Date:  June 28, 2024  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Angela Alexander  |  

Marianna O’Dea helps a young family turn a weekend retreat into a practical and playful full-time residence

“An epic five-month summer.” That’s how one of the owners of this Hot Springs home describes the initial months of the pandemic, which they spent away from their Little Rock residence and at the lake instead. “We felt a little guilty when we looked around, but we had been living our best life,” the homeowner says. For the young family of four, days spent wakesurfing and nights looking out at the water were a dream. Not wanting to lose sight of the togetherness and fun they shared during that season, they made the decision to move to their Lake Hamilton vacation home permanently.
However, the house—which they purchased in 2017—needed updates to make it more than a weekend retreat. Luckily, they were already working with designer Marianna O’Dea on their primary home and quickly got her involved to rework the floor plan and refresh the look for this new chapter. “They wanted it to be easygoing and casual, but they entertain all the time so it still had to feel polished,” Marianna says of the concept. “And, since it is their everyday house, it was important to have a clear separation between public and private spaces,” she adds.

The addition of a new primary suite created space for each child to have a bedroom as well as a spacious guest room to accommodate guests. The new plan also allowed for separate, dedicated offices for the homeowners, who both work from home. Additionally, the footprint of the small, cramped kitchen was opened up for better traffic flow and to accommodate a bar. Visual cues, such as changes in hues, as well as structural ones signal the move from gathering spaces to the places where the family can unwind and be alone. “The kids have a whole wing to themselves, and it’s like your brain switches as you move from one area to another,” Marianna notes.

Because they were in the middle of updating their previous house, they were able to make many of the pieces ordered for that home translate here. The living room chairs, which have a blue fabric reminiscent of the water, found a prominent place near the windows; existing barstools were cut to be the proper height for the new kitchen island; and heirlooms like a grandmother’s chairs find new life in an office. Using these pieces allowed them to maximize the budget in other areas. For example, the primary bath’s steam shower—a feature they fell in love with during a vacation and had to replicate—as well as the built-in coffee maker and tall wine fridge in the bar are luxurious additions that make the primary home feel like a getaway.

Above: The covered porch is a respite from the sun on extra warm days. Teak chairs with blush-colored cushions sit opposite the coveted seats on the porch swing.

Playful Palette
In the living room, which adjoins the kitchen, Marianna reworked pre-existing, built-in storage on either side of the fireplace for a proportional, symmetrical design. She also updated the surround with a concrete-formed mantel. Stained paneling, a feature that plays off the room’s other wood accents, brings texture and interest to the vaulted ceiling. Recently purchased furnishings from the family’s previous house fill the room and complement an heirloom rug.

Gathering Place
When family and friends visit, the newly reworked kitchen has plenty of room for a crowd with seating at the island and a separate dining table. “We really thought about how they entertain and went through several layouts before we found what was best for them,” Marianna says. Settling on “plain white” after not seeing a countertop she loved, the owner and Marianna quickly changed direction after finding this green slab on a trip to Dallas. “We wanted this to be the star of the show,” the designer says, adding that the simple overhead light doesn’t take away from its veining or the view from the newly repositioned sink.

Beverage Central
Opposite the kitchen sink, Marianna made room for a dual-service coffee and wine station that offers refreshment from sunup to sundown. The backsplash behind the range was repeated here in a contrasting charcoal color to create a focal point, while shelves and cabinetry offer storage for bar accessories and entertaining essentials. The casual, light-wood dining table pairs with more formal upholstered chairs that bring in the home’s predominant blue hue.

Water-Inspired Retreat
The new addition includes a primary suite with a view of Lake Hamilton. “Blue reminds me of the water; I love looking out at it,” the owner says. Speaking to this, Marianna selected a light blue and white drapery fabric with a horizontal pattern that mimics the lake’s surface. An upholstered bed and acrylic benches have a current bend while pendants are a practical addition for nighttime reading that don’t take up valuable space on the nightstands.

Spa Worthy
Centered inside the spacious primary bath, a wet room features a steam shower and stand-alone air-bubble tub—two amenities that prioritize relaxation. “Her husband actually bought the tub as a birthday present for her while we were working on the house,” Marianna says. Subway tile laid in a herringbone pattern brings visual interest and pairs with the warm finish on the plumbing fixtures.

All Her Own
“I needed a space that no one else had any reason to be in,” the owner says with a smile. A small nook with a window looking out to the water and close proximity to the primary suite and laundry room was carved out of the floor plan to create her office space. Here, blue shows up in a bold translation on the bookcase while accessories bring in almost every color of the rainbow. Heirloom chairs and a new loveseat are both covered in classic, solid velvets and pair with the contemporary acrylic table. Art and photographs, like the center one of the Women’s March in Washington, D.C.—an event the owner attended with her mother—further personalize the room.

Boy’s World
Primary hues take center stage in the son’s bedroom and bath. The palette draws from a Pendleton blanket that belonged to the owner’s father and was cut into two throws for use at the end of the twin beds. A red picture light and quartet of animal-themed artwork complete the space. In the bath, Marianna found inspiration in the boy’s love of wakesurfing, a watersport he learned during COVID and now often has the opportunity to practice after school. The nautical design features wave-inspired wallpaper, brass and wood accents, and a towel holder that has the look of a boat ladder.

Design Resources
Contractor Nicholas Sarver, Nicholas Sarver Construction Interior design Marianna O’Dea, O’Dea Studios Interior Design Appliances Metro Appliances & More Bedding, fabrics, furniture, lighting, tile (backsplash), and window coverings O’Dea Studios Interior Design Countertops Stone World Designs Doors, lumber, and windows CJ Horner Fireplace Ballard Fireplace Fireplace (surround) Nicholas Sarver Construction Fixtures PC Hardware and Sanders Supply Hot Springs Flooring and tile (bathrooms) Hot Springs Hardwood & Supply Hardware PC Hardware Millwork The Millwork Co. Outdoor furnishings Ninth and Co. Painting Ramz Painting