Design Progress: Study and Dining Room at the Homearama Showhouse for Habitat for Humanity

In last week’s update about our Homearama Showhouse for Habitat For Humanity, we shared early peeks at how several rooms were coming together. Until now most of the work has been planning—mood boards, shopping lists, and concept sketches—because we can’t bring in furnishings while the painters, cabinetry installers, and floor finishers are still working. That said, the build team has been making steady progress and we’ve reached a point where two rooms have moved well past the idea stage: the study (home office) and the dining room.

These two rooms sit at the front of the house, so we wanted them to convey the overall feeling we’re aiming for: one room light and cheerful, the other cozy and moody. Together we hope they set a welcoming tone that carries through the rest of the home.

Study / Home Office Plan

We designed the study imagining a future homeowner who works from home—possibly a blogger—so we leaned into a lighter, slightly feminine aesthetic instead of the traditional dark, heavy study. The goal is a bright, happy space with a pop of saturated color overhead.

1. The walls and trim are painted Benjamin Moore Simply White; the 10′ ceiling will get a bold accent color called Skydive, a rich turquoise we think will feel dramatic without overwhelming the room.
2. A rust-colored wire globe lantern from our lighting collection will hang over a desk that floats in the middle of the room.
3. Floor-length curtains in a textured woven fabric (Dapp in Elephant) will frame the windows and add softness and height.
4. A striped office chair from West Elm is planned for the desk; availability is still pending, but we’re hopeful it arrives in time.
5. Chic storage boxes and a cheerful desk mug will keep the workspace organized and personal.
6. A wood-and-metal desk on loan from Green Front Furniture will anchor the room; the desk image here was lightly edited to remove display materials.
7. Art from Help Ink—where a portion of sales supports charity—will bring color and meaningful messaging to the walls.
8. A warm, casual kilim rug in a guava tone will soften the floor and keep the room light and inviting.

Many of these items are already committed, while accessories and art will be finalized as the room evolves. Expect some changes as we refine placement and layering once the major elements are installed.

Dining Room Plan

Last week the dining room was still a shell, awaiting custom glass pocket doors at the extra-wide entry. Since then, the wainscoting has been completed and painted, which instantly gave the space character. We opted for a less common interpretation of wainscoting: a subtle wide-angled pattern of wood slats with 1/4″ gaps between them so the pattern reads as an engraved texture rather than a raised profile.

We worked with the carpenter on-site, sketching angles and testing board widths and spacing until the design felt balanced—distinct but not overpowering. For those curious: we used 1 x 3″ boards spaced a quarter-inch apart at an angle around 22 degrees from the floor.

The upper walls will be painted Kendall Charcoal, a deep brown-gray that adds a moody, sophisticated contrast to the glossy white wainscoting. With the textured wall as a backdrop, we’re planning the following key pieces and accents:

1. An industrial-modern island chandelier in a bronze finish will hang over the table and serve as a sculptural focal point.
2. A jute boucle rug in a soft platinum tone will ground the seating area with texture and warmth.
3. Simple potted greenery will serve as centerpieces to bring life and color to the table.
4. A rustic wood pedestal table, on loan for the show, will float in the center of the room beneath the chandelier.
5. A mix of dark upholstered dining chairs will create visual contrast against the white wainscoting and complement the charcoal upper walls.
6. Floor-length curtains in a subtly patterned ultramarine fabric will reference the angled wainscoting and introduce a quiet dash of color to the window wall.

We’re at that exciting phase where rooms begin to feel like real spaces. It’s amazing to look back and remember this was a dirt lot just a few months ago, and in two months we’ll reveal a finished showhouse with more than 20 distinct spaces. That’s a lot of before-and-after transformation in a short time—plus, life is getting busier on the home front with a baby on the way. Time to buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Psst – Want to see the finished showhouse? Look for Our Full Showhouse Tour to view the final photos of every room, the floor plan, budget details, a video walk-through, and the curated furniture and accessories used throughout the house.