Date:  June 1, 2026  |   Story: Virginia Brown  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Julia Glover  |  

Designer Sarah Parsley brings charm and color to a new-construction home in Conway

When Andy Harris and Katie Bailey-Harris made the decision to build a new home, they knew just who to call: designer Sarah Parsley. She and Katie, who are both Conway natives, are longtime friends, and the couple had seen Sarah’s work in other friends’ homes. With three children, Katie and Andy wanted more space for the family to enjoy. “While we loved our former home and our neighbors, we knew we eventually wanted to build something better suited for our family long-term,” says Katie. “Building from the ground up gave us the opportunity to create a home perfectly suited to our family not just for today, but for the years ahead.”

Enter another lifelong friend, Brandon Ruhl, whom they enlisted as their architect. “He brought our dream plans to life and established the framework,” Katie says. In particular, the couple wanted more room for entertaining extended family, a dedicated playroom, bigger closets, and more bathrooms. A large, open living room and kitchen, plus a good-sized back porch were also on the wish list. “Having known Brandon since childhood certainly helped, as his deep understanding of our family translated seamlessly into thoughtful, intentional design,” Katie says.

Sarah’s process started by sending the couple inspiration photos through Pinterest and Instagram. “I sent a wide range of styles and colors, and I asked them both to thumbs-up, thumbs-down, or heart every single photo,” she says. “I can typically nail down someone’s style with this method, and if they have different styles, I’ll find a common thread.” Katie also had old copies of her favorite home magazines, which helped to shape the look. Their aim: “French modern style with traditional influences,” says Katie, whose travels to Versailles played into the selections. “I fell in love with the color palette, layered textures, ornate lighting, and the beautiful wall coverings,” she notes.

While her style inspiration shows up throughout the home, it was equally important that practicality remain central in the design. “As a mom herself, Sarah recognized the importance of functionality and storage, incorporating thoughtful, practical solutions throughout the home,” says Katie. “Every detail was designed with purpose, balancing beauty with livability.” Overall, Sarah says it was a joy to work with the couple to create something they would love and that she enjoys new-construction projects. “You get to mix old and new styles and make everything fresh,” she says.

Katie adds that the home is an ongoing process, and they continue to collect finds that keep it authentic. “It’s more than just a house, it’s where our life happens,” she says. “It’s where we reset, reconnect, and feel grounded. And it’s in those simple, everyday moments that the home means the most.”

Above: In the entry, trimwork and Iksel’s “Imperial Garden” wallpaper balance the geometric, hand-gilded Mirth Studio hardwood flooring and the iron handrail. “We really wanted it to have a romantic, vintage feel,” Sarah says.

A circle drive and glass-wall entry welcome guests to the stately home. 

Living Well
In the living room, bold chairs and neutral sofas combine to provide plenty of seating for a crowd. The low coffee table was originally a breakfast table that Sarah had modified to anchor the room. Ginger jars decorated with butterflies mimic the watercolor motif by artist Caitlin McGauley seen on the drapes and pillows. Large built-ins, which were not part of the original plan, now hold art by Northwest Arkansas-based artist Chelsea McShane alongside collectibles that adhere to the palette.

Formal Dining
Sarah drew from the distinct blue and coral in the foyer wallpaper for the dining room’s palette. This room was especially important to Katie, since the family entertains often. Centered between two large windows on a lattice-print wallpaper, a complementary artwork by Conway artist Wendy Norris adds a touch of modernity. “It’s a Grandmillennial-style wallpaper, an older kind of style, so we wanted to juxtapose it with a more modern piece,” Sarah says. The rectangular dining table was pulled from the family’s previous home, and Sarah added in modern, coral, Coley Home dining chairs, which also balance the traditional chandelier.

Kitchen Cassic
With the focus on a clean, airy feel in the kitchen, Sarah opted for neutral colors with a slight touch of boldness. “There’s not a ton of color in the kitchen, and the cabinets are a traditional, heavy-textured style, so the light fixtures really add drama,” the designer says. Behind the range, a mother-of-pearl-style backsplash dresses up the look. “I love an open floorplan, but each space needs to feel like its own,” Sarah adds, noting that the pronounced case opening defines the rooms, signaling that you are moving from one to the other. Inside the archway, sconces that are also seen in the breakfast room repeat for continuity.

A small nook situated among the children’s bedrooms made for the perfect study and art room. Custom cabinets and desks painted a light sage hue contrast with the teal mohair velvet chairs.

Peaceful Sanctuary
Sarah went with an all-blue theme in the primary bedroom. While Katie questioned the decision initially, she trusted the designer. The “Honest Blue” Sherwin-Williams paint on the walls combines with other shades of the hue, including the Indigo Schumacher “Pyne Hollyhock” fabric on the shams. “Katie travels a lot for work, so when she is home, I really wanted that bedroom to be a serene, happy place,” Sarah says.

Finding a Balance
In the primary bathroom, Sarah blended traditional and modern styles. The classic bathtub, marble floor, and wallpaper balance the mirrors and the chandelier, which give a more modern look. Since the bath is not visible from the bedroom, she felt it needed to adhere to the palette but could also stand on its own. Dark bronze sconces play well with the nature-inspired wallpaper. “They almost look like a flower from the wallpaper came to life on the wall,” Sarah notes.

“Building from the ground up gave us the opportunity to create a home perfectly suited to our family not just for today, but for the years ahead.”
— Katie Bailey-Harris, homeowner

Staying in Character
In the youngest girl’s bedroom, a custom-print wallpaper repeats on the drapes and the bath’s shower curtain. The artwork above the bed, also by Wendy Norris, was an experiment; the artist found a vintage frame and painted it and the canvas in a green color pulled from the wallpaper. The adjoining bath’s sweetly scalloped pink vanity pulls from the bedroom’s wall color, while a vanity chair in the shape of a bow adds a pop of whimsy.

Outdoor Retreat
Sarah’s main focus for the large outdoor space was neutrality. She went with a statement tile checkerboard floor. “The floor gives the space a really grounded, earthy nature,” she says. With a dining table and lounge area in front of a cozy fireplace and mounted TV, the family can spend hours together in the space, and the heaters and fans give them year-round access. “We love spending time outdoors and knew that a large porch and outdoor kitchen would be a natural extension of the home,” Katie says. “We enjoy dining outside any chance the weather allows, and there’s almost always a fire going—which, of course, leads to s’mores.”

Design Resources
Architect Brandon Ruhl, Ruhl Design Build Builder Scott Bowles, Bowles Custom Homes Interior design Sarah Parsley, Sarah M. Parsley Designs Accessories Cobblestone & Vine, Fig Modern, Sarah M. Parsley Designs, and Three Poppies Appliances Metro Appliances & More Art Chelsea McShane, Lindsey Meyer Art and Wendy Norris Art Bedding, fabrics, hardware, lighting, mirrors, and wallpaper Sarah M. Parsley Designs Brick and stone Acme Brick Tile & Stone Cabinetry Elms-Clowers Construction Countertops The Granite Shop Fixtures Winsupply of Conway Flooring Lumber1 Furniture H3 Home + Decor and Sarah M. Parsley Designs Ironwork and millwork Bowles Custom Homes Paint Sherwin-Williams Painting Melvin’s Painting Rugs Aladdin Rugs and Home Decor Tile Design1 and The Tile Shop Window coverings Blane Beaty