Date:  August 18, 2016  |   Story: Jennifer Bonds  |   Photography: Nancy Nolan  |  

An outdated kitchen gets a timeless new look, just in time for its Designer Showhouse debut

This Spring, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild held its bi-annual fundraiser, the Symphony Designer Showhouse, a collaboration among designers and vendors across the state. Meridith Ranouil of MLH Designs along with Bill Wrape and Alissa Oates of Distinctive Kitchens and Baths collaborated on the remodel of the Chenal home’s kitchen. “The house was built in the 1980’s so there were a few features that really dated it,” Ranouil says. “We wanted to make it more functional and current, and give it a very classic and timeless feel.” Centrally located in the home and open to the den, the team wanted to give the space a neutral, universally-appealing makeover in preparation for the house going on the market. “This project was a little different because we wanted to appeal to nine out of 10 potential buyers,” Wrape, who has been designing custom kitchens and baths for 17 years, explains. Ranouil disguised the Palladian-style window (a popular feature at the time of the home’s construction) with a custom Roman shade.

To create a more efficient work triangle and make the space more conducive to entertaining, the team replaced the peninsula with a freestanding island. “Now, guests can sit at the island without interfering in the workspace,” Ranouil says. They also closed off an awkward entrance to the laundry room, which created wall space for a floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinet with shelves that roll out when the doors are opened. “The WoodMode cabinetry is outfitted with every feature that homeowners are looking for: corner turn-outs, pull-out trash cans, and big drawers for pots and pans,” Wrape says. “Everything is designed to be easy to use and to make things easy to find.”  The cabinets extend to the 10-foot ceiling, offering valuable storage space, which is “always a selling point,” Ranouil notes, but also contribute to the kitchen’s timeless feeling. A large refrigerator is disguised behind cabinetry panels, and a professional-grade range and hood by DCS are a home cook’s dream. Ranouil and Oates chose a light glaze to warm up the white finish on the Shaker-style recessed-panel cabinets, which contrasts with the island’s on-trend green-gray washed finish. Above, a custom lantern has classic roots, but is updated to reflect current style. The Quartz counters were provided by Wilsonart and are dark on the island, and light on the perimeter cabinets. “The backsplash is one of my favorite features,” Ranouil points out. “The arabesque shape is very on-trend right now, and the muddy tone complements the rest of the finishes in the space nicely.”

Design Resources
Interior designer Meridith Hamilton Ranouil, CKD, Allied ASID, MLH Designs, Inc, Little Rock, (501) 766-0594, mlh-designs.com
Kitchen designer Bill Wrape, CKD, CBD and Alissa A. Oates, AKBD, Allied ASID, Distinctive Kitchens & Baths, Little Rock, (501) 666-7756, kitchensofarkansas.com; Meridith Hamilton Ranouil, CKD, Allied ASID, MLH Designs, Inc, Little Rock, (501) 766-0594, mlh-designs.com
Accessories Erdos at Home, Little Rock, (501) 217-0300, erdosathome.com; MLH Designs, Inc, Little Rock, (501) 766-0594, mlh-designs.com
Appliances Metro Appliances and More, Jonesboro, (870) 933-7800, North Little Rock, (501) 758-1988, metroappliancesandmore.com
Cabinets Distinctive Kitchens & Baths, Little Rock, (501) 666-7756, kitchensofarkansas.com
Countertops Plunkett Distributing, Little Rock, (501) 656-4548
Countertop fabrication AHI Stoneworks, Hot Springs, (501) 547-3545, ahistoneworks.net
Fabrics MLH Designs, Inc, Little Rock, (501) 766-0594, mlh-designs.com
Faucets and fixtures Southern Pipe & Supply, locations statewide, southernpipe.com
Flooring Kaufman by Design, Little Rock, (501) 673-3978, kaufmanbydesignwest.com
Furniture Erdos at Home, Little Rock, (501) 217-0300, erdosathome.com
Hardware Distinctive Kitchens & Baths, Little Rock, (501) 666-7756, kitchensofarkansas.com
Lighting Distinctive Kitchens & Baths, Little Rock, (501) 666-7756, kitchensofarkansas.com
Tile ProSource, Little Rock, (501) 490-9284, prosourcewholesale.com
Window coverings Designer Effects, Little Rock, (501) 661-4070, designereffects.net
Painting Paul Green Construction, Little Rock, (501) 690-5442
Rugs MLH Designs, Inc, Little Rock, (501) 766-0594, mlh-designs.com