Date:  August 29, 2019  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |  

Designer Kimberly Harper uses a harmonious palette and unexpected elements to punch up the style in a Northwest Arkansas kitchen and bath

After deciding to renovate, the owners of this Fayetteville home called on Kimberly Harper of Harper Howey Interiors to pull together a cohesive design that also suited their personal tastes. “We ended up with a black-and-white theme in much of the house,” Kimberly says. “A black-and-white marble tile greets guests in the foyer, and we loved it so much, we decided to carry that pairing through to other rooms.”

In the kitchen, which is open to the family room, black and white are paired with navy for an unexpected twist. “The kitchen has 20-foot ceilings, so we felt it was very important for the room to have some dark colors that would help it feel grounded,” Kimberly says. The iron shelves, which frame the range hood, were one of the first black selections made and led to further use of the hue, as seen on the hood, faucet, leather barstools, and island (which is painted in Sherwin-Williams’ “Greenblack”). At first glance, the color navy seems to fill the room; however, it’s actually only present on the subway tile in the backsplash, which extends to the ceiling in the range alcove.

“The kitchen has 20-foot ceilings, so we felt it was very important for the room to have some dark colors that would help it feel grounded.”

— Kimberly Harper, designer

Oversized brass pendants also speak to the space’s grand ceiling height, filling visual space while coordinating with the hardware. A professional range and stove were existing in the home, and the owners requested these pieces be worked into the design. With this in mind, Kimberly minimized the number of other visible appliances by creating a space for a paneled built-in refrigerator, which gives the look of seamless cabinetry. Additionally, the dishwasher is housed on the back side of the island, while an undercounter microwave is below eye level, thus the visual focus is not too heavy on the room’s hardworking elements. The designer chose to forgo marble countertops in favor of Caesarstone’s “Calacatta Nuvo.” “With these you get the look and feel of marble, but they are super durable for everyday use,” Kimberly says. Additionally, the white oak floor was laid in a herringbone pattern to give visual interest underfoot.

A bath, located near the home’s game room, also adheres to the black-and-white palette while having its own personality. “This room was a complete renovation,” Kimberly says. “We used the white oak vanity to bring in texture and also help the design lean a bit masculine, as this is also the couple’s son’s main bath as well as one frequented by guests.” The standout feature, Schumacher’s “Queen of Spain” wallpaper, gives the room a current vibe without overwhelming the space. Pendants hung over the previous vanity and worked well in terms of illuminating the area, so Kimberly chose to keep the application but update them with new polished nickel versions to frame a white plaster mirror. Black matte fixtures with a modern shape were used at both the sink and in the shower, while a pairing of marble tiles adds visual interest along the floor and shower walls.

Abstract pattern and texture are hallmarks that tie the palette of blue, black, and white together.

Design Resources
Contractor Roger Griffin, Legend Builders Interior design Kimberly Harper, Harper Howey Interiors Accessories, furniture, lighting, and wallpaper Harper Howey Interiors Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinets Justus Cabinets Fixtures Ferguson Plumbing Supply Paint Sherwin-Williams Tile Encore Flooring and Building Products