If you know Garry Mertins, you know he brandishes a magnetic, never-met-a-stranger attitude. As the owner and principal designer of Little Rock-based Garry Mertins Design, he brings the same attitude to each project he tackles. So, it’s not hard to see why Hot Springs homeowners Steve and Kathy Storey valued his counsel and enjoyed his enthusiasm when it came to the design of their home.

The Storeys’ advantageously situated lakeside home overlooks lush Garvan Woodland Gardens as well as a pristine stretch of Hot Springs’ very own aquatic jewel—Lake Hamilton. However, the home’s construction prevented them from taking in the sights just outside their walls. “When you live on Lake Hamilton and you’re not enjoying the scenic landscape every day, something’s got to be done about it,” says Mertins, and rightly so. His solution? Create serene outdoor focal points the Storeys can enjoy from practically every room in the house. “It was time to consider the bigger picture,” he says and developed a design plan sure to revolutionize the Storeys’ living space, capacity to entertain and ultimately their lifestyle.

Long-time friends, the Storeys and Mertins first recognized a need for a full-home makeover when the family’s primary hangout had become the large, comfy den on the backside of the house, which did not include a view of the lake. Moreover, the dated formal separation of the kitchen and dining area made it tricky to entertain large groups and obscured gorgeous panoramic views. “People don’t live like this anymore—in tiny, separate rooms, each detached from the others. Open concept is the way to go,” Mertins confides. Avid hobbyists and empty nesters, the Storeys requested one main level for everyday living, leaving the home’s lower level as recreational space for the grandkids. For this main level they were most concerned with creating functional display and storage space to accommodate Kathy’s antique glassware collection and floral artistry wares. They also knew that his-and-her bathrooms and dressing areas were a must.

To get the ball rolling, Mertins initiated the architectural renovation by adding 25 feet to the original living room, knocking out the main wall separating the living and dining areas, and moving the den from the back to the front of the house to craft a unique three-in-one common area that includes the living room, dining room and kitchen. To maintain aesthetic proportion, he bumped up the front of the house by a few feet to make room for a spacious entrance hall, and then positioned the couple’s respective retreats as offshoots of the master bedroom.

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