Date: April 3, 2023 | Story: Tate Gunnerson | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton |
Matthew Morgan of The Details blends style influences to create a gracious dining room in Fort Smith
Not long after tying the knot, Sheryl and Bill Steve Walker knew a redesign was in order at Bill Steve’s longtime Fort Smith residence. The house felt dark and dated, with chopped up rooms and heavy wood cabinetry. Envisioning a lighter, brighter home, the couple hired Carrington Creek Homes to reconfigure the floor plan, replace flooring, and update millwork and cabinetry.
While these changes helped the home feel more current, the challenge came in marrying the couple’s divergent design tastes: Bill Steve is a hunter with a penchant for rustic and African-inspired elements, and Sheryl desires a more feminine approach with touches of bling. To find the sweet spot between their styles, they called Fayetteville interior designer Matthew Morgan, who came on board before renovations began. “The goal was to mix botanicals and contemporary, feminine pieces with a Ralph Lauren-in-the-wild look,” he says. “It was difficult to create that balance.”
Inspired by lush banana leaf plants around the house—and Bill Steve’s backyard greenhouses—the designer covered the dining room walls with a bold floral pattern. “If you look out the windows, even in the depths of winter, you see blues and greens. I wanted to bring that nature inside,” Matthew says.
Against the back wall, the team removed mirrored wall paneling between a pair of built-ins to create a special focal point in the center: an old world-style oil painting that would be equally at home in a hunting lodge as it is in this sophisticated space. They also replaced the drawer and cabinet door fronts, added custom glass inserts, installed a new quartzite countertop, and gave everything a fresh coat of white paint.
While keeping the couple’s antique dining table and chairs, Matthew selected a modern bowl-style light to replace the room’s existing iron chandelier. “The home has a fresh, inviting feeling, and they adore it,” he says, noting the best results often come from taking risks in design. “If you’re in your comfort zone, I’ve failed. When working with an interior designer, go 15% past what’s expected and you’ll wind up with something really special.”
During renovations, Carrington Creek Homes enclosed an extra doorway between the dining room and kitchen to help define this space.
“You can turn your existing pieces into something completely new and one-of-a-kind that you will love.”
—Matthew Morgan, designer
FLORAL FOCUS
Taking inspiration from Bill Steve’s green thumb, Matthew selected a boisterous floral wallcovering (“Watercolor Poppy” by Carey Lind Designs for York) in a green and white colorway that reflects the home’s verdant surroundings.
OUTDOOR INSPIRATION
Nods to the natural world continue overhead. Schumacher’s “Stargaze” covers the coffered ceiling, bringing to mind the night sky, while a sculptural, shell-inspired light fixture by Aerin for Visual Comfort mimics a natural wonder from under the sea.
BUILT ON A CLASSIC
One of Matthew’s most strongly held beliefs is to repurpose quality furnishings when possible. “You can turn your existing pieces into something completely new and one-of-a-kind that you will love,” he says. To this end, he added custom skirts to Sheryl’s antique Hepplewhite chairs to completely freshen the look. “It gives the room a whole new softness.”
FORM MEETS FUNCTION
Clean-lined cabinetry and transitional hardware bring current style to balance the room’s more traditional elements, while a crystal detail on the drawer knobs delivers a dose of glam. New quartzite countertops create a convenient bar or serving area during parties.
Design Resources
Contractor Carrington Creek Homes Interior design Matthew Morgan, The Details Accessories, hardware, lighting, mirrors, and wallpaper The Details Art Art Emporium Cabinets Smith Custom Cabinets Countertops New Century Countertops Flooring Alford’s Carpet One Floor & Home Flooring (Installation) Smith Hardwood Floors Glass Cutting Edge Glass Creations Millwork Fine Lines Custom Wood Works Paint Platinum Coatings and Sherwin-Williams Upholstery Fletcher Upholstery Window Coverings Kat Studios
