In any space, small changes can make a big impact. Browse our top picks for easy room refreshers.
Room Refreshers
Chalk paint: White Goat, Little Rock, (501) 603-9460
…
Around the Color Wheel
“Color is everything,” says designer Jennifer Huett, who worked with a busy family of five to update their Hot Springs home. “They are a very high-energy group,” she says of the Hannon family. “They like to live life to the fullest and didn’t need a serene space to come home to. They wanted a home that makes them happy.”
Happy, it is. Huett hit all of the high notes of a Crayola box, including vibrant red, earthy green, trendy turquoise and a deeply delightful purple, but did so gracefully enough that the homeowner’s heirloom antiques blend seamlessly into the more contemporary aesthetic. “We had to find a way to use three exuberant colors, but not have them feel forced,” Huett says. A wool rug from Company C featuring red, green and turquoise anchors the living room and became the jumping off point for the adjacent dining room, kitchen and breakfast area.
In the coral living room, an art installation made of reclaimed wood introduces the raw material, which is used throughout the home to temper the vibrant—and often cool—tones of the walls and fabrics. “Paint is an inexpensive way to introduce color,” says Huett. “If you’re unsure, try a piece of art or even a vase with brightly-colored flowers in it. Then, move up to an accent wall. If you keep the big pieces neutral, you can always change your mind.” To balance this space, an inherited pair of armchairs, recovered in red with a cheerful green piping, were paired with a neutral sectional sofa.
“I meet so many people who have storage units full of beautiful pieces that have been passed down to them,” says Huett. “They have proper emotional attachments to them but don’t know how to incorporate them into a more trendy or colorful look.” Huett, however, jumped in with both feet by fearlessly pairing the family’s English antiques with bright colors, modern art and new upholstery. As a result, the home feels unique and authentic.
…
Cozy in Color
Nothing brings friends together like a good design project. At least that’s the story of homeowner/designer duo Jamie Clark and Joanna McCusker, who quickly became gal pals over mood boards and countless cups of coffee. As the pair’s shared appreciation of French antiques and functional spaces surfaced, McCusker recalls how the design consultations turned into “fun, little lunches and dinners,” and the rest is history.
It’s no coincidence that Clark and McCusker found common ground in the crosshairs of interior design and culinary arts. After all, dining and entertaining in comfort were Clark’s initial inspirations to redesign her once-cramped kitchen, den and pantry areas. Throw in McCusker’s knack for mixing old and new, and you’ve got a recipe for colorful, chic perfection with a touch of vintage charm.
When Clark found her small, but character-rich cottage no longer conducive to her family’s daily lifestyle, not to mention entertaining, she recruited kitchen design expert McCusker, who works as a freelance home designer, as well as a consultant for Springdale’s New Century Counter Tops. “This house is very unique,” Clark reflects on her charming residence, rife with whimsy and quirk. “I’m really drawn to that English countryside look of homes, furniture and even lifestyle,” and she’s not kidding. Atop a grassy hill on the outskirts of rural Van Buren, the Clarks’ ranch-style property includes a herd of horses and a sweeping view of the Arkansas River Valley—the picture of pastoral bliss.
This “countryside look” is exactly what Clark insisted remain intact during the redesign process, while also adding usable space with unexpected pops of interesting color and pattern. Characteristic of many built in the 1920s, Clark relates that her home is modest in space, and many of its rooms have been repurposed through the years. Naturally, a woman who hosts as frequently and readily as Clark needs a maison as capable to multitask as she is. The challenge was to maximize the existing space without moving walls or extending into other parts of the house. “I didn’t know how she would solve it, but she did,” Clark brags on her friend, McCusker.
…
Spring Fashion Stylebook: Bold and Beautiful
Courageous color and graphic prints make a stunning style statement this spring
Feinstein’s: Milly color block dress, Sondra Roberts black and beige clutch, Janie Marie by Janie Hathoot necklace. Little Rock, 501) 664-7330, feinsteins.com
…
Out & About: Family Destinations
Spring fever is in full swing this month, and there’s no better place to get outdoors than right here in Arkansas’ own backyard. Here are some of our favorite Natural State getaways
Planning a family getaway in Arkansas this spring? Many travelers are drawn to the abundant outdoor activities, scenic beauty and family-friendly attractions around the state. Arkansas is brimming with a combination of natural wonders and cultural city life that can inspire your next vacation. If you want to see the great outdoors, tour one of the state’s caverns or caves, swim or boat in our lakes or dig for diamonds in an Arkansas state park. Celebrate Delta blues, Ozark folk music, or local craftsmen and performers at one of Arkansas’ numerous cultural heritage festivals. Get retail therapy at one of our many antique or specialty shops in historic settings such as Hot Springs or Eureka Springs. No matter your hobbies or interests, Arkansas has something to offer.
{Best Western Inn of the Ozarks}
…
Dream in Color
“Color! What a deep and mysterious language, the language of dreams.”
– artist Paul Gauguin
…
Spring Furniture Fix: Industry Standards
Beauty in the Books
Art appraiser Jennifer Carman is an open book if you’re looking to learn more about paintings, sculptures and decorative accessories. Since the age of eight she has been collecting artist’s monographs and exhibition catalogs, beginning with a large book of highlights from the Louvre Museum she received as a Christmas gift. “Until that time I was mostly familiar with books full of text where the stories would evoke a vision. With books full of artwork the vision is provided for you, requiring your mind to grapple with a new set of ideas,” she explains. Needless to say, Carman was taken with a passion for the books. “As a child I would save my allowance so I could slowly grow the collection,” she recalls.
Carman, who owns Little Rock’s J.Carman, Inc. Art Advisory and Appraisal Services, has allowed her love of art to evolve from a hobby to a career. She now has more than 3,000 books on art and decorative accessories, many of which she uses to identify and appraise her clients’ pieces. However when it comes to her personal collection, it’s not necessarily books that cover sought-after topics, ones that are rare finds themselves or even works considered to be of value that catch her well-trained eye. Rather, among her favorites are art books that evoke emotion or bring to mind certain places, experiences or people she’s been fortunate to meet during her pursuit of this passion.
…
Spring Furniture Fix: Established Elegance
Spring Furniture Fix: Statement Seating
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 148
- 149
- 150
- 151
- 152
- …
- 228
- Next Page »
