Date: October 2, 2023 | Story: Rebekah Hall Scott | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton |
In Conway, interior designer Miah Millan creates a fresh take on Mediterranean style in her kitchen and dining space
For Miah Millan, moving into her new home presented the opportunity to fill the space with character and charm. As an interior designer herself, she envisioned giving the 1980 Conway residence a “modern Mediterranean feel,” which is a nod to her husband’s culture. “Eduard is from Spain, and we’ve been lucky enough to get to travel there and experience the architecture and interior design,” Miah says. “I really fell in love with that style, so I wanted to bring that into our home and blend it with American style.”
Eduard helped bring Miah’s vision to life, contracting the project himself. First, they removed the wall separating the small kitchen and dining room to make one functional area. “Creating a flow between the two rooms was the main goal,” Miah says. “Having that open space for the lifestyle that we like to enjoy—being able to sit at the table and talk while someone is in the kitchen—was important to us.” The original kitchen was gutted, and the couple added a mix of open shelving and Shaker-style cabinetry painted sage green (“Honed Soapstone” by Sherwin-Williams). “I wanted the green cabinets to give it more of an earthy feel, and I definitely didn’t want to do an all-white kitchen,” Miah says.
White, gray, and organic wood tones keep the palette fresh, while brushed brass hardware and a custom curved range hood—which the designer plastered herself—bring warmth and additional interest to the space. “We have lots of arches throughout the house, so I was trying to bring more of that curved shape into the kitchen to contrast with the very linear Shaker cabinets,” the designer says.
After settling into the space, Miah says she and Eduard are still enjoying its look and functionality more than ever. “I walk in there every day, and I just can’t believe it’s my kitchen,” she says. “It just has that classic feel to it, where I don’t think it’s going to go out of style anytime soon.”
Open shelving offers a place to display cherished objects. “I really like to collect vintage décor, and I have a lot of things from my great grandma,” Miah says. Alongside the custom hood, the floating shelves create the effect of a feature wall.
Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room made both spaces appear larger, even though they occupy the same square footage as before the renovation. The kitchen cabinetry is painted “Honed Soapstone” by Sherwin-Williams.
“Now, when we do have family over, there’s space for everyone. It makes a big difference.”
—Miah Millan, designer
Brass Beauty
Brushed brass sconces highlight the open wood shelves and their displays. “The finish brings a warm tone that fits perfectly with the other natural elements,” Miah says. The style’s milk glass shade and retro-inspired shape reference the vintage elements illuminated below.
Timeless Texture
An important part of the room’s Mediterranean inspiration is the custom range hood, which Miah applied herself. “We finished it with a plaster to give it this rough, very handmade-feeling texture,” she says.
Organically Inspired
A skinny subway tile from Spain stacked vertically lends a contemporary feel to the space. Miah says the tile’s matte finish, vertical application, and subtle variations in hue create visual interest.
Refreshed and Refined
For the countertops, Miah replaced yellow Formica with a white quartz and paired it with brushed brass hardware and fixtures, including a bridge-style faucet from Kohler. The diamond-patterned windows, original to the house, give the space a cottage charm.
Design Resources
Contractor Eduard Millan, Uno Mas Contracting Interior design Miah Millan, Miah Millan Interiors Accessories The Junktion Flea Market Appliances, fixtures, and flooring Miah Millan Interiors Cabinetry Quality Trim, Inc. Countertops Conway Marble & Granite Furniture Miah Millan Interiors and SandersSaw Productions Tile ProSource of Little Rock
