Showhouse Update: Progress, Fixtures, and Finishing Touches

Things are moving quickly at the Homearama showhouse, and we have a lot to share since last week. More fixtures, cabinets, and countertops are now in place, and the house is beginning to feel like a real home. We’ll walk through the highlights room by room, pointing out finishes, features, and a few of the design decisions that shaped each space.

The front porch now features the chandelier that crowns the rustic vaulted ceiling. It’s a statement piece from Restoration Hardware — a splurge for the project (we joined their trade program to save 20%) — and it creates a dramatic welcome before you step inside.

When we took these photos the crew was just beginning to remove protective floor coverings. The hardwoods were still dusty as they prepped for a final sealant coat, so access was limited that day. Even so, the photo captures the generous wall of windows and the doors at the rear of the living area that lead out to the covered porch — a lovely focal point for the main living space.

The kitchen is still a work in progress — you can see the vent hood getting installed — but the navy island is already stealing the show. The island is painted Hale Navy by Ben Moore, matching the fireplace column across the room. Above the island are polished brass accordion fixtures that add personality and warmth. The builder listened to feedback from his previous house and made this island larger than originally planned, which should give plenty of room for four stools and everyday activity.

We chose some of these kitchen elements months ago while browsing showrooms and vendor catalogs, and it’s satisfying to see them installed. Glass-fronted X-style doors flank the range hood, offering display space for nice dishes and glassware without committing to full open shelving. Those doors bring a curated, tidy look while still showing off treasures.

The breakfast nook sits to the left of the kitchen and proved a bit trickier than expected. Carpenter John helped make the space feel cozier after it ended up wider than originally planned. There’s still a large table to be installed and shelves to be styled, but the silver dome light (donated by Shades of Light) already gives the nook character and scale.

Next to the breakfast area is the walk-in pantry — a real showstopper for anyone who loves organized storage. It’s spacious enough to make you jealous, and we joked about filling it with candy like a whimsical sweet shop. A geometric prism flushmount from Shades of Light hangs in the pantry, echoing the project’s subtle play with pattern and texture.

On the second floor, the boys’ bedroom carpet went down during our visit. We picked a Revere pattern by Stanton (sourced locally at ProSource) to add visual interest without overwhelming the space. The house features hardwoods throughout, with carpeting reserved for the two kids’ rooms and the guest room for comfort and sound control.

The en-suite bathroom is still being completed, but the direction is clear: a luxe, light, hotel-inspired retreat. We leaned into tone-on-tone whites and soft grays with small injections of color, planning for art and accessories to bring in personality later. The freestanding tub is a focal point and a luxury we’d love to have in our own bathroom someday.

To keep the shower from feeling sterile, we installed a spa-like plane of blue-green glass tile on the back wall. The tile is a narrow 3 x 12″ format paired with classic 3 x 6″ white subway tiles on the sides. The shower floor mixes small glass squares with marble, helping to tie the palette together and provide subtle visual interest.

For the vanity counters we avoided an all-white marble look and selected material with soft, seaglass-colored veins that echo the shower tile. Fixtures throughout the bathroom are polished chrome. The glass chandelier and other light fixtures bring sparkle and scale, while faucets, shower trim, and the tub filler were generously donated by specialty plumbing brands involved with the project.

Across from the bath is a closet that has already become an enviable space. The carpenter organized it with efficient, storage-rich elements including an angled shoe rack that keeps footwear visible and accessible. The layout contains distinct his-and-hers zones separated by a storage-filled divider for maximum functionality.

We also took a look at the jack-and-jill bathroom shower, which uses two different colors of glass subway tiles arranged in wide vertical stripes for a bold, playful effect. The installation combines Snow Glass and Glass Winter tile tones to create a bright, energetic look that’s perfect for a kids’ bath.

For a fun, modern touch in the kids’ bath we installed a Moxie showerhead with a waterproof Bluetooth speaker that magnetically attaches inside the shower. It keeps tunes in place while showering and adds a little high-tech delight to the daily routine.

Furniture moving begins next week, so our next update should show the house with more layers of decor and styling. The goal is to have the entire home fully furnished and decorated by early April, which has us racing to finish all remaining details — but it’s exciting to see so many rooms now feeling like real, lived-in spaces.

Want to see more? Our full showhouse tour includes final photos of every room, the floor plan, budget details, a video walkthrough, and a list of showhouse furniture and accessories.