Date:  May 29, 2025  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |  

Cahill Design gives a primary suite a chic upgrade

A love of plants led Marisa Cahill to find her true passion: interior design. “During college, my husband and I would do landscaping jobs to make extra money,” she explains. Wanting to further their business, she taught herself how to do virtual renderings, including exterior home designs. After graduating from Arkansas State University, the Amarillo native caught the eye of Jonesboro designer Kim Biggs, who owns The Vibe Interiors. Under her wing, Marisa learned the ropes of the business before going out on her own in Little Rock, tackling projects of all sizes.

After seeing her work in their friends’ house, Ashley and Trace Henderson wanted Marisa’s help with their west Little Rock home. They originally hired her to work on their living room’s built-in shelving, but the project snowballed to encompass overarching features like the home’s flooring and wall paint as well as the full renovation of the primary bed and bath. “I came up with a virtual rendering, and our visions aligned,” Marisa says. “It really helps clients to see exactly what the room will look like,” she adds.

In the bath specifically, Marisa incorporated the Hendersons’ penchant for midcentury influence through reeded cabinetry, brass accents, and globe lighting. The vanity height was raised to today’s 36-inch standard while the shower was reworked to be more light-filled. A new standalone tub was installed and complemented by a contemporary Regina Andrew fixture. “It adds that funk and midcentury influence that we were going for,” Marisa says.

In the bedroom, blue walls were traded for the same white seen in the bath and Marisa selected furnishings that coordinate with the suite’s style and palette. “We know light paint really opens up a house and wanted to give them maximum visual square footage,” the designer says. “When Ashley came home to the paint, she called to tell me it looked like a completely different house,” Marisa adds, noting that the overall renovation feels more in line with her clients’ personal style.

“Their fun, creative personalities are everywhere you look… It’s not just updated­—it feels like them!”
—Marisa Cahill, designer

Blurring the Lines
In the shower, a porcelain tile gives the look of marble while being budget-friendly and stain resistant. Since the space is small, Marisa went bold with the veining pattern selection to create visual impact.

Layers of Comfort
The headboard echoes the design seen on the vanity cabinetry while the bedding and pillows adhere to the overall palette, creating a sense of continuity throughout the primary suite.

Trending Textures
In updating the vanity, Marisa suggested reeded front panels for the cabinetry doors. This texture pairs with leathered granite countertops and brass hardware for a chic, streamlined appeal.

Natural Addition
Going back to her early days of landscaping, Marisa always budgets for live plants to be included in a project. “I take any chance I can to bring in something that is not man-made,” she says.

Design Resources
Interior design Marisa Cahill, Cahill Design Bedding, furniture, lighting, mirrors, rugs, and window coverings The Vibe Interiors Countertops Vienna Stone Flooring and tile ProSource of Little Rock Millwork Elite Trimworks Paint Benjamin Moore