Date:  January 6, 2026  |   Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Angela Alexander  |  

Inspired by their new season of life, designer Kim Biggs and her husband, Brian, build a personality-filled abode in Jonesboro

For Kim and Brian Biggs, the opportunity to sell became the opportunity to build. As an interior designer and owner of The Vibe Interiors in Jonesboro, Kim designed their previous two-story home with large, open living spaces, but this time around she craved something more intimate. “I’ve always loved midcentury modern design. It’s what I’m drawn to and come back to,” she says. “I wanted to have a low-pitch roof and to feel cozy, but still have more of an open floor plan.” Coupled with that inspiration, she and Brian are now empty nesters, prompting them to lean toward a one-level home built for easy living. “I think people’s tastes change in different seasons of life, and your needs shift,” she says. With these ideas in mind she reached out to architect Jim Little, who helped bring the vision to life.

However, once the process started, there was a hiccup: the exterior of the home, with its unique roofline, mix of materials, and artful installation of steel beams, did not fall in line with the design codes of the neighborhood where they planned to live. “They wanted us to revise the plans more and more, and the president of that neighborhood committee said, Let us buy your lot back, we don’t want to keep you from building your dream home,” she says. Fate led them to the land where their house now stands, and Kim says the change of plans likely worked out for the best. “I was a little hesitant because I’ve never not lived in a neighborhood, but it worked out so beautifully. We just decided this is where it was meant to be all along,” she says.

With the drawings finalized, Kim turned her attention to finishes and furnishings, pulling inspiration from a few of her favorite sources: interior design magazines, luxury hotels, and industry events like the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). “I do a lot of research, and I love to look at different ideas in hospitality décor,” she says. “I wanted to create the feeling that when someone comes into our home, they’re checking into a beautiful room and feel welcome, invited, and comfortable.” To this end, both guest rooms have en-suite bathrooms and access to a convenient coffee and snack bar in the hallway. The set-up is perfect for out-of-town friends as well as their two sons, whom Kim wanted to feel like they still have their own spaces at their parents’ house. With beloved art collections, a flair for drama, and customized details at every turn, the home is not only a piece of the couples’ next chapter, but a thoughtful curation of their lives together.

Above: A crocodile-textured wallcovering and tiered chandelier bring drama to a sitting room off the entry, while wooden slats and a clean-lined leather sofa speak to Kim’s affinity for midcentury design. A pair of vintage speakers (wired to work!) underneath the gallery wall further the room’s retro feel.

Kim decided to let a row of steel beams framing the home’s entrance patina naturally, allowing the rust tone to enhance the effect of the feature

Kim in her entry, where a painting by Northwest Arkansas artist Matt Miller sets the tone.

Enveloped in texture—from the grasscloth wallcovering to nubby upholstery and Moroccan rug—the dining room is a warm and inviting atmosphere for holidays and family gatherings. The largest framed piece is by artist Sean Shrum, a fellow Jonesboro native.

Café Creation
The living room contains a cozy, café-inspired seating area where Kim and Brian can dine together, sip coffee, or work at their laptops. “We love a dining experience, and I wanted to be able to have that special feeling at home,” she says. A bouclé wallcovering brings in a rich, wine-colored hue Kim was drawn to throughout the process, and a series of matchbook art over the banquette represents favorite travel destinations for the couple. The large-scale piece over the credenza was commissioned from Atlanta artist Stephen Shon.

Layered Living
The living room is a central, open space connected to the entry, kitchen, and—weather permitting—the covered patio outside, thanks to stacking doors that open all the way up. Here, the plan called for the ceiling to be dropped in a few places to create a more intimate feeling. “It also meant we were able to add these lights, which I’m obsessed with,” Kim says of the alabaster-and-chain configuration. To the left of the fireplace, an installation of ceramic half-spheres by New Zealand artist Sam Mayell fills a gallery-inspired niche in the wall.

“I wanted this home to feel warm and more organic, but still have a luxurious feel to it.”
—Kim Biggs

Central Showstopper
In the kitchen, Calacatta Viola marble sets the scene on the countertops and backsplash, even forming a shallow shelf above the cooktop for cooking oils. The cooktop itself—five burners installed directly into the stone—was one of Kim’s finds from a recent KBIS show. “We wanted it to all feel very clean and seamless, which is why so many of the traditional kitchen elements are hidden,” she says. To wit: two paneled refrigerators flank decorative shelving on one end of the room, while the ovens are tucked away in the back pantry.

Pretty Pantry
In addition to the ovens, the pantry houses a coffee bar, a beverage refrigerator, and storage for serving pieces and glassware. The backsplash is made up of four types of marble, including one in a deep merlot color that is a thread throughout the home. “Surprisingly, I spend a lot of time in there—I cut fruit for my breakfast, make my coffee, make tea—so I wanted it to feel special,” Kim says.

“I don’t buy things because it matches or because I know where it’s going to go. Buy things you love, and it will work.”
—Kim Biggs

Comfort & Luxury
While the home’s layered, easy approach continues into the primary suite, this space takes on a softer palette. Here, Kim can open motorized draperies by remote from the comfort of her bed to take in the view of their property. “It’s the most peaceful, inspiring start to my day,” she says. A paneled, elongated headboard gives the space a feeling of subdued comfort, and the niche above allows Kim to bring in personality through a collection of curated finds.

Natural Feeling
In the primary bath, Kim desired organic materials that felt tied to the earth. A concrete tub surrounded by river rocks and a wooden wall with a fluted treatment bring the outdoors in. Large-scale tile flooring and a graphic wallcovering, both in light hues, provide a neutral backdrop that keeps the mix of materials from feeling chaotic. The vanity lights contain another material present throughout the house: alabaster. “I’m in love with alabaster, so we used it wherever we could—the entry, the library, and a guest bathroom,” she says. “It’s such a classic.”

Making an Impression
While some guest quarters are quieter in style, Kim and Brian’s pack a style punch. In the front bedroom, a piece of nostalgia makes its way into the room. “I wanted to do the pillow tuck like my grandmother used to do, with two pillows tucked under the quilt instead of stacks of four or more,” Kim says. An upholstered bed, tone-on-tone bedding, and graphic wallpaper modernize the approach. In the attached bathroom, marble hardware reflects the colors seen in the Phillip Jeffries vinyl wallcovering. “This room is small but mighty,” the designer says.

Design Resources
Architect Jim Little, AIA, Little & Associates Builder Juan Morales, JNS Interior design Kim Biggs, The Vibe Interiors Landscape Design Shannon Haff Accessories, bedding, fabrics, furniture, hardware, lighting, rugs, and wallpaper The Vibe Interiors Appliances Metro Appliances & More Art Perspective and The Vibe Interiors Brick and stone Stone Concepts Cabinetry Westbrook Countertops Schmidt Countertops Doors and Windows Elite Entries Fixtures Rich Sales Flooring Laws Flooring and Today’s Tile Company Ironwork Delta Ridge Fabrication Mirrors Home Tronix Organization The Marshall Concept Paint Sherwin-Williams Painting JNS Tile Laws Flooring