by Bailey Shelton | photos by Stephanie Decker, Adam Gibson Architectural Photography, Tyler Hergott, and WayUp Media
The best in Indianapolis custom home builders came together once again for the 2025 Home-A-Rama at Chatham Hills. This year, the selected neighborhood is one of the most talked about developments in the north side of Indianapolis.
With pastoral surroundings and a golf course through the center, Chatham Hills offers luxurious amenities alongside generously sized lots, ideal for the show homes of Home-A-Rama. This year’s builders included returning builders Randy Shaffer Custom Homes and Kent Shaffer Homes, Scott Campbell Custom Homes, AR Homes, and Sigma Builders, along with newcomers Custom Living, aaNovo, and People’s Choice winner McKenzie Pierrot Homes.
DYNAMIC KITCHEN AND DINING
“Built-in hood or insert with custom surround;” that’s the technical term for a kitchen arrangement you’ve probably already drooled over, where the cooktop and counter seems to be recessed into the wall, with built-in cabinetry fully surrounding the worktop. This style not only shows off a variety of custom cabinetry, but draws from an eclectic European motif, making a kitchen space feel warmer and inviting. The state-of-the-art appliances in each of this year’s kitchens cannot hurt, either.
CONTINUED EUROPEAN INSPIRATION
Although picture windows are still having their moment in the sun, more of these large panes of glass are gaining back their fenestration. The added detail allows more texture around the windows, and pairs well with European design elements, which continue to trend in luxury home design.
In keeping with the European elements, builders are continuing to incorporate arched ceilings and doorways. Last year, Kent Shaffer Homes and Randy Shaffer Custom Homes’ People’s Choice winning project used archways on the exterior and interior of the home. This year, McKenzie Pierrot earned the distinction, and also made use of the archway trend. Correlation isn’t causation, but there’s something to be said about the enduring use of this look in high-end spaces.
BATHROOM MOMENTS
Jodi Pierrot of McKenzie Pierrot Homes has done a gorgeous job of blending traditional English Tudor motifs with contemporary design elements in the interior of the McKenzie Pierrot show home. The soaking tub in the master bathroom is a particular favorite. With its beveled edge and surrounding shelves, the alcove is just a few candles and some steaming water away from a true main character moment.
Homeowners have only become more interested in spa-like home spaces, including wet rooms in the primary suite, which are defined by full soaking tubs sharing the same waterproofed space as a showerhead. Custom Living and AR Homes both incorporated this trend into their 2025 HAR homes.
Steam rooms and at-home spa features appeared in all seven of the Home-A-Rama builds, including fitness areas and the eye-catching TRESSS® moving pool floor at the aaNovo home. It’s clear homeowners have a growing interest in a mini retreat in the comfort of their own home.
INTIMATE SPACES BIG AND SMALL
This year, standout floorplans are beginning to feel more personalized because of spaces that feel secret, tucked away, or hidden from guests. The arched wet bar that aaNovo created, then drenched in deep brown, feels like the perfect escape from a loud party, McKenzie Pierrot’s half-stair doorway on the main landing feels like a space that might require a password to enter, and structural privacy in the rooftop space and lower bedrooms of the Kent Shaffer home make it entirely possible for a homeowner to watch the outside world while remaining hidden.
A number of homes also feature draped pendant lights with sculptural covers. This adds interest to a space, while maintaining an intimate feel above a table or countertop by lowering the eyeline. Thrifty homeowners rejoice, as this particular style of pendant lighting is common in architectural salvage from the 1960s and 70s, and pairs well with modern design features.
Finally, guests with a keen eye might have noticed the appearance of functional spaces in hallways, from bench seating on a landing, to writing desks that can tuck away. Library shelves are particularly useful, making a hallway feel like the home of a curated collection.
For another year, Home-A-Rama has brought the cutting edge of home design to the forefront. It’s easy to see why this annual showcase is able to bring together the best home artisans of Central Indiana.
