At first I started typing the original “I like to move it, move it” lyrics, but the truth is I don’t enjoy moving at all. Unloading furniture into the Homearama showhouse on Monday felt like an unwelcome déjà vu. The bright side: we finally get to furnish the house, which is the fun part. Note: for anyone wondering what this showhouse is, and how it benefits Habitat for Humanity, click here and here for more info.
Construction is largely finished, so when a truck from Green Front Furniture rolled up with beds, desks, and sofas, it was an all-hands-on-deck kind of day. We hauled pieces inside, positioned them, and started visualizing how each room will come together. Here I am with Charlie, the listing agent, lifting the king-sized mattress into the main bedroom.
Not everything is from Green Front; additional pieces have trickled in throughout the week. Sherry and I have been making daily runs to thrift stores, local boutiques, and big-box retailers, searching for the small things that make a house feel like a home—wall art, accessories, baskets, and plants to fill blank walls, shelves, and those awkward nooks.
There’s been solid progress outside as well. The wood beams were stained and sealed, deepening their color as planned. The exterior still looks a bit bare without landscaping, but sod should be going in this weekend and the front door has officially been painted.
After everyone weighed in on the door color debate, a write-in vote for white won out. We liked that keeping the door the same shade as the white sidelights gives it more visual weight without making it compete with the rich siding and the rustic wood porch—those are the real stars of the exterior. With landscaping, potted plants, porch furniture, and even a hanging porch swing coming soon, the front will feel much more complete.
Inside, the kitchen already feels more finished. Appliances are installed, the backsplash is tiled, and we assembled the island stools—comfy saddle stools donated by West Elm. For reference, the island is painted Hale Navy, the gray cabinets are the cabinet maker’s stock color, and the gold pendants over the island are from Shades of Light.
You can spot some of the styling items already placed in the built-ins of the eat-in nook; Sherry has been hard at work on those. We haven’t shown the right-side cabinetry in the kitchen until now, but it’s an open, usable space—especially with an 11-foot island anchoring the room. Having the stools pulled up to the island instantly made the kitchen feel lived-in and functional.
We chose a subtle backsplash to bring polish and light reflection without stealing attention from the island, the gold fixtures, or the x-fronted glass cabinets. The white blend waterfall glass tile from Mosaic plays a supporting role in the overall design.
The counters are a leathered marble called White Moura. Instead of a glossy finish, it has a slightly pebbled, matte texture—hence the “leathered” name. The texture and sealing method make the surface durable and easier to maintain while adding a softer, tactile look to the counters.
About the fridge: I’m a little jealous. We originally picked a solid Whirlpool line at a local contractor shop called Cline, but the builder encouraged an upgrade, so we selected a Sub-Zero and Wolf package. It’s the kind of appliance package that feels luxurious and definitely elevates the kitchen.
Through the doorway off the kitchen is the butler’s pantry, which mirrors the kitchen’s cabinetry and counters. Instead of upper cabinets, we installed industrial teardrop sconces from Shades of Light and painted a wall with chalkboard paint. The bottom cabinets offer wine and servingware storage, while the open upper wall gives the small space some breathing room—plus we have plans to use that chalkboard area creatively.
Upstairs, the wallpaper we’ve been excited about is finally up in the laundry room. It’s Pebble Leaf by MissPrint, generously donated by Wallpaper Direct. We debated adding wallpaper, but decided a showhouse is the perfect place to take a design risk—and it paid off.
The laundry counters are soapstone, the faucet is Delta’s Leland, the cabinets are a dark stained wood, and the floors are a light modern tile called Travertino White Field Sunrock from Mosaic. We hung a pair of Extra Lime pendants from Shades of Light, and we’re still waiting on a deep gunmetal washer and dryer to complete the space.
The guest bathroom is still in progress—tile work and a mirror above the vanity are pending—but we aimed for a vintage vibe with tile wainscoting. In the meantime, the floor, donated by The Tile Shop, features a hex version of penny tile for a classic, textured look. We also added a vintage-style bridge faucet donated by Brizo and cabinet hardware from Liberty, small details that help finish the room.
Our favorite bathroom in the house is the kids’ bathroom. The green vanity, white lantern tile, wall-to-wall mirror, wall-mounted faucets, and an industrial light fixture from Shades of Light all came together beautifully. The solid surface top includes a recessed double trough sink that’s deep and roomy—perfect for kids and, in my mind, an epic Barbie pool. The wall-mount faucets are donated by Delta, and the whole setup is playful and practical.
That bathroom also features a separate toilet/shower area with a door so one child can shower while another uses the sink. Behind the shower we have built-in cubby shelves sized for rolled towels and toiletries, and the shower is tiled with striped glass that adds personality and texture.
Other spots are starting to come together too, like the Main Bedroom “Atrium” between the bathroom and closet. We added a brass floor mirror from West Elm and a branch chandelier, and settled on Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore for the walls. High ceilings on both floors give the space a grand, airy feel.
There are six other houses in the show, each by a different team, and the neighborhood is buzzing. One backyard even has a pool—a rarity around here—and it’s an inviting space that visitors will enjoy.
It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks as we push to have as much finished as possible by April 4th for Homearama photography and judging. We’ll keep tweaking afterward, but for now we’re living on-site to get things wrapped up. At least there are mattresses in place, which makes working long days a bit more comfortable.
Psst – Wanna see more showhouse info & photos? 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.