Interior designer Lisa Stagg creates a preppy outdoor retreat in her backyard
When designer Lisa Stagg and her husband, Paul, began designing the pool area of their home in 2022, they wanted the outdoor space to feel like an extension of their interior. “We wanted it to have a relaxing, resort feel,” Lisa says. “We love entertaining and wanted this area to feel beautiful and welcoming for our family and friends.” …
The Good Earth Garden Center shares three ideas for colorful container plantings
Creeping Jenny, ‘Diamond Frost’ euphorbia, ‘Artist Blue’ ageratum and ‘Supertunia’ petunias spill over the edge of a container planted for full sun conditions.
When it comes to planting container gardens for summer, “the sky’s the limit, and it’s time to get going,” says Jennifer Gibson, horticulturalist at The Good Earth Garden Center in Little Rock. Jennifer says containers are a prime opportunity to expand your plant palette, as many plants do better in the loose structure of potting soil than they do in the ground….
A creative overhaul transforms a Little Rock family’s stark backyard into a hydrangea-filled hangout
When Beth and Charlie Porter moved into their Little Rock home, they knew the sizable backyard had great potential. The large pool was ideal for Arkansas summers with their two young children. However, a covered patio attached to the back of the house darkened the interior and blocked the backyard view. “The backyard is what really sold us,” Beth says. “We loved the pool, but everything around it was just concrete. We wanted to be able to bring light into our home and look out to see the yard and something beautiful.”…
Mona and Dick Phelan’s outdoor living area is an ideal destination for two people or 20 any time of year
When Mona and Dick Phelan built their west Little Rock home in 2023, the outdoor living area was anything but an afterthought. “In my last house, I had a screened porch that was my favorite spot,” says Mona, the former owner of Providence Design. “When we started drawing this house, it was a have-to-have piece.” However, finding the perfect location within the plan proved to be a challenge. Her previous home’s dining room opened to the porch, a scenario that was not on the table in the new configuration. The Phelans brainstormed options with their builder, Bill Parkinson, who suggested placing the area just off the working pantry. “At first, I thought that might be weird, but it makes so much sense. We can come in and out easily and have access to the wine cooler and snacks,” Mona says.
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A Fayetteville home’s outdoor spaces receive updates that are equally classic and poised for family fun
For landscape designer Daniel Keeley, the feeling that this project was a progression of previous work was twofold: First, he’s designed almost half a dozen properties with these clients, making them dear friends at this point. Second, he also worked on this house, located in one of Fayetteville’s historic districts, with its former owners. “We did a big exterior project with the previous clients that established the pavilion and the pool,” he says. “When these clients moved in, they wanted to make it their own.”
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We get in the weeds about butterflies, native plants, and pollinator gardens with Shawn Hunter, founder of The Diana Project
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In Little Rock, landscape designer Chris H. Olsen accents a natural outdoor area with the season’s best and brightest
“The fuller, the better.” That’s the philosophy landscape and outdoor living expert Chris H. Olsen takes when designing flower beds and container plantings. For this couple, in particular, he wanted to accent their home’s natural setting and stone hardscaping with annuals and perennials that would stand up to hot summer temperatures and stand out in terms of color.
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Aquatic Oasis Pools and Spas helps transform a Little Rock family’s backyard into a frequent hangout
In the fall of 2020, Jennifer and Kevin Wilcox planned to overhaul the kitchen in their 1960s home when it hit them: Their two sons would soon graduate from high school and not be there to enjoy time together with family and friends. “We were saving money to remodel the kitchen, but we realized our oldest was heading off to college and we thought, Wow, we won’t have our kids much longer,” Jennifer says. “We really wanted a place where our sons could hang out with their friends, and we figured they wouldn’t really enjoy a new stove, but they’d enjoy a pool.”
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From grilling and fireside chats to a fully furnished pavilion, this Northwest Arkansas backyard is the place to be any time of year
Friends and family were top of mind when this Fayetteville couple called outdoor designer Daniel Keeley and his team. “Our kids are getting older, and we like the idea of being the house where they hang out,” the owner explains. “Plus, we love to entertain and didn’t have a great outdoor space for that.”
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Is it a coincidence that Mother’s Day falls during the peak of blooming gardens? We think not. To celebrate the leading ladies in our lives, three local florists put together meaningful arrangements that are sure to delight them on their special day
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At Home in Arkansas offers you a look inside the state's most inspiring homes. The magazine features monthly advice from the experts to help you plan your next remodel or redesign, entertain at home, or find Arkansas's best kept secrets. It is your definitive guide to the state's finest homes and gardens, design professionals, fashion and entertaining essentials, and premier shops and showrooms.