Date:  January 8, 2025  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Angela Alexander  |  

From classic stripes to fanciful florals, designer Krista Lewis bedecks a Little Rock home in a harmonious mix of patterns

“I come across things in our office and think, This is so her.” It’s the kind of comment—and relationship—born from having learned the preferences and nuances of a client. For designer Krista Lewis and this Little Rock homeowner, it is the result of a decade-long conversation as they have updated her home, an experience that has allowed Krista to create designs that are not only eye-pleasing but also a true reflection of the client.

Having lived in the house since 1987, this homeowner’s style has seen several iterations over the years—but the latest version incorporates lively hues, more pattern, and layers of detail. “I had a lot of yellow before, and I didn’t dislike it, but I’d had it for 20 years,” the owner says. “She has such an appreciation for decorative arts and wanted to do something new,” Krista adds. Drawn to Krista’s penchant for traditional aesthetics, the client called on the designer’s expertise as they worked their way through every room in the classic Georgian. “It didn’t take long for me to see that Krista knew what she was talking about,” the homeowner says. “She picks things that I wouldn’t have picked, but she is right.”

In the pair’s most recent series of projects, Krista replaced the home’s yellow palette with blues expressed in almost every space. “When you look at the house as a whole, it all flows. Every room has its own story but the colors run throughout it,” Krista says. There’s also a sense of familiarity in the furnishings, many of which the owner has had for decades but that have been refreshed with new fabrics or relocated to a different room. “I ask her, Should I keep this or not? And sometimes she says yes and sometimes no; I’ve learned to trust her judgment,” the owner adds.

Above: Mahjong gatherings are frequently hosted around the living room’s game table. Molding painted a shade darker than the walls frames a mix of original artwork and collected tableware.

The Everything Room
The formal living room is a multipurpose space used throughout the day for various activities. “We really thought about how this room was going to function,” Krista says, pointing to areas for reading and relaxation as well as games and correspondence. The owner’s original furniture was recovered in fabrics that fit the new design. “I’m not terribly sentimental but I just like them, and I don’t think there’s anything I would like a lot better,” she says of the pieces that fit the space perfectly.

New Again
The entry’s Queen Anne-style settee “has been recovered in at least four different fabrics through the years,” the homeowner says. “Good pieces are good for a lifetime,” Krista says. “You can change the fabric and it has a whole new look.” The most recent, salmon-hued iteration offers a place for guests to drop coats and bags when entering the front door. In the background, a trio of paintings by Tennessee-based artist EMYO ascend the stair wall.

With a Flourish
The custom, grass-colored strié velvet banquette is a new addition that provides additional seating. Its bullion fringe speaks to both the homeowner’s and designer’s love of details. Krista swapped the former sconces for a brass pair with pleated shades, while a custom geometric-print rug introduces terracotta to the palette and lends a slightly more contemporary feel. The plates are a part of the homeowner’s collection and add a personal touch. The walls are painted “Krypton” by Sherwin-Williams.

Buffet Style
“In a dining room, you don’t have that many opportunities for fabric, which is why we placed it everywhere we could,” Krista says, pointing out the bold-hued patterned lampshades that play off the palette. The mirror over the buffet was purchased from the home’s previous owner. “It was originally in a bathroom upstairs and was white,” the homeowner says, adding that a past designer had it painted gold for use in this formal dining space.

Mixing Things Up
Design decisions like opting for two different fabrics on the chairs and mixing abstract art with an antique rug personalize the dining room while also giving it a current feel. “I like to mix all of things but don’t want it to feel overwhelming; I love the more solid wallpaper on the ceiling,” Krista says. Details such as the onion tassel trim on the draperies elevate the overall look.

Working Overtime
Once belonging to her husband, the upstairs office took on a more feminine flair during its makeover. Thanks to a custom daybed, the room also pulls double duty as an extra sleeping space when guests visit. “Everything was completely customized,” Krista says, adding that baskets under the bed store paperwork neatly out of sight. “When my neighbors visit, they are amazed to find that I use every inch of my house,” the homeowner adds.

“Wicker, bamboo, bone inlay, blue-and-white: I keep going to these for a reason; they look good together.”
—Krista Lewis, designer

Attic Escape
While the third-floor attic space is an after-school hangout for the homeowner’s grandson on a day-to-day basis, it becomes a guest suite when her daughter’s family of five visits. The area, which was her daughter’s room when she was growing up, has a setup reminiscent of a hotel, including a small sitting nook as well as a daybed and trundle in addition to the bed shown here. A plaid Thibaut wallpaper gives the room a unifying sense of character. “When I look at this wallpaper, I think, How did she do this,” the homeowner says of installer Lorita Herring, who artfully mastered the room’s numerous angles.

Rather than panels, Krista often uses valances to create total darkness in primary bedrooms. The check-print Scalamandre fabric used here complements the floral Schumacher fabric on the walls, which brings an added layer of warmth to the sleeping space.

A New Traditional
Unlike other areas of the home, the bedroom furniture—including the upholstered bed and cozy strié cotton velvet chairs—consists of new pieces Krista sourced for the room. Monogrammed linens, a medallion mirror, and gourd lamps on the bedside tables are traditional hallmarks that will never age the room.

Design Resources
Interior design Krista Lewis, K. Lewis Interior Design Accessories, bedding, fabrics, furniture, lighting, and window coverings K. Lewis Interior Design Framing BK Moulding Rugs Hadidi Rug Gallery and K. Lewis Interior Design Upholstery Howard’s Upholstery Wallpaper (installation) Lorita Herring