Date: April 17, 2017 | Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Angela Alexander |
After years of looking for a home that was a perfect fit, this empty-nest couple found a Little Rock cottage that seemed to be an ideal canvas for their beloved collections and creative ideas
I wanted something that would have projects for us because I love projects, and I wanted it to be our house—not a house that someone else had already put their style on,” homeowner Cindi Maddox says. After almost five years of searching, they found just the house. Located on her husband Randy’s “favorite street in the whole town,” the charming 1930s cottage seemed to need the Maddoxes as much as they needed it. Many of the spaces had features that were original to the home, which spoke to Cindi’s love of vintage and antique finds, while other areas—including the finished attic—made the home large enough to accommodate them as well as their three grown children who often visit. However, it was in need of a few updates.
Cindi knew she would need the help of a designer to complete many of these “projects.” After a glowing recommendation from a friend (see our May 2015 “Heirloom Revival” story), Cindi enlisted the help of central Arkansas-based designer Kathryn LeMaster. Together the pair remodeled the kitchen, orchestrated a whole-home palette, and found space for many of the furnishings the couple wanted to bring from their considerably larger former home in Searcy.
“I love color; I love eclectic; and I love my stuff. Kathyrn has done a really good job of keeping this house streamlined so it doesn’t feel cluttered. The things that are here are the things that really meant the most to us,” Cindi notes. Of course, Cindi and Kathryn, who both enjoy searching for the perfect piece whether new or old, couldn’t help but add a few finds along the way. Here’s how they made the house a cheerful, welcoming reflection of its inhabitants.
Display Collections
Cindi is an avid collector and loves to visit flea markets and antique malls to hunt for her next treasure. She proudly displays these pieces throughout her home. The kitchen is home to her huge collection of Blue Ridge Southern Pottery (her pattern is “Rutledge”) and Jadeite glassware as well as a variety of painted tin trays.
Create a Clever Kitchen
Every inch of the kitchen was put to good use. Rather than losing space in corners, drawers that are set at a 90-degree angle were installed. Compartment dividers ensure that everything has a place and won’t be lost in the deep recess. A space under the island houses food and water bowls for the Maddoxes’ dogs. The island’s cabinetry doors also conceal a mixer lift, which pulls out and rises for ease of use.
Seat Yourself
“I wanted a banquette in my house,” Cindi notes. “In every house that we looked at, I asked if there was space for one—if they didn’t already have one.” Cindi found the marble-top table at Sweet Home / clement., and Kathryn designed the dimensions of the nook based on its placement. Even though white and light blue are predominant colors in the kitchen, the coral and yellow seen in the other ground-floor rooms are echoed in the space’s fabrics, lighting, and accessories.
Let the Sun Shine
One of the things the Maddoxes loved about this home is the natural light that appears to flood each room. To keep the kitchen especially airy, they opted for simple Roman shades.
Think Vertically
Since this home was somewhat smaller than the Maddoxes’ previous residence, they had to be creative when it came to accommodating their must-have items. A small space off the front entrance is now a music room. Randy (who Cindi and Kathryn refer to as Handy Randy) added custom built-in shelving to house books as well as some of the family’s smaller musical instruments. His impressive electric guitar collection hangs along the wall and acts as art.
Color Your World
The palette of coral, turquoise, and yellow, which greets guests when they walk through the front door, flows throughout the home. “It’s an open floor plan; even though it’s divided into rooms, you can see all the way through to other areas of the home,” LeMaster says. “We wanted you to be able to walk from room to room and see a common thread but for each room to still have an individuality or life of its own.”
Play Favorites
Bookshelves are most commonly where homeowners display beloved titles. The Maddoxes took this idea to new heights—literally. “A friend of mine saw a picture of this idea and sent it to me. She knew I would love it because I’m a bibliophile; I was a reading specialist in the Little Rock schools,” Cindi explains. She and the rest of Team Maddox (an endearing term they use for their immediate family) personalized the idea by choosing their favorite books—both current and ones from childhood—to put on display.
Make Good Use of Space
The home has four bedrooms; however, the smallest one is currently used as an office. When all three of the Maddox children visit, the couple needed another bed to accommodate everyone. Additionally, the master bedroom was in need of more closet or storage space for Randy’s clothes. The solution? Kill two birds with one stone by building a functional daybed that has deep drawers underneath the bed to store socks, T-shirts, and pajamas. “This was the only floor space left, so we made it a super daybed that can do both those things,” Kathryn says. Drapery panels pull back to offer privacy for sleeping, while built-in shelving holds beloved books from the Maddox children’s collection.
Reconsider the Attic
Previous owners finished the home’s attic space and added a bath on this second level. The Maddoxes chose to use this as their master bedroom. Cindi, Randy, and Cindi’s friend Billie created the headboard and bedskirt.
Design Resources
Interior design Kathryn J. LeMaster, Allied ASID, Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design, LLC, North Little Rock, (501) 626-0267, kathrynjlemaster.com
Contractor Pace Cabinets & Remodeling, North Little Rock, (501) 758-3184
Accessories Botanica Gardens, Little Rock, (501) 614-3000, botanicagardens.com; Cantrell Furniture Design Center, Little Rock, (501) 225-0002, cantrellfurniture.com; Erdos at Home, Fayetteville, (479) 521-1297, Little Rock, (501) 217-0300, Rogers (479) 899-6288, erdosathome.com; Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design, LLC, North Little Rock, (501) 626-0267, kathrynjlemaster.com; Phoenix Interiors, Little Rock, (501) 225-0400; SEW MUCH by Monica Smith, Little Rock, (501) 952-3768; Topsy Pelkey, Maumelle, (501) 851-2909
Appliances Metro Appliances & More, Jonesboro, (870) 933-7800, North Little Rock, (501) 758-1988, Springdale, (479) 750-2200, metroappliancesandmore.com
Cabinetry—kitchen, millwork, and painting Pace Cabinets & Remodeling, North Little Rock, (501) 758-3184
Fabrics Designer Effects, Little Rock, (501) 661-4070, designereffects.net
Furniture Bassett Furniture, Fayetteville, (479) 571-0200, Little Rock, (501) 217-3860, bassettfurniture.com; Mid-Towne Antique Mall, Little Rock, (501) 223-3600, midtownantiquemall.com; Oliver’s Antiques, Jacksonville, (501) 982-0064; Painted Tree Vintage Market, Bryant, (501) 205-1330, Sherwood, (501) 205-4540; paintedtreevintage.com; Sweet Home Furnishings and clement., Little Rock, (501) 296-9198, (501) 539-1473, sweethomefurnishings.net
Hardware—kitchen PC Hardware, Little Rock, (501) 224-1724, pchdwe.com
Lighting and tile Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design, LLC, North Little Rock, (501) 626-0267, kathrynjlemaster.com
Paint Sherwin-Williams, locations statewide, sherwinwilliams.com
Plants Hocott’s Garden Center, Little Rock, (501) 663-8376, hocottsgardencenter.com
Rugs Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock, (501) 664-4249, West Little Rock, (501) 219-3676, cobblestoneandvine.com; Cynthia East Fabrics, Little Rock, (501) 663-0460, cynthiaeastfabrics.com; Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design, LLC, North Little Rock, (501) 626-0267, kathrynjlemaster.com
Upholstery All American Upholstery by Virginia Taylor, Cabot, (501) 920-8325
Window coverings Designer Effects, Little Rock, (501) 661-4070, designereffects.net; Designer Supply, North Little Rock, (501) 851-8066; Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design, LLC, North Little Rock, (501) 626-0267, kathrynjlemaster.com; SEW MUCH by Monica Smith, Little Rock, (501) 952-3768
