle of this whirlwind we’ll have a baby. Time to buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Psst – Wanna see the finished showhouse? Check out our full showhouse tour for final photos of every room, the floor plan, budget details, a video walkthrough, and a shoppable list of furniture and accessories.