Date:  February 28, 2025  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Tiffany Adams  |  

Designer Leslie Tetrev streamlines a west Little Rock kitchen while leveling up its style

Leslie Tetrev happened to be on the other end of the line when this west Little Rock homeowner called Kitchen & Bath Ideas to inquire about a kitchen renovation. As fate would have it, the two were an instant match, hitting it off and sharing a vision for updating the room’s flow and look.

Several goals were at the top of the project’s priority list: removing a wall that separated the kitchen and dining room, repositioning the dishwasher and refrigerator, and maintaining a central island for prep work and meals. In the process, the client also wanted to clean up the style. “There was a lot going on in such a small space,” Leslie notes.

The designer went to the drawing board and came back with a plan that checked all of those boxes. For example, she traded a rarely used double oven (housed in the wall between the kitchen and dining room) for a range that fit into the same placement as the previous cooktop and works seamlessly with the existing vent. The new refrigerator, a counter-depth model that doesn’t impede traffic flow, was relocated to the opposite side of the room, while the dishwasher is now on the same bank of cabinetry as the sink. In the middle of it all, the rectangular island has storage and workspace along with room for three to dine.

The home dates back to 1969 and the owner has a penchant for midcentury modern style. However, she didn’t want to go overboard with those elements, choosing to play on this with the backsplash design and lighting. “I felt like the light wood and slab-style cabinetry were musts to make this look transitional,” Leslie says. “The room doesn’t have any one style but goes so well with the rest of the house.” Additionally, floating shelves along the sink wall provide a place to display personal elements and cookbooks.

With cooking and feeding others being a passion of the homeowner’s, she couldn’t be more pleased with the end result Leslie produced. “I love how it all came together; I won’t call anyone else for design work,” she adds.

“I had ideas, but Leslie was able to bring them to life.”
—homeowner

Hone your Style
Drawn to its rich veining, the homeowner selected an “Oyster White” marble slab from Triton Stone Group. “When you are going to have marble long-term, it’s much easier to maintain when honed,” Leslie notes.

Meet Your Matte
A single-basin sink with a pull-down faucet was a must-have on the owner’s wish list. Opting for contrast against the hardware, she and Leslie selected Delta’s “Mateo” faucet in Matte Black.

Go Organic
Speaking to the room’s more contemporary elements, the white-washed white oak cabinetry has a horizontal grain orientation. It pairs with slightly free-form Champagne Bronze hardware from Belwith & Keeler’s “Pebble” collection.

Get in Shape
The “Eclipse” ceramic backsplash from Red Rock Tileworks is based on the phases of the moon. Leslie and the homeowner selected triangles in different hues to fill the spaces around the main oblong tiles and to add to the palette.

Design Resources
Contractor and kitchen designer Leslie Tetrev, Kitchen & Bath Ideas Cabinetry, fixtures, lighting, and tile Kitchen & Bath Ideas Countertops Triton Stone Group Countertops (Fabrication) Stone Art by Miguel Arellano Flooring Brandon Company