Inspiring your Home and Lifestyle
AC Designs teams up with Spradlin Homes to create a family’s dream backyard
For years the children of these Little Rock homeowners had wished for a pool they could visit any time of day. “When the pandemic began, we thought, Who knows how long we are going to be here? Maybe this is the time,” one of the owners recalls. Throughout their 16 years in the house, they had spent time updating numerous other areas and were ready to transform their underdeveloped backyard into a destination….
Alchemy Atelier has the process of preserving florals down to a fine art
With a background spanning dance, photography, textiles, and floral design, Alecia Walls-Barton is the quintessential renaissance woman. Her recent passion is visual art made from dehydrated flowers, a creative outlet she explores under the name Alchemy Atelier. “Alchemy is a term that refers to early chemistry. I like that word because it has a scientific feel but also a magical, mystical quality,” she says, likening this work to her experience in the photography darkroom. “I’ve always been drawn to historical techniques, and I find myself happiest when working through that slow, methodical process.”…
Fall Containers: An expert shares quick updates to make summer containers last into autumn
While the start of school signals the changing season in many people’s minds, summer heat often lingers for several more months in the Natural State. Because of our slow fade to autumn, we turned to David Munsey, III, of Better Lawns & Gardens for advice on how to best transition current container plantings into fall. “For autumn, we lean toward colors like orange, maroon, burgundy, and some deeper greens,” David says. “If you have more tropical flowers in bright colors left over from summer pots, you can replace those with ornamental cabbages or pansies as they start to wilt.” Read on for David’s picks for transitional plantings along with tips for care and maintenance.…
Planting Roots: One couple’s urban farm offers seasonal flowers and access to fresh, local produce while supporting fellow farmers across the state
For many, 2020 will be remembered as a year that moved at a slower pace—but not for Kim Doughty-McCannon and Zack McCannon. About a month before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Conway couple launched a fundraising campaign to open a locally owned and operated grocery on the same site as their garden, Bell Urban Farm. By mid-March, they were fully funded, and they spent the rest of the year getting the property rezoned and renovating a 1950s farmhouse, all while keeping up with the many goings-on of their farm. “Getting to this point was a long journey,” Kim says. “We had so much community support behind us, which helped a lot.”…
Al Fresco Update: A team of central Arkansas professionals reimagine a couple’s backyard while adhering to the style of the existing home
When Dora Jane and Greg Flesher purchased this Little Rock home in 2019, they knew the backyard could become a dream space for both relaxation and entertaining. It just needed a bit of vision and work to get there. “It was kind of unlivable because it was one sheet of concrete, and it got so hot. We love to entertain but there was no shade,” Dora Jane explains. With seemingly endless options available in terms of both structures and landscaping, the couple turned to architect Ellen Yeary, builder Nathan Cooper, and landscape designer Sarah Burr to formulate a plan that would not only meet their needs but also complement the home’s existing exterior features….
Play & Stay: In Fayetteville, designer Casey Sarkin’s backyard escape offers spaces to enjoy inside, outside, and in-between
The backyard of Casey and Steffan Sarkin’s Fayetteville home has come a long way since they first laid eyes on it almost two decades ago. Then, the area behind the house—part of three acres the home sits on—was nothing more than overgrown brush and a chain-link fence. “When we moved in, we remodeled the interiors but didn’t really do much to the outside, just cleaned it all up,” Casey says. “There was no back porch, no pool, nothing.”…
Porch Perfected: The weather is right and fall colors are beginning to show off. Grab a seat on Ashley and Michael Mosley’s Sheridan front porch for seasonal inspiration
As a mother of five, family is hugely important to Ashley Mosley. So, it’s no surprise her home—and namely its expansive front porch—reflect this value. “Our porch is really family friendly; I wanted it to be comfortable and inviting,” she says. “We spend a lot of time out here, particularly at sunset when the view is really pretty.”…
Backyard Oasis: Better Lawns & Gardens transforms a blank-slate backyard into an inviting escape
The owners of this west Little Rock home fell in love with its peaceful setting the first time they laid eyes on it. Wooded areas, space to roam, and a backyard with lots of potential drew them in; however, they were eager to put their own touch on the space. “The property was absolutely beautiful, and I could envision making the backyard a resort just for us,” one of the homeowners says….
The owners of the Symphony Designer House XXV have spent more than a decade following their vision to cultivate awe-inspiring gardens and outdoor areas
After years of living in a neighborhood near the city’s center and renting a garden plot at Little Rock’s Two Rivers Park, Leslie and Dr. C.D. Williams were thrilled to find a “for sale” sign on 40 acres in west Little Rock. With two houses, a pond, and an abundance of land, they knew their days of hauling shovels and seed to their small community beds were over. “This place really took my breath away when I first saw it,” Leslie recalls.
However, at that time, the grounds were not finished; there was only limited landscape around the main house and guesthouse as well as the pond. “I had great visions for this place, and they grew,” Leslie says. After needed updates, such as paving the road and adding pin oak trees for shade in the backyard, the Williamses installed a raised bed garden. “I spent all my days—probably 40 hours a week—working in the yard,” Leslie says of her drive to bring the vision to life….
Chris H. Olsen shares tips to fill your planters with seasonal color you can enjoy until fall
“Containers are like living floral arrangements,” says landscape designer Chris H. Olsen. “They can bring color, texture, and scent to any space.” However, you don’t want to keep planting and replanting different combinations throughout the season; it’s much more attractive to find a format that works and will thrive with a little upkeep.
Chris notes that in the South the foliage will hold its color until the first frost, meaning you can get a lot of mileage—and eye candy—out of one planting if you play your cards right. One of the biggest challenges comes in knowing when to water, especially in the heat of the summer. Chris advises checking pots daily and watering when soil feels dry. However, if you can only water every other day, then at least be consistent. “Put yourself on a schedule and stick to it,” he says.
Chris also notes the importance of fertilizing. “Miracle-Gro is my secret. I use it every four to five weeks; there’s a 500 percent difference in the lushness of these plantings,” he says, adding that a lot of plants burn out in mid-summer because they have leeched all the nutrients from their soil. Read on for four more tips to container garden success….
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.