Starting Fresh

June 1, 2026 by Laura LaRue

Designer Sarah Parsley brings charm and color to a new-construction home in Conway

When Andy Harris and Katie Bailey-Harris made the decision to build a new home, they knew just who to call: designer Sarah Parsley. She and Katie, who are both Conway natives, are longtime friends, and the couple had seen Sarah’s work in other friends’ homes. With three children, Katie and Andy wanted more space for the family to enjoy. “While we loved our former home and our neighbors, we knew we eventually wanted to build something better suited for our family long-term,” says Katie. “Building from the ground up gave us the opportunity to create a home perfectly suited to our family not just for today, but for the years ahead.”…

Classic & Comfortable

April 3, 2022 by ark_admin

Designer Stacy Sheid Epp updates a 1970s family home with practical pieces and well-placed patterns

Attending furniture market in the sixth grade was just one of the defining moments that led Stacy Sheid Epps to a career in design. “Growing up in Mountain Home, I spent afternoons in my family’s home store, Sheid’s Furniture,” she says. “When you grow up like that, it’s in your blood—and you don’t get away from it,” she says with a laugh. “I think I probably appreciate the craftsmanship and beauty of pieces a little more than the average person.”

When the store closed in 2010, Stacy seized the opportunity to launch her own design business, and the owners of this Fort Smith home were taken with her aesthetic. “My style is traditional, and we wanted our home to be traditional but also to have a clean and welcoming feel,” says one of the owners. Having known the family for almost a decade and worked with them on their previous house, Stacy had a sense of what they wanted to achieve in this new space while keeping the soul of the home intact—especially since the owners had always admired its charm.

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Countertop Update

April 19, 2021 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

On the Surface: Transform the most-used surfaces in your kitchen, bath, and laundry with these durable and chic options

Cambria’s “Ivybridge” features dark teal veining with a slight gold shimmer. Abstract Granite Company, abstractgranite.com; AHI Stoneworks, facebook.com/ahistoneworksar; Carr Kitchen & Bath, carrplumbinginc.com; Counter Top Concepts, (870) 892-0086; D & D Floor Covering, ddfloorcovering.com; Distinctive Kitchens & Baths, kitchensofarkansas.com; Epic Cabinets & Design, facebook.com/epiccabinetsdesign; Gilmore’s Custom Kitchens, gilmoreskitchens.com; Kitchen and Bath Ideas, kitchenandbathideas.biz; Kitchen Distributors, kitchendistributorsinc.com; Kitchen Tune-Up of Little Rock, kitchentuneuplittlerock.com; Kitchen Tune-Up of Rogers, kitchentuneup.com/rogers-ar; Legacy Kitchen and Bath, legacykitchensbaths.com; Midway Marble & Granite, midwaygranite.com; Nations Kitchen & Bath, nationskitchenandbath.com; New Century Counter Tops, newcenturycountertops.com; ProSource of Little Rock, prosourcewholesale.com; Ridout Lumber, ridoutlumber.com; Schmidt Countertops and Construction, schmidtcountertops.com; Specialty Woodworks & Tile, specialtywoodworksandtile.com; Townzen Tile, townzentile.com; Westbrook Premier Kitchen & Bath, westbrookpremierkb.com

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Modern Thinking

December 30, 2015 by ark_admin

Inspired by their Turkish heritage, a young family turns to architects Jeff Horton and Jennifer Herron and interior designer Meridith Hamilton Ranouil to create a modern home that reminds them of their past and gives them plenty of space to grow in the future

Whether you move twenty miles down the road or around the globe, leaving a place doesn’t mean that the place—or its influence—leaves you. Dr. Emre Vural and his wife, Zeynep, found this to be just the case when they started planning for a new-construction home in Little Rock. “We are from Turkey and in the urban areas—particularly Istanbul—there’s a more contemporary design style; it’s very much modern,” Zeynep says. With the influence of these areas and their structures in mind, the Vurals looked to create a home for their family that would bring a bit of Turkey to Arkansas.
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Home for the Holidays

November 23, 2015 by ark_admin

Designer Mona Thompson never feels more at home in her West Little Rock residence than she does during the Christmas season—she tells us why
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Modern Sensibility

August 25, 2015 by ark_admin

A West Little Rock couple, who are well versed in design, create a dream master bath that will last for years to come

Charlene and Chuck Prousnitzer know the market when it comes to the latest and greatest in lighting, tubs, sinks, faucets, and other home design elements. The pair have spent their lives helping clients source the perfect items and create dream spaces—Charlene as the owner of Light Innovations and Chuck as the retired owner of PC Hardware. So it comes as no surprise they knew just what they wanted at the outset of a complete renovation of their new home’s master bath. “Because we are in the lighting and hardware business, it had to show off our product,” Charlene says. The entire project “was a labor of love between me and Jeff Junkin of Jeff Junkin Construction,” says Charlene, who holds a design degree from LSU. Contemporary in style and “loaded” when it comes to functional features, one word defines the design for both Charlene and Chuck: practicality.
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Kitchen Redux

August 25, 2015 by ark_admin

A Little Rock home receives a full-scale culinary makeover resulting in more space and an updated aesthetic

“Gary renovated this kitchen 30 years ago,” says Cathy Pursell, wife and business partner of Gary Pursell, of Gary Pursell Construction. “So, basically he tore out his own work to remodel this kitchen for their family,” she laughs. After three decades and a change in ownership, everyone agreed it was time to reinvent the space and create a kitchen with multiple zones, an abundance of amenities, and an inviting, fresh feel that suited the owners’ style and would welcome their now-grown children home for family gatherings.
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Take the Floor

June 19, 2015 by ark_admin

Often it is the textures, patterns, and colors found underfoot that really set the tone for your home. Here’s what’s trending for functional and fabulous floors.

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It’s All for the Kids

July 23, 2014 by ark_admin

In Little Rock, Our House, Inc.’s new Children’s Center is ready for action thanks to generous time and material donations made possible through a partnership with the local chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers

Imagine a group of 50 children along with their teachers doing homework, playing games, and working on educational activities in a 65-year-old, 7,000-square-foot ambulance garage that is also shared with an adult learning center. Doesn’t sound ideal, right? Until this summer, that was the situation at Our House, Inc.’s Children’s Center. Not only was the program constrained by a number of safety and design issues, it also lacked the ability to accommodate the ever-growing number of clients who are a part of Our House. The directors and the board knew a solution needed to be found to continue the organization’s more-than-worthwhile work.

A New Game Plan

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Modern Family Getaway

June 23, 2014 by ark_admin

More really is merrier at this no-fuss vacation home, situated on the shores of Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs

When designer Garry Mertins first came on board this new-construction lake house project, the homeowners—two adult siblings and their spouses—explained the mission to him this way: “When we’re here, we’re here to relax. We also want our kids to be able to relax, and we want them to bring all of their friends and have a great time with minimal stress.” With easy living for all ages as his key objective, Mertins worked to maximize both function and experience for the two families and their many, year-round guests.

At the heart of the home is a generous, open-plan living area on the main level. Exposed structural components contribute to the sleek, elemental effect of the design: the vaulted 20-foot ceilings are lined with eight-inch oak planks, the floors consist of scored and finished concrete, and an exposed steel I-beam and support mechanism runs the length of the room. And though the architecture is very linear and edited, Mertins has prioritized comfort in the space, by drawing it all to human scale with furnishings.

“This room makes entertaining easy, whether you have three people or thirty,” says Mertins. Defined activity zones allow for an intimate feeling no matter the size of the gathering, while plush rugs and oversized furniture provide total comfort, especially after a long day of sun and water sports. The room encompasses a high-tech kitchen—with seating for eight on barstools gathered around an extended island—a dining room, a wet bar, a small sitting area, and a spacious family room.

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Starting Fresh

Classic & Comfortable

Countertop Update

Modern Thinking

Home for the Holidays

Modern Sensibility

Kitchen Redux

Take the Floor

It’s All for the Kids

Modern Family Getaway

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