Arkansas' Best Kitchen: Leslie and Scott Bailey, Fayetteville

The Goal: Create an efficient kitchen that's welcoming and attractive within an open great room setting, and includes cooking and work zones, ample storage, plus seating for a family of five.

What they did:

The Baileys brought kitchen designer Susan Latta into the project at the blueprint stage—a critical element, says Latta, in ensuring that “the homeowners, builder and construction team have the same vision for the space before it is actually built.”

The floor plan the Baileys chose involved the kitchen flowing into an open family room with large French Country-style ceiling beams and a fireplace. Latta helped unify the two areas by creating an island that projects into the family room and offers counter seating. “The space and square footage lent itself to an unusual shape,” says Latta, who specified painting the island base as a focal point and staining the remainder of the cabinetry to tie in with the family room ceiling beams.

The biggest challenge:

Integrating attractive yet hard-working cooking and prep areas within a medium-sized open kitchen. Latta created two main work zones: one along the room’s back wall that includes the refrigerator, sink, range and pantry, and another on the side wall, featuring storage and display space plus a wet bar sink. Architectural details and artistic elements, such as metal corbels added alongside the range hood and a custom-made glass door for the pantry, help the kitchen blend with the overall style of the great room.

Their favorite part:

The open island with the raised countertop. “Most days, the kids sit there and begin homework, while I’m at the other side of the island prepping and cooking,” says Leslie. “I love that we’re all together.”

What the judges loved:

The multi-purpose island was a hit with Tobi Fairley, who could envision how well this design would work for a family with three kids. Beth Davis appreciated the room’s artistic touches, from interesting cabinet hardware to the glass pane in the pantry door to the intriguing pendant light over the wet bar.

Design Resources

Kitchen Design Susan Latta Designs, Fayetteville

Builder Nall Custom Homes, Springdale

Appliances Metro Builders Supply, Springdale

Banquette seating Interior Fabrics & Design, Fayetteville

Barstools, pillows I.O. Metro, locations statewide

Cabinet hardware Lighting Emporium, Springdale

Countertops Artistic Tile, Marble and Granite, Springdale

Faucets J&B Supply Inc., Springdale

Flooring Dramis Hardwood Floors, Fayetteville

Light fixtures Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock; Lighting Emporium, Springdale

Paint Pratt & Lambert Paints, locations statewide

Tile Townzen Tile & Laminates, Springdale