Welcome to Homearama’s grand opening! The air is buzzing with excitement as our much-anticipated showhouse officially opens its doors to the public today, alongside six other magnificent homes in the exhibition. After months of meticulous planning, design, and construction, it’s truly a moment of collective anticipation.
Our last update took you through the serene office, the practical butler’s pantry, and the luxurious main bedroom suite, complete with its indulgent en-suite bathroom and closet. Following a brief but delightful pause for a new arrival in our family, we’re thrilled to dive back into the heart of the home – the main living spaces. This tour focuses on the expansive living room and the brilliantly designed kitchen, which, as you’ll see from the floor plan, occupy significant and central zones on the first floor, offering an open and inviting flow.
Designing the Heart of the Home: Living Room & Kitchen
In both the living room and kitchen, we opted for a cohesive, bright foundation by painting the walls Benjamin Moore Simply White. This crisp, versatile shade provided the perfect canvas, allowing us to layer in vibrant colors, rich textures, compelling art, and carefully selected accessories. The strategic use of color is evident in elements like the striking navy fireplace column, a kitchen island echoing the same deep hue, a breakfast nook brimming with lively accessories, bold artwork adorning both spaces, and a plush, colorful rug paired with decorative pillows, all contributing to a cohesive yet dynamic aesthetic.
The Inviting Living Room: A Blend of Comfort and Style
Our vision for the living room always centered on establishing the fireplace as its undisputed focal point. To achieve this, we boldly painted the fireplace column in Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy, creating an immediate anchor that draws the eye. Adding a delightful touch of whimsy, our incredibly talented friend, Lesli Devito, created a large, charming portrait of our beloved dog, Burger. While a television will likely grace this spot once the future homeowners settle in, we couldn’t resist a playful tribute to Burger for the duration of the show, infusing the space with personality and a hint of unexpected charm.
Comfort and contemporary style converge in the living room’s furnishings. The sleek coffee table and the generous 9 x 12-foot area rug, both sourced from West Elm, define the central gathering space. A vibrant, multi-patterned basket, a fantastic HomeGoods discovery, adds a pop of color and practical storage. The main seating ensemble – a plush gray sofa, a coordinating armchair, and an ottoman – comes from Green Front Furniture. Specifically, it’s this elegant model upholstered in the versatile “smoke” color, offering both durability and sophisticated appeal.
The fireplace itself is a masterpiece of classic design, featuring a crisp white wood mantle and a luxurious marble surround and hearth, expertly installed by a local company. A true testament to modern convenience, the gas fireplace ignites with a simple flick of a switch, a feature so effortlessly elegant it has undeniably elevated our own fireplace renovation desires. Witnessing such seamless functionality firsthand definitely shifted our home improvement priorities!
From the french doors leading to the back porch, one can appreciate the inviting depth of the living room. Reflecting on the design process, we noted that the fixture box for the delicate glass pendant light ended up slightly closer to the fireplace than ideal, rather than perfectly centered over the coffee table. This was a consequence of making electrical placement decisions three months before furniture selections – a valuable learning experience in the intricate dance of home design. Fortunately, repositioning a light fixture is a relatively straightforward remedy that can be addressed after the show concludes. This entire project has truly been an immersive journey, highlighting how countless minute decisions, easily numbering in the thousands, coalesce to shape a beautifully finished home.
In a charming corner of the living room, a versatile console, a fabulous HomeGoods find, anchors the space, flanked by elegant lamps also discovered at HomeGoods. The practicality is enhanced by the woven baskets nestled on the bottom shelf, sourced from Target. Commanding attention above is a large-scale piece of art on loan from Lindsay Cowles (and yes, it’s available for purchase!), adding a sophisticated burst of color and abstraction. Below the window, a comfortable bench from Green Front Furniture offers additional seating. The vibrant blue pouf, a personal favorite, was originally purchased on Joss & Main and “borrowed” from our own home to perfectly complete this showhouse space. These photographs were captured before the installation of the crisp white custom shutters throughout the house, which truly lend a finished and polished look to every room.
The side table, a last-minute acquisition from World Market, provides a convenient surface for essentials. The elegant gold-based lamp, a creative project featured in our book, was another item affectionately “stolen” from our own home during those frantic final hours of styling. Completing this vignette, the rich red planter for the fiddle leaf fig tree was a fortunate find at Lowe’s, adding a touch of natural vibrancy.
The living room light fixture presented a unique challenge, being one of the final selections for the space. Our goal was to find something that harmonized beautifully without competing with the distinctive gold accordion lights already chosen for the adjoining kitchen. The pressure of time, coupled with the rapid timeline for furnishing the entire house, made every un-sourced item a source of significant anxiety. A moment of clarity arrived when we saw the Clear Glass Chandelier gracefully suspended in the main bedroom’s bathroom. We realized a similar design would be perfect for the living room, but with a crucial modification. Our resourceful friends at the Decorating Outlet expertly customized a version to feature gold hardware, seamlessly tying it into the kitchen’s metallic accents and creating a sophisticated, integrated look.
The Chef’s Dream: A Modern & Functional Kitchen
Now, let’s transition into the kitchen, a space some of you may recognize from a previous post. For clarity and convenience, I’ll reiterate the sources and design elements here. The custom cabinetry, a testament to local craftsmanship, was designed and installed by Affinity. The majority of the cabinets are finished in a sophisticated stock gray, closely resembling Benjamin Moore’s Gray Timber Wolf, providing a serene backdrop. The expansive kitchen island, however, is painted in the same distinguished Hale Navy as the living room fireplace column, establishing a visual link and adding depth to the open-concept layout.
During our last kitchen reveal, two common questions frequently arose, and we’re happy to address them with a bit more insight:
1. Why is the quarter round around the island wood-toned instead of painted? This is a standard practice by our builder, particularly with oak floors. The unpainted wood quarter round tends to be more forgiving, effectively concealing dust and scuffs. We believe this is a regional preference, as all of our previous homes in Richmond have featured similar wood quarter round. However, the builder is always happy to paint it to match the trim if a buyer prefers that aesthetic.
2. Why don’t the cabinets extend to the ceiling? While some other show homes with 9-foot kitchen ceilings feature full-height cabinetry, our first floor boasts impressive 10-foot ceilings. Cabinets reaching this height are quite rare, and the builder explained that most buyers are hesitant to incur the significant upcharge for such tall custom cabinetry. Nevertheless, his skilled carpentry team is fully equipped to construct elegant upper storage solutions to bridge the gap if a specific buyer desires this premium upgrade, offering tailored flexibility.
One amusing observation we heard repeatedly from guests at a pre-show party held at the house was, “Oh my gosh, on your blog, this kitchen looked about half the size – it’s huge!” To truly convey the scale, and in true blogger fashion, I set up my tripod and dramatically sprawled myself across the counter as a human reference point. The island alone spans over 11 feet, providing ample space for even my six-foot frame to stretch out comfortably. So, if you and a few friends ever fancy a nap right on the counter, rest assured, there’s plenty of room!
The kitchen’s modern functionality is complemented by its stylish accoutrements. The elegant stools, offering comfortable seating at the island, are from West Elm. Illuminating the workspace are the striking gold accordion lights, a unique choice from Shades of Light that adds a touch of industrial chic. For top-tier performance, the Wolf/Sub-Zero appliances were sourced through a trusted local company, Cline. The sleek and functional cabinet pulls, providing ease of access and a refined finish, are from Liberty Hardware, completing the sophisticated aesthetic.
The countertops are crafted from a beautiful White Moura marble with a distinctive leathered finish, providing a unique matte, textured surface rather than a glossy sheen. This material was expertly sourced and installed by a local artisan, Eternal Stoneworks. To maintain an uncluttered and refined appearance in the glass-front cabinets, we opted for a minimalist approach, filling them exclusively with pristine white dishware from Target and HomeGoods. This simple yet effective styling ensures the focus remains on the elegant design of the cabinetry and the kitchen’s overall serenity.
One aspect of the kitchen we haven’t extensively covered is the intricate process of designing the cabinet layout in collaboration with Affinity. We knew from experience that deep drawer-bases are highly coveted over traditional cabinets with deep shelves, primarily because their pull-out functionality offers significantly easier access to contents. The experts at Affinity were instrumental in optimizing every inch of space, suggesting ingenious solutions like a slim roll-out spice rack and a vertical organizer specifically designed for cookie sheets. These thoughtful inclusions maximize storage and enhance the kitchen’s overall efficiency, demonstrating a commitment to both aesthetics and practicality.
Perhaps my absolute favorite storage features in this entire kitchen are the generously sized 30-inch by 18-inch cabinets located at either end of the island. These proved invaluable during the show preparation, serving as perfect hideaways for items needing to be kept out of the cleaning crew’s path – they were truly exceptional! Beyond these, the island itself is a powerhouse of utility, thoughtfully designed to house the dishwasher, a convenient roll-out double trash can cabinet, and an abundance of other well-conceived storage spaces, making it a central hub of kitchen efficiency.
For the sink and faucet, our priority was a design that epitomized cleanliness and functionality. We selected this classic-looking faucet, whose timeless appeal perfectly complements the kitchen’s aesthetic. Paired with it is the deepest single sink offered by the stone company, measuring a substantial 30 inches wide and 10 inches deep. This generous depth is so ample, it could easily conceal a few canisters of donuts – a playful, yet effective way to illustrate its impressive scale and practicality!
The backsplash, a stunning white blend waterfall glass tile sourced from a local company called Mosaic, introduces a beautiful sense of polish and refined texture to the kitchen. Complementing this elegant backdrop, a vibrant aqua pan from World Market adds a cheerful pop of color. The rustic oil cans and the charming cake stand, both delightful finds from HomeGoods, contribute to a curated, lived-in feel, blending practicality with decorative appeal.
Breakfast Nook & Pantry: Everyday Elegance and Practicality
Moving to the left of the kitchen, we enter the breakfast nook, which we transformed into a charming built-in banquette, a cozy and inviting space. Adjacent to this area, you’ll notice the elegant frosted double-doors that conceal the walk-in pantry, a highly functional space we’ll explore in just a moment.
For the breakfast nook, we envisioned something more distinctive than a standard table-and-chairs arrangement. To achieve this, we collaborated closely with the builder’s talented carpenter, John, to construct striking floor-to-ceiling bookcases on either side, integrating them with a comfortable wraparound bench. A significant advantage of these custom shelves is their accessibility: when standing on the banquette, every shelf, even the very top one, is easily reachable. Unlike ceiling-height kitchen cabinets which might necessitate a ladder, these bookcases offer a practical and easy-to-clean storage solution, blending style with everyday convenience.
Beyond its primary function as a cozy gathering spot for family, we conceptualized the breakfast nook as a modern, casual interpretation of a china cabinet. Instead of confining fine china behind glass, this space invites the display of everyday kitchenware, treasured cookbooks, and framed art or photos in a much less formal and more accessible setting. To visually connect the nook with the adjacent kitchen cabinetry, the backs of the bookcases are painted Timber Wolf Gray, mirroring the sophisticated gray used on the nearby cabinets. We extend a huge thank you to my sister, who works at Random House, and our publisher at Artisan, who generously provided a selection of beautiful cookbooks to style the shelves. And, since these photos were taken, the show’s talented resident seamstress crafted deep gray cushions for the bench, perfectly matching the backs of the island stools, creating a cohesive and inviting look.
The breakfast nook is beautifully illuminated by the Large Simple Dome light fixture from Shades of Light. We specifically chose this fixture because its stainless steel and silver finishes elegantly reference the various metallic elements throughout the kitchen – including the appliances, cabinet hardware, faucet, and sink – without introducing an overwhelming amount of gold. Our philosophy on mixing metals is that as long as each finish is thoughtfully repeated a few times within the space, it creates an intentional, layered, and balanced look, ensuring that no single fixture or finish appears out of place or haphazard.
While we considered setting the table more formally to highlight its impressive capacity, we ultimately opted for a more casual, everyday spread. The beverage container, a charming and practical addition, is from HomeGoods. A beautifully crafted ceramic basket from Target adds textural interest, and the stylish napkins, along with the handy lemon squeezer, were sourced from World Market, creating a relaxed yet inviting tablescape.
The table itself is a standout piece, custom-built by John the Carpenter. Measuring a generous 5 feet deep by 6 feet wide, it’s a size rarely found readily available in retail, but absolutely essential to precisely fit the dimensions of our custom nook. Our initial plan involved commissioning a table from a local timber company; however, after several visits and a flurry of emails, it became clear their pricing was beyond our budget. We are incredibly pleased with how this custom piece turned out, particularly the rich stain color, which perfectly matches our hardwood floors in “Jacobean,” and the durable, glossy bar coat finish on the tabletop.
And finally, we arrive at the pantry! The shelving, meticulously crafted by John the Builder’s carpentry team, demonstrates thoughtful design. They ensured that the frosted french doors we selected would not impede any storage or disrupt the hallway’s flow. By choosing short double doors that open into a recessed area before the pantry shelving begins, they expertly avoid blocking any items stored within the pantry or obstructing the natural flow of traffic from the nearby mudroom. Illuminating this highly functional space, as well as the adjacent hallway and mudroom, is a stylish glass prism flushmount light from Shades of Light, providing both excellent visibility and a touch of elegance.
We realized that a single photograph might not fully convey the impressive scale of the pantry, so we took an additional picture with myself included for reference. As you can see, this pantry is undoubtedly on the generously sized end of the spectrum, offering ample storage for any household.
In a meaningful departure from typical showhouse styling, we chose not to “style” the pantry with decorative items. Instead, we embraced your insightful suggestions and transformed the room into a collection point for donated canned goods. Therefore, if you plan on visiting Homearama, we warmly invite you to bring a canned good or two to benefit FeedMore, our region’s vital hunger-relief charity organization. For your convenience, if carrying cans through the homes isn’t ideal, you can also drop off your generous donations at the show’s front entrance or ticket counter. Your contribution will make a significant difference to those in need.
We’re mindful of not overwhelming you with too much showhouse content all at once. For the next few weeks, our plan is to offer one weekly update interspersed with other home and family happenings from our own lives. We also had the incredible opportunity yesterday to tour all six of the other magnificent showhouses, and we are absolutely thrilled to share those experiences with you in a dedicated “House Crashing” post. We’re aiming to have that ready for you, hopefully, by next week!
Psst – Eager for even more showhouse details and photos? Click here for Our Full Showhouse Tour. This comprehensive guide includes final pictures of every single room, the complete floor plan, detailed budget information, a captivating video walk-through, and direct links to shoppable showhouse furniture and accessories to inspire your own home projects.