Date:  May 30, 2020  |   Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Lauren Cerrato  |  

In Jonesboro, designer Kim Biggs creates a contemporary home inspired by her passion for art and love of family

Walking into the home of Kim and Brian Biggs feels a little like walking into an art museum. Eye-catching paintings grace nearly every wall; sculptural furniture and accessories take on an artful air; and, of course, bright white walls serve as a backdrop for it all. “I have a lot of artwork, and about 90 percent of it is original, so I wanted it to pop. I wanted it to feel like you were at a gallery,” Kim says. “And because the architecture is so structural, I wanted the contrast to be bold.”

While Kim and Brian have remodeled several homes over the years, this was their first new construction project. Building fresh allowed them to handpick a property with a zero-lot line, a big plus for a couple who loves to travel and didn’t want a large lawn to maintain. It also allowed Kim, who opened her design business three years ago, to try her hand at a more contemporary style. “I love so many different styles—I could have 10 different homes and they would all be totally different,” she laughs, noting that their previous home had a midcentury flair.

One of the challenges of creating the home came in reconciling its contemporary design with a comfortable sensibility where Kim, Brian, and their 17-year-old, Mason, could truly live day to day. “I love the clean, open, airy feel of all the white, but I didn’t want people to feel like they couldn’t relax,” Kim says. Warm metal accents, creamy neutrals, layers of texture, and gray flooring help achieve that coziness amid the simplified backdrop.

“When people come over and they’re lounging, they tell us our house is so cozy and homey,” Kim says. “That’s a big compliment to a designer—when someone says, I could really live here.”

This Is The Place
In the living room, which is open to the second level of the house, a colorful piece of optical art by Nashville artist Gina Julian takes center stage over the mirrored fireplace. Each of the furnishings has a sculptural element, from the conical legs of the coffee table to the futuristic chandelier overhead. A contemporary take on the rolled-arm sofa offers a place to sit back and take it all in. Kim’s oldest son, Beau Jones (also known as Jonesboro artist Beautox Art), created the pair of black-and-white paintings flanking the fireplace as well as the large-scale watercolor for this room.

Pieces ascending the stairwell by (from left) Angela Chrusciaki Blehm, Ashley Longshore, and Beau Jones offer a peek at Kim’s eclectic taste as soon as you step foot in the front door.

The In Crowd
Kim and her family enjoy weekly dinners here at the hub of it all. “This is a great home to entertain in because it has a flow,” she says. On the wall, another crowd is gathered—this one featuring celebrities and characters painted by Kyra Kendall. “When I buy art, I don’t do it just to fill a space; I want it to help me remember something special,” Kim says of the collection. From Britney Spears to Bradley Cooper, each of the portraits represents a memorable experience. When temperatures allow, the Biggs family can slide open these doors and let the party flow onto the patio.

Center Of It All
The show-stopping Dalmata marble countertop was one of the first purchases Kim made for the house. “We knew we wanted a waterfall side for the island in something black and white,” Kim says. “If you’ve ever picked out stone, you know that if you like what you see, you better go ahead and get it—you might never see it again.” A vintage runner between the range and island as well as a piece of neon art hanging near doors to the walk-in pantry bring a dash of color to the spaces. In keeping with the home’s contemporary vibe, white acrylic cabinet doors with frosted glass open upward for a sleek, modern take on kitchen storage.

I love so many different styles—I could have 10 different homes and they would all be totally different.” —Kim Biggs

Be Their Guest
In an upstairs guest room, Beau painted a black-and-white mural on the walls to mimic wallpaper. A gold drum shade and studded headboard give the room a glam-meets-rock ’n’ roll flair. “A lot of times, guest rooms are the last spaces to get finished, but this was one of the first for us,” Kim says. “I wanted to make sure it felt like a special place to stay.” The hospitality continues around the corner at a snack and beverage bar (right) originally meant to be a linen closet.

By swapping accordion doors for built-in cabinets and a gold tile backsplash, this space became a focal point that is also more useful for the family.

Fun & Fresh
A chartreuse grasscloth wallcovering sets the tone in the laundry room. “Doing laundry is not fun, but I spend a lot of time in there, so I wanted it to be beautiful. That’s another room where people tend to close the door and neglect it, but you should make it somewhere you enjoy being,” Kim says. Black cabinetry not only provides useful storage space, but also helps camouflage the dark appliances. The kitchen’s hardware is repeated here for continuity.

Master Comfort
While Kim toned down the color in the master bedroom, she did not shy away from making a statement. A custom canopy bed anchors the room and incorporates the black and brass accents seen throughout the house. “I wanted this room to have warmth, so I didn’t want any color other than black, creams, and whites,” Kim says. A neutral wallpaper with metallic details adds interest behind the bed, and a blind contour drawing of Andy Warhol by artist Cindi Zimmerman over the bedside chest is in keeping with the room’s simplified palette.

Soothing Tones
In the master bath, the home’s gray flooring is replaced with a polished tile that continues up the wall behind the bathtub. Five small vases suspended from the ceiling give Kim the opportunity to add pops of color with bright blooms from time to time; here, she kept it all white. “That was something I drew from a hotel we stayed in on one of our trips. When we’re traveling, I’m always looking for design ideas,” Kim says. The “Peanuts”-inspired piece in the water closet and a line drawing called “The Kiss” (seen in the image below) are more gifts created by Beau.

Design Resources
Interior design Kim Biggs, Kim Biggs Interiors Kitchen and bath design Doug Gilmore, Gilmore’s Custom Kitchens Accessories, art, fabrics, furniture, lighting (interior), rugs, tile (kitchen and backsplash), wallpaper, and window coverings Kim Biggs Interiors Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinetry and hardware Gilmore’s Custom Kitchens Carpet, flooring, and tile (bathroom and floor) Laws Abbey Flooring Center Countertops Reddick Marble & Granite Fixtures Mid-South Plumbing Supply Fresh Florals Bearded Bouquet and Tipton & Hurst Lighting (exterior) Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Little Rock–Jonesboro Mirrors Union Glass Company Paint Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams Windows and outdoor fireplace Gazaway Lumber Co.