This contest is now closed for submissions. And the winner of the DK Design exterior revamp is…Tricia Gentry of Little Rock! Thank you to all who entered the contest and all who shared the call for submissions. STAY TUNED to see the reveal of the makeover in our August 2014 issue!
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Official Rules
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Gary Ingle wanted to give his wife, LeeAnn, the birthday wish she had always dreamed of—a backyard swimming pool. Soon after learning of her husband’s generous gift, the couple met with longtime friend and pool designer Larry Rogers. Working closely with Larry, the Ingles set out to create a backyard that reflected their vision, including a pool area for entertainment and a retreat to enjoy year-round.
The first step was to take stock of the unfinished backyard. A pre-project survey pleasantly surprised the couple. The property lines revealed a footprint larger than expected, which enabled them to accommodate multiple design elements—in both the pool and backyard itself.
After months of work, the newly installed curved pool features a spa, an inviting swim-up bar and a cook center covered by a cabana. Multiple waterfall elements surround the pool to create unending harmony. “The spa is for me and Gary is in charge of the cook center,” says LeeAnn, indicating who wears the chef’s hat among the two. The large stone fireplace is used during the cooler months and adds a warm element to social gatherings.
One of the most unique elements of the space is the custom swim-up tabletop. “I wanted to personalize our pool, so I decided to imprint my nickname, Lola, into a table, ” says LeeAnn. Her work assistant helped sketch the non-traditional font, which reflects her fun-loving personality. From there, an internet search led her to a tile maker in San Diego, California, who designed the mosaic and then shipped it in twelve different pieces. “Putting the mosaic together was great fun—it was a big jigsaw puzzle and it took us several hours to assemble,” reminisces LeeAnn.
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As the proprietors of Bear-Hill Interiors, brother-and-sister design team Kevin and Susan Walsh enjoy what they do. However, it took a move by their mother, Anita Creviston, to push them to design extremes. Susan recalls, “On the same day that the contractors were finishing up, carpet was being installed, drapes were being hung. Kevin was in Hot Springs packing up all of our mom’s things. It was a whirlwind, just like the TV show, ‘Extreme Makeover’.” In four short weeks, the siblings had completely remodeled and updated their mother’s one-bedroom condo. At the same time, they also managed to pack her belongings and relocate her from Hot Springs to Little Rock.
Naturally, it was a labor of love. The brother-and-sister design duo wanted Anita closer and the condo provides exactly the space she needs. While the entire unit was remodeled, the dining area, living room, and bedroom showcase the highlights of this before-and-after project.
“Mother wanted to use things that she already owned and she wanted some color, so that inspired us,” explains Susan. Shades of green provide vibrancy to the soothing palette. For the dining room, Anita already owned two Hickory Chair dining chairs. Two more were ordered to round out the set and all were recovered in soft blue with a contrasting ivory cord. The plates hung on the wall were part of their mother’s pottery collection. The chandelier, an old gas lamp, was converted to electric and painted a warm neutral. In addition to providing design services, Bear-Hill Interiors also has a great retail selection. The Walshes used finds from their shop to complete the design, including the dining table, which they repainted to match the room’s decor. Aquamarine Schumacher wallpaper and mushroom gray carpet provide the perfect canvas to let the individual pieces shine.
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When Boyd and Trisha Logan moved into a mid-century ranch style home in Fayetteville shortly after graduating from college, they didn’t expect to stay long. Though the design-savvy couple appreciated the home’s clean, modern lines and the privacy of the surrounding woods, they knew their family would soon outgrow the home’s modest 1,200 square feet.
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Think that bright white must be banished from a family home? That serene hues, shimmering surfaces and chic accents won’t work in a household full of boys?
Not so, say designer Susan Walsh of Bear-Hill Interiors and homeowner Amanda Allison, who, along with her husband, Scott, is the proud parent of three young sons. With thoughtful planning and wise purchasing, the pair proved that stylish rooms and family living can co-exist peacefully.
When the Allison family moved into a recently renovated home in the Heights neighborhood in Little Rock, Amanda sought Walsh’s assistance in transitioning existing furnishings into their new residence. “The house was a great fit for the size of their family, and since it had recently been updated, it didn’t need any structural changes,” says Walsh. “But many of the rooms were dark and felt heavier than what Amanda had in mind.”
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1. Draperies made with Highland Court Marakesh Collection magenta silk. Larry’s Inc., Little Rock, (501) 663-0674, larrysinc.com; M. Grace, Bentonville, (479) 715-6050, mgracenet.com
2. Blaire Jacquard bedding. Ethan Allen, Little Rock, (501) 219-8400, ethanallen.com
3. Hang three crystal chandeliers at varying heights for glamour and additional lighting. Prague series chandelier from Classic Lighting. Light Innovations, Little Rock, (501) 223-9026, blog.light-innovations.com
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When the couple purchased the traditional-style house in 1990, the lower level was a dance studio for the previous owners’ two daughters, complete with a mirrored wall and a ballet barre. As owner of Keener Construction Co., Inc., David handily transformed the space into a recreation room their family of four could enjoy. Twenty years later, as empty nesters, Beverly and David intended to update the lower level once again, which became an easy decision when flooding caused by upstairs renovations severely damaged the walls and flooring.
For Beverly, it was an opportunity to transform the room from a recreational area into an inviting space for entertaining friends and family. Keener Construction Co., Inc. pulled up the carpet and removed the wood paneling from the walls, and with the room stripped down to the studs, it became a canvas for the Keeners to design a space suited to their entertaining needs.
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Seamstress extraordinaire, creative crafter and doting grandmother J.J. Davis always has a project pending, but space to implement her ideas was in short supply in the North Little Rock home she shares with her husband, Jerry. In seeking a space where she could sew costumes, cut patterns or play with her grandsons, the solution was simply a few steps away, in the couple’s unfinished basement.
When they built their home seven years ago, the Davis’ included a walkout basement on their hillside lot, yet used it merely as a storage space with sheetrock walls and concrete floors. “I decided the area could be put to better use,” says J.J., who envisioned a multi-functional room that “would be a nice place to spend time sewing or crafting, a place where the grandkids could go to watch television or play games and hang out.”
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Built in the late 1960s, the four building apartment complex near the University of Arkansas campus in downtown Fayetteville was a testament to its time, complete with dark paneling, shaggy carpeting, closed off rooms and dank kitchens and baths. When new owners purchased the property in 2010, the 96-unit complex was in dire need of an update.
Despite the condition of each apartment, the complex was structurally sound, and the downtown locale offered all the benefits of urban living, with easy access to campus and the Fayetteville trail system, as well as shops and restaurants. “There was tremendous potential here to renovate these units in an economically feasible way and create a healthy, sustainable setting,” says Jeremy Hudson, partner in MC3 Multifamily real estate management and one of the developers of the property. “We saw an opportunity to make this a truly green apartment complex and offer a style of living that didn’t exist here.”
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Summer living calls for easy, versatile pieces, offering the chance to break from tradition and loosen up your decor. To inspire your vacation-time style, At Home asked three top designers to create fresh combos for a summery setting, all based on one piece of furniture.
The item? The new, modern classic Ghost Buster commode, designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell. While the simple lines evoke a French chest, the transparent or opaque plastic construction keeps the look light.
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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.