We’ve been posting pictures of blue ceilings on Instagram lately, and the response to this photo from the Homearama showhouse was stronger than we expected. Whether it was the sky-blue ceiling itself or Sherry’s dancing girl emojis, people seemed to love it.

We chose Benjamin Moore’s bold “Skydive” for the office ceiling, and it turned out even better than we anticipated. We also installed one of our favorite light fixtures that we designed last year. Although there’s been a lot of progress since our last update two weeks ago, much of the room remains empty, so we’re holding off on a full reveal until the furnishings arrive.

Still, the work that’s been completed is worth sharing. The hardwood floors have been sanded, stained, and sealed, and they’re currently protected while other finishes are completed. Most of the painting throughout the house is finished, many light fixtures and cabinets are installed, and smaller details like doorknobs are being checked off the list. We love the look of backplates we used in our own home, so we echoed that here and upgraded to white porcelain knobs for a fresh, classic touch.

Glass pocket doors leading to the dining room are in place; they and the front door are awaiting their final coats of paint. We’re especially fond of the transom window above the pocket doors — it hints at the drama of taller ceilings.

Some light fixtures appear high or slightly askew right now because the electrician first installed junction boxes for every planned fixture, sconce, and can light. This made it necessary to pick fixtures early so placements could be finalized. Once furniture goes in, we’ll lower and adjust several pendants — for example, the dining chandelier is currently lifted for safety and will hang lower when the table is set.

Fixture highlights include the Loft Shade Chandelier in the foyer and the Industrial Modern Island Chandelier in the dining room, both generously provided by Shades of Light. We painted the area above the wainscoting in Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore, which pairs well with the brighter trim and will help ground the space once furnishings are added. Each room is still only about 5–10% complete—furniture, art, window treatments, and accessories are pending—but painted walls and installed lighting make it much easier to visualize the finished rooms.

The living room and kitchen flow together and are mostly white to serve as a neutral backdrop for bolder furnishings and art. We added a Hale Navy accent column on the fireplace and plan to carry that same Hale Navy to the kitchen island for cohesion across the open plan. The fireplace features a white painted mantel, a marble surround, and a herringbone brick back that gives it a slightly weathered, classic feel. For the showhouse, we’ll hang art above the mantel instead of a TV — possibly even an oil painting of Burger The Wonder Dog.

Kitchen cabinets are in, though not yet in their final finish. Counters, appliances, and backsplash are still forthcoming. Over the large island we installed Accordion Chandeliers—also donated by Shades of Light—that felt risky and exciting when we chose them. They were among the first fixtures selected back in December, so it’s gratifying to see them finally installed above the Hale Navy island.

Upstairs, progress mirrors the main level: many lights are installed, including a trio of glass jug pendants in the hallway, and the glass pocket doors for the playroom/reading room/library are in place. The staircase currently lacks a railing, making it a temporary hazard until balustrades are completed. We’re taking precautions while work continues.

The jack-and-jill bathroom for the kids is coming together. Most elements are installed; the faucet, sink, mirror, and counters were next on the schedule. The vanity was painted Courtyard Green to match a side table we’d originally found, and the floor is laid with white lantern tiles and gray grout, chosen to be more forgiving for a family bath over time.

We’ve named a small niche “The Atrium.” It sits between a closet and a bathroom and is painted Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore. We’ve ordered a large leaning mirror for that wall and selected a Driftwood Pendant to hang above the nook. The pendant gives the space a sculptural moment without needing to light a whole room.

Builder John and his crew are working quickly to finish major items so we can move toward furnishing and styling before our early April photography deadline. The plan is to have the house photo-ready in the first week of April for press, while we aim to complete final touches by mid-April. It’s an exciting—if slightly nerve-wracking—shift from construction to the finishing and furnishing phase.

MORE PAINT COLORS WE LOVE

For more of our favorite paint colors, explore the paint tours in our blog menu. We’ve also written detailed posts about go-to paints we recommend:

• 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? Check our full showhouse tour for final photos of every room, the floor plan, budget details, a video walkthrough, and information about the furniture and accessories we used.