Date: September 1, 2021 | Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Steph Smith |
Layered neutrals and bold accents bring character to a new-construction home
As they say, timing is everything. That’s why Vicki and Terry Burnett waited 12 years before breaking ground on their new home in Roland. “We had a lot of time to dream and imagine. We just wanted the timing to be right,” Vicki says. When the perfect opportunity finally did come, Vicki called on a dear friend, Mona Thompson of Providence Design, to guide the home’s interior design, and builder Bill Parkinson of Parkinson Building Group to bring the team’s vision to fruition. Mona had worked with the couple on their previous residence, which had a more traditional style than the open, transitional feel they desired for their new home. “They wanted something completely different and more casual this time,” the designer says.
Nowhere is the couple’s relaxed style more apparent than the kitchen, which features a comfortable dining area, spacious prep zones, and warm woods mixed with a black-and-white palette. “Whenever we start house plans, we always start with the kitchen because it’s the heart of the home,” Mona says. “We started talking about accent colors because we knew whatever we picked was probably going to be something we would use throughout the rest of the house. Vicki immediately said she was drawn to black.” To this end, “Black Magic” by Sherwin-Williams covers the lower perimeter cabinets and two taller cabinets on either end of the main wall. The hue is repeated in a nearby walk-in pantry, and black bamboo-back chairs also tie into the scheme.
Mona helped carry the Burnetts’ updated style throughout the house, including in the master bathroom, which is an airy retreat from the darker palette seen in the shared spaces. Over the soaking tub, the designer incorporated a cherished painting that used to hang in the dining room of the couple’s former house. “I love the way Mona is able to come in and interpret a space,” Vicki says. “Her creativity isn’t held captive by what used to be. I love this piece here and never would have thought to use it in this space; It makes you see the art in a new light.”
Pretty + Polished
A porcelain arabesque backsplash, Taj Mahal quartzite countertops, and an antique runner lend an air of sophistication to the hardworking kitchen. A window over the sink provides a view of Rattlesnake Ridge. “Even when I’m doing dishes, I’m reminded why we moved out here in the first place,” Vicki says.
“I love traditional style, but I wanted to see that in a fresh way.” —Vicki Burnett, homeowner
The walk-in pantry provides storage for heirloom serving pieces as well as countertop space for desserts and crockpots during family gatherings.
Relaxing Retreat
In the master bath, the homeowners wanted a light and airy atmosphere without the maintenance of a porous material like marble. “The flooring is a porcelain tile that looks like stone, and we used the same material in the shower. It’s attractive but indestructible,” Mona says. The tile’s herringbone pattern, a clean-lined chandelier, and a mix of warm and cool metals speak to the home’s updated yet timeless design.
Design Resources
Builder Bill Parkinson, Parkinson Building Group Interior design Mona Thompson and Talena Ray, Providence Design Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinetry and hardware Duke Custom Cabinets Countertops Stone World Designs and Triton Stone Group Fixtures Falk Plumbing Supply Flooring, rugs, and tile ProSource of Little Rock Furniture and lighting Providence Design Glass West Little Rock Glass Paint Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams Window coverings Mountjoy’s Custom Draperies
