Date:  May 19, 2016  |   Story: Julie Wax  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Chip Jones  |  

A west Little Rock couple takes inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement to design a highly functional—and attractive—kitchen

Dr. David Collins and his wife, Nina, had a definite vision for their dream kitchen. The couple have always relished in a shared love of the Craftsman era. So much that they transformed a dark kitchen into a magnificent work of art that now includes an open floor plan and overlooks a backyard with a natural stone swimming pool and waterfall. With aesthetic details like rich, custom cabinetry and a multi-colored beveled tile backsplash, from the moment you step inside, it’s apparent that thoughtful, detailed planning was involved, and that the couple truly loves the end result.

Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement as well as the Stickley brothers—who are credited with first creating and producing Mission-style furniture— the kitchen now blends with the rest of the home’s style, which includes pieces directly from the Stickley company in New York. “The simplicity and beauty of its craftsmanship and the simple elegance of the era has always been a draw to our influence and taste,” Nina says.

More specifically the vision for this space came from the backsplash material, a tile by Walker Zanger. Its vivid green and taupe hues were the basis for the entire project. “[Frank] is ultimately responsible for making the wall what it is today. He blended the tiles beautifully,” Nina says of the craftsmanship. And while the tile was the starting point, the custom-built cabinetry is the focal point. Built by family owned Crown Point Cabinetry of New Hampshire, the cabinets are quarter-sawn oak in a dark Washington Cherry finish and feature ebony wood-pegged Craftsman-style doors, bracketed molding, and cabinet corners that have been chamfered. The maple island and its matching hood, Nina’s favorite detail, feature inset frames, doors, and drawer fronts as well as tapered legs with faux tenons. “The contrasting Bee’s Wax paint color, hand-burnishing, and milk glass panels leave me breathless every time I walk inside the room,” she says.

Organizational cabinetry components ensure a proper place for everything. Stainless steel bottles holding dozens of spices and cooking oils are easily accessible by a gentle tug of a cabinet door. Flatware and chef’s knives have custom dividers within dovetailed drawers, and corner space is maximized thanks to pullout shelving systems. Even the dogs have their own feeding dishes tucked away in toe-kick drawers.

Green-hued soapstone countertops with veins of yellow, taupe, and off-white, finished with a mix of beeswax and mineral oil, blend beautifully with the other textures of the kitchen. “The simplicity and durability of the soapstone was an easy choice to incorporate the vision of the era,” Nina says. A tongue-and-groove ceiling along with distressed-oak-patterned porcelain tile floors complete the look.

The Collins are the parents of six grown children and have five grandchildren—so, they often host family get-togethers and parties. The open floor plan and ample lighting make their newly renovated kitchen a practical gathering space during these occasions. “The minute I walked in, I knew we needed to expand the view to the beautiful backyard,” Frank says. The addition of several windows as well as an abundance of recessed LED can lights, along with under- and in-cabinet lighting also help to brighten the room. “Using all LED fixtures made it possible to light up the kitchen like a showroom while only using about 175 watts,” he says.

Precision and detail define the Collins kitchen, and after a year of planning and construction, the couple is proud of the results. “[Our kitchen] will become a place where great meals are prepared and consumed, and good times will flourish,” Nina says.

Design Resources
Contractor Frank Curtis, Curtis Contracting, Inc., Little Rock, (501) 868-8900, curtiscustomhomes.com
Appliances Metro Appliances & More, Jonesboro, (870) 933-7800, North Little Rock, (501) 758-1988, Springdale, (479) 750-2200, metroappliances.com
Cabinetry Crown Point Cabinetry, Claremont, New Hampshire, (800) 999-4994, crown-point.com
Countertops and tile—backsplash Inside Effects, North Little Rock, (501) 954-8866, insideeffects.com
Fixtures Falk Plumbing Supply, Hot Springs, (501) 321-1231, North Little Rock, (501) 664-3911, falksupply.com
Lighting Staley Electric, Little Rock, (501) 565-3006, staleyinc.com
Millwork Kaufman Lumber, Little Rock, (501) 568-3182, kaufmanlumber.com
Paint Sherwin-Williams, locations statewide, sherwin-williams.com
Painting Speedy Drywall, North Little Rock, (501) 372-4661
Windows Pro Window & Door, Little Rock, (501) 663-3611, prowindowanddoor.us