Date: July 23, 2012 | Story: Deana Nall | Styling: Diane Carroll |
At Home in Arkansas: What did these spaces look like before the transformation?
Designer Kimberly Harper: When Michelle Trumbo and Joe Whiteside married, Michelle moved into Joe’s home with her daughters, Holley, age 12, and Anna, age 9. The craft space was a guest room/home office, but it was full of the belongings that didn’t fit elsewhere when Michelle and the girls moved in. The TV/game room upstairs was just an empty stairway landing area.
What design elements were important to the family to include in the craft space?
Multipurpose was important with office and craft areas. Michelle had a picture from a magazine showing a room with geometric wallpaper and a wall unit with modern, white shelving. So we went from there. She needed a place for her printer and files, and those are underneath the counter. We added baskets for storage and a customizable rod system that holds cups for craft supplies.
The craft/office space is also a guest bedroom. How did you plan such a versatile area?
It was a challenge because it’s not a very big space. They wanted a daybed with a trundle, so we created one using a twin bed turned sideways and adjoining a king-size headboard mounted to the wall.
What did Michelle envision for the TV/game room, and how did you plan colors?
She wanted a place where the girls could have sleepovers, watch TV and play games. We used a combination of plum and chartreuse, and added a few other bright colors. The sofa is a dark color to hide spills. The room is fun but not too young, so it will grow with the girls. Both areas should be multipurpose for years to come.
Design Resources
Interior design Kimberly Harper, Harper Howey Interiors, Springdale, (479) 750-7300
Bookcase I.O. Metro, Fayetteville, (479) 521-1297; Jonesboro, (870) 268-0913; Little Rock, (501) 217-0300; Rogers, (479) 899-6288; iometro.com
Fabrics Fabric Gallery, Springdale, (479) 751-7711, thefabricgallery.com
Window shades Budget Blinds, Springdale, (479) 659-0700, budgetblinds.com
