Date:  May 1, 2024  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Angela Alexander  |  

Shayla Copas updates a west Little Rock home with cheerful hues, comfort, and functionality

Color was key when Shayla Copas took on this Chenal Valley family home renovation. “This family loves color, and I love it when clients allow us to use different hues,” the designer says. As someone who enjoys color research and trend reports, Shayla married hues that are on the horizon with the family’s personal preferences to update the entire home. At an initial meeting, the homeowners shared a Pinterest board that included a dark teal. This led Shayla to weave blues throughout the home, starting with a deep shade reflective of her clients’ inspiration on the den’s chairs and moving into more subdued tones in the kitchen and breakfast area. “They are all muted shades, so it creates a flow,” Shayla says.

Built in the 1990s, many of the rooms featured a creamy tan wall paint, ornate millwork, and dark countertops—elements that were at their peak at the time but not necessarily reflective of the new inhabitants’ style. “They wanted a transitional look­—not so contemporary that it felt cold but also not so traditional that it was stuffy,” Shayla says.

Structurally, the biggest transformation came in the kitchen where Shayla worked with Bill Wrape of Distinctive Kitchens & Baths to streamline the space for ease of use while also updating its look. “I focused on the function of the kitchen,” Bills says. “We wanted to make it work better for the family and give them organization that made sense.”

From the start, Shayla involved everyone in the family of five, which includes college and high school teenagers, in the process. “When we work with families, I like to talk with the children directly to figure out what they want,” she says. “And the husband was just as involved in design decisions as the wife,” she adds. “They were so open to change and meandering in different directions to get it just right.”

Feminine Flair
“The wife loves pink, and her husband was very agreeable to using it in the formal living room,” Shayla says, pointing to a muted shade of the color that is seen alongside the lavender sofa. She and the homeowners opted to keep the existing wall color but updated the trim and ceilings with a fresh coat of white paint. “They didn’t think this would make a big difference but called me as soon as they saw it and were amazed,” Shayla says. The abstract work on the mantel was commissioned from local artist Stephanie Hutchinson to tie the room’s hues together.

“They wanted a transitional look­—not so contemporary that it felt cold but also not so traditional that it was stuffy.”
—Shayla Copas, designer

Custom Blend
A Thibaut wallcovering that resembles grasscloth takes center stage in the formal dining room. “This wallpaper has a lot of pattern but, again, it’s all very muted,” Shayla says. The designer paired a clean-lined, contemporary table with more traditional, upholstered host chairs, a mix that reflects the couple’s penchant for transitional style. Shayla notes the open design of the chandelier, which is accented with blue milk glass, keeps it from overpowering the wallcovering.

Function Meets Beauty
Removing the previous walk-in pantry and its heavily carved black doors addressed both ease of use and aesthetics in the kitchen. The range was already in place, giving Shayla the opportunity to personalize the room with a custom metal hood. The rest of the space was refreshed with light, neutral cabinetry and a muted blue island. The bronze metallic in the backsplash plays off the room’s other finishes and is also a reflection of Shayla’s color research. “Browns are going to be huge again,” she says. “We saw that coming in our color trend report and leaned into it here.” “Shelves give limited accessibility and sight, so we traded those for pull-out columns that take full advantage of the space,” Bill explains.

Family Style Dining
The breakfast room features a blue-green hue that plays well with the kitchen island’s hue. Shayla notes she designed the room with the large-scale light fixture as the focal point. “You need one star and a supporting cast in every room; otherwise, everything competes,” the designer says. The wood-grain table, which sits atop a more contemporary shagreen base, has a leaf that transforms it from a circle to its current oval shape, making it possible to accommodate the entire family. The table pairs with chairs upholstered in an indoor/outdoor fabric, a design decision that is equally practical, comfortable, and attractive. New cabinetry provides both display space and concealed storage. Its backsplash repeats from the kitchen for continuity.

“You need one star and a supporting cast in every room; otherwise, everything competes.”
—Shayla Copas, designer

Creating Comfort
Connected to the kitchen by a hallway, the den was designed to be a comfortable area where everyone could relax, catch up, and watch television. Its chairs were the starting point for much of the home’s blue palette. “We used the color on the pillows, accessories, and side chairs so it really sings,” Shayla says. As a nod to the existing wall color, Shayla introduced a charcoal, black, and cream floral pattern for the draperies. Elements like the acrylic drapery rods and ombré 3D string artwork add to the transitional style.

Patterns of Blue
While talking with the teen daughter who lives in this room, Shayla discovered she loves teal and blue. To this point, the designer presented a geometric Thibaut pattern for the wallpaper and coordinating comforter fabric. The existing window seat was also updated with a cushion in the same print along with acrylic hardware, white sconces, and a Roman shade featuring a dramatic wide tape. Pieces like the mirrored bedside tables and abstract-patterned lamps keep the look youthful.

Knowing this space would serve as a bedroom for the couple’s college-aged daughter as well as guests, Shayla paired neutrals with an understated shade of pink. The built-in desk stayed in place but was refreshed with a coat of white paint and a contemporary-style chair.

Peaceful Pattern
While the ground-floor primary bedroom is set in more neutral hues, it doesn’t skimp on pattern. A mix of pieces, including an animal print fabric on the bench and pillows, a large-scale geometric bolster, and—the star of the room—the veneer wallcovering, create visual interest in the retreat. “The woodgrain in the wallcovering gives it a 3D appeal with different tones,” Shayla says.

Design Resources
Interior design Shayla Copas, Shayla Copas Interiors Kitchen contractor Bill Wrape, Distinctive Kitchens & Bath Accessories, art, bedding, fabrics, furniture, hardware, lighting, mirrors, rugs, wallpaper, and window coverings Shayla Copas Interiors Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinetry Distinctive Kitchens & Baths Carpet, flooring, and tile ProSource of Little Rock Countertops Alpha Countertops Fixtures Falk Plumbing Supply