Date:  June 1, 2026  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |  

With a classic facade and finishes, a west Little Rock new build is a retreat for the owners and their extended family

When a piece of land came up for sale on the outskirts of town, this west Little Rock couple could envision a home with less interior square footage and more room to roam outdoors. “We both grew up in a small town,” one of the homeowners explains, “and we wanted a place where our grandchildren could enjoy some of that feeling.” The additional space also offered room for her husband’s hobby shop and a spacious outdoor living area where they could all be together.

For the home, they worked with Kaufman By Design from the footing to the finishes. Kaufman’s in-house draftsman, David Blazer, drew plans that were heavily inspired by the couple’s previous home but better suited to this lot and this phase of life. “We basically recreated the first level of our last house here,” the owner notes. By reducing the number of rooms on the second floor, David was able to adhere to the couple’s desire to downsize and build a home that lives almost exclusively on the ground floor but with room for overnight guests and cousin sleepovers upstairs.

Prior to construction, builder Jackie Stevens had to think through the lot’s natural slope. “It was a process to develop this land and figure out the water diversion,” the homeowner recalls. Today, a retaining wall set against the pool area creates a boundary between the greenspace and the footprint of the house. Knowing they didn’t want painted brick for either the wall or their overall exterior, the owners worked back and forth with Antique Brick & Block to find a selection that would pair well with the façade’s stone. “Our house is the first run of this brick,” the owner says, pointing to the “Belle Mead” brick that perfectly coordinates with the Cottonwood stone, a natural selection from Kansas.

Referencing an affinity for Tuscan inspiration as well as down-to-earth finishes, the owners wanted order in the day-to-day living spaces alongside comfort for guests. “The Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin movie ‘It’s Complicated’ really inspired me,” the owner says. “I wanted my house to have that look,” she says, pointing to the inviting Nancy Meyers home set where the 2009 hit takes place. In the same vein, they wanted to separate this home from the dark colors and richly stained wood they had in their last residence. “I wanted this house to be light and airy with all the walls and trim in the same color,” she says. Clean lines, natural materials, and furnishings that are meant for lingering all played a role in achieving this look and creating a home the entire family can enjoy for years to come.

Down to Earth
Natural materials, including copper and wood, ground the spacious kitchen. The range hood was a must-have the owners saw when looking for inspiration for the new build. An organically shaped subway tile gives dimension on the backsplash, while open shelving provides a display niche for decorative items. The white oak island pairs with caned barstools in a similar wood tone. When the pendants were first installed, the owner recalls panicking that they were too large for the room; however, when the design was complete, they seemed ideal in size, shape, and texture. The cabinetry is painted “Greek Villa” by Sherwin-Williams. 

French doors lead into an office that overlooks the front of the property. The white oak seen on the kitchen island is echoed here on the faux finish on the cabinetry and desk.

Redefined Dining
Tracy Rivers with AF Decorative refreshed the couple’s cherished dining suite with a soft faux finish, and the chairs were recovered in a more contemporary fabric reflective of the new home’s palette. An airy light fixture from Kaufman By Design West adds personality without dominating the space. The doors seen at the end of the table lead to a small outdoor sitting area on the front of the home that the owner notes is ideal for morning coffee.

The Gathering Place
With access to the outdoor living area, the living room is a hub when friends and family visit. The white oak finish seen on the adjacent kitchen island also appears on this room’s built-in, and the stone around the fireplace is the same as what’s seen outdoors, creating a calming thread throughout the home. What started as a pair of sunflowers in their former home is now an abstract art duo in this space thanks to a newly cast vision on the canvases.

Room to Relax
The primary bedroom is dressed in shades of white and cream that invite calm. The window behind the sitting area gives a full view of the outdoor living area and the wooded greenspace beyond it. “Sometimes I will take my laptop back to the side chairs and work while I look out at the pool,” the homeowner says. “It’s so relaxing.”

“This whole room feels very soft and relaxing.”
—homeowner

Naturally Sophisticated
“I saw this look in a magazine and wanted to replicate the archway to soften the room,” the homeowner says of the soaking tub’s niche. Similarly, she was able to source a light fixture like the one from her inspiration photo with the help of Angie Stevens, their builder’s wife, who, along with the team at Kaufman By Design West, was instrumental in decision making. Sheer panels provide privacy while also allowing light to filter into the soothing space. On the other side of the bath, furniture-style his-and-hers vanities are topped with marble counters, a material that is echoed on the floor in a warmer palette. A silver-finish Louis Philippe-style mirror and Art Deco-inspired sconces blend to complete the look.

A Porch for All Seasons
A covered porch off the pool area is an ideal year-round gathering spot thanks to the fireplace and a screen partition that comes down from the ceiling to keep heat confined as well as overhead fans for warm days. The flooring seen under the table is reclaimed antique brick, which, along with the stained-wood ceiling treatment, brings a patina to the newly constructed home. Comfortable sofas, slipcovered in outdoor fabric, offer plenty of room for the family to lounge.

Making a Splash
The owners worked with Grindley pools on the design and installation of the pool, which has a tanning ledge and jets as well as waterfall feature. “The ledge is an ideal area for our young grandchildren to play with us right now, and we can eventually put loungers in the water as they get older,” the owner says. The stone and brick in the retaining wall repeats from the home exterior and blends with the travertine pool surround. “We love to sit out here and hear the natural sounds of the water and the birds,” the owner adds.

Design Resources
Builder Jackie Stevens, Jackie Stevens Custom Homes Draftsman David Blazer, Kaufman By Design Interior design Kaufman By Design West Landscape design Richard Stafford, ASLA Landscaping (installation) Simon Robinson Landscape Accessories, carpet, flooring, furniture, hardware, lighting, mirrors, rugs, and tile Kaufman By Design West Cabinetry Duke Custom Cabinets Countertops Casa Blanca Granite, Stone & Tile and Pacific Shore Stones Decorative painting AF Decorative Doors and windows Kaufman By Design Fabrics and upholstery Fabrics Etc. and Interior Creations Fixtures Westlake Plumbing Ironwork Poncho Jaquez Paint Sherwin-Williams Painting Martinez Professional Painting Plants Bemis Tree Farm and The Good Earth Garden Center Pool (design and installation) Grindley Concrete Pools