Date:  July 2, 2025  |   Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

Soaring views and inviting spaces make the feat of building this mountainside lake house worth the effort

“Gary’s always up for a challenge,” Cathy Pursell says of her husband of 25 years. Case in point, their Greers Ferry Lake house that is built into the rugged mountainside. While the Realtor who showed the Pursells the lot had doubts about the possibility of building on such challenging topography, Gary, who owns Pursell Construction, wasn’t the least bit deterred. “It was a true labor of love,” Cathy says, noting he spent countless weekends on the property to do much of the construction himself. “He almost wouldn’t let anyone else work on it,” she says.

As residents of Little Rock, the couple had visited Eden Isle for years and long dreamed of their own place there. They joined forces with a couple of close friends from Louisiana, Cathy’s home state, to design a house they could share. “We wanted a place where we could come together but also share with our families,” Cathy says. To that end, each couple has their own primary suite on the main level, and there are additional bedrooms and a kitchenette for guests downstairs.

While Gary took the lead building the house (lovingly deemed The Hive by its owners), Cathy lent her talents by selecting finishes, furniture, and décor—a division of labor common on Pursell Construction projects. “I do it mainly for fun—helping friends, picking out paint colors, and collaborating with Gary’s clients if they want,” Cathy says of her love of design, which she also enjoys cultivating in their personal homes. As a big fan of original art, bright colors, and sentimental details, she infused all of the above into the design of The Hive.

The house is now a frequent gathering place for the Pursells and their friends and family. “This was all designed to take advantage of the views of the lake,” Cathy says. “I’m not a boat person; I don’t want to get out and spend all day down on the lake. I love being able to sit up here and feel like I’m right on the water.”

Above: The living room was designed with two focal points in mind: the view of the lake and the double-sided fireplace, which opens to Cathy and Gary’s bedroom on the opposite side. The surround was custom painted by AF Decorative to resemble steel. All three paintings are by Rhea Gary, a Louisiana native like Cathy and one of her favorite artists. Colorful pillows further enliven the neutral backdrop and comfortable furnishings.

Source Material
After scouring print and online sources for inspiration, the Pursells decided a contemporary style home would allow for the most windows. “The more we looked at things, Gary fell in love with the idea of wood, concrete, and steel,” Cathy says. “Being set against the lake and trees kind of softens everything.”

Rustic Yet Refined
The kitchen reflects the overall industrial-meets-glam aesthetic of the interiors. The beams overhead are old railroad ties Gary found in Greenbrier, sanded down, and stained to repurpose here. A hexagonal backsplash tile is one of several nods to the house’s apian moniker. With two families sharing the home and often gathering for holidays, the barstools provide overflow seating for the nearby dining table. Walls are painted “White Dove” by Benjamin Moore.

One for the Cooks
“The big island was a must,” Cathy says. “We love to cook and make pizza, so we need a lot of room to be able to roll out the dough and toss it.” A double oven, stovetop with a griddle, and pantry with tons of storage—including outlets for small appliances—mean the hardworking space is always ready for action. Because the pantry and lower cabinetry offer so much storage, Cathy opted for open shelving that allows for artful displays above the sink.

Raising the Bar
Adjacent to the kitchen, a dining table for eight and wet bar are a welcoming scene for the couple and their friends. A painting by Kelli Kaufman, another Louisiana artist, reflects the natural setting outside the windows, and a beaded chandelier brings an air of femininity to the space. Instead of hiding the home’s staircase behind sheetrock, glass allows this architectural element to become a visual statement.

Rooms with a View
The main level has two primary suites. While the other has a more traditional layout, Gary and Cathy desired an open concept with no separation between the bed and bath areas. The same oak veneer cabinets seen in the kitchen are repeated here for continuity with the paneling extending up the vanity wall for greater effect. The wet room features a stand-alone tub, a favorite vantage point of Cathy’s. “We have shades that come down for privacy when we need them, but I just love being in this bathtub when the sun goes down,” she says.

“This was all designed to take advantage of the views of the lake.”
—Cathy Pursell, homeowner and designer

An upholstered bed and cozy linens in beachy shades of blue bring a comfortable feel to the primary bedroom. Cathy found the pair of collaged cranes at Box Turtle, one of her favorite Little Rock shops.

“I love being able to sit up here and feel like I’m right on the water.”
—Cathy Pursell, homeowner and designer

Inside Out
Garage door-style openings connect the living and dining spaces to the deck, a feature Cathy says was inspired by a coffee shop they used to frequent in downtown Little Rock (now the site of Flora Jean’s). “In the fall you can have the fireplace going, a game on the TV, and people inside and on the deck,” she says. Gary constructed the unique coffee table from the root of a cherry tree he unearthed from their backyard, using a piece of felled oak for its top.

Be Our Guest
On the lower level, a central hangout room between guest quarters offers deck access and the convenience of a kitchenette, where visitors can grab a drink or make a coffee. Here, Cathy’s signature pops of color come through in a brightly hued kilim rug and a painting by Arkansas artist Betsy Brandon Woodyard. Down the hall, the bunkroom can sleep up to six, thanks to a pull-out trundle underneath the bunkbeds and a double bed at the opposite end of the room.

Design Resources
Builder Gary Pursell, Pursell Construction Interior design Cathy Pursell, Creative Heights Partners Accessories Bear Hill Interiors, Box Turtle, Cobblestone & Vine, Cynthia East Fabrics, Providence Design, and Tipton & Hurst Countertops Countertop World Fabrics Cynthia East Fabrics Flooring and Tile ProSource of Little Rock Furniture Creative Heights Partners and mertinsdykehome Mirrors Hiegel H&S Glass Paint Benjamin Moore Painting Daniel Canseco Painting (Decorative) AF Decorative Rugs Hadidi Rugs Windows Pella