Date:  July 31, 2024  |   Story: Kathryn O'Shea-Evans  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Angela Alexander  |  

Tilden House freshens up a 1960s kitchen with a mix of classic and colorful ingredients

When designer Nikki Hastings was enlisted to revamp a Little Rock family of four’s cook space, it was still mired in the year the house was built: 1968. “The kitchen that we remodeled was original to the French colonial home,” recalls Nikki, founder of Little Rock design firm Tilden House. Translation: a woody, nearly cellar-like throwback. “We wanted it to feel like it fit because we were definitely keeping the architectural lines and integrity of what was currently there, but we also wanted to make it theirs—to bring it more to the present day and to make it function for their family.”

The existing kitchen had plenty going for it, including an ample serving of space. By removing one wall of cabinetry and adding a deep peninsula, Nikki created a spot for extra seating and prepwork while bringing in natural light—something the cooking area lacked previously. “The wall of cabinets definitely did a disservice because the kitchen felt dark and disconnected from the breakfast room,” the designer recalls. Now, sunlight pours through the south-facing windows. “It’s very shaded, so it’s not blinding you, but it’s great afternoon sun,” she adds. Additionally, a white Serena & Lily chandelier illuminates the dining area. “We didn’t do pendants over the peninsula on purpose—we didn’t want to divide the space,” Nikki says. “That was why we were renovating in the first place—we did not want division.”

Nikki also introduced Shaker-style cabinetry, which has a simple, timeless aesthetic (note the paneling that echoes the look on the range hood). To continue to lean into that airy feel, Nikki selected Benjamin Moore’s “Swiss Coffee” as a cohesive paint color throughout the space. “We definitely didn’t want it to be a stark white—we wanted it to be warm,” she says, noting that was in part to coordinate with the red oak plank flooring used in the rest of the home. Schumacher’s “Citrus Garden” pattern, which was designed by Josef Frank in 1947, brings whimsy and charm on the café curtains above the sink as well as the valance by the table. “They are a young, very active family, and they wanted something light and bright and bold, but there are definitely traditional elements in the home we wanted to keep,” Nikki says.

“There’s a constant parade of people in and out of the house, so they wanted it to function as a kitchen but also be able to house all of that activity.”
—Nikki Hastings, designer

Flow On
“We definitely wanted a bridge faucet, because we had a pretty shallow space on the counter between the window ledge [and the sink],” Nikki notes. This one elevates the handles higher off the countertop while creating interest. “We felt that it had current lines but in more of a transitional finish,” she adds.

Make a (Back) Splash
Inconsistent edges and a slightly raised lip give the stamped ceramic tiles dimension and texture. “It’s like a subway tile, but with a little more interest—the tile is ever so slightly distressed,” Nikki says.

Sit Prettier
Woven, yellow-and-white barstools are similar to those found in Parisian cafés in an easy-to-love, happy hue that coordinates with the red oak flooring underfoot.

Soften Up
The motifs in Schumacher’s “Citrus Garden” fabric on the window treatments pull in the yellows and blues of the homeowner’s art. “I feel like it’s a perfect representation of a traditional pattern, but in a fun and bold and bright color scheme,” Nikki says. Mingling in Brunschwig & Fils “Les Touches” provides a layered, more custom look.

Design Resources
Draftsman Nikki Hastings, Tilden House Interior design Nikki Hastings and Lane Harrison, Tilden House Accessories Providence Design Appliances Metro Appliances & More Art Ashley Saer and Peyton Hutchinson (Mississippi) Countertops Pacific Shore Stones Fabrics Designer Effects Fixtures Westlake Plumbing Furniture and lighting Tilden House Hardware Light Innovations Paint Benjamin Moore Tile Akel’s Carpet One Window coverings Christi Cooper Design