Stephanie Maxwell Newton

The Martin Dingman Lodge at Bell & Sward offers sophisticated Southern style

October 6, 2023 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

Erik Sward, owner of Bell & Sward, talks us through his Conway store’s new location, its special Martin Dingman collection, and why the shop is the perfect source for the modern Southern gentleman

At Home in Arkansas: When did you first open Bell & Sward?

Erik Sward: Bell & Sward was started in the spring of 2014 with my mother-in-law, Zanette Bell, and myself being the namesakes. My father-in-law and my wife have always been supportive and helpful whenever asked, so it is truly a family business. We are now in our third location on Oak Street, and we’ve doubled our size with every move. Zanette stepped away from daily operations last fall but remains involved with other facets of the business. She is the mastermind behind the design of the new store….

Q&A with Susan Gravely, founder of VIETRI

September 24, 2023 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

In 1982, North Carolina native Susan Gravely took a trip to Italy with her mother and sister that would change the course of her life. It was on that trip that the idea for an Italy-based ceramics company, VIETRI, was born. Now, Susan has released her first book, Italy on a Plate, to commemorate the relationships and memories made in the 40-year history of the company. Part memoir, part travelogue, and part cookbook, Italy on a Plate takes readers on a tour through the towns and tastes of the country that has grown to feel like Susan’s second home.

On September 30, Susan visits Little Rock as a presenter during the Central Arkansas Library System’s annual Six Bridges Book Festival. Susan will host a cooking workshop (sponsored by At Home in Arkansas) at Eggshells Kitchen Co. at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $15 and available here. At 4 p.m., join Susan along with fellow cookbook authors Stacey Mei Yan Fong (50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the United States through Pie) and Sandra A. Gutierrez (Latinisimo: Home Recipes from the Twenty-One Countries of Latin America) for a panel discussion at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (free).

Ahead of Susan’s Little Rock appearance, we asked her a few questions about Italy on a Plate, her travels, and her experiences as the founder of a beloved tabletop brand. Read on for more….

Product Runway: Design Professionals Get Creative with Building Materials

September 15, 2023 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

The South Central Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers is gearing up for Product Runway, a spirited fundraiser that promotes and supports ASID while raising money for the NWA Food Bank and Magdalene House.

The event is a design competition pitting teams of interior design and architecture professionals against each other in a Project Runway-style fashion competition. Product Runway challenges participants to create one-of-a-kind, handmade ensembles using materials provided by their Garment Label Sponsors (ASID Industry Partners), which were assigned in June. Materials include glass, tile, wallcovering samples, carpet, and wood, and all finished pieces will be inspired by this year’s theme, “The Roaring ’20s.” The culmination of the event includes a runway show with garments modeled by a team member and scored by a panel of judges.

Want to see what these creatives fashion out of everyday building materials? Anyone can buy tickets to attend Product Runway, which is September 22 at the Apollo on Emma in Springdale. The fashion show starts at 7:30 p.m. and is followed by music, hors d’oeuvres, and an open bar. Carmeon Hamilton, winner of HGTV’s Design Star: Next Gen and star of Reno My Rental, will emcee. Visit scasid-events.com for tickets and more information.

Marquis Brown’s Avocado Salsa Recipe

February 2, 2023 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

In our January/February 2023 issue, home chef Marquis Brown gave us a taste of his talent with a recipe for a homemade raspberry tart. Here, he shares the how-to for his avocado salsa, a favorite for spicing up a breakfast favorites such as huevos rancheros. Click here to read “Test Kitchen” from our January/February issue.

RECIPE…

Q&A with Kathryn Crisp Greeley, designer and author

October 19, 2022 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

Esteemed interior designer Kathryn Crisp Greeley bought her North Carolina home, Chestnut Cottage, in 1987. Since then, she’s enlarged the almost-century-old house, tended its gardens, and added to her layered collections inside—all while graciously sharing the space with others through gatherings large and small. Kathryn’s second book, The Collected Cottage, is a love letter to this place and an invitation for all to step inside. Today, she discusses with At Home in Arkansas her home’s history, English inspirations, and advice for how to create a home that’s “collected, not decorated.” Read on for information regarding the author’s Little Rock appearance and book signing on Thursday, October 27. See you there!

Kathryn Crisp Greeley

At Home in Arkansas: As you’ve made updates to Chestnut Cottage over the years, how have you maintained the integrity of the home’s history? Why is it important to you to stay in keeping with a home’s time period and aesthetic?

Kathryn Crisp Greeley: From the moment I purchased the cottage, I knew I must carefully keep the cozy, cottage atmosphere. In the ’90s, I sourced wormy chestnut for the new master bedroom suite to maintain the finishes throughout the cottage built in 1925. Since the entire cottage’s walls, ceilings, trim, and doors were wormy chestnut, I knew I had to find what I needed for the master suite….

Behind the Art: Holly Tilley

October 14, 2022 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

Little Rock’s Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center is home to a unique local treasure: Art Group Gallery. Founded and operated by area artists, it is a true working gallery where area artists have a studio to paint and can display their works to sell in the front of the shop. Follow along as we feature different artists who share the inspiration and stories behind a few of their pieces. | Sponsored Content

Artist Holly Tilley

“I’ve been painting for over 20 years. Starting initially in pastel, I quickly shifted to oil painting, which is by far my favorite medium. I’m definitely a lifetime learner, constantly exploring new ideas, subjects and painting concepts. I instruct as well, which is a great source of inspiration. I spend lots of time outdoors, so much of my subject matter comes from observation—our state is so beautiful, there’s something great to paint around every corner. My latest exploration includes abstracting scenes from nature. Using the subtle color shifts to reveal the form. I love the geometric shapes this reveals.”…

Experience a Different Approach to Fitness with Nooma

October 12, 2022 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

Behind the Art: Lori Weeks

October 10, 2022 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

Artist Lori Weeks

“An Arkansas native, I knew I was always going to be an artist. I began my art career by the age of nine, followed by graphic design and fine art at the Art Institute of Dallas and the Memphis College of Art. I’m best known for my collection of oil impasto, impressionistic poppy paintings that incorporate unique color schemes and textures. As I am always evolving, I rely more and more on my imagination because I find that I get bored painting from photos. The more I paint, the more I go by intuition and the less I stick to the guidelines….

Choose Cambria Quartz for Countertops & More

September 18, 2022 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

A Q&A about Cambria quartz with senior market representative Hollie Bayles | Sponsored Content

From durable work surfaces to eye-catching stone installations, nothing makes quite as large an impact in your home than your countertop surfaces. And when it comes to choosing a material that will stand the test of time, Cambria quartz can’t be beat: It’s durable, nonabsorbent, and easy to maintain with a lifetime warranty. Recently we spoke with Hollie Bayles, Cambria’s senior market representative for Arkansas, about what makes this product so special.…

Behind the Art: Donna Twyford

September 10, 2022 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

Artist Donna Twyford

“I began painting in watercolor nine years ago fulfilling a lifelong desire to follow in my artist grandmother’s footsteps. Although I have no formal art training, I have taken short workshops with some of the nation’s foremost watercolorists and with few exceptions have incorporated what I’ve learned into my own pieces. In my opinion—and I’m sure there may be some argument here—watercolor is an incredibly flexible medium, and I have enjoyed stretching the boundaries with poured watercolor where no brush is used to manipulate the pigments and with a technique incorporating an atomizer, a small tube through which paint is manually blown to create texture and depth. Because I’m such a newcomer to the art scene I feel that I’m still in the exploration phase and my work is constantly evolving.”…

The Martin Dingman Lodge at Bell & Sward offers sophisticated Southern style

Q&A with Susan Gravely, founder of VIETRI

Product Runway: Design Professionals Get Creative with Building Materials

Marquis Brown’s Avocado Salsa Recipe

Q&A with Kathryn Crisp Greeley, designer and author

Behind the Art: Holly Tilley

Experience a Different Approach to Fitness with Nooma

Behind the Art: Lori Weeks

Choose Cambria Quartz for Countertops & More

Behind the Art: Donna Twyford

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