We spent the weekend knocking out a long list of hands-on projects for the girls’ room in the showhouse. The space still feels a bit sparse and is far from finished, so it will likely keep evolving right up until the deadline.
- The bed needs to be raised and a colorful throw will be added.
- Linens need ironing and a custom bolster will be layered in.
- Colorful fabric window treatments will be hung as soon as they arrive.
- We might swap out the end table — still deciding.
- A soft blue lamp and several accessories will be added to tie the room together.
Even so, we managed to shrink the to-do list significantly this weekend.
We stenciled the wall, painted the headboard, hung artwork (that striking chicken painting was created by our friend Lesli DeVito), painted and upholstered two secondhand chairs, and had fun adding a few decorative wall hooks.
You might remember the old full-size headboard we found for $9.98 at a local Family Thrift Center.
Now it wears a fresh coat of Hydrangea Flowers (Benjamin Moore) against a newly stenciled backdrop. Parker, one of the builder’s crew and apparently a stenciling pro, handled both the headboard paint and the stencil work.
It felt odd not to be up on ladders doing the wall work ourselves, but with 3,500 square feet of house to furnish and accessorize, it was great to have these jobs checked off while we focused on other tasks. The stencil was donated by Royal Design Studios, and the room is painted in Simply White with Hibiscus layered on for the stencil, creating a playful contrast with the headboard color.
The stencil gives the room personality while remaining flexible — it can be painted over easily if a future owner wants to change the look.
We also refinished two thrifted chairs that we picked up for $16 each at Love of Jesus on Midlothian.
Here’s how they looked when we found them.
We debated staining them and John sanded them down to raw wood, but with carpet in the girls’ room and other painted pieces planned, paint felt like the better fit. Paint adds a playful pop that suits a kid’s space, so we went for color instead of natural stain.
We primed the chairs with two coats of KILZ Premium using a small foam roller and a brush for tight spots, then applied two coats of leftover Hibiscus paint from the stenciled wall.
While the paint cured in the garage, I recovered the seats using extra loft batting from a craft store and a manual staple gun. I pulled the batting taut around the front of the seat and stapled around the back perimeter for a clean, cushioned finish.
We used a playful fabric called Candy Floss from U-Fab (they generously donated a yard, enough for both seats). For neat corners, fold the fabric like you would when wrapping a gift to achieve a tidy front appearance.
When working with patterned fabric, keep the print straight as you staple—flip the cushion occasionally to check alignment and remove or reposition staples if the pattern shifts. If upholstering multiple chairs, ensure the fabric’s orientation is consistent across all seats so they match visually.
Once the paint dried, we screwed the seat cushions back into the frames — and just like that, old chairs that look new.
Behind one chair you’ll spot ceramic animal hooks we picked up at HomeGoods to hang small items like a purse, mini backpack, and scarf.
They looked a bit flat against a white wall, so we dipped the antlers in paint to add color and interest. We deliberately chose two different shades (Hydrangea Flowers and Berry Fizz) so they wouldn’t look too matchy.
We skipped tape and simply dipped the antlers straight into the paint cans. They were a bit drippy, so we hung them from a grass seed spreader over foam core to catch splatters while the paint set.
The dipped tips turned out thick and glossy, almost like powder-coated resin. Their imperfect edges and angled finish give them a playful, handmade feel that adds character to the wall.
We also added a whimsical pendant — our Burger light — because it felt right for the room’s playful vibe.
The room already looks much more finished than it did a month ago.
We still have about half a dozen tweaks left for this space, plus 24 other rooms to finish in the next two weeks.
Update: A few readers asked about the double-desk setup in a single kids’ room. John grew up with two desk areas — one for a computer and one for homework or drawing — and since two chairs fit easily along that wall, a double workspace seemed practical and kid-friendly.
Update #2: Others wondered if showhouse furnishings should be universally appealing for future buyers. These designs are created for the show, where taking risks and showcasing different styles is encouraged. After the show, the homeowner can choose to buy some items or replace pieces to suit their family’s tastes.
As John mentioned, the next two weeks will be intensely showhouse-focused, so please forgive any delays in responses. We’ve managed to squeeze in a few of our own home projects amid the chaos and look forward to sharing those updates when we can.
How was your weekend? Any art hanging, headboard painting, chair makeovers, or ceramic-animal dipping?
Psst — Want to see more showhouse photos and info? Check the full showhouse tour for final pictures of every room, the floor plan, budget details, a video walk-through, and a gallery of featured furniture and accessories.