Date: May 9, 2018 | Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek |
A classic Craftsman-style home in downtown Siloam Springs gets a bright, airy makeover from designer Melissa Haynes
Makeovers come in all shapes and sizes. Case in point, this 1930s Craftsman, which has been home to designer Melissa Haynes’s clients for more than 20 years. Over time it has evolved through additions and style transitions, the most recent of which was executed by Haynes. “The home had been professionally decorated years ago but I got a sense that they wanted something more fun and energetic,” she says of her clients.
For this update, the primary focus was lightening the color palette and giving the home a fresh feel. “There was a really traditional look throughout,” the designer says of the home’s previous style. “The color scheme was paprika, straw, and black, and the fixtures were also very traditional. Everything in the house was functional and worked well for them, but they really wanted a change and to do something different,” she says of the motivation behind the makeover. Here’s how Haynes used the magic of paint, fabrics, and furnishings to help her clients create a bright and lively home that’s reflective of their style.
In the family room, the designer kept a built-in bench along the back wall but updated its seat with a cushion covered in the same fabric as the room’s armchairs.
BEFORE
AFTER
Feelin’ the Blues
The TV room, as the family refers to it, is a favorite hangout for the kids. It formerly featured red walls and dark wood furniture. Haynes kept its intimate feel, but initiated a new look with a fresh palette, featuring a rich blue that covers both the walls and ceiling. “This house has lower ceilings, so wrapping the room in color gives it a really cozy feel,” she says. The sofa was recovered in a soft wool blend that seems to invite afternoon movie sessions, while two abstract works by artist Michelle Armas add a youthful vibe to the space. An inlaid bone coffee table is a graphic play on black-and-white stripes. “We all said that table is so fun; let’s go for it,” Haynes says of the selection.
Palette Perfected
The formal living room was previously outfitted in rich neutrals. Haynes kept the neutral idea as the room’s backdrop but lightened the hues, opting for a cream grasscloth wallcovering and several white furniture pieces, which don’t stand out in contrast.
“The exterior of the house is red, so I didn’t want to ignore that completely,” Haynes says. Artwork, throw pillows, and the fabric tape seen on the back of an armchair are all subtle nods to the vibrant hue, while blue shows up on a larger scale throughout the space.
Walk the Line
“When I originally talked with the homeowners, they said the kitchen was so efficient and they definitely didn’t want to change its flow,” Haynes says. With that in mind, cosmetic updates were made to refresh the room. The base cabinets received a coat of Benjamin Moore’s “Van Courtland Blue,” while the upper cabinetry was painted in “White Dove.” The cabinetry doors were also refaced to replace formerly frameless ones. A mosaic backsplash, which extends to the ceiling in some areas, brings visual interest to the walls. The room ends in a back kitchen or butler’s pantry area, which has its own dishwasher and beverage center as well as plenty of concealed storage for less frequently used items.
Natural Setting
In the dining room, Haynes traded red patterned wallpaper and a coordinating rug for the same shades of cream and blue seen in the living room and kitchen. A custom, handpainted Gracie wallpaper is now the standout feature and sets the tone for the light, natural style. “This space is in the center of the house, so I wanted to go neutral with accents of color,” the designer says of the palette. Haynes kept the room’s existing burled wood dining table but paired it with new chairs covered in a durable, easy-to-clean outdoor fabric. “They use this space frequently so it was important that it be functional.” A patterned rug in a range of blue hues also brings in color yet is practical for everyday use in the high-traffic area.
Casual Dining
For less formal meals, the family meets in the breakfast nook where the designer swapped an undersized table for this larger pedestal option. The room looks out into the courtyard garden that inspired the leafy green accents, including the drapery fabric, Quadrille’s “Lysette” in Palm Green. Other personal touches include a collection of the client’s teacups (seen over the doorway), which Haynes framed in Lucite boxes for a contemporary way to display the cherished pieces.
Master of Serenity
A shimmering grasscloth wallcovering sets the backdrop for the master bedroom while furnishings that are unified with the bath’s palette complete the space. Additionally, a small vestibule featuring an hourglass table and an eclectic mix of accessories and art helps to set the tone for the suite. “This is a very large room, so we had space to include a sitting area for relaxation as well as a desk space,” Haynes says.
Calming Trend
In the master bath, Haynes notes she “let the existing features direct the palette,” keeping the floor, shower, and tub intact. “Peaceful, elegant, and glamorous were the directives from the client,” she says. New his-and-hers vanities topped with quartzite, an updated wall color, and a balloon shade on the window by the tub add to the room’s sophisticated feel.
Dressing Room
“We completely ripped out the master closet and made it more custom,” Haynes says. A glass-topped center island offers concealed and plain-sight storage and is paired with hanging space, shelving, and mirrored-front cabinetry to ensure everything has a place.
Design Resources
Interior design Melissa Haynes, MH Design, Inc. Contractor Tim Jackson Contracting and Design Accessories, art, bedding, cabinetry design, fabrics, fixtures, furniture, hardware, lighting, mirrors, and wallpaper MH Design, Inc. Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cushions, throw pillows, and window coverings Mountjoy’s Custom Draperies Cabinetry construction Tim Jackson Contracting and Design Countertops New Century Counter Tops and Tile Paint Benjamin Moore and Farrow & Ball Painting Rocky’s Painting, Inc. Rugs and tile (kitchen) Tom January Floors
