Date:  November 3, 2025  |   Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |  

Providence Design helps an out-of-state couple build a cozy, personalized home in Waterview Estates

Classic, comfortable, and convenient: Those were the key attributes Andrea and Darrell Chambliss were looking for in a forever home. With Darrell nearing retirement after 14 years spent in Houston, the couple were thinking of their next phase of life when they decided to look at opportunities in The Natural State. “Arkansas is home for me,” Darrell says. “I went to U of A, and I have extended family and friends here.” Another plus: A central Arkansas home base puts them within a day’s drive of a lake house in Northern Michigan. “This ended up being the natural place for us, from a logistics perspective. Then we realized we had all the lifestyle opportunities here, too,” he adds.

Darrell credits Andrea with dialing in on the perfect location. After extensive research in Little Rock and beyond, she discovered Waterview Estates, a gated community in Roland with sweeping views of Lake Maumelle. A native of Michigan, Andrea grew up close to water and was drawn to the proximity to the lake. After working with developer Rick Ferguson to secure a lot, they were introduced to builder Bill Parkinson, who helped customize plans for the home’s unique layout—a one-story abode with wings for both the couple and their son, Nate.

Andrea, ever the researcher, found Providence Design’s work on Instagram and fell in love with the firm’s fresh, traditional style. The couple started working with Mona Thompson Phelan, founder and former owner of Providence. “In meeting Mona initially, I just really liked her approach; she seemed very laid-back, and we are laid-back people,” Andrea says. During the course of the project, Providence changed hands, with Mona’s long-time design assistant Kimberly Mannis taking the reins as the new owner of the business and also lead designer on this home’s interiors. She worked with her colleague, Zac Woodiel, to complete the project alongside the Chamblisses. “They wanted it to be very warm and inviting, with touches of color, but a softness to everything,” Kimberly says.

To that end, a muted palette of blues and greens plays off the colors outdoors, while a mix of antiques—both sourced by Providence and from Andrea and Darrell’s previous homes—and new pieces help the house feel like it has evolved over time. “I love how soft the great room feels. It’s different from what we’ve had in the past,” Andrea says. “Even though the finishes are high quality and all look very sharp, we wanted it to be inviting and make people feel comfortable everywhere and anywhere in the house,” Darrell says. “I believe with Providence’s help we accomplished that.”

Above: One of the most important material selections for this home was the stone. “Andrea had a vision of what she wanted it to look like,” Darrell says, with Kimberly adding that the goal was a very muted blend of colors—nothing too dark or showing much variation. Parkinson Building Group worked with Antique Brick & Block to combine four types of stone, achieving a custom blend that felt just right.

Living Pretty
The exterior’s signature stone continues inside the house where it climbs the fireplace wall of the great room and forms a striking separation between the kitchen and dining space. The rug under the dining table, which the Chamblisses already owned, became the starting point for the threads of green and neutral hues in this space. The glass-front bookcases on either side of the fireplace were also from the homeowners’ collection, while new landscape paintings, lamps, and upholstered pieces selected with the help of Kimberly and her team complete the space.

“People like the Chamblisses are the people you want to build with. You get excited to help bring their dream to life.”
—Kimberly Mannis, designer

Hardworking Room
Double islands—both topped with Taj Mahal marble, which also creates a backsplash and shelf behind the range—provide twice the workspace in the kitchen. The black pendant lanterns were inspired by an early visit to Mona’s personal home and suited Andrea’s desire for easy-to-clean and simple fixtures. A mix of cream-toned tile covers the entire expanse of one wall, mimicking the stone in connecting areas. “We purposefully picked that tile because it has color variation, which was used to create some movement rather than falling flat,” Kimberly says. “We also pulled in the wood tones to warm up the space so it wasn’t all white.”

Serene Scene
Kimberly continued the home’s peaceful palette into the primary bedroom with light blue and chocolate-hued bedding that complements the couple’s existing bed and rug. The icy blue color shows up again in bedside lamps and a tape that adds custom flair to soft linen drapes. Here and throughout the house, Aric Phippin of Phinality Design added a faux finish to the beams. “His artistry and talent is just really spectacular,” Darrell says.

Sophisticated Soak
In the primary bath, a standalone piece of cabinetry provides function as well as flair. “In the original plan, a linen closet was going to be built into the walk-in closet,” Kimberly says. “We changed that up and made this piece a focal point with antiqued glass.” A soaking tub and waterfall-edged counter bring spa-like sophistication, while an upholstered ottoman ties the design to the bedroom.

Light & Dark
The laundry room (above) also serves as a pass-through between the kitchen and garage, complete with an extra refrigerator. Shiplap on the walls and a marble-look tile underfoot add antique charm. In the media room, a dark and moody bar (below) offers Darrell space to display and enjoy his whiskey collection with friends.

The Great Outdoors
Doors from the great room lead to an expansive back porch and outdoor living area complete with two swing beds, a dining space, fireplace, pool, and plenty of opportunities to lounge and take in the view. “The outdoor spaces are really incredible,” Andrea says. “I think we’re going to enjoy this in the fall. There’s always a breeze, and it brings us outside more.”

Design Resources
Architects Tomas Mascorro, Geschke Group Architecture (Austin) Builder Bill Parkinson, Parkinson Building Group Interior design Kimberly Mannis and Zac Woodiel, Providence Design Landscape design Zak Grothe, Good Earth Garden Center Accessories, art, bedding, furniture, lighting, and mirrors Providence Design Cabinetry and hardware Duke Custom Cabinets Countertops Stone World Designs Fabrics and wallpaper Designer Effects Fireplace Royal Fireplace Fixtures Falk Plumbing Supply Flooring ProSource of Little Rock Ironwork IronPaws by Anthony Billingsley Outdoor furnishings Ninth and Co. Painting (decorative) Phinality Design Pool Banana Hammocks Pools Rugs C&F Flooring and Rug Gallery Stone Antique Brick & Block Tile (backsplash) The Tile Shop