Date:  March 29, 2018  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Angela Alexander  |  

An Alexander couple works with designer Krista Lewis to create a comfortable home with a current yet timeless look

When Robert and Kandee Moser set out to build their new home, they thought not only about the present but also the future. “Even though our kids are leaving home,” Kandee says, “I wanted a big open space for them to come home to on weekends and holidays.” The couple envisioned a one-level home and had plenty of space to build outward on their wooded lot outside of Little Rock.

The Mosers also wanted to plan for future additions to the family, including grandchildren, by using durable pieces that could stand up to the wear-and-tear of family use. “One of the things I wanted was a table where we all could sit together, and have it be so durable that if the children beat on it, it wouldn’t matter,” Kandee adds.

With these initial ideas in mind and Robert’s experience in the commercial construction industry, the two didn’t walk into the build blind. The Mosers started their building process by visiting with Phillip Rye of Rye Custom Homes and touring his personal residence. “We went through their home and started our plan based on the plan they had; but it evolved from there, and at the end of the day our home ended up not resembling his,” Robert says.

After perfecting their floor plan, the couple brought in Krista Lewis of K. Lewis Interior Design to work on finishes throughout the home. Aside from the plan, one of the biggest changes they wanted to see from their previous space to this new house was in color palette. “Their previous home had a lot of deep hues, including burgundy, and they wanted to lighten it up a bit when it came to overall palette while still retaining a cozy, welcoming feel,” Krista says. “They didn’t want it to be too rustic or too contemporary. They just wanted it to be comfortable and timeless,” she says.

Think Big
Acacia wood floors run throughout the majority of the home, providing a continuous base from room to room. Their dark hues complement the lighter pinewood table that sits between the kitchen island and the living room. Since this piece can be seen from a number of vantage points in the home, it was important that it be a favorite and also that it work well with furniture in the adjoining rooms. Designer Krista Lewis found this table at market and was immediately drawn to its beauty and scale. “The scale of furniture was important because of the higher ceilings in this space; we had to think of everything in a little bit bigger terms,” Krista says. This was also true when it came to art selections, as seen in the stacked pieces on the wall behind the table.

Naturally Neutral
The art seen over the fireplace is a work by Arkansas artist Trey McCarley, who is a family friend of the Mosers. This piece helped to dictate the colors throughout the house: “It’s easy on the eye when a palette flows throughout a home, and this house in particular is so open that I feel like it needs to have a continuous palette,” Krista says. “There’s a little bit of accent color—in the kitchen there’s more green and in the dining room there’s more blue—but overall it’s pretty neutral everywhere.” At right, a pair of barn-style doors close off a second den, a place where the couple enjoys spending mornings watching deer feed outside the windows.

Room for Tradition
As with many special pieces, the Mosers wanted to continue the tradition they started at their formal dining table by using it in their new home. Krista incorporated the couple’s existing table, chairs, and china cabinet, which holds numerous treasures collected through the years, into the design by pairing it with a light blue console table and draperies. A quartet of framed intaglios hangs above the console table—a part of the repetition of artwork in a series seen throughout the home.

Blues and Neutral Hues
Krista did not initially work on the master bedroom. However, after moving into the residence, the Mosers called her and asked if she could lend her magic in this space as well. The beadboard ceiling treatment, an element that was part of the initial build, brings a coziness to the room, which Krista balanced with the continuation of the airy palette. “It was a lot of fun to come back and do this space because we had developed such a close relationship and level of trust after working on the rest of the home,” the designer says.

Serenity Found
A soaker tub is the first thing seen upon opening a set of double pocket doors that lead from the master bedroom to the adjoining bath. Krista carefully selected the artwork to create a striking focal point. Her choice, a handmade cut-paper work, is displayed in a contemporary acrylic frame, thus blending modern and traditional in the space. “We had already placed traditional oils, engravings, and dried botanicals throughout the home, and I like variety in an art collection, so I thought it would be nice to look for something in a different media and that was slightly more contemporary,” the designer says. The piece hangs on large-scaled porcelain tile, which covers the shower’s outside wall behind the tub. “This tile has a quality that almost makes it look like concrete,” Krista notes.

A Space of Their Own
His-and-hers vanities, complete with an abundance of cabinetry for storage, offer space for the couple to get ready for the day. Krista chose vessel sinks with wall-mounted faucets to continue the transitional air that flows throughout the home. A wood-grain porcelain tile covers the floor in a hue that coordinates peacefully with the overall palette.

Refined and Rustic
A walk-through shower leads from the vanity through to a window seat on the opposite side. Because of the home’s secluded, wooded location, privacy was not a concern. Uncovered windows allow natural light to spill into the shower, though a shade can be lowered when desired. Krista notes the pebble rock on the shower floor brings in texture and “adds a rustic touch that speaks to the rural location.”

Contemporary Meets Classic
An heirloom bed, which belonged to a member of Robert’s family, is the centerpiece of the Mosers’ college-age daughter’s bedroom. “They are very family oriented, so I wanted to bring in pieces that are special to them and use them where they wanted to use them,” Krista says. She accented the antique’s timeless beauty with crisp, monogrammed linens, a contemporary lamp, and a layered window treatment; a trio of current accessories that bring what she says is a “youthful feel” to the space.

Design Resources
Carpentry Zach Smith, Modern Craftsman
Contractor Moser Construction
House plan Phillip Rye, Rye Custom Homes and Design
Interior design Krista Lewis, K. Lewis Interior Design
Accessories Cobblestone & Vine, K. Lewis Interior Design, and Phoenix Interiors
Appliances Metro Appliances & More
Art (over living room fireplace) Trey McCarley Fine Art
Bedding, fabrics, furniture, lighting, mirrors, outdoor furnishings, and wallpaper K. Lewis Interior Design
Cabinetry, hardware, and millwork Duke Custom Cabinets
Carpet C & F Flooring
Countertops (kitchen), flooring, and tile Inside Effects
Doors (interior) Ridout Lumber
Fireplace stone Antique Brick
Fixtures Southern Pipe
Rugs C & F Flooring and Martinous Oriental Rug Company
Upholstery Howard’s Upholstery
Windows Pro Window & Door
Window coverings Designer’s Supply