Date:  May 2, 2025  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Tiffany Adams  |  

A new-to-the-area family calls on Harper Howey Interiors to personalize their home’s design

Century-old architecture, layered furnishings, and an evolved-over time aesthetic were just a few of the things this couple loved about their former Minneapolis home. However, upon relocating to Northwest Arkansas, the lure of a rural neighborhood and family friendly layout led them to a more contemporary residence. Confident they could make the house feel like home for them and their two daughters, they made an offer.

With a bit of kismet intervening, the one person they knew in town had a mutual friend who introduced them to Kimberly Harper and Cynthia Howey Tune of Harper Howey Interiors. From there, they began a year-long renovation to personalize the spaces. “When we first met with the team, we weren’t going to do a full remodel, just a light touch—drapes, floors, and paint,” the owner says. “But it escalated very quickly as we walked through.” With one change necessitating another, particular attention was given to the kitchen and primary bath, both of which were taken down to the studs and reworked. In addition, Kimberly traded a mix of multi-tiered tray ceilings and inset coffered beams for a more streamlined look while also bringing in furnishings and finishes that match their style. “It needed character and details that were their own,” the designer says.

Trading gray for color was another big step to make the home a reflection of its inhabitants. “This house was gray on gray,” the owner says, adding that even the carpet and ceilings were shades of pewter. Open to bolder, more saturated colors, she and Kimberly talked about how and where to go big with their favorite hues. In particular, the owner hoped to incorporate rich shades of plum and blue-green that appear on a rug she received from her parents. “Years ago, my mom and dad bought this rug for around $25 from a neighbor who was downsizing. It’s a unique colorway but I really love it,” the homeowner says. Still in Minnesota at the start of the remodel, she texted Kimberly pictures and the designer worked off of it for the entire palette.

“The house was built in 2018 so our neighbors thought we were crazy,” the owner says with a laugh. However, the end result has made them feel right at home in their newly adopted state. “She was one of my dream clients because she has such good ideas and good taste,” the designer says. “Kimberly was great to stay focused on the vision and make sure everything was cohesive throughout,” the owner adds. “It’s been a place we love coming home to.”   

Cuisine Concept
Centrally located between the dining room, living room, and outdoor area, the kitchen needed to function as a true hub. To make it feel more open and create a better traffic flow, a peninsula that separated the kitchen and living space and an awkwardly angled pantry were eliminated. Additionally, appliances were relocated for a better workflow and a small island was reoriented and enlarged, allowing space for four barstools and creating a serving area to use when hosting. Paneled appliances and cabinetry that extends to the ceiling along with a neutral palette keep the space looking clean and orderly. The cabinetry is painted “Old White” by Farrow & Ball.

Moody Boost
“We wanted something a bit more dramatic that still flowed with the rest of the home,” Kimberly says of the color selection for the study and sitting room, which is located just off the front entry. The work seen through the doors is by Birmingham, Alabama artist Wellon Bridgers. “I love the moody landscapes she does, and we were able to commission this one based off of another piece she painted,” the homeowner says. The walls are painted “London Clay” by Farrow & Ball.

Punched-Up Pantry
Previously a wet bar, the owners preferred counter space and storage to a sink in the butler’s pantry. “This was kind of a weird setup because it has this angle, so we had to think about how we could make it functional,” Kimberly says. They added an ice maker and refrigerated drawer while reconfiguring the cabinetry and replacing the counter and backsplash to give a seamless appearance. The cabinetry color was pulled from the living room rug and is complemented by an acrylic on canvas work from Southern artist Laura McCarty.

Falling into Place
Upon purchase, a pair of asymmetrical built-ins framed a stacked stone fireplace in the living room. With the space being seen from the front door and the adjoining kitchen, the homeowners wanted to create a cleaner, classic look that would stand the test of time. Removing the stone and repositioning the fireplace to allow for two equally sized built-ins solved for this. The rug that provided the inspiration for the home’s palette ties together the room’s furnishings, while numerous meaningful accessories and family mementos fill the shelves. A commissioned mixed media collage by Atlanta artist Caroline Stroud plays of the colors in the rug.

Feminine Flair
In the dining room, a lilac iteration of the palette’s starting point creates a lighter feel. “We did pull in the plum and blue hues on the drapery fabric,” Kimberly says, pointing to the botanical pattern. “I kept gravitating toward block prints for everything, but Kimberly would steer me in a different direction to create a mix,” the homeowner notes. With the chair rail molding in place, Kimberly layered a grasscloth wallpaper with a classic gold sunburst mirror and shaded chandelier. The couple’s modern marble-top table was mixed with timeless Louis XVI-style dining chairs.

Elegant Dream
With a goal of creating a serene retreat, Kimberly simplified the primary bedroom’s ceiling and fireplace design, trading a tiered tray look for beams and opting for clean millwork on the mantel along with a coordinating marble. Chairs from the couple’s previous home were recovered and paired with a small circular ottoman. “We added the skirt to the chairs to soften the look,” the designer notes. Slightly more contemporary light fixtures, like the beaded chandelier and wall sconces shown here, make an appearance throughout the spaces. “I think that goes with the feeling of the home because it’s a little more transitional,” the homeowner notes. A custom trio of framed intaglios by Atlanta-based mother-daughter duo Intaglio & Co. hangs over the four-poster bed’s headboard.

Suite Retreat
The primary en suite bath received a structural update that followed suit with the kitchen, removing angled walls and reworking cabinetry to maximize storage. “The sink was in the same place but there was a vanity seat, and I’m not really a sit-down vanity person, so we ended up doing this nice larger cabinet that sits on top,” the homeowner explains. Builder-grade gray tile was traded for a statement-making Calacatta Gold marble. “It’s such a big space that I think it can handle the style,” Kimberly says, noting that the owners opted for heated floors for added comfort.

Design Resources
Contractor Roger Griffin, Legend Builders Interior design Kimberly Harper and Cynthia Howey Tune, Harper Howey Interiors Accessories, bedding, and furniture Cobblestone & Vine and Harper Howey Interiors Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinetry Justus Cabinets Carpet and tile (bathroom and flooring) Flooring America by CarpetSmart Lowell Countertops Pacific Shore Stones and Triton Stone Group Countertops (fabrication) Gunn Granite Fixtures Ferguson Plumbing Supply Flooring Wood Floor Gallery Framing The Frame Shoppe Hardware Quality Millwork Ironwork UDI Inc. Lighting, tile (backsplash), wallpaper, and window coverings Harper Howey Interiors Millwork Osage Custom Trim Paint Sherwin-Williams Painting Classic Interior Finishes