Remember when we mentioned the show house we’ll be working on to benefit Habitat For Humanity over the next ten months? We’ve been eager to share an update, but we haven’t broken ground yet. We’re not behind—the plan is to be under roof by Christmas—but there’s a surprising amount of preparation required before construction can begin. As people who have never built a house before, it’s been fascinating to watch all the planning and decision-making that goes into it.
Over the last few months we’ve had many planning meetings and made site visits to review finishes and materials. One of the major milestones was finalizing the floor plan. After several rounds of revisions and collaboration with the builder and the architect, we arrived at the plan we feel best balances aesthetics, function, and the show’s requirements.
The builder, John Waters, and architect T. M. Vavra created the initial plans, but they also had to accommodate the neighborhood review board’s standards. The board sets guidelines for square footage, exterior details, and even interior features to make sure the house fits the community’s character. The Homearama show team also provided input to ensure this house offers features distinct from other homes in the event. We joined the process early enough to suggest several meaningful changes and improvements. Here’s a summary of the key tweaks we made with the builder and architect.
- Relocated the coat closet. To open up the foyer and provide an unobstructed view into the family room, we moved the coat closet into space borrowed from the study. Placing it under the stairs would have interrupted the line of sight and felt cramped. This solution keeps the entry feeling airy while keeping coat storage accessible.
- Installed glass pocket doors. The dining room doorway now has glass-paned pocket doors topped with a transom window. This adds a touch of formality and lets light flow through while keeping the space flexible.
- Removed the dining-room French doors. The original plan had French doors opening from the porch into the dining room, but that arrangement would have limited furniture placement and cramped the room. Since porch access is available from the nearby foyer, removing those doors made the dining room feel larger and more functional.
- Simplified the kitchen island. The initial island design had a raised, curved bar and ceiling columns. We decided a large, rectangular island would be more practical and visually calmer, and we worked with the architect to eliminate columns that would block views.
- Made the range the kitchen focal point. We rearranged appliances so the range sits centered across from the island with a prominent exposed hood. The refrigerator is tucked into a built-in cubby, allowing the hood and backsplash to be the visual centerpiece when viewed from the living area.
- Expanded the butler’s pantry. The appliance shuffle created extra space between the kitchen and dining room for a larger dry bar and pantry. We also gained an additional pantry or storage closet under the stairs.
- Added larger fixed windows. Instead of replacing the entire wall between the family room and porch with multiple French doors, we added large fixed windows beside a single door. This creates the look of a glass wall without requiring clearance for many swinging doors.
- Designed a built-in breakfast nook. The breakfast nook will include a built-in table and a feature window, giving it a cozy, intentional feel. The layout change makes room for built-in seating and a dramatic window that anchors the space.
- Frosted pantry doors. We revised the pantry entry to include two frosted glass doors, which add visual interest while concealing storage and keeping the kitchen light and airy.
During a site visit, the builder introduced us to Dreaming Creek Timber & Frame, a local woodshop that crafts striking pieces. They’ll build a custom raw-edge table for the breakfast nook to contrast the room’s crisp white palette. They’re also fabricating A-frame rafters for the front porch, which appear in the facade rendering and will serve as a rustic focal point.
Upstairs, we made a number of thoughtful adjustments:
- Towel cubby for the jack-and-jill bath. Instead of a formal linen closet, we carved out a narrow vertical cubby for rolled towels—practical and space-efficient.
- One generous trough sink. For the kids’ bathroom, we chose a single, extra-wide trough sink with two faucets instead of two smaller sinks. It’s playful and functional, perfect for shared use.
- Built-in homework desk. A built-in desk replaced an originally planned bench seat, creating a bright, practical homework area that will see more everyday use.
- Defined kids’ reading room. We reimagined a playroom as a quieter kids’ reading room. It will be enclosed by a wall but remain open to the main area via pocket doors, offering a cozy retreat that still feels connected to the rest of the home.
- Centered freestanding tub. We repositioned the tub to sit centered beneath the back window as a freestanding feature. That change opened up the shower front to be fully glass, creating a lighter, more open bathing area.
- Vanity styling as furniture. The twin vanities are squared off and designed to read like pieces of furniture—think converted dressers—rather than built-in angled cabinets. This gives the bathroom a more timeless, custom look.
- Added a private balcony. We identified unused roof space above the breakfast nook and added a private balcony off the main bedroom. This provides a quiet outdoor retreat that makes better use of the roofline than the original plan.
On the exterior, a few notable decisions shaped the final look:
- Removed the front kids’ balcony and pergola. The review board disapproved the pergola and we reconsidered a balcony off the kids’ room for safety reasons. That window becomes a feature wall for the built-in desk instead.
- Simulated French doors with windows. Rather than real French doors in the dining room, we opted for large, floor-to-ceiling windows flanking the front door to capture the look of French doors while preserving interior layout and furniture placement.
- Open-frame entry and exposed beams. We requested an open framed detail above the front door and will top it with accent beams from Dreaming Creek Timber. A large hanging pendant will illuminate the entry and highlight this architectural feature.
- Exterior color scheme: navy and white. Early on we talked about a navy exterior with crisp white trim and cool gray stone at the foundation. The builder agreed it’s a striking combination. We’re still selecting the exact navy shade, stone, and trim details, and are debating a bold front door color—possibly glossy red or bright yellow for a pop of contrast.
There are a few additional minor adjustments that aren’t detailed here, but these are the main decisions shaping the home so far. We’re excited to move from drawings to physical spaces and can’t wait to see these ideas built out.
P.S. While many of our side projects help support our work, this show house is a purely creative effort. Homearama compensates designers for their time, and we’ve chosen to donate our entire fee to Richmond’s Habitat for Humanity, which Homearama will support throughout the event.