Date:  August 30, 2024  |   Story: Rebekah Hall Scott  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

Kathryn LeMaster imbues color and personality into a mid-century kitchen and bath

When Sandra Steele moved from Jonesboro to Little Rock to be closer to family, she knew the kitchen and bathroom in her recently purchased home needed a refresh. “I thought it was a beautiful home, and I just wanted to brighten things up,” Sandra says. “I wanted to make it mine, to personalize it.”

She called interior designer Kathryn LeMaster, who had worked with her son and daughter-in-law on their home, to begin the process. As a former elementary school teacher, Sandra has a passion for bright colors, and Kathryn says she wanted to transform the dark kitchen and bath into cheerful spaces for her client. “When we started with our initial consultation, it was like when you give a mouse a cookie,” Kathryn says. “One thing led to another, and we realized we couldn’t work with what was there. We needed to do a kitchen and bathroom gut.”

Custom cabinets by Cordale’s Woodwork in an inviting shade of turquoise lightened up the kitchen. Kathryn added a mid-century modern touch with globe pendant lights in Sandra’s favorite color, orange. “I was looking for color contrast and whimsy, something out of the norm,” the designer says. “A lot of people assume light fixtures have to follow suit with plumbing and be the same metal finish, but I feel like they are a missed opportunity for a pop of color.” The addition of a retro window valance, which Sandra brought from her previous home, pulled the space together.

In the bath, Kathryn surrounded Sandra with orange. To complement it, they selected a smokey blue shade for the new custom vanity cabinet and the shower tile, which paired perfectly with the bold patterned floor tile. “This tile just really rose to the top as our favorite,” Kathryn says. “The real tell was the lagoon finish we used for the vanity sconces. When we held that up against it, they looked like they were made for each other.”

Sandra says the changes in the kitchen and bathroom have made her home flow easily, creating a cozy atmosphere for her and her cats, along with family and friends who visit frequently. “I want people to come into my house and feel comfortable,” she says. “That’s really important to me. Now, it feels so good to welcome people over.”

Above: In the formerly dark kitchen, Kathryn introduced a cheerful tone-on-tone color scheme with blue cabinets and a turquoise mosaic tile backsplash. To create additional workspace and seating, the designer commissioned a custom cabinetmaker to build the small island. “I really wanted to give her something stationary in that spot so she can have a couple of barstools,” Kathryn says. “That way, when her grandkids come over, they can pull right up.”

The cabinetry is painted “Tidewater” by Sherwin-Williams.

Feline Fancy
In the dining nook, a brushed brass swing-arm sconce adds mid-century flair. Sandra brought the vintage turquoise laminate table from her previous home, and she painted the base herself to complement the bronze and brass finishes in the kitchen. The playful chair fabric, aptly called “Cool Cat,” is a nod to Sandra’s four beloved felines, as is the artwork. A bouclé bench with a wrapped walnut veneer base rounds out the cozy space.

“I want people to come into my house and feel comfortable.”
—Sandra Steele, homeowner

Orange Dream
Sherwin-Williams “Inventive Orange” wraps the primary bathroom in a warm glow. LED-illuminated vanity mirrors, reminiscent of porthole windows, and metal sconces with a steely blue finish create playful shapes beneath the clerestory window. “We wanted to break up the lines of the window and create a contrast,” Kathryn says. “The window sill also sits a bit low, so we needed to fill the space proportionately.” The Walls are painted “Inventive Orange” and the cabinetry is painted “Foggy Day,” both by Sherwin-Williams.

Flower Power
Glass tile in a gunmetal blue shade lines the shower walls and built-in bench. Sandra loved the ceramic patterned floor tile so much that they continued it on the shower wall, adding dynamic visual interest. “Because of how this tile fits together like a puzzle, if you do a straight line of two columns, it creates a whole flower at the seam,” Kathryn says. “We had just enough room, and Sandra is so fun-loving, so we just went for it.”

Design Resources
Contractor Edin Garaza, Capital Renovations Interior design Kathryn J. LeMaster, Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinetry Cordale’s Woodwork Countertops Affordable Granite and More Fabric, fixtures, furniture, hardware, lighting, mirrors, rugs, and tile (Backsplash and flooring) Kathryn J. LeMaster, Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design Paint Sherwin-Williams Tile (Shower) The Tile Shop