Date: June 1, 2023 | Story: Rebekah Hall Scott | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton |
Jill White Designs calls for modern lines and West Coast touches while highlighting a new home’s stunning views
In Roland’s Waterview Estates, sweeping views of Lake Maumelle captured the imagination of two Californians upon their move to Arkansas. Inspired to make this the visual focus of their new home, they called on interior designer Jill White to bring their dream to life when the house plans were first drawn.
The clients’ main source of inspiration came from the quiet luxury and natural materials used in the design of the Four Seasons Resort in Napa Valley. “Being from California, they love wine country, and she just really loved how refined it felt,” Jill says. “She wanted neutral colors, a cozy atmosphere, and to focus on the views.”
To start, Jill tweaked the home’s floor plan to make it more functional for the family and emphasize the surrounding landscape. “The whole home was designed around having their bedroom, the guest room, the wine room, and the living room all along the back of the house, because that’s the biggest view,” Jill says. “That was super important to them.” Sliding glass doors connecting these spaces to the back deck help the family “embrace indoor-outdoor living, which is very Cali,” the designer adds.
For the interiors, Jill selected a neutral color palette and furniture with clean lines to create a comfortable, cool vibe. In the living room, cozy cream and white upholstered pieces create a crisp contrast with handsome white oak floors. The home’s kitchen is open to the living area, and Jill used dark hues in both spaces to anchor the otherwise light and airy room.
“The kitchen cabinets are a play off of the client’s favorite colors of blue and gray, which can also be seen in the exterior color,” Jill says. “It was about bringing that in and making sure everything was cohesive throughout.”
For these Californians, their Arkansas home is both a reflection of the state’s natural beauty and a haven of familiar coastal comforts. “I think we really brought the wine country look and feel to this house, and they love it,” Jill says. “They are so excited to enjoy the space inside and out.”
Modern Welcome
Square pavers lead the way to the home’s entrance along an area outfitted with a pool. The stucco half-wall surrounding the courtyard was painted in the same shade of dark blue-black as the Hardie board siding (“Inkwell” by Sherwin-Williams), while steel siding from MAC Metal’s woodgrain collection provides compelling contrast.
Dramatic Touch
To the right of the kitchen, a small wine room features a unique finish that speaks to one of the homeowner’s passions. “He lived in Japan for a period of time, and he really wanted this space to have Japanese shou sugi ban siding, which is a method of preserving wood by charring it with fire,” Jill says.
Easy Gathering
In this cozy seating area, four curved chairs surrounding a shapely coffee table create the perfect vantage point to overlook the front courtyard. A black metal swag pendant brings visual interest to the corner and highlights a piece by international artist Alex Turco, which features a woman relaxing in calming waters.
“She wanted neutral colors, a cozy atmosphere, and to focus on the views.”
—Jill White, designer
Coastal Cool
It was a priority for the kitchen and living room to be open to each other and connect functionally as well as aesthetically. Steel pendants lined in gold leaf create an eye-catching glow above the long kitchen island, which serves as the breakfast, lunch, and dinner dining area for the family of three. By combining natural touches with a calm color palette, Jill was able to create a beachy, airy vibe in the large space. Walls are painted “Snowbound” by Sherwin-Williams.
A plaster range hood mimics brass, while light quartz on the countertops and backsplash contrasts with the dark cabinetry (painted “Black Horizon” by Benjamin Moore).
The primary bedroom’s design is a departure from the dark accents found throughout the rest of the home. Here, a softer palette of cream and light gray and an upholstered bed create a restful retreat.
Organic Ombre
On the walls flanking the fireplace, Jill installed a wallpaper that gradually rises from a deep, dark hue to a barely-there blue, emulating the waters of the nearby lake, the home’s pool, and the homeowners’ West Coast origins. Two mirrors, also inspired by the fluidity of water, draw the eye and reflect light above a black fluted credenza.
Moody Luxury
Returning to their initial inspiration, the design of the Four Seasons Resort in Napa Valley, Jill says she and the homeowners wanted to keep the primary bathroom “dark, moody, and cozy.” The walls are painted “Iron Ore” by Sherwin-Williams. A porcelain tile mimicking the look of concrete is used on the floors and in the shower, while white oak vanities call back to the floors throughout the home. Sconces by Kelly Wearstler flank the minimalist mirrors, and all elements work harmoniously to highlight the show-stopping view from a sleek soaker tub.
Design Resources
Builder Dillon Homes Interior design Jill White, Jill White Designs Landscape design Better Lawns & Gardens Accessories Beige, Box Turtle, and Jill White Designs Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinetry and millwork Duke Custom Cabinets Countertops Pinnacle Granite Co. Fireplace Royal Overhead Door Fixtures Westlake Plumbing Flooring Arkansas Wood Floors Furniture, hardware, lighting, mirrors, and Rugs Jill White Designs Paint Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams Painting Osman Painting Pool Aquatic Oasis Pools & Spas Tile JA Flooring & More and C&F Flooring and Rug Gallery Windows Pella Window coverings Drape & Design Co. and Jill White Designs
