Date: March 28, 2025 | Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton |
A Little Rock couple enlists designer Miguel Newberg for a clean and classic kitchen update
When this couple first set foot in their west Little Rock home some 20 years ago, they were looking for inspiration. “We lived in the neighborhood and were planning to remodel our kitchen when a friend who is a Realtor suggested we look at this house to get a few ideas,” the owner says. As it turns out, the kitchen wasn’t the only part of the house they loved. They purchased it and raised their three children there. Now, more than two decades later, they turned to friend and interior designer Miguel Newberg to update the space for their next phase of life. “Never having done a renovation before, I don’t know what I would have done without Miguel,” the owner says.
“She has a very traditional yet clean style,” Miguel says of her client and the look she was hoping to achieve. “She and her husband wanted an elevated feel but something that’s not over-the-top.” Notably, they envisioned replacing the room’s dark countertops and lightening the cabinetry that, although painted in a soft neutral, had seemed to yellow over time.
The overall footprint of the space worked well for the homeowners, and they opted to keep it in place. True of many kitchens constructed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the room had a desk where the couple’s children frequently did homework when they were younger. No longer necessary, it was replaced with a tall, pantry-style cabinet that houses small appliances and has plug-ins to charge phones and tech accessories. Miguel also raised the doorways, relocated a warming drawer to an oven wall, and specified new appliances, including the island’s cooktop, which has a downdraft vent. These functional features are complemented with warm brass finishes, a standout quartz that also acts as an artful backsplash, and nature-inspired fabric for the window treatments, all of which bring a sense of comfortable elegance.
Miguel paired the couple’s existing kitchen table with new upholstered chairs from Cobblestone & Vine. The cabinetry is painted “Alabaster” by Sherwin-Williams.
Corner Station
The wet bar is ideal for serving drinks and appetizers during gatherings. Tucked into a corner, it doesn’t impede the room’s traffic flow and provides everything guests need—from fresh ice to glasses—to make themselves at home. Here, Miguel opted for a mix of concealed and glass-front cabinetry, offering the opportunity to display barware.
“I’m very traditional, and Miguel embraces that but also opens my eyes to new things.”
—homeowner
Go Up The Wall
After finding the perfect quartz countertop on their first visit to Pacific Shore Stones, Miguel suggested carrying the material onto the backsplash to maximize its visibility. “We loved the movement and the mix of gold, gray, and just a touch of blue in the veining,” the designer says.
Cast a Glow
The warm brass finish and textured rope shade on the dining table’s chandelier bring a casual elegance to the space. Its woven texture is echoed on the island’s barstools.
Push the Pulls
“This hardware is very clean but not plain,” Miguel says, pointing to the pulls’ circular, tiered backplates and banded detail. Its warm brass finish ties in with the faucets and chandelier.
Branch Out
When selecting a fabric for the window treatments, the owner was immediately drawn to “Katsura,” a pattern from Thibaut’s Grand Palace collection. “Flowering dogwoods are one of her favorites, so this was an easy choice,” Miguel notes.
Design Resources
Contractor Zack Dickinson, ZD Enterprises Interior Design Miguel Newberg, M.N’Teriors Accessories and Furniture Cobblestone & Vine Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinetry JS Custom Cabinets, Doors, and More Countertops Pacific Shore Stones Fabrics Designer Effects Fixtures The Plumbing Warehouse Hardware and Lighting Light Innovations Paint Sherwin-Williams Painting Matt Brown Painting Window Coverings Designer Supply
