A Taste of Transitional Style

October 1, 2025 by Laura LaRue

A west Little Rock kitchen receives a makeover that blends contemporary with classic

When Cecelia and Dr. Dale Blasier walked into the Distinctive Kitchens & Baths showroom, they were ready for a kitchen update. After filling out a questionnaire, owner and lead designer Bill Wrape met with them to go over their needs and expectations. “The whole concept was built around the fact that he loves to cook and she takes care of the cleaning,” Bill says. Namely, the Blasiers wanted to expand the size of their island to create space for seating, eliminate a built-in desk that was rarely used, and update the look of the room. “I always want to fix things in a remodel,” Bill says, adding that cosmetic changes can be a part of that as well.
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Modern Day Heirloom

September 5, 2023 by Laura LaRue

A Little Rock homeowner blends modern conveniences and sentimental pieces in a recent renovation

When Rebecca Price decided to downsize, she knew a renovation was in the cards. “I wanted something light and open, but I also have a lot of family pieces I wanted to include,” she says of the motivation behind the makeover. While the entire home was updated, the kitchen and dining spaces got special treatment at the hands of her designer, Sarah Finley, and Bill Wrape, who served as the general contractor for the entire home.“I called this the four-poster kitchen because there were big columns that ran through the island,” Rebecca says with a laugh. Wanting to open up the line of sight, she and Sarah envisioned a clean space with a central island for prepwork as well as gathering. Bill reworked the footprint to straighten the existing walls and allow space for flush cabinetry while taking out unnecessary support beams. He also traded a reach-in pantry for a cabinet option that provided the same amount of storage while freeing up room in the floor plan. “One of the things I love about Bill is that he is a Certified Kitchen Designer, so when I had an idea he could quickly turn it into part of the plan,” Rebecca says. “He and Sarah were my dream team.”
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Ready for a Crowd

September 1, 2021 by ark_admin

An updated layout and polished finishes are hallmarks of this Maumelle kitchen renovation

When Debra and David Shumate built their home in 1999, a red and gold palette was all the rage. Two decades later, the couple, who are now empty nesters with soon-to-be a dozen grandchildren, have a different style and different needs. “We had reached the point where it was time to swap out colors, and that opened a can of worms with one of the biggest things being the kitchen. If we were going to stay in this house, rather than downsize, we had to modernize,” Debra says.

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Bringing It Home

October 1, 2020 by ark_admin

Inspired by Texas architecture, a young family works with designer Becky Charton to achieve the look in their central Arkansas new build

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Simple Sophistication

August 18, 2016 by ark_admin

An outdated kitchen gets a timeless new look, just in time for its Designer Showhouse debut

This Spring, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild held its bi-annual fundraiser, the Symphony Designer Showhouse, a collaboration among designers and vendors across the state. Meridith Ranouil of MLH Designs along with Bill Wrape and Alissa Oates of Distinctive Kitchens and Baths collaborated on the remodel of the Chenal home’s kitchen. “The house was built in the 1980’s so there were a few features that really dated it,” Ranouil says. “We wanted to make it more functional and current, and give it a very classic and timeless feel.” Centrally located in the home and open to the den, the team wanted to give the space a neutral, universally-appealing makeover in preparation for the house going on the market. “This project was a little different because we wanted to appeal to nine out of 10 potential buyers,” Wrape, who has been designing custom kitchens and baths for 17 years, explains. Ranouil disguised the Palladian-style window (a popular feature at the time of the home’s construction) with a custom Roman shade.
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Counter Offers

March 22, 2016 by ark_admin

Your home’s countertops should be a pairing of beauty and durability—after all, they are one of the most frequently used surfaces in the house. Here are a few of the latest options available from some of the most popular manufacturers in the business.

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Hardworking Meets High Style

April 28, 2015 by ark_admin

Now you don’t have to choose between performance and style. Transform the look of your home, inside and out, with the latest offerings in doors, windows, and hardware

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Counter Intelligence

March 18, 2015 by ark_admin

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City Chic

January 6, 2015 by ark_admin

Designer Kevin Walsh imparts his keen, cosmopolitan sensibility to the design of a glamorous condominium in the heart of downtown Little Rock

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Serene in the City

April 18, 2014 by ark_admin

A view of the Arkansas River and its woodlands encourage a Little Rock couple to renovate a home to fit their needs

Looking to bring a sense of calm to their routine, a Little Rock couple set out to find a new home where they could spread out a bit, relax and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Hoping for a river view, their options were limited. When a classically styled house on a quiet street came available, they knew that with a little imagination—and help from a trusted team of experts—they could transform it to suit their needs perfectly.

At first glance, the home wasn’t exactly dream-worthy. In fact, it was just the opposite of what this couple had in mind. But the red brick Georgian-style house did have a few things going for it; namely, a view of the Arkansas River and beyond. Inside, a small galley kitchen, dark hallways, and low ceilings didn’t suit the couple’s taste or lifestyle, so they called on architect Tom Fennell and designer Bill Beringer to bring the space to life.