Date:  April 1, 2024  |   Story: Rebekah Hall Scott  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

For a family’s forever home in Fort Smith, interior designer Melissa Hall Simmons creates a fresh take on tradition

Melissa Hall Simmons of Studio MH helped her Fort Smith clients create a lasting home for their young family by mixing traditional bones with contemporary flair. “These clients have two young girls, and their first house was a smaller space,” Melissa says. “They were thinking, Long term, we want to raise our children in this home.” Having worked with the designer on a previous project, these homeowners were eager to collaborate again. “Melissa does a great job of introducing new ideas while at the same time narrowing down the amount of decisions throughout the process,” the homeowner says. “She would listen and evaluate our styles and wants and then present a few options, allowing us to feel very engaged but not overwhelmed.”

Melissa says one of the homeowners prefers traditional design elements while the other has a more modern and “slightly rustic” aesthetic. “The main narrative of our design experience was, let’s draw these two styles together in a way where both of them absolutely love it,” Melissa says. “Let’s give her the detailed trim and millwork, and let’s give him clean windows and lines. It was fun to put that together for them.”

The couple hired Tulsa architect Jack Arnold to design the custom home in an elevated European cottage style. Melissa collaborated with Jack on the exterior finishes, including the use of local Arkansas stone. “They wanted this home to be very approachable, withstand time, and be something that they would always love,” Melissa says.

By starting with traditional roots—such as the high, coffered ceilings—then infusing the space with modern details, Melissa says she was able to create a home with a long lifespan ahead. “You stick with classicism and traditional lines, and then give them the current aesthetic that they really enjoy, keeping in mind that 15 or 20 years from now, they might prefer a different style,” Melissa says. “Then, we want them to be able to work with the bones that we’ve created.”

A serene color story of silvery blue, taupe, and cream weaves throughout the home, while metallic touches and mirrored elements add subtle warmth and interest. Melissa says they also selected unique lighting fixtures that marry the clients’ styles, such as the crystal chandelier in the dining room. “It’s a traditional French empire shape, but it’s sort of cleaned up and simplified,” she says. “This is very much the theme of this house. We’re layering all of these things together to give a feeling that is a little elegant and glamorous, but also simple and approachable.”

Above the family room mantel, a custom Jane Waterous piece featuring 3D figurines—including two figures in pink, meant to represent the couples’ daughters—complements the heart of this home.

A work by Amanda Stone Talley anchors the entry space. “This whole vignette feels like what we were trying to achieve in the entire house: taking their young taste and this traditional European home and blending those styles together,” Melissa says.

Livable Elegance
Melissa’s clients are enjoying every element of their family home and making new memories in it. “I enjoy cooking, and we strive to have family dinners most nights during the week,” the homeowner says. “The layout of the kitchen and the openness of the adjoining family room allows us many memorable nights together as a family.” An icy blue accent color leans into the serenity of the space without feeling too bold.  The ceiling is painted “Elephant’s Breath”
Farrow & Ball.

Mirrored door fronts to the left of the sink are an elegant touch that break up the expanse of cabinetry.

Refined Whimsy
A conical pendant light with a card paper shade hangs above the breakfast table (opposite), where a banquette is wrapped in a tailored fabric. “I love the pedestal on this table,” Melissa says. “It’s a very clean form; it’s a more contemporary look for a table, but it’s still borrowing from traditional design.” She notes the chairs are also a modern take on a Louis XVI French style.

Kitchen Blend
Touches of metal—including the hood’s brass details, the polished nickel hardware, and gold accent on the island stools—help merge the clients’ styles in the home’s hub. “This is a great example of where we are blending the husband and wife’s aesthetics together,” Melissa says, pointing to the pendants over the island. “We have a traditional glass lantern, but it’s been simplified into a cleaner shape.” A custom combination of polished silver and brassy gold on the fixtures further elevates the look while echoing the mix of metals throughout the space. Walls are painted “Classic Gray” by Benjamin Moore.

In the dining room, a gallery of large windows and doors saturates the space with natural light. The contemporary, clean lines of the mirror and lamps contrast with the classic design of the buffet and chandelier in a seamless layering of styles.

Fun Formality
In the formal sitting room, Melissa embraced layers of cream and taupe, adding warmth with bold touches of animal print and brass. Three hand-painted silk panels shimmer subtly and mirror the set of three bookshelves on the opposite side of the room (below).

“I always think, how can we create a timeless feel in this home?”
—Melissa Hall Simmons, designer

Ready to Relax
Grasscloth wallpaper and a large sectional give the media room an inviting sense of comfort. “I remember when we revealed this room to the family, their two girls ran in screaming and they just loved it,” Melissa says. “Because they’re young, you’d think they’d have wanted it to be hot pink, but they were bouncing all over the room with excitement.”

Brass reading sconces flank the upholstered headboard, while grasscloth wallpaper envelops the room in calming texture.

Striped Statement
Striped silk drapes in the primary bedroom anchor the serene space, while metallic touches provide warmth. “These drapes are just the perfect fabric for my clients,” Melissa says. “It is a stripe, which is timeless. It has their color palette of silvery blue, taupe, and creamy white. And it spoke to both of them—I think we started with this stripe for inspiration for the entire room.”

“They wanted to have a very traditional, European cottage-style home that was clean and simple at the same time.”
—Melissa Hall Simmons, designer

Pretty in Pink
For the guest bedroom, Melissa used shades of cream and pale pink for a pop of visual interest. “It was fun to be able to have a new color introduced, and in the guest bedroom, I think it makes a lot of sense,” Melissa says. “As you pass through the house, you get a glimpse of this bedroom, so it’s kind of a surprise moment.”

Subtle Shimmer
In the primary closet, a chandelier of crystal flowers is a timeless fit for Melissa’s client. “It is just so her,” she says. “It sums up the exact feeling she wanted for this space, like a jewelry box.” The closet flows into the spa-like primary bathroom, where Melissa used a white Carrara marble paired with a creamy wall color. “The marble has this silvery blue undertone, and I’m super happy with the way that paint works so well with the stone,” she says. “It is neutral, but it’s almost like we’ve given the marble this new life by contrasting it with this creamy, off-white color.”

Design Resources
Architect Jack Arnold, Jack Arnold Companies Builder Danny Ruggles, American Dream Homes Interior design Melissa Hall Simmons, Studio MH Landscape Design Travis Brooks, Brooks Landscape Architecture Accessories, bedding, carpet, fabrics, flooring, fixtures, furniture, hardware, lighting, mirrors, rugs, and tile Studio MH Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinetry Spahn Cabinets Framing Scott Frame and Art Wallpaper (Installation) Perpetual Vision Window coverings Laura’s Draperies & Blinds and Mountjoy’s Custom Draperies