We should probably post more photos of blue ceilings on Instagram—judging by the response to this photo from the Homearama Showhouse, they’re a hit. Or maybe the emojis Sherry added had something to do with it. Either way, the office ceiling painted in Benjamin Moore’s bold “Skydive” exceeded our expectations, and we were excited to showcase one of the pendant lights we designed last year.

There’s been a lot of visible progress since our last update two weeks ago. The problem is that much of the work is still in a transitional state—great for showing finishes and fixtures, less exciting for demonstrating how the rooms will feel once furnished. From above, things look promising; look down and you’ll still see a lot of empty space.

That said, the hardwood floors have been sanded, stained, and sealed (which is why they’re currently covered for protection). Most of the painting is complete, cabinets and many light fixtures are installed, and even small details like doorknobs are being checked off the list. We loved the look of backplates from our own house, so we used a similar approach here but upgraded to white porcelain knobs. There’s a close-up photo of one, and a wider shot that shows two together on the doors.

The glass pocket doors into the dining room are in place; they still need painting along with the front door, but we’re already smitten—especially with the transom window above. Long ceilings would be a dream, but these details are doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

Don’t judge the height or tilt of any hanging fixtures just yet. During a walkthrough we mapped out all the lighting locations—fixtures, sconces, and can lights—so the electrician had to install junction boxes and position everything in advance. Now that the hardwiring is done, it’s gratifying to see the fixtures in place, though we still plan to tweak their heights once furniture is arranged. For example, the dining chandelier is temporarily lifted so people can walk beneath it safely; it will hang lower once the table is in.

Several of the fixtures were generously provided by Shades of Light. The Loft Shade Chandelier is installed in the foyer and the Industrial Modern Island Chandelier is in the dining room. We also painted above the wainscoting in Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore, which adds depth and helps visualize how rooms will read once furniture, art, window treatments, and accessories (most of which are selected, though some items remain on our long shopping list) are introduced.

The living room and kitchen flow into one another and remain largely white so we can bring color in through furnishings and accessories. To add contrast, we painted the fireplace wall Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore; the kitchen island will match that same navy hue. In this stage you can also see the edge of the stairs where the dark Jacobean floor color peeks through.

We like the white painted mantel and marble surround against the navy fireplace column. The gas insert sits in front of a herringbone brick back, giving the fireplace a slightly vintage, weathered look. The builder wired the mantel for a TV, but for the show we’ll hang art there instead—possibly an oil painting of Burger The Wonder Dog, rather than a model-home flat-screen.

The kitchen cabinets are up, and surprisingly, none of them are white. They’re not in their final finish yet—some doors and drawers are missing, counters and appliances are not installed, and the backsplash still needs to go in—but we’re thrilled to finally see two of the lights over the large island. We took a risk by choosing the Accordion Chandeliers (also donated by Shades of Light) to push outside our usual style. They look a little wild now, but we have a plan for them and it’s exciting to see the vision beginning to take shape. The island below will be painted Hale Navy to echo the fireplace, so the final result should feel cohesive.

Upstairs is progressing similarly: many lights are installed, including three Glass Jug Pendants in the hallway, and the glass pocket doors are in place for the playroom/reading room/library. The stairs still lack a railing, which makes navigating them precarious at the moment; we’re taking extra care when photographing and walking the space.

The Jack-and-Jill bathroom shared by the kids is coming together. Most elements are installed except for the faucet, sink, and mirror; countertops were about to be set when we left to pick up Clara from preschool. The vanity was painted Courtyard Green to match a side table we loved, and the floor features white lantern tiles with gray grout—chosen to look clean while remaining kid-friendly.

One small nook we’re calling “The Atrium” sits between a closet and a bathroom. The wall is painted Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore and will hold a large leaning mirror beneath a Driftwood Pendant. We liked the pendant so much we almost considered one for our nursery at home, but it’s best suited to this small, softly lit nook rather than an entire room.

The most encouraging news is how quickly builder John and his crew are moving to finish the project. They’re working hard to wrap things up in the next few weeks so we can begin moving furniture in advance of early April photography for press. We also have our own mid-April deadlines for final styling. It’s both thrilling and nerve-wracking to shift from construction into the furnishing and accessorizing phase—let’s just hope nobody goes into labor while we’re racing to finish.

MORE PAINT COLORS WE LOVE

You can explore more of our favorite go-to paint colors by touring our homes through the menu at the top of the blog. We’ve also published detailed posts about paint choices and favorites, including in-depth looks at whites and specific Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams shades:

• The 12 Best White Paint Colors
• Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
• Benjamin Moore Simply White
• Sherwin-Williams Pure White
• Sherwin-Williams Extra White

Psst – Want to see the finished showhouse? Visit our full showhouse tour for final photos of every room, the floor plan, budget details, a video walkthrough, and shoppable furniture and accessories.