Date:  November 24, 2009  |   Story: Sharon Mosley  |  

When December rolls around for Little Rock resident Paul Guess, he is ready to spend time with his friends and family in a special place – his home in Chenal Valley.

“Christmas is such a fun time of the year, not only because of the true meaning, but also because I enjoy celebrating with my colleagues and family,” says the Des Arc native, a senior director of sales for a major pharmaceutical company. Paul hosts a party every year for all of his colleagues from the Southern region, and in preparation for the event, his house gets a full holiday makeover.

“Some might say that the Christmas decor in my home is a little over the top,” he says, “but it’s not to me.” Paul credits his parents, Ann and Donald Guess, who live in Des Arc, for always making the holidays special for his family. “I guess I get it from my mother who has at least two Christmas trees in her home,” Paul says. “It is just tradition to me.”

After having lived in cities across the U.S., Paul moved to Little Rock in 2007. He was thrilled when he found the 3,800-square-foot home in Chenal Valley. “The architecture and design of this house fit me perfectly because I regularly entertain,” Paul says. “The size of the home suits me because it’s not too big for a single professional.”

Paul was also delighted when he found Little Rock interior designer Debi Davis, and he offered her a blank canvas upon which to decorate his new home. “I thought I had a style,” says Paul, who loves an eclectic mix of European antiques and furnishings with a classic French flair, “but Debi really helped me refine the look that flows throughout my home.” Davis echoes Paul’s sentiments. “He has a very sophisticated Old World style,” says the designer. “And we blended in a touch of contemporary design for a classic, masculine look.”

Davis says she had the concept of “dressy casual” in mind for Paul’s house, outfitting the rooms in shades of easy-care chocolate brown mixed with crisp ivory accents for a touch of formality. “It’s a comfortable combination,” adds Davis, “since it’s great for everyday living and chic enough for entertaining.”

Adding unique touches helped personalize the new house as well, including a custom dining room table where Paul’s family crest is painted in the center, along with one-of-a-kind accessories. This custom approach carried over to the holiday decor as well, where the design team at Silks A Bloom dressed up the house for Paul’s annual party.

“We were so excited to work with Paul on his home,” says Tammy Copeland, who along with daughters Lindsey Copeland and Brittany Vick and partner Dale Aldridge, transformed Paul’s home into an elegant showplace. “Christmas is the one time of year that you don’t have to match your holiday decorating to your interior decor,” Vick says. “Whether you choose to have it blend in, or make a big statement, you can’t go wrong.” Here, the team added sparkle and shine with holden hues to accent the rich, neutral interiors.

“Paul’s home ended up with a great mix of the traditional feel of Christmas and of glitz and glamour,” says Aldridge. “Those two styles worked together beautifully here.”

Design Sources

Interior design Debi Davis, D & D Design, Little Rock
Christmas décor Silks A Bloom, Little Rock
Art/décor Elements of Design, Little Rock
Furnishings Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock
Piano Capitol Keyboard, Little Rock