Date:  November 1, 2024  |   Story: Kathryn O'Shea-Evans  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

A midcentury marvel gets a modern, mountain-inspired update

There was so much to love in this Fayetteville kitchen, including soaring ceilings and sleek bones, when designer Whitney Romanoff’s clients bought the house. “It was E. Fay Jones-inspired,” Whitney says, referencing the local Mad Men-era architect. And yet the cook space’s existing finishes weren’t quite reflective of this family and how they want to live in 2024. “It had a very ’90s, early 2000s aesthetic,” Whitney says, noting its previous metallic backsplash tile and clunky lighting. “We did a full material glow-up.”

One major upgrade was a functional tweak: moving the sink from a wall-facing location to a position that offers a panoramic view overlooking the pool. “Who likes to wash dishes, period?” the designer asks. “But I definitely hate washing dishes when I’m looking at a wall! It feels like work.”

Whitney also addressed the existing Shaker-style cabinets, which seemed more fitting of another time period entirely. “We certainly wanted to be more aligned with the architect’s intent and lean more on the midcentury modern style in terms of finishes,” she says.

Because this family takes regular jaunts to Montana, the designer used that state’s rugged alpine landscape as a muse. “Their vibe is very neutral, organic,” Whitney says. “She’s not afraid of a mood, but she loves to stay in earthy neutral vibes. We certainly wanted to brighten and lighten and adhere as close as we could to natural tones that harken back to Montana and a luxe mountain escape vibe.” To that end, preserving the original exposed stone pillars was imperative, as was instilling a certain hearth-like coziness in a few well-chosen pieces, such as the Visual Comfort pendant lights: “The lacquered brass just adds a warmth and a little bit of a glow.” Glow-up, indeed.

The walls are painted “Simply White” Benjamin Moore.

“She’s not afraid of a mood, but she loves to stay in earthy neutral vibes.”
—Whitney Romanoff, designer

Sink into Style
Whitney selected an unlacquered brass finish for the new Waterworks faucet. “We wanted something that was going to live a life,” she says of the piece’s patina. “It adds just the right amount of warmth in the neutral space.”

Sit Prettier
Designed using performance fabrics, the custom banquette holds up to daily use and sticky-fingered kids. “We wanted something with just a hint of color,” Whitney says. The seatback is an indoor/outdoor fabric from Kelly Wearstler.

Shelf Esteem
Constructing a three-and-a-half-inch-thick floating shelf was no easy feat, requiring reinforced steel L brackets for support. The leathered Taj Mahal quartzite summons the feeling of the mountains.

Drawer to Love
Whitney and the homeowner made an eco-friendly decision early on to preserve the existing cherry wood lower cabinets while upgrading them with custom walnut veneers. “These are custom drawer fronts by our favorite local Arkansas carpenter, Daniel Smiley,” the designer says. “It feels very modern and clean.”

Design Resources
Contractor Neal Hefner Construction Interior design Meet West Studio Accessories, fabric, furniture, hardware, lighting, rugs, and tile Meet West Studio Appliances Metro Appliances & More Art Tyler Guinn and Matt Miller Studio Cabinetry and millwork Daniel Smiley Carpentry Countertops (Fabrication) New Century Countertops Countertops (stone) Pacific Shore Stones Hardware Daniel Smiley Carpentry and Meet West Studio Paint Benjamin Moore Tile (Installation) Travis Tile Flooring Upholstery Ellis Reupholstery