Date: December 20, 2016 | Story: Jennifer Bonds | Photography: Rett Peek |
A local decorator helps a Little Rock family transform a traditional house into a fun, funky place to call home
For Carrie Kidd, a life-long passion for good design led to a later-in-life career change she didn’t expect. After college, she had plans to attend New York’s Parsons School of Design, but settled down to start a family instead. “I worked in advertising, stayed at home with my children, really just did a little bit of everything,” Kidd recalls. Meanwhile, her friendship with a Little Rock designer—who also helped decorate her Pulaski Heights home—planted the subtle seeds of a career change. “Kevin has been a dear friend for years,” Kidd says of Kevin Walsh of Bear Hill Interiors. “We are a good collaborative team. I like to push boundaries and he can reign me in when needed. I have learned a lot through just being his friend.”
Eventually, Kidd’s stylish point of view began to catch the eyes of friends, who started asking for her input in their homes. “I have always been interested in style and fashion,” she says. “But since becoming a mother, my interest has shifted to something that is more permanent. I love creating a home that will be lived in and loved forever.” Kidd describes her style as “new traditional with a twist,” which is especially evident in the modern, artful way she decorated this classic Little Rock home. “I don’t like to put things in a box, or have anything be too controlled or perfect,” she says. “I love to add a sense of whimsy and personality to a space to create an environment that is beautiful, but also very livable and comfortable.”
Starting Point
Kidd connected with this client in the organic way she meets many of them: Through the word of mouth of friends. The renovation of the house was nearly completed—the walls and floors were finished—so Kidd came in to bring the spaces to life for the active family. “This family is very lively and social,” she explains. “They travel a lot but are also very much homebodies, and wanted the house to be their sanctuary.” Graphic details, artful shapes, and unexpected colors combine to create an inviting space with a surprise around every corner.
Traditional with a Twist
“My client wanted to go kind of crazy and funky—which I love—but I reigned it in so that we could respect the pretty traditional bones of the house,” Kidd says. The symmetrical entrance is clean and nearly monochromatic—with creamy white paint accented with a soft gray door and shutters—giving little hint to the dramatic colors used inside. A self-proclaimed lover of neutrals, Kidd says that her clients inspired her to think outside the box in the color department. Soft corals and pinks mix with vibrant teal in the dining room, and the den is lacquered from floor to ceiling in a dramatic blue. Modern lighting adds a punch to the traditional architecture, while similar components (brass, glass, Lucite, and quartz) connect the pieces to each other. “Black and white is also a recurring theme,” Kidd adds. “I used it often in art and fabrics to tie the spaces together and give them a cohesive feeling.”
Family-Friendly Style
At first glance, the home’s spare, artful look doesn’t seem kid-friendly, but the youngest members of the family were never far from Kidd’s mind as she outfitted the home. Their main hangout space is the living room, where a medium-toned sofa and pair of patterned chairs stand up to daily use. In the adjoining breakfast room—where the family takes most of their meals—French-inspired chairs appear dainty, but are upholstered in wipeable patent leather. Kidd also made way for some adult-inspired space, in particular the blue-lacquered den, which she imagined as a cozy, quiet place to unwind at the end of a busy day.
Artful Eye
Overall, the home is void of heavy visual clutter, allowing every unique piece—and there are many!—to stand out and be appreciated. The abstract work of Barcelona artist Heather Chontos is found in several rooms; for example, the large piece over the den’s fireplace was commissioned for the room. In the entry, the oversized black-and-white work is actually abstract wallpaper by Kelly Wearstler that Kidd had framed. In the dining room, she reimagined a family heirloom by removing the artwork’s traditional frame and having it set in a Lucite box. Even the furnishings feel artful. Materials such as brass, Lucite, burled wood, and raffia lend a textural layer to the modern spaces. “Carrie has a great eye, and always knows just how to push the envelope,” Kevin Walsh says.
Ed. note: The paint color used on the exterior of the house is a custom blend using “Dover” by Sherwin-Williams. The door is “Light French Gray” by Sherwin-Williams. The shutters are also “Light French Gray,” but cut by 1/4 to be slightly lighter. Thanks to designer Carrie Kidd for providing this information.
Design Resources
Architect, bath and kitchen design Ellen Yeary and Jim Yeary, Yeary Lindsey Architects, Little Rock, (501) 372-5940, yearylindsey.com
Interior designer Carrie Kidd, Carrie Kidd Designs, Little Rock, (501) 680-4446
Contractor Lasley Construction, Little Rock, (501) 975-5550, thelasleycompany.com
Landscape design Perfect Places Lawn Care, Alexander, (501) 316-0892
Accessories Bear Hill Interiors, Little Rock, (501) 907-9272, bearhillinteriors.com; clement., Little Rock, (501) 539-1473; Fabulous Finds Antique Mall, Little Rock, (501) 614-8181, fabulousfindsantiquesanddecorativemall.com
Appliances Metro Appliances & More, Jonesboro, (870) 933-7800, North Little Rock, (501) 758-1988, Springdale, (479) 750-2200, metroappliancesandmore.com
Cabinetry Kimberly Enterprises, Cabot, (501) 988-1475
Carpet C & F Flooring & Rug Gallery, Little Rock, (501) 399-9909, candfcarpet.com
Countertops and fireplace Linco Countertops, Cabot, (501) 843-3440, lincocountertops.com
Fabrics and wallpaper Designer Effects, Little Rock, (501) 661-4070, designereffects.net
Fixtures Southern Pipe and Supply, locations statewide, southernpipe.com
Flooring—installation Kyle Scruggs Flooring, Little Rock, (501) 690-6848
Furniture Bear Hill Interiors, Little Rock, (501) 907-9272, bearhillinteriors.com; Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock (501) 664-4249, West Little Rock, (501) 219-3676, cobblestoneandvine.com; Phoenix Interiors, Little Rock, (501) 225-0400; Ransom Interiors, Little Rock, (501) 838-7267, ransominteriors.com
Hardware PC Hardware, Little Rock, (501) 224-1724, pchdwe.com
Lighting Light Innovations, Little Rock, (501) 223-9026, light-innovations.com
Millwork Kaufman Lumber, Little Rock, (501) 568-3182, kaufmanlumber.com
Outdoor furnishings Antique Brick Outdoors, Little Rock, (501) 375-0060, antiquebrickinc.com
Paint Sherwin Williams, locations statewide, sherwin-williams.com
Painting and painting—decorative Rick Elam, Little Rock, (501) 256-6267
Rugs Martinous Oriental Rug Co., Little Rock, (501) 404-0556, martinous.com
Tile Acme Brick, Tile & Stone, North Little Rock, (501) 812-5574, acmebricktileandstone.com
Upholstery Jonas Williams Upholstery, Pine Bluff, (870) 939-7281
Wallpaper—installation Loretta Herring, Sheridan, (870) 942-7008
Window coverings Mountjoy’s Custom Draperies, Mabelvale, (501) 455-2216
