Date:  June 1, 2026  |   Story: Rebekah Hall Scott  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

For a couple’s new home in downtown Bentonville, designer Melissa Hall Simmons creates timeless appeal by embracing natural materials

Beth and Blake Hanby were looking for something permanent when they set out to build in downtown Bentonville. “They have built many houses before and had gotten into the rhythm of building a house, someone would want to buy it, and then they would build another,” explains designer Melissa Hall Simmons who worked with them from the start. “They decided, Let’s build a house for us, where we won’t be displaced—and we want to do it right.”

Their vision for the home prioritized comfortable simplicity and room to entertain, along with a couple of specific requests. “Blake really wanted a beautiful study with a bar, and Beth wanted this great laundry space with a dog shower for their two Golden Retrievers,” Melissa says. It was also important that the majority of the spaces be on the ground floor, a consideration that would allow them to stay in the home for years to come.

Style-wise, the designer notes the couple desired an aesthetic that was clean and contemporary but also warm and welcoming, which meshes seamlessly with her own ethos. “I really like to design in a way that is going to give my clients timeless appeal,” Melissa says. “We stick with very classic forms, but then we might strip that down in order to clean it up and give them that very high quality but simple design.”

To achieve this, Melissa and her team embraced natural materials, such as warm wood and veined marble, and textured fabrics designed to gracefully withstand the wear and tear of daily living, including the jute rug in the living room. “They are not into big, bold colors and patterns, but we wanted the home to feel multifaceted and have a lot of interest,” Melissa says. “To do that, we used a very textural, natural, organic palette.” She also leaned into visual interest by incorporating architectural features such as a fluted wall treatment in the entry and paneling on the study walls. “Every single time we have an opportunity to create a wall texture or ceiling treatment, those really transform a space,” she says. “It takes it to the next level of quality and design.”

When it came to selecting furnishings for the home, they struck a balance between stylish comfort and livability. “In each space, we wanted it to feel like a collected interior that shows that we’ve been intentional about each piece and added it over time,” she says. “They’re very approachable people, so that’s how the interior looks.” Additionally, Melissa and the team opted for finishes that will age well over time, giving the home a balanced sense of durability and patina.

Melissa says her clients are thrilled with their new space and enjoy the lifestyle of downtown Bentonville. “They are a youthful family with grown children, and they’re just great leaders in our community,” she says. “They walk their dogs all the time, they walk to dinner, and it’s been a lovely change for them from living in subdivisions. I think they love being there, and they love the house.”

Above: An original work by Alabama artist Kristin Blakeney hangs above the fireplace and echoes the soothing palette of cool gray, soft blue, cream, and taupe found in the living area. Melissa says the scale of the fireplace needed to match the large dimensions of the room, so she incorporated two niches, wrapped in bronze metal, to house firewood on either side of the firebox. The surround is made of concrete and designed to look like carved stone.

Adding Interest
In the entry, Melissa treated the walls with a fluted material and implemented a tiered, “stripped-down version” of crown molding on the ceiling. “We wanted this room to have an impact and be a really beautiful space when you first walk inside,” she says.

Mixing Eras
Melissa says one of the Hanbys’ first requests for this space was the Eames chair and footrest. “We paired that with an apron-bottom sofa with a track arm that is super contemporary and clean,” she says. “You get a great juxtaposition between the sofa and the Eames chair, which is curvy and mid-century. It adds contrast to the room when each piece provides a different feel.” A jute rug draws the elements together and holds up well to daily traffic.

Easy Entertaining
Melissa says she and the Hanbys wanted the kitchen to be “as casual and comfortable as the living room.” By paneling the fridge and keeping all the appliances low-profile, they achieved a space that is discreetly functional. “They love to cook, so we wanted to provide everything they need to make fabulous meals, but we didn’t want to walk in there and see all of the gear up front,” Melissa says.

A trio of large-scale pendant lights feature shades with a plaster finish and brass chains, which Melissa says elevates the look. “It takes this rustic element and combines it with an elegant finish,” she says. Barstools, upholstered in a soft leather, complement the island’s base of rift-sawn white oak, which is topped with white marble.

Lovely Lines
By treating the walls and the cabinet faces in the butler’s pantry with paneling, Melissa was able to convey a more antique-inspired look. “We gave it a little bit of detail, but it’s very simple and clean,” Melissa says. “It has a furniture-like feel, while still being contemporary.” Quartz countertops in a warm taupe tie the space to the kitchen’s island and wood floors.

Masculine Mood
Melissa says her client wanted the study to have a more masculine feel, which inspired them to introduce drapes and upholstery in graphite blue and charcoal. In the left corner, a bronze of a Native American, inherited by the client, takes pride of place. The concrete fireplace surround was imprinted with molds made of heavily textured, antique wood.

Raising the Bar
The bar features a marble backsplash echoed on the waterfall countertop. Glass shelves with polished nickel brackets beautifully display accoutrements. “What I love about the way this looks is how the mugs and the bottles of whiskey have this coppery color, and we were able to repeat that in the polished nickel, which has sepia undertones,” Melissa says. A painting by artist George Dombek hangs on the paneled walls, bringing a personal touch to the space.

The moody powder bath features an oyster shell-framed mirror and alabaster sconce over a floating vanity constructed of black, leathered marble.

Tone and Texture
In the primary bedroom, the eye is drawn upward by a light fixture made of metal sheets with a Venetian silver finish. An original piece by Lisa Di Stefano, a Louisiana artist, provides a pop of color above the headboard. The modern lines of the upholstered bed, which features a pair of built-in reading lamps, strike a pleasant contrast with the more classic shapes of the nightstand and upholstered bench.

The vanity area features mirrored wall panels with a second mirror hung atop them above the sink. Sconces made of reeded crystal glass feature polished nickel banding, which Melissa says “helps give it that linear pattern and another touch of texture.”

Serene Retreat
The spa-like primary bathroom features Vanilla Crema marble floors and Agatha marble on the walls. “The marble on the walls is beautiful, because it has warm brown, taupe, and cream running through it,” Melissa says. “It draws from the palette in other parts of the house with these natural materials.” The light fixture, made of glass discs with a swirled, milky texture, plays into the look.

Enticing Escape
Designed to be seen from the front entry, the pool and courtyard are accessible from the living room and primary suite. Melissa and her team worked with landscape architect Travis Brooks to design the outdoor entertaining spaces.

“I really like to design in a way that is going to give my clients timeless appeal.”
—Melissa Hall Simmons, designer

Fun and Functional
The sunny laundry room includes a specific request from the homeowners: a dog shower to conveniently bathe the couple’s two Golden Retrievers. Paneled walls and concrete floor pavers designed to look like aged limestone (a repetition from the home’s entry) give the area detail and depth.

Design Resources
Builder David Harris, David Harrison Construction Draftsman Joni Sharman, Studio MH Interior design Melissa Hall Simmons, Studio MH Landscape design Travis Brooks, Brooks Landscape Architecture Accessories, bedding, flooring, furniture, lighting, mirrors, and wallpaper Studio MH Appliances Metro Appliances & More Art Dombek Studio & Gallery Cabinetry and millwork Morgan Millworks Countertops (fabrication) New Century Countertops Doors and hardware Builders FirstSource Fireplace (fabrication) Concrete Creations Fixtures Ferguson Framing Scott Frame and Art Ironwork L&L Metal Fabrication Painting (decorative) Classic Interior Finishes Rugs Wentz Custom Rug Co. Wallpaper (installation) Elenbarger Interiors