Date: September 5, 2023 | Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Bailey Dougan |
Years of cramped quarters prompt a Fayetteville family to embark on an expansion complete with a new kitchen and laundry room
From the start, the owners of this Fayetteville residence believed it would be a temporary solution. “We moved in 2006 when the housing market was tight and landed here,” explains one of the homeowners, who shares the home with her husband and four children. While much of the layout worked for the family, the ground floor spaces—including the kitchen, breakfast area, and laundry—were cramped and did not function at peak. “The breakfast nook was so tiny,” she adds. “We couldn’t fit around the table so we never sat there.”
Becoming busy with the routine of daily life and raising children, the couple’s once-temporary home eventually became long-term. Yet, there were improvements that could be made. “I love the memories we have made here with our family, the privacy we have, and the view. I really didn’t want to leave all that,” the homeowner says. They decided to remedy their situation with an addition rather than moving and called on local kitchen designer Andi Stephens of Kitchen Distributors to help expand the footprint of the home. Andi’s updated plan helped create a spacious kitchen, roomier breakfast nook, and larger laundry room complete with dedicated areas for their pets.
With the expansion, the homeowner notes she and her husband wanted the newer areas to look like they had been in place for decades. “We are very, very traditional,” she says. Inspired by their travels, including a trip to historic Charleston, South Carolina, timeless features like the brick backsplash, copper hood, and furniture-style cabinetry were incorporated. Additionally, reclaimed beams sourced from an Amish barn near Waco, Texas, add character overhead.
Andi paired these style specifications with modern amenities, such as LED lighting inside the drawers and durable Wood Mode cabinetry with a baked-on finish that can stand up to everyday use. “Even though this kitchen is pretty, it’s one that is going to be fully used,” the designer says. She also added interest by mixing light and dark with contrasting cabinetry and countertop colors.
In the breakfast nook, a banquette is a comfortable spot that, paired with chairs and a table, accommodates the entire family at mealtime. Similarly, the laundry room, located just off the kitchen, was designed with function at the forefront. Cubbies for laundry baskets and storage for gift wrap in the island cater to the needs of the whole family, while a special shower station for their furry friends elevates the space.
Spread Out
The spacious island offers seating for the entire family as well as plenty of room for food prep, baking projects, and even homework. It also houses microwave and dishwasher drawers, a paper towel holder, and wicker baskets for fruit storage. The wood-stained base is topped with a light quartzite counter for contrast in the design.
Dine In
For casual meals, the family gathers around the breakfast table. “We did the banquette because everyone loves a bench seat at a restaurant,” Andi says of the design that can accommodate a crowd comfortably. The bank of windows gives a view of the pool and outdoor living area.
A farmhouse sink adds to the design’s timeless charm while a swing-arm, pot-filler faucet is a functional feature chefs can appreciate.
Luxe Laundry
The family’s pets were top of mind when designing the laundry. The space features a pet shower as well as cubbies that store food bowls and litter boxes out of the traffic flow. A mix of subway tile laid in a herringbone pattern and hexagonal tile underfoot brings interest to the hardworking surfaces, while library lighting over the cabinetry suggests the level of sophistication found throughout the rest of the house.
Design Resources
Contractor Gary Striegler, Craftsman Builders NWA Draftsman Ron McLaughlin Interior design Heather Herzik, Antiquities Interior Design and Lizzy Shaw, Lizzy Shaw Interior Design (Houston) Kitchen Design Andi Stephens, Kitchen Distributors and Kerry Kirkland Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinetry (kitchen) Kitchen Distributors Cabinetry (laundry) Verser Cabinets Countertops Verona Marble Co. and Pacific Shore Stones Fabrics Antiquities Interior Design Flooring The Wood Floor Gallery Lighting and hardware Lizzy Shaw Interior Design (Houston) Millwork Craftsman Builders NWA Paint Sherwin-Williams Painting Robert Wilson Tile (Installation) David Ray’s Tile Windows Meek’s
