Date: December 1, 2022 | Story: Virginia Brown | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton |
Designer Kendall Jones brings style and whimsy to a casual living space in Little Rock
When called on to update a client’s family room in a way that was functional yet fun, designer Kendall Jones kept her style directives simple. “It’s a straightforward space,” she says. “We wanted to create something family friendly, but nice enough to entertain guests—something traditional with a youthful spin.”
The first step was to increase the room’s natural light by removing existing plantation shutters. “If you don’t have a light-filtering or privacy need, I like to keep the windows open,” Kendall says. “Right away, it made this room so much brighter.” Custom drapes frame the windows to soften the space without blocking the view outdoors.
Kendall then moved the TV from the corner to over the mantel, which was updated to suit the space’s new more modern look. “The mantel was the only structural change; it was really ornate and took up too much room,” the designer says. “The home is more transitional-contemporary in style, so the ornate mantel didn’t belong.”
More versatile and accessible seating came in the form of a pair of couches rather than a clunky sectional. To create separation from the adjacent kitchen, Kendall added two teal swivel chairs, which still allow for easy conversation between the two spaces. Plus, the chairs’ leather and performance velvet materials are easy to clean and keep the look fresh. “Nothing in here is too precious for their two young boys,” Kendall says. “They can move pieces around and put them back together, but it works in a really grown-up way.”
“The style of the furniture is traditional, but the fabrics and silhouettes keep it from being too stuffy.”
—Kendall Jones, designer
Kendall replaced a ceiling fan with a funky, modern brass-and-bulb spoke fixture. “Something unexpected keeps it light,” she says.
LET LIGHT IN
Kendall replaced plantation shutters with custom window coverings to allow more light into the space. A graphic trim echoes other instances of blue throughout the space.
DO LOOK DOWN
A burled wood coffee table was not only the right size for the small space, but its durable texture makes it a perfect fit for family game nights. The feminine feel of a pastel-hued Oushak rug balances the table’s more masculine tone.
PLAY WITH PATTERN
Pillows featuring cut-velvet leopard print and a colorful, painterly design add a pop of personality to the neutral sofa and help tie in all the colors in the room.
USE SPACE WISELY
In moving the TV from a wall of corner built-ins, Kendall created hidden storage behind cabinet doors as well as a defined focal point over the mantel. A velvet sofa with curved lines plays into the transitional style of the new space.
Design Resources
Interior design Kendall Jones, Kendall Jones Design Accessories Art of Design, Cobblestone & Vine, Cynthia East Fabrics, Kaufman by Design, Midtown Vintage Market, and Urban Outfitters Fabrics Designer Effects Furniture Art of Design Millwork Jamie Price Window coverings Nancy Osborn Light fixture Light Innovations
