Before the Homearama show wrapped up this weekend, we slipped in on Friday with Teddy in our baby carrier (Clara was with the grandparents) to see the homes while visitors were still touring. It was great to chat with attendees, watch our pantry steadily fill with donated food, and even spot a sweet note left on a notepad in the girls’ bedroom. The highlight of the visit was seeing the People’s Choice Award our house won—voting was tight and every home was beautifully done. This year-long project taught us so much, and it has been an honor to be part of it.
Although the public show is over, our virtual tour continues. Today we’re focusing on the most playful parts of the house: the kids’ bedrooms, their shared Jack-and-Jill bathroom, and the adjoining playroom/reading room.
First up is the boys’ room (labeled “Bedroom 3” on the floor plan). The walls are Moonshine by Benjamin Moore, and the main focal point is a custom built-in bed alcove. The show emphasizes carpentry and customization possibilities, so this built-in was designed to showcase potential updates a homeowner could request. It fits a twin mattress (dressed with bedding from Target and pillows from IKEA), but a future owner could easily expand to a full or queen by adding a simple platform; rolling under-bed storage could replace the drawers that would become inaccessible under a wider mattress.
The desk came from IKEA, rescued second-hand via Craigslist. A bright orange stool and a wire basket are from Target—fun color choices even if the stool is a touch tall—and small lights and accessories were found at HomeGoods. A few childhood Lego sets were added for authentic, kid-friendly clutter. One playful detail: the wood crate surrounding a star light was actually its original packaging, but it made a perfect ledge for a Lego meeting, so we left it in place.
Our favorite feature in the built-in is the raised nook we nicknamed the “Crow’s Nest.” We planned these built-ins with the builder and carpenter, who deserve huge credit for bringing the idea to life. The carpenter even sourced a rolling library ladder and used repurposed pipe fittings when top-rail costs threatened the budget. The nook is lined with IKEA fabric, and a dog bed wrapped in that same fabric fit the niche well when a custom cushion wasn’t possible. The overhead pendant is part of our lighting collection.
Bookshelves were styled with a mix of items, including a quirky “Viking Octopus” plush toy loaned by a friend—because why wouldn’t an octopus be a bearded Viking? The room’s patterned carpet, Stanton’s Revere in Silver, came from a local ProSource dealer. We wanted at least one bedroom to have something different underfoot since most other spaces have hardwood floors.
At the foot of the bed there’s extra drawer storage and a large wardrobe left intentionally empty so new owners can customize shelving or add a clothing bar. With a closet on the opposite wall, the room offers plenty of storage options.
The two kids’ bedrooms connect through the Jack-and-Jill bathroom. We kept this bathroom light and neutral so it flows between the two distinct rooms. Walls are painted Simply White, and the floor features white lantern tile with gray grout to better hide everyday wear. The colorful focal point is the big vanity, painted Courtyard Green by Benjamin Moore.
A wall-to-wall mirror spans the vanity with faucets mounted through it. A recessed double trough sink sits in a white Corian countertop. Many show visitors said the large sink and mirror-mounted faucets were their favorite details—those were deliberate choices we made. Towels and bath accessories were sourced affordably to keep the space approachable.
Behind the sink is the bath and shower area, with a shelf above the toilet that added useful storage. That shelf required planning during rough-in, so the plumber set the toilet slightly farther from the wall to allow for it. We also added slatted wainscoting for a soft contrast with the ornate tile floor.
The shower features two complementary glass tile colors arranged in chunky horizontal bands for a playful touch. The showerhead doubles as a Bluetooth-connected speaker—an entertaining detail that kids and adults both appreciated during the show. A slim towel nook behind the shower holds rolled towels for easy access.
In the girls’ room we installed a large window cornice and mixed colorful bedside options—a blue side table from Target and a yellow garden stool from HomeGoods—then centered the bed and layered pillows and a blue throw. One fun focal point is a thrift-store headboard painted Hydrangea Flowers by Benjamin Moore, paired with a stenciled floral wall over Simply White. A playful chicken painting loaned by a friend adds character above the bed.
Along one wall is a double desk that provides a generous work surface and concealed storage. Based on reader suggestions, we styled one side as an art station and the other as a homework area, though it could easily serve as a sewing or makeup space depending on the future owner. The chairs were thrift-store finds we painted and reupholstered, and the pillows came from HomeGoods.
One detail people loved was the string lights in the small vaulted ceiling above the desk. We strung a long strand of café lights on discreet cup hooks and had an electrician install an outlet and switch so they’re easy to operate. They’re subtle when off and a delightful surprise when turned on.
Down the hall, the playroom/reading room sits behind sliding French pocket doors so it can be open for family gatherings or closed for quiet reading and play. The walls are painted Dragonfly, and although we’d planned to paint the built-ins the same color, they ended up white—a happy accident that kept the room feeling bright. Furnishings are intentionally simple: a low table, two poufs, and a rug for non-electronic games and activities. We glued small game pieces like Monopoly tokens in place to avoid choking hazards after a close call with a young visitor.
There’s also a large shelved closet for board games and storage. We kept the staging light and functional rather than over-styled; the goal was to show the space’s flexibility.
We’ll wrap up this tour in one more post with the remaining rooms plus a video walk-through. Thank you to everyone who visited the showhouse, donated to Habitat, left canned goods in our pantry, and cheered us on throughout this decorating sprint. And in case you were wondering what Teddy thought of his first showhouse outing—he slept through the whole thing.
P.S. For a full showhouse tour that includes final photos of every room, the floor plan, budget notes and a video walk-through, search for our full showhouse tour on our site to see all the details and shoppable furniture lists.