The Homearama showhouse project is barreling toward its deadline—opening day is May 1—and we’re juggling final decisions while preparing for a baby who’s due a few weeks earlier. There’s a lot to share about progress, choices, and design direction, so this update covers what’s been happening on site and how we’ve been making decisions as the clock ticks down.
First off, thank you for weighing in on the front door color. We received nearly 38,000 votes, and rust emerged as the leader with roughly 36% of the vote, while red came in second at 21%. That huge response really helped narrow things down. We’re still waiting for the porch columns to be sealed—sealing will darken the wood a bit—so we plan to test paint samples for the door once those details are in place and get input from the builder, architect, and realtor before making a final call.
One unexpected result was a strong “write-in” push for white. Sherry initially wanted white included among the options, but I convinced her not to because I thought it might show dirt. The many comments asking about white prompted us to reach out to homeowners who have white doors under a porch or overhang; their feedback was overwhelmingly positive. In many cases the white door works beautifully and makes the entry feel wider and more cohesive with white sidelights. If the sealed beams, porch tile, and other elements read heavy once they’re installed, white could end up being the perfect, classic choice.
Another big step forward: the porch columns are installed. They look great and will only improve after sealing, which will deepen the wood’s tone and tie into the rest of the exterior materials.
Throughout this build we’ve been balancing two competing goals: choosing options that are broadly appealing for resale, and selecting a few bold, memorable design moves that make the house stand out at Homearama. Since the show celebrates creative ideas across multiple homes, the event organizers encourage designers to take tasteful risks. The builder reminds us the house only needs one buyer, so that allows for some distinct choices, but we’re cautious not to create anything so polarizing that it limits the home’s marketability.
Most decisions have been a careful dance between “too safe” and “too wild.” We’re leaning toward making a handful of showstopping choices in each room—unique finishes, layered textures, and targeted pops of color—while keeping the overall palette and major systems approachable for a broad audience. Having a team of pros—the builder, contractors, architect, and Homearama coordinators—gives us confidence and a safety net to keep the design cohesive.
We’ve also been checking off items from our to-do list: interior paint colors are selected and furniture decisions are underway. Outfitting an entire house at once is a major exercise in logistics—furniture, rugs, curtains, art, and accessories add up quickly. The builder covers built-in elements and finishes like hardwired lighting, plumbing, tile, and paint, but each design team receives a relatively small decoration budget, often under $500 per room, which makes sourcing smartly essential.
Thankfully Homearama arranged for each showhouse to borrow large items from Green Front Furniture, which lets us secure sofas, beds, and other bulky pieces without exhausting our decor funds. We spent a day there road-tripping through their massive selection and picked several key pieces. Even with that help, we still need to round out the rooms with additional finds, so we’re tapping local artists, small shops we’ve collaborated with over the years, and thrift and vintage sources to fill the gaps affordably and with personality.
One recent thrift score: a wooden full-size headboard for $9.98 that we’ll repaint for the girls’ bedroom. Paired with a cheerful stencil on an accent wall and a painted built-in desk, it becomes a unique, budget-friendly focal point. The carpenter has already begun building custom elements like the desk and built-in bed/storage system for one of the kids’ rooms—fun features that showcase the builder’s capabilities and give the model real character.
Because there isn’t a specific client for this house, we’re designing rooms that could suit future versions of our own family: a tween-friendly study area, an imaginative bedroom with built-ins for an 8-year-old, and flexible spaces that feel both functional and photo-ready for a showhouse tour.
In the living room, which opens to the kitchen, we plan to paint the island navy and echo that navy on a fireplace column across the room to make the white mantle and light stone surround pop. We’ll hang bold artwork—a large portrait of Burger painted by a friend—to give the space personality and a playful touch that reflects our style.
Every dollar saved on furnishings and decor helps us support Richmond’s Habitat for Humanity. We’re donating our design fee to Habitat, and Homearama is coordinating additional contributions from sponsors, vendors, and ticket sales. After the show, some furnishings and decor will also be donated to the ReStore, so locals can find great items and support Habitat’s mission.
Right now we have about 20 mood boards in progress—roughly 40% complete—and we’ll share a comprehensive room-by-room update once things are farther along, potentially with a video tour. With less than eight weeks until our baby arrives and the show opens, the pace is fast and thrilling. We’ll keep reporting back as the final details come together.
Psst – Wanna see the finished showhouse? Click here for Our Full Showhouse Tour, which includes final pictures of every room, the floor plan, budget info, a video walk-through, and shoppable showhouse furniture & accessories.