Date:  April 1, 2024  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

Garry Mertins breathes new life into a Heights home with structural updates, meaningful pieces, and an infusion of color

Having lived in her Heights home for 20 years, Dawne Vandiver knew the time to renovate had come. “I almost decided to sell, but I talked with Garry and he had a vision,” she says of local interior designer Garry Mertins. “He is unique in that he knows as much about building and the mechanics of a home as he does decorating,” she adds.

With three children and eight grandchildren, Dawne’s home is often a revolving door of family—a fact that she relishes. “I wanted this to be a place where all my family can come—a happy house filled with love and a place where we can make memories,” she says.

To accomplish this, updates for both function and style were on the agenda. Garry started by looking at the layout through a different lens and reimagining it; namely, he took out the attic and raised the ceiling height. Additionally, bedrooms that were used for grandkids and guests were relocated to a new addition over the garage, freeing up valuable square footage to create a flow between the rooms and to give more space within them. Eliminating the attic also meant finding a home for its contents. Dawne’s mother’s crystal and her grandmother’s china were both relocated from attic storage to a newly created entertaining closet in the dining room. “There were some pieces I hadn’t seen in years; it was like Christmas to open those boxes,” she adds, noting how easy to access they are now.

“Dawne has classic, traditional taste, but comfort and meaning were very important to her,” Garry says in regard to style. Speaking to this, he used beloved furnishings and artwork alongside durable selections that will hold up to the everyday wear and tear of family living. And, he didn’t skimp on color. “I was thinking I would do neutrals, but Garry brought me to color,” Dawne admits. For example, the blush-peach hue in the front entry gives a feminine air as guests are welcomed inside, while Dawne’s collection of blue-and-white pieces inspired the palette seen deeper into the home. “When people visit her house, they say, Dawne, this is so you! And, that’s my goal,” Garry says. “This house really lets her be herself.”

Above: Opting for a quartet of chairs rather than the formality of a sofa, Garry created a comfortable area that invites guests to sit and relax. A new, traditional-style mantel pairs with gas logs for ease of use. The work over the fireplace is by local artist Patrick Phillips.

Creating Cozy
With grandchildren in mind, Garry suggested kid-friendly sofas in a performance fabric for the den—a central hangout for the entire family. Contemporary cubbies display Dawne’s collection of blue-and-white wares, allowing each piece to have a designated place. A framed television hangs over the skim-coated stucco fireplace, while the newly installed coffered ceiling gives architectural interest.

In Her Color
The blush-peach hue in the entry is a nod to Dawne’s mother. “We called my mother ‘Peaches,’ and this was one of her favorite colors. It makes me feel close to her,” she says. The antique table previously belonged to Dawne’s father and now pairs with oversized ottomans that can provide extra seating during gatherings.

Game Time
A nook off the living room was carved out for a beverage counter and game table. Garry reupholstered a set of Chippendale chairs Dawne owned and paired them with the sleek, more modern table. Bronze wire mesh makes an unexpected appearance on the door fronts, coordinating with the hardware and plumbing fixtures.

Dining Flair
Garry dressed the formal dining room in a tan-and-white wallpaper, allowing him to continue a palette that was introduced in the adjoining den and kitchen while still giving the space its own character. A mix of timeless and modern flows throughout the room. For example, an antique French chandelier hangs from the newly installed tongue-and-groove ceiling, while upholstered host chairs pair with an option that is a current take on a classic fretwork. “Dawne wanted this room to be classic and traditional but also to feel updated,” Garry says. The artwork is by Delita Martin. “Her eyes were haunting me, and I kept coming back to it,” Dawne notes.

During the renovation, space was carved out of a bedroom to allow for a series of built-in shelves housed behind jib doors. Pieces that were previously boxed in the attic, including heirloom china and crystal, are now conveniently stored near the dining table.

Open Island
Garry bumped out the home’s former sunroom wall to create a larger kitchen that includes clerestory windows. “In typical Heights fashion the rooms were smaller,” he says, adding that the house previously stopped at the island’s current location. Features like dual dishwashers, warming drawers, and a newly created pantry make the space easy to use. As a nod to Dawne’s love of blue and white, Garry painted the island a deep blue hue. The tannish-gray cabinetry is paired with a square backsplash tile that has a handmade look.

For Work & Play
Previously working from a desk in her bedroom, Dawne was eager to have a dedicated office. To maximize square footage, Garry married beauty and function by designing a small space off the primary bedroom to function as both a closet and an office. “You can close yourself off in here but there’s a window for natural light,” Dawne says. “And, my background during Zoom calls is a row of shoes!”

“Dawne has classic, traditional taste, but comfort and meaning were very important to her.”
—Garry Mertins, designer

Spacious & Serene
Using square footage from the former bath and one of the guest bedrooms, Garry designed a new primary bath. The updated layout includes a casement window that brings natural light to the makeup vanity and sink area. The soaking tub’s marble surround continues into a curbless, walk-in shower, a forward-thinking design element that allows for aging in place. The serene palette continues in Dawne’s adjoining bedroom.

Design Resources
Contractors Kevin and Gary Haney, Haney Contractors Interior design Garry Mertins, Garry Mertins Design Accessories Debi Davis Interior Design, Garry Mertins Design, mertinsdykehome, Providence Design, Tanarah Luxe Floral, and Tipton & Hurst Appliances Metro Appliances & More Art Debi Davis Interior Design, mertinsdykehome, Providence Design, and The Shade Above Audiovisual Omnitech Solutions Bedding and carpet Garry Mertins Design Cabinets Kimberly Cabinets Countertops (stone) Triton Stone Group Countertops (Fabrication and installation) McElroy Tops and Floors Electrician Woods Brothers Electric Fireplace Congo Fireplace & Patio Fixtures Southern Pipe & Supply Flooring and tile ProSource Framing BK Moulding Furniture Cobblestone & Vine, Garry Mertins Design, and mertinsdykehome Glass West Little Rock Glass Hardware Light Innovations and Lumber One Home Center HVAC Yates Maintenance Heating & Air Ironwork Iron Paws by Anthony Billingsley Lighting Light Innovations and TEC Electric Lumber and exterior shutters Lumber One Home Center Millwork Sunset Premium Hardwoods Mirrors Garry Mertins Design, Light Innovations, TEC Electric, and West Little Rock Glass Organization The Marshall Concept Paint Benjamin Moore and Spectrum Paint Rugs Hadidi Oriental Rugs Wallpaper (Installation) Peter Johnson Painting Windows Pella