Cottage Comfort

When David Kirkpatrick of Cabbage Rose Floral Boutique purchased his 1938 house in Little Rock’s Hillcrest neighborhood two years ago, he was drawn to its cottage style but wanted to add warmth. “It has good bones with built-in shelves, French doors and arts-and-crafts details,” says Kirkpatrick, “but I also wanted it to be a place of comfort.” So he decided to roll up his sleeves and get to work, weaving in layers of earth tones and his signature eclectic style to transform the space into a comfortable cottage hideaway.

When Tela and Chris Webb set out to renovate their kitchen, maintaining the space's stylistic connection to their 1929 cottage was foremost in their minds. However, they were in need of better organization and use of space, a home office area and a place for the entire family, including daughter Sophie, to gather. They called on longtime family friend Melinda Dodson of Melinda Dodson Interior Design, who had collaborated with Andrea Brooks of Andrea Brooks Interiors on the design of the rest of the home. Melinda worked with contractor Larry West to develop a room that met all the needs of a modern family, while still exuding a cottage-chic atmosphere.
   
Melinda reconfigured the room around a large center island topped in maple butcher block, perfect for prep work or casual suppers. She also included a wall of shelving and cabinetry that opens to function as a home office. “She was able to incorporate everything we wanted and stay within our budget,” Tela says.
   
To establish a cottage-inspired look, Melinda and Tela chose a combination of blues—Sherwin-Williams' “Peacock Blue” on the island and “Festoon Aqua” on the walls—with white cabinetry and black-and-white checkered flooring, appropriate to the period of the home. The custom-built birch cabinetry that surrounds the room offers a plethora of storage, with glass-front doors for displaying dishware and larger bins below, ensuring that clutter is kept to a minimum. “Everything has a place now,” Tela says.
   
The kitchen is now the best of both worlds for the Webb family, offering the conveniences they need while still remaining true to their historic home. “It's perfect for our family—warm, livable and happy!” Tela says.

Sources and Suppliers
Interior design: Melinda Dodson, MD Interior Design, El Dorado
Contractor: Larry West and Sons, Hampton
Butcher block: John Boos, Effingham, Illinois
Linoleum flooring: Azrock
Sink: Kohler
Faucet: Moen
Ceramic Tile: Daltile
Countertops: Wilsonart Formica
Pendant light: Restoration Hardware
Desk Chair: Phillipe Starck Ghost Victoria, hivemodern.com
Cushions and window treatments: Paula Kinnaird, El Dorado
Paint: Sherwin-Williams
Cabinet Hardware: Van Dyke's Restorers