Date:  May 2, 2025  |   Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

A heartfelt renovation fuses function and beauty in Anna E. Cottrell’s Fayetteville home

Slowly, thoughtfully, and with intention: That’s the approach Anna E. Cottrell has taken redoing the midcentury modern abode she purchased 10 years ago. Drawn to the home’s natural light and architecture, she was enamored from the first time she stepped foot inside. “The whole vibe was very cool, very effortless,” she says. “And it’s nestled up on a hillside so it feels private, but I’m close to everything in town.”

Over the past decade, Anna added personal touches to the home (one rendition can be seen in the October 2016 issue of At Home in Arkansas); however, she stopped short of full-scale renovations in the kitchen and bathrooms, which had been largely untouched since the home’s 1961 construction. “When I got the house, my Realtor was like, don’t do a lot of small projects. Wait and do a proper remodel when you’re ready,” she recalls. So for years she lived with the older home’s quirks, including laundry appliances located in the kitchen, chopped-up countertops, and a shallow tub in her primary bath. Deciding it was finally time to remedy some of these features, she wanted to get it right—which meant finding an interior designer to help direct her decisions.

Enter Whitney Romanoff, owner and principal designer of Meet West. With a mutual respect for each other’s creative careers already in place (Anna is a freelance creative director), the two began their collaboration on a foundation of trust. “Anna had a whole library of Pinterest inspiration, and we had to cull it down to what was appropriate for this home,” Whitney says of the beginning stages. “I love so many design styles, and I devour anything about interiors,” Anna adds. “It was helpful to have Whitney direct my focus to what makes sense for this house.”

One continuous thread Whitney saw running through Anna’s inspiration boards was the use of unlacquered brass. A palette of blush neutrals, varied wood tones, and handmade textures followed suit. “Anna is so chic and feminine and has this romantic vibe,” the designer says, pointing to lighting selections reminiscent of a Hollywood dressing room and shades of pink inspired by rouge. Because the house is small (approximately 1,100 square feet), they also prioritized function in every decision. “She had figured out clever solutions to deal with what was there, but we wanted to maximize every inch,” Whitney says.

The last piece of the puzzle was to ensure the final product felt like Anna. Family heirlooms, personal photographs, and travel mementos weave their way throughout the design, each adding an additional chapter in the story of the home. “Everything about this transformation has been about honoring this house and the time period when it was built,” Anna says. “Now it just feels a little more grown up and more sophisticated in terms of my style.”   

Anna at her kitchen table.

Pendant lights that dangle like jewelry are a feminine accent in the primary bedroom.

On cool days, you’ll find Anna curled up by the fireplace watching a movie.

“Everything about this transformation has been about honoring this house and the time period when it was built.”
—Anna E. Cottrell, homeowner

Origin Story
When Anna moved in, all the paneling and walls were painted white. The plan was simply to refresh with a new coat, but while painters were sanding away old layers to prep, Anna and her boyfriend, Jeremy, caught a glimpse of the redwood underneath. “If you squinted you could kind of imagine what it would all look like refinished,” Anna says. “Jeremy was like, This is what it should be.” They brought the idea to Whitney who was immediately on board. “That was probably the best decision of this whole process,” Whitney says. “It brought back all this character and original charm.” A ledge in the kitchen provides a prominent display for a few of Anna’s favorite things. “Most of them have a story,” she says. “I’m really sentimental and attached.” The kitchen cabinetry is painted “Jitney” by Farrow & Ball.

Take a Seat
Updating the dining space was about building on what was already there. Jeremy added the floating shelves for Anna several years ago, and Whitney had the idea to finish out the wall with a built-in sideboard that uses the same quartzite and cabinetry seen in the kitchen. Since Anna works from home, she often uses this space as her office; when she hosts, the table expands for additional seating. The chairs are a 1960s design by Aldo Jacober—a serendipitous Facebook Marketplace find by Anna—and a linen-shaded light fixture balances the hard lines of the space.

Function Feature
Originally designed by architect Cyrus Sutherland, a contemporary of E. Fay Jones, the home contains several elements typical of midcentury design. One such detail is the pass-through between the living room and kitchen, which is close enough to the front door to become a drop zone for mail and keys. “It’s very tidy and streamlined not to have to have a separate piece of furniture there,” Anna says. When hosting, it becomes an impromptu bar setup or spot for a welcoming floral arrangement.

Glow Up
In bringing the kitchen into the 21st century, Anna checked lots of wants off her wish list, including a larger, panel-ready refrigerator and updated cabinetry. Whitney used original cabinet boxes where possible, a savings that—along with Jeremy’s handiwork pouring concrete counters—allowed them to splurge elsewhere. The design’s starting point of unlacquered brass makes an appearance on the sink, faucet, bistro shelving, and backsplash, while a slab of quartzite brings earthy elegance to the space.

Playing Dress-up
Anna uses a tiny spare bedroom as a dressing room-meets-office. Here, Whitney traded wardrobe doors for a curtain, a choice that elevates the Ikea storage system while softening the space. A glass desk is chic and unobtrusive while a vintage light fixture plays off the room’s function: its shape echoes the silhouette of a cinched dress.

Heirloom Quality
A Bokara rug that belonged to Anna’s grandmother creates a meaningful backdrop in the living room. “I’ve always loved it. It’s perfectly broken in,” Anna says. “It’s sentimental and it feels very grounding and special.” A slipcovered sofa and midcentury-inspired chairs invite conversation, and the mix of styles hints at her appreciation for design. “Anna had inspiration from so many eras of style, and this room reflects that eclecticism,” Whitney adds.

Prettier in Pink
Anna and Whitney paid homage to the primary bathroom’s original pink tile with a blush zellige version. “We chose a dusty rose tile, but sprinkled in some lipstick pink,” Whitney points out. Wooden slats provide a privacy wall between the sink and the toilet while creating a playful moment for light and shadows. On the vanity, alabaster dome lights call to mind a Hollywood dressing room, and a flushmount fixture by Finnish glass designer Helena Tynell catches the eye overhead.

BEFORE

Whitney dressed up Anna’s existing bed with lumbar pillows in a Schumacher fabric and hanging pendant lights. A beige limewash gives the walls dimension.

Design Resources
Architect (original) Cyrus Sutherland Contractor Allen Echols Interior design Meet West Accessories, bedding, fabrics, fixtures, furniture, lighting, mirrors, tile, and wallpaper Meet West Art MIXD Gallery Cabinetry and millwork Daniel Smiley Countertops Pacific Shore Stones Countertops (fabrication) Javier’s Countertops Paint Meet West and Sherwin-Williams Painting Classic Interior Finishes Tile (installation) Travis Tile Upholstery Joe Ellis Upholstery Wallpaper (installation) Elenbarger Interiors Window Coverings Selah Studio