Date:  June 28, 2024  |   Story: Rebekah Hall Scott  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Angela Alexander  |  

Krista Lewis brings the outside indoors for her clients’ contemporary new build on Greers Ferry Lake

After a fire destroyed their lake house in 2021, interior designer Krista Lewis’s clients knew they wanted to rebuild with safety in mind. “We lost every single thing except the foundation and the driveway,” the homeowner says. “Everything had to be redone.”

Having worked with Phil Purifoy of Fennell Purifoy Architects on a previous project, the couple trusted him to draw plans for their new chapter. Phil, in turn, recommended Krista, while neighbors gave them contractor Julian Builders’ name, completing their dream design-and-build team. “They were very conscious of it being fire safe,” Krista says. “That was a big focus.” The new home features electric fireplaces—especially important, as the fire started in the former home’s chimney—and noncombustible building materials, including the metal roof and siding designed to mimic the look of wood.

Though safety was a top priority, the homeowners did not want to sacrifice on the home’s airy, contemporary style, which pulls color and texture from the surrounding scenery visible through soaring windows. “They wanted it to be very neutral,” Krista says. “They like light walls, as much glass as possible, and natural colors—blues, greens, and browns. They wanted the outdoors to be brought in.”

In terms of function, the homeowners requested plenty of space for gathering and uncluttered, easy-to-clean rooms. “Because they’re not there all the time, maintenance is something that’s at the forefront,” the designer says. With two bunk rooms and an additional guest room, the home can sleep up to 23 visitors comfortably. “They love to host their children and entertain guests, so we needed to be able to accommodate them on the weekends and in the summers,” she adds.

The homeowner says the design team understood her vision for the overall style and flow of the house. “Krista was great at listening to what I wanted and what I didn’t,” she says. “Once she and her team got to know me, I could say, Here’s my priority for the furniture: The most important thing is a giant sectional that’s super comfortable.”

The owner also notes this project has turned a destructive accident into an opportunity for a powerful clean slate. “I was so devastated when that house burned,” she says. “But out of the ashes, this beautiful home has risen. I had a friend of mine, Catherine Burton, paint us a large piece featuring a phoenix to hang in the home. It really represents how we feel about it now.”

Above: Krista arranged the spacious, lofty living room with conversation and leisure in mind. “You’re basically in a glass box, and all of that light is great. You feel like you’re outside,” she says. She created furniture layouts for different groups to hang out, including the comfortable chaise and game table tucked by the windows, while still being close to the kitchen.

Safe and Sleek
When the homeowners’ previous lake house burned to the ground, all that remained was the foundation and driveway. Fennell Purifoy Architects and Julian Builders worked together to design and build the new home on top of the existing foundation using noncombustible materials, including a metal roof and siding. The new floor plan features an additional guest room atop the garage along with a reimagined first floor layout.

Serene Sight Line
A sleek chandelier from Visual Comfort ensures uninterrupted views through the open living and dining spaces (left). A picnic-style dining table from James + James Furniture in Springdale is a stylish solution for large gatherings. “It is a transitional kind of design, not super contemporary—it kind of brings things down a bit to say, This is a lake house,” Krista says. “And you can fit more people on a picnic bench than when you only have six or eight chairs around a table.”

Game and Gather
The downstairs game room provides an additional destination for relaxing. “You can have adults upstairs, college kids and teenagers downstairs, or vice versa,” Krista says. A pub-height game table sits in front of the electric fireplace while a cozy sectional provides a perfect place to lounge. The perimeter of the ottoman is upholstered for a comfy footrest, with a surface in the middle for serving.

Form and Function
The slatted wood treatment flanking the electric fireplace does double duty as a visual statement and a functional fix. “That is actually a noise-reducing material called WoodUpp, and it’s got a felt sound-absorption material on the back of it,” Krista says. While this selection serves a practical use, its linear design and wood texture add to the room’s contemporary flair. Bench cushions in a James Malone Ikat print and a side chair in Rogers and Goffigon’s “Alpine Lake” fabric add a hint of rustic style to the space.

“We needed to keep it simple and functional for large groups.”
—Krista Lewis, designer

Among the Treetops
The large deck features dining and living areas, including a hanging bed for maximum comfort. “We were thinking, How do we make this function to have outdoor seating and dining to accommodate a large crowd?” Krista says. “We love a swing, that’s always fun, and it’s a great place to take a nap. We also like the sofa that has the one cushion, because you can seat more people that way.”

Clean and Crisp
In the open kitchen, a linear chandelier from Visual Comfort hangs over the Silestone-topped, white oak island designed to help conceal clutter. “They were very specific; they wanted to have the kitchen sink be hidden from the open space to the dining and living room,” Krista says. “So we came up with this idea of having a raised console that would go up over the countertop to create that backsplash behind the sink, covering any mess.” Wood and metal barstools upholstered in an indoor/outdoor velvet by Perennials provide durable and stylish comfort.

Relaxing Retreat
In the peaceful primary bedroom, a wood four-poster bed features a gray leather upholstered headboard. Natural light floods the space with a view of the lake through the trees, and a bench seat made from taupe bouclé fabric brings a touch of texture.

Contemporary Calm
Stained white oak carried over from the kitchen forms the storage towers and floating vanities in the primary bathroom. Krista says she chose the three-bulb fixtures overhead for their surprising mix of metals. “We loved those because they’re a combination of black metal and polished nickel,” she says. “We also liked the idea of Hollywood bulbs to light the space well.”

Terracotta Tones
In the guest bedroom, Krista incorporated warmer pinks and oranges reminiscent of a sunset to create an inviting atmosphere. “I always felt like that space was a bit more feminine; it’s still very neutral, but adding that color helps,” she says. Beds upholstered in a bouclé fabric and metal sconces with paper shades add to the relaxed but elevated feel.

Design Resources
Architect Phil Purifoy, Fennell Purifoy Architects Builder Bill and Travis Julian, Julian Builders Interior design Krista Lewis, K. Lewis Interior Design Accessories, art, fabrics, furniture, hardware, lighting, mirrors, rugs, and wallpaper K. Lewis Interior Design Appliances Metro Appliances & More Brick Antique Brick & Block Cabinetry Logan Cabinet Carpet and tile ProSource of Little Rock Countertops Premier Granite & Marble Doors, millwork, and windows F. L. Davis Home Center Fireplace Central Arkansas Fireplace Fixtures Graham Plumbing and Southern Pipe & Supply Masonry Hamilton Masonry Painting J. Hernandez Painting Upholstery Howard’s Upholstery Window coverings Suzie’s Blinds