Down to Earth

June 26, 2013 by ark_admin

In Northwest Arkansas, designer Melissa Haynes uses safe and sustainable options to give a family the home of their dreams

When a young family in Northwest Arkansas desired greener pastures to fit their eco-friendly lifestyle, they immediately engaged Melissa Haynes of MH Designs, Inc. to assist with the renovation of their home. “They wanted the home to be energy efficient, safe for their family, non-toxic and free of harsh chemicals,” says Haynes. The desire for a greener space began with the choices they were making outside the home to live a cleaner, simpler lifestyle—things such as cultivating their own vegetable garden, composting and supporting local farmers. This way of life made the homeowners’ segue into a healthier home a natural choice.

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Cozy in Color

April 9, 2013 by ark_admin

Nothing brings friends together like a good design project. At least that’s the story of homeowner/designer duo Jamie Clark and Joanna McCusker, who quickly became gal pals over mood boards and countless cups of coffee. As the pair’s shared appreciation of French antiques and functional spaces surfaced, McCusker recalls how the design consultations turned into “fun, little lunches and dinners,” and the rest is history.

It’s no coincidence that Clark and McCusker found common ground in the crosshairs of interior design and culinary arts. After all, dining and entertaining in comfort were Clark’s initial inspirations to redesign her once-cramped kitchen, den and pantry areas. Throw in McCusker’s knack for mixing old and new, and you’ve got a recipe for colorful, chic perfection with a touch of vintage charm.

When Clark found her small, but character-rich cottage no longer conducive to her family’s daily lifestyle, not to mention entertaining, she recruited kitchen design expert McCusker, who works as a freelance home designer, as well as a consultant for Springdale’s New Century Counter Tops. “This house is very unique,” Clark reflects on her charming residence, rife with whimsy and quirk. “I’m really drawn to that English countryside look of homes, furniture and even lifestyle,” and she’s not kidding. Atop a grassy hill on the outskirts of rural Van Buren, the Clarks’ ranch-style property includes a herd of horses and a sweeping view of the Arkansas River Valley—the picture of pastoral bliss.

This “countryside look” is exactly what Clark insisted remain intact during the redesign process, while also adding usable space with unexpected pops of interesting color and pattern. Characteristic of many built in the 1920s, Clark relates that her home is modest in space, and many of its rooms have been repurposed through the years. Naturally, a woman who hosts as frequently and readily as Clark needs a maison as capable to multitask as she is. The challenge was to maximize the existing space without moving walls or extending into other parts of the house. “I didn’t know how she would solve it, but she did,” Clark brags on her friend, McCusker.

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Artful Aesthetic

January 8, 2013 by ark_admin

At Home in Arkansas: When you relocated to Arkansas to become the executive director of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, what were you and your partner, Dan Feder, looking for in a family home?

Don Bacigalupi: We have always been attracted to houses with architectural integrity, those that clearly evidence the style of the period in which they were built. Among the homes we have owned, we’ve most enjoyed mid-20th century modernist styles, so we were immediately attracted to this 1954 home designed by architect Cecil Stanfield. And, of course, we hoped to have ample play space for our very active son, Guston.