Things are moving quickly at the Homearama Showhouse, and we have a host of updates since last week. More fixtures, cabinets, and countertops are installed, so there’s plenty to share. On the front porch, the focal point of the rustic vaulted ceiling is now in place: a statement light from Restoration Hardware. It was a splurge (we used their trade program to get a discount), but it looks amazing and sets the tone before you step inside.
When we visited yesterday, the protective floor coverings were just being pulled up and the hardwoods were still dusty while they receive a final sealant coat. Dust and all, the photo captures the wall of windows and doors at the back of the living room that open onto the covered porch.
The kitchen is still a work in progress—workers were installing the vent hood when we shot these photos—but we wanted to show a wider view of the navy island topped by the brass accordion fixtures we mentioned last week. The island is painted Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore, the same shade used on the fireplace column across the room. After feedback on the builder’s previous house to “go bigger,” this island was scaled up, and we’re excited to add four stools to complete the look.
It’s satisfying to see selections that lived in showrooms and catalogs finally installed—like the glass X-front cabinets flanking the range hood. We passed on open shelving in favor of these display cabinets so someone can showcase their nicest dishes, bowls, and glassware.
Adjacent to the kitchen is the breakfast nook, which took a bit more work to get right. Carpenter John (not Builder John nor Blogger John) made the space cozier after its footprint turned out larger than originally planned. Other layout considerations shifted dimensions slightly, but it’s coming together: a large table is still to be built and shelves filled, and the silver dome light donated by Shades of Light is now in place.
Right next to the breakfast nook is the pantry—actually a walk-in pantry—that has us both a little jealous. It’s roomy enough to imagine filling it with treats. The prism flushmount light, also donated by Shades of Light, has an angular geometry we like to pretend nods to our fondness for bees.
We also chose patterned carpet for the boys’ room instead of plain wall-to-wall—hardwoods are used throughout the rest of the house except in the two kids’ bedrooms and the guest room. The Revere pattern by Stanton (selected locally at ProSource) incorporates subtle hexagons and adds visual interest without overwhelming the space. Carpet installation was in progress when we were there.
The en-suite bathroom is a chaotic but exciting scene. We treated it like a hotel-inspired, light-and-luxe space with tone-on-tone whites and grays, plus a few deliberate pops of color that will appear in artwork and accessories. The big freestanding tub makes a dramatic centerpiece and is the kind of luxury we’d love to have at home. We also added a bold plane of spa-like color on the shower’s back wall, which is still being finished and currently has a mirror leaning inside it.
The bluish-green glass tiles in the shower are the 3×12″ New Haven tile, paired with 3×6″ white subway tile on the sides—both donated by The Tile Shop. The shower floor uses the Evanston series in Frost Snow, with small glass squares mixed with marble to tie the whole room together.
For the vanity counters we avoided the obvious all-white marble and chose a stone with soft, seaglass-colored veining to echo the shower tiles. Fixtures throughout are polished chrome. The glass chandelier is from Shades of Light; the sink faucets and shower trim were donated by Brizo, and Delta provided the tub filler.
Across from the bathroom is a closet that’s likely to induce envy: a well-planned his-and-hers layout with a storage-filled divider. The carpenter executed our general ideas and added thoughtful features like an angled shoe rack that will thrill any shoe lovers.
We also peeked into the jack-and-jill bathroom shower that serves the kids’ rooms. A headboard and a spare toilet temporarily blocked some wider shots, but the shower tile is worth noting: two different colored glass subway tiles were installed in broad, roughly 12-inch stripes for a playful, graphic effect. We selected the Snow Glass and Glass Winter combinations at The Tile Shop after trying several pairings.
To add a touch of fun in the kids’ bath, we installed a Kohler Moxie showerhead with a waterproof Bluetooth speaker that magnetically attaches inside the shower. It lets you listen to music or podcasts while you shower—a modern upgrade to the old shower radios of our high school days.
Furniture moves begin next week, so our next update should show rooms starting to feel like home. The entire house is scheduled to be furnished and decorated by early April, so we’re hustling to meet the deadline and excited to see it all come together.
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.