Yup, Sherry and I have started work on another new house. Before you gasp — we’re not moving into this one, and it isn’t technically ours. In fact, it isn’t even built yet.
The lot currently looks like a blank slate, and that’s part of the thrill.
Some of you may remember the Mega House Crashing event we did last year where we toured eight custom show homes, each built and styled by different teams. That event was part of Richmond Homearama, and this year they’ve invited us to design one of the homes. Cue excited shrieks (I’ll spare you the high-pitched version).
We’re both thrilled and a little overwhelmed. This is a different kind of project for us: planning an entire house design from scratch on a wooded lot, working with new construction (which we haven’t done personally before), and designing a home that will be sold after the event. We’re also budgeting with someone else’s money, which adds a new layer of responsibility — and excitement. On top of that, we’ll be up against several experienced interior designers who created some truly beautiful rooms last year.
We couldn’t pass up the opportunity, especially because this project supports a great cause. While we sometimes take on side gigs to help with expenses, this effort is mostly creative. Homearama compensates designers for their work, but we’ve decided to donate our entire fee to Richmond’s Habitat for Humanity. Homearama will also be supporting Habitat in other ways during the event, so it feels good to contribute.
This project aligns with our goal to take on work beyond our own home as a way to grow and learn. We literally jumped at the chance. Here we are, trying to play it cool while walking the lot where our showhouse will be built — the plan is for the roof to be on by Christmas.
We’ve already started sketching floor plans over the last few weeks, even though the event isn’t until next May. Of the seven custom builders participating, we’ve paired up with Biringer Builders. When we first met, they shared a base plan and we’ve been drawing on it and refining it ever since. That collaboration has been one of the best parts so far. Because the house exists only on paper, we’ve been able to make meaningful changes to the layout. John, the builder, has been a great partner — open to ideas like adding a French door or a built-in bookcase and offering thoughtful enhancements such as transom windows above doors. It’s certainly easier to move walls on paper than after they’re built.
John’s team will handle all of the actual construction, so this isn’t a DIY build for us. Our role is design-focused: shaping the layout, selecting finishes (flooring, counters, appliances, sinks, cabinetry, and more), and furnishing and styling every room. With John’s skilled carpenters, masons, and electricians available, we can dream bigger. We’re aiming to create a standout house and to raise as much as possible for Habitat, so we’ll be working hard to make it special.
Between now and next May, we’ll share the project’s progress: final floor plans, our finish selections, and decorating choices for each space. It will be fun to test ideas we don’t have room for in our own house — hello, walk-in pantry. We’ll also get to build a few furniture or art pieces specifically for the showhouse, which is an exciting challenge.
So that’s what we’ve been juggling since our move: new house plans, design choices, and a packed to-do list. We admit to a bit of nervousness — many of the designers involved have years of experience — but we’re ready to learn and give this our best. Sometimes the nerves make us want to hide, but then a gleaming tile sample or a great layout pulls us right back out of the corner.
…only to be tempted by shiny tile samples that Sherry insists are worth rubbing her face on.
Update: Want to see the finished showhouse? Check our photo gallery for the full showhouse tour, which includes final room photos, the floor plan, budget notes, a video walk-through, and highlights of the furniture and accessories we used.