Date:  December 19, 2016  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Chip Jones  |  

Designer Melissa Haynes helps a Fayetteville couple create a comfortable, new-construction home where they can relax with their grandchildren and make memories

“It was a dream to build our own home since Dennis is a builder,” says Trude Moore of the Fayetteville residence that she and her husband recently completed. The pair, who raised their two children in a home on the east side of Fayetteville, are now empty nesters—well, unless you count the six young grandchildren (the oldest of whom is seven) who live nearby and frequent their grandparents’ home. As the Moores entered this new phase of life, they were ready for a new house with a lighter, more lively palette and an inviting, comfortable interior that welcomes the entire family.

The Unexpected Upsize
“Our original plan was to downsize,” Trude says. However, taking into consideration their two grown children, along with their spouses and children, they ended up increasing the square footage of their residence. “I wanted a place where they would be comfortable, and we could all enjoy it together,” she says. The floor plan accounts for this. A centrally located living room that adjoins to the kitchen creates the hub of the home. The house’s more private spaces, including a playroom, guest room, and the master bedroom and bath, radiate from this central point. Additionally, many rooms in the home have a sightline to other spaces, both inside and outside the home, allowing the Moores to keep an eye on the grandchildren even when they aren’t in the same room. “Their family has been growing exponentially, and I think they were excited to have a space where everyone could gather,” says interior designer Melissa Haynes, who was brought into the project early on to offer guidance on the home’s functionality as well as to give the space the style the couple desired.

User Friendly
Since the child to grandparent ratio in the house is 6:2 at many times, it was important that most everything be durable, washable, and stain-proof. “We chose fabrics that were kid-friendly so they could get on the sofa with snacks. We tried to be really cognizant of that in this room in particular,” Haynes says of the living room. Additionally, the fabric on the chairs in the breakfast nook wipes clean, while the bench’s slipcover can be removed and washed when needed.

Comfort was also key. In the living room, Haynes had a Hickory Chair ottoman custom made to allow everyone a space to prop up his or her feet while lounging on the sofas or in the chairs. Even the formal dining room was designed with a desire to be inviting for both the couple and guests. Grasscloth covers the walls, providing a sense of warmth through texture, while a long wooden table (a piece that made the move from the Moores’ previous residence) has plenty of seating for the entire family.

While the couple’s children and grandchildren were always in mind when it came to the home’s design and furnishings, the house was built for Dennis and Trude to enjoy. For example, Dennis wanted a view of the backyard from the shower. Haynes worked the floor plan to accommodate this while making other improvements for space considerations. Additionally, the Moores were keen on enjoying both the interior and exterior spaces of the home. In the living room, a NanaWall system of glass doors, which fold back in an accordion fashion, extend the footprint of the home onto the back terrace. Being in the building industry, Dennis outfitted the home with many advanced technological comforts as well. Digital control panels replace the need for numerous switches throughout the home; a Jetson-like sound (part of a wireless driveway alert system) signals the arrival of a guest when a car pulls into the driveway; and the family room’s television lowers into a chest when not in use.

Peak of Personality
To complement the open spaces and advanced features, a serene palette flows throughout the house, starting with Farrow & Ball’s “French Gray” in the study, which is just off the front entrance. This color echoes the hue of the shutters on the home’s exterior, and variations are repeated in the dining room and carry into the living room. “Melissa understood that I wanted light and bright with a little bit of color, and she helped me to do that,” Trude says. The master bedroom and bath feature blue—Trude’s favorite color—which is also mixed into the living room, breakfast nook, and other areas of the home.

Additionally, after talking with the Moores, Haynes felt it was important that the furnishings have significance. She wanted the pieces used to not only include practical selections but also meaningful ones. For example, in the study, antique maps that belonged to Trude’s brother are prominently displayed over the settee for guests to see upon entering the home. In the living room, a framed collection of dried Texas and Arkansas wildflowers are a nod to the states where the family has lived. It is these personal touches—paired with the sound of little voices laughing while the Moores enjoy the company of family—that make the house a home.

Design Resources
Architect Steve Miller, Miller Boskus Lack Architects, P.A., Fayetteville, (479) 443-7121
Contractor Commerce Construction, Springdale, (479) 751-4432, ccinwa.com
Interior design Melissa Haynes, MH Design, Inc., Johnson, (479) 435-6990, melissahaynesdesign.com
Landscape design Travis Brooks, Brooks Landscape Architecture, Fayetteville, (479) 387-1769
Appliances, art, bedding, carpet, fabric, fixtures, furniture, hardware, lighting, mirrors, rugs, tile, wallpaper, and windows MH Design, Inc., Johnson, (479) 435-6990, melissahaynesdesign.com
Cabinetry Timber Mill Wood Products, Inc., Rogers, (479) 621-0049, ttimbermillcabinets.com
Countertops Petersen Granite & Marble, LLC, Huntsville, (479) 665-2191, petersengranite.com
Flooring Wood Floor Gallery, Inc., Springdale, (479) 872-0102, woodfloorgallery.net
Window coverings Mountjoy’s Custom Draperies, Mabelvale, (501) 455-2216