Date:  October 1, 2024  |   Story: Rebekah Hall Scott  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Angela Alexander  |  

Lee Anne Stelte strikes a balance between work and home life in her renovated Bentonville cottage

When interior designer Lee Anne Stelte first purchased her 1950s cottage in Bentonville, she originally planned to “shine it up, live here for two years, and flip it,” she says. But shortly after construction began, the COVID-19 pandemic brought progress to a standstill, giving Lee Anne time to reconsider a more long-term plan for the home.

“My mindset shifted, because everything was so uncertain,” she says. “So then I thought, ‘I’m just going to make this more about me and my style, and what I want, and also treat it as a Whiteline Designs project and office.’”

Lee Anne worked with the vendors she uses everyday to select materials, finishings, and furniture for the project, creating a home that is part showroom, part personal retreat. “I’m really glad I approached it that way, because it turned out to be an even better type of project,” she says.

Monday through Friday, the home’s main 1,000 square feet—its original two-bedroom, one-bath footprint—function as the Whiteline Designs office. “We use this space thoughtfully,” Lee Anne says. “The former bedrooms are mine and my accountant’s offices, and we also have a hidden material library in our kitchen. It looks like our pantry, but when you open the door, it’s all of our fabric books, and we have large pull out drawers that house our samples.”

For her personal space, Lee Anne built an addition to house a private, luxurious primary suite. She also implemented a 400-square-foot addition that serves as a popular Airbnb.

Lee Anne weaved her love for calming neutrals throughout the home, with bold modern touches and warm natural finishes. “I like the relaxation of a neutral palette,” she says. “It really is the juxtaposition of my style, having some modern elements, but also mixed with a casual, soft, easy-on-the-eye color story.”

The home, which is now lovingly referred to as Pineapple Cottage, also gave Lee Anne an opportunity to celebrate her family’s heritage. “I had to really dig deep and think, ‘What do you want to thread through your house?’” Lee Anne recalls. “Once I made that mental shift, then I could think about my background and culture. My dad is Hawaiian, and I was raised in Southern California, so you can feel that throughout my home.”

Lee Anne says her home’s unique function suits her perfectly, as does its location near downtown Bentonville. “I created the way that I want to work and live, and the way that I want to present myself,” she says. “It really is a workhorse during the day, and it’s a great place to live. It changed my life to be in a downtown community. This lifestyle is amazing.”

Lee Anne and her dog, June.

Modern Warmth
In the light-filled kitchen, Lee Anne wanted to showcase what her clients can expect from her contemporary style. The large backsplash is a “Macchia Vecchia” porcelain made to mimic marble, which Lee Anne chose for its beauty and practicality, as the porcelain weighs a fraction of a marble slab, and a lighter load was necessary for the exterior wall. White oak flat panel cabinetry, a waterfall island, Brizzo faucets, and a dynamic Kuzco Lighting chandelier lend an elevated feel.

Neutral Nook
Lee Anne celebrated her love for neutrals in the living room, which is open to the kitchen and dining room. A black Roly Poly armchair by British artist Faye Toogood mixes modern lines with the soft, creamy fabrics of the sofa and armchairs. Lee Anne created the textured artwork behind the credenza, further incorporating her artistry into the relaxing space. The walls are painted “Snowbound” by Sherwin-Williams.

Maximize the Minimal
Working with the dining room’s small footprint, Lee Anne chose to incorporate larger pieces to fully use the area, such as the black drum shade that has a gold-leaf lining. “I like to use large scale things in small spaces, because I feel like it makes it look bigger,” she says. Rattan dining chairs by Gabby Home atop a checkered jute rug complement the scene-stealing piece from artist Matt Miller’s Halo series.

Functional Flow
Between the kitchen and the entrance to Lee Anne’s primary suite, the designer incorporated a morning kitchen nook, which includes a built-in coffee maker and additional storage in the reeded-style cabinetry. “You can make a big impact in a small space, and that’s what I needed to do here,” Lee Anne says. “In the mornings, I just come out here, get coffee and go back into my room, so it’s a nice transition space.”

Black Delta fixtures and a “Maori” granite countertop strike a crisp contrast to the light walls in the guest bath. Lee Anne purchased the small carved-wood surfboard from an artist in Hawaii.

Ready to Relax
Lee Anne’s goal in the primary suite addition was to achieve the effect of her favorite luxury hotels. “I love that feeling so much, so why shouldn’t I have that in my house?” she says. “It’s not just for vacation, it’s for me every day.” Lee Anne has owned the metal four poster bed for many years, but she painted its formerly chrome frame black to help ground the space. A pair of woven banana-fiber chairs rest at the foot of the bed.

Spa Sense
Lee Anne chose marble-look porcelain tiles with a warm veining and ran them diagonally across the floor, then continued them up the walls for an enveloping sense of luxury. A mix of fixtures in a chrome finish were selected. The designer notes she considers chrome or polished silver to be the finish equivalent of a good pair of jeans—it goes with everything.

Warm Mix
The waterfall vanity features gold handles with chrome cross-style faucets by Brizzo, helping Lee Anne achieve a polished look. “It’s an old style of faucet done in a more modern way, with flatter edges rather than rounded ones,” she says. Sconces by Kelly Wearstler with textured gold detail are a subtle nod to her heritage. “They have a really pretty texture to them, almost like a wicker—it’s a texture that is in line with my culture and feels familiar to me,” she says.

Way of Welcoming
Visitors to Pineapple Cottage will quickly notice the charming home’s namesake featured in the two pillars that flank the front walk—a symbol of hospitality. “Those represent being welcoming, and they’re a nod to my heritage,” Lee Anne says. “I wanted to blend where I currently live with my past.” Tropical plants and all-weather wicker rocking chairs add to the inviting atmosphere.

Outdoor Oasis
The cozy courtyard is a favorite spot for hosting family and friends. “I travel to Europe a lot, and the pea gravel gives it this English garden feel, but it’s also in line with easy California living,” Lee Anne says. A retro-inspired umbrella with white piping casts shade over the dining chairs and the lounge area features a modern gas fireplace. Large palms are housed in concrete pots from Westwood Gardens.

Design Resources
Contractor Josh Porter, Osage Creek Development Interior design Lee Anne Stelte, Whiteline Designs Landscaping Anita Karren and Simone Martinez Accessories, bedding, fabrics, furniture, lighting, rugs, tile, and wallpaper Whiteline Designs Appliances Metro Appliances & More Art Duane Gardner, Matt Miller, and Lee Anne Stelte Cabinetry Collins Cabinets Countertops Pacific Shores Stones Fixtures Rich Sales Flooring Brilliant Flooring & Remodeling Framing Scott Frame and Art Glass Miller Glass & Mirror Outdoor accessories Westwood Gardens Paint Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams Painting EZ Painting Tile (Bathroom) Townzen Tile Window coverings Selah Design Studio