Homes and Gardens Archives - Page 42 of 45

Around the Color Wheel

March 23, 2009 by ark_admin

When you arrive at the El Dorado home that designer Andrea Brooks shares with her husband Jay and their two sons, Jay Anthony and Evan, the first thing you notice is her canary-yellow front door. In fact, it’s drawn lots of notice from neighbors as well. “I’ve been trying to slow down traffic on Madison Avenue, and the door definitely did the trick for about a week,” she says.

The fun, whimsical feeling established at the front door is certainly carried throughout the home’s interior. “This house just had a very quirky feel to me when we first moved in,” Andrea says. “It has very traditional bones, but something about it seemed anything but.” The historic home is the ideal showplace for Andrea and Jay’s collection of antiques, some inherited from their families, and some collected from various spots they’ve lived or traveled. However, she maintains a lighthearted atmosphere by pairing classic and contemporary pieces against a backdrop of eye-catching color. “The color scheme doesn’t exactly follow any standard combination,” she says. “It dances around the color wheel but attempts to stick with hues of the same saturation and value.” …

Spatial Recognition

March 23, 2009 by ark_admin

Kim and Blake Evans’ Fayetteville home sits atop a sloping lot, which played into the overall landscape plan created by exterior designer Daniel Keeley of DK Design in Fayetteville. “The size of the house and its sloping lot made scale a very important factor,” Daniel says. “Especially in terms of how much planting area would be needed to visually ground the house.” Kim wanted the gardens to be very simple and predominantly green and white, so Daniel and his team incorporated lots of evergreens, such as boxwood, laurel and juniper mixed with white Gaura, Crepe Myrtles and carpet roses. “We did break the green and white rule a little with places patches of Russian sage, which really makes everything pop with its silver foliage and lavender blue flowers,” Daniel says. “Once the landscape was determined, we moved on to furnishing the outdoor spaces.”

Thanks to the size of the lot, Daniel was able to craft several outdoor living areas. “I was guided by the interior colors from the adjacent rooms, and we were lucky because the house’s design naturally defined several outdoor living spaces through the hardscapes. That allowed us to focus on furnishings, rather than having to spend a lot of effort establishing privacy and visual delineation,” he says.

Four main living areas make up the backyard, each with its own personality and function. The main outdoor room is referred to as the cabana, and it’s enclosed on three sides and includes a kitchen. “We wanted this to be a multifunctional space, but more importantly we wanted it to be comfortable,” Daniel says. “This is where Kim, Blake and their family and friends gather to cook out, watch television or just enjoy being outside.” Surrounding the pool, Daniel placed sleek chaise lounges with bolster pillows for sunning. The outdoor fireplace is positioned near the pool, and it’s just steps from the master bedroom. “We envisioned this area as an intimate relaxation spot mainly for Kim and Blake,” Daniel says. “We furnished it accordingly with a couple of comfortable chairs, an ottoman upholstered in outdoor leather and a small side table for drinks and snacks.”

The sunken living space, positioned outside the downstairs guest suite, is known as the portico, thanks to its small covered-porch entry. “We considered this a secret oasis to be enjoyed by guests and the homeowners alike,” Daniel says. “It offers cushioned furniture and a soothing fountain, and is the perfect place for morning coffee, evening wine or curling up and reading a book.” Finally the veranda is the upstairs covered balcony located off of the game room. “We definitely wanted to carry the social feel of the game room outdoors, and we installed a large sofa, chairs and a portable ottoman for plenty of seating. ”

Design Resources:
Exterior design, furnishings: Daniel Keeley, DK Design, Fayetteville

A Livable Space

February 16, 2009 by ark_admin

When Elise Mitchell and her husband Raye built their Fayetteville home on a wooded lot, the backyard was a simple clearing of grass and trees. “The land was sloped to begin with, but then when we constructed the loggia, we had to increase the ground height of the site, creating an even steeper slope,” she says. “It was not an ideal setting to enjoy.” After taking a few years off from construction, the Mitchells decided it was time to tackle the unusable backyard. “We wanted the overall design to match the style of the home,” Elise says. “And to have an appropriate transition between the outdoor spaces and the woods beyond, which we kept in its natural state.”

The Mitchells brought together an impressive team of professionals, including landscape architect Travis Brooks, project manager Hannah Finley McNeil of Kay Architecture, Luther Stem Pools, and exterior designer Daniel Keeley of DK Design. “Originally there wasn’t a lot of usable space,” says Daniel. “We focused on creating very livable spaces outside that stayed with the Tuscan feel of the home and the existing loggia, but the Mitchells had also recently spent time at a Moroccan-themed resort where they fell in love with the rich colors and fabrics. We were able to incorporate that influence into the scheme with furniture cushions, throw pillows and even the glazed planters that we used as table bases.”

Function as well as beauty took center stage in this outdoor addition. “We entertain quite frequently and love to do so,” Elise says. “This is what makes a house feel more like a home—when friends are here!” Keeping this in mind, Daniel chose furnishings that were beautiful and comfortable, but also very durable. “Since we knew there would be a lot of activity involving their children and friends, we chose high-quality pieces that would offer great style and perform at the level necessary to hold up to wear and tear.” Daniel chose several pieces from Summer Classics furniture and crafted custom pieces with Sunbrella fabrics. “As always, we used a lot of wonderful planters to complete the space and to add softness and define the different areas,” he says. “Balance and symmetry were very important because of the powerful architecture involved with the cabana and fountain. We tried to create an elegant and harmonious feel by respecting and complementing the wonderful space that Hannah and Travis created.” Elise finds she and Raye most enjoy sitting by the fire in the loggia on a chilly night. “You feel like you’re cheating Mother Nature when you can sit outside in the winter,” she says.

Glam It Up

February 16, 2009 by ark_admin

Tobi Fairley, of Tobi Fairley Interior Design in Little Rock, was presented with a few key pieces of furniture when she joined the creative team of a Little Rock custom build project. “The homeowners wanted to take cues for the design from a few existing pieces that were important for them to keep, like their dining table and 18 chairs,” Tobi says. With these beautifully ornate and formal pieces as her touchstone, she went on a mission to infuse their traditional style with her own simple aesthetic. “The result is fresh and new, instead of looking stuffy or tired,” she says.

Although the home was already framed and under roof, Tobi worked closely with builder Byron Holmes, designing the interior, kitchen and bath, choosing interior finishes and consulting on the exterior finishes. “Byron has a great attitude and builds an extremely high-quality home,” she says. “He took a great deal of stress off my plate and made the process run seamlessly.” Additionally, working with clients who had a considerable amount of building experience and on-target expectations for the process was immensely rewarding for the team. “It was a smooth process that was enjoyable for my firm, the builder and the client, so in my opinion it was a huge success,” Tobi says.

Creating a home that is formal and sophisticated, yet still warm and inviting, was the clients’ key request, along with well-designed spaces for entertaining. “Instead of using the traditional approach of piling on the accessories, I planned the bones of the space to be full of details, including inlaid marble patterns, decorative painting, wall tile mosaics, ornate lighting fixtures and highly detailed cabinetry and millwork,” Tobi explains. She devised a color scheme of chocolate brown, gold, turquoise and terra cotta, infusing the home with Mediterranean influences and a few carefully chosen Moorish elements. Rather than grouping accessories, she allowed them to stand alone for maximum visual impact, and she commissioned artwork by Arden Boyce, Sheila Cotton and Andy Reed, who are all represented by Tobi Fairley Fine Art.

To add to the home’s luxurious feel, wallcoverings make a strategic appearance, layered with antique mirrors, gilded millwork and plenty of textured fabrics, including velvets, chenilles and brocades. Stone and tile are equally important elements, with marble, Jerusalem stone and mosaic tile all contributing richness and depth.

While the project was certainly large in scope, it never became overwhelming thanks to the close working relationship of designer, builder and homeowners. “The challenges were typical for a house this size,” Tobi says, “but nothing that couldn’t be managed relatively easily between my staff and the builder.” The challenges, however, were welcome to Tobi, who loves the opportunity to display her affinity for traditional styles. “Considering the level of detail in this project, it’s particularly rewarding when it all comes together,” she says.

Design Resources
Interior design: Tobi Fairley, Tobi Fairley Interior Design, Little Rock
Builder: Byron Holmes Construction, Little Rock
Window treatments: Mountjoy’s Custom Drapery, Mabelvale
Closets: The Closet Factory, Little Rock
Decorative painting: Janet Canalichio
Entertainment center and study cabinetry: Winfield Cabinetry, Benton
Woodmode kitchen and bath cabinetry: Kitchen & Bath Ideas, Little Rock
Mirrors and glass: Jones Glass, Benton
Sicis tile: C&F Flooring, Little Rock
Electrical: Fleming Electric, Bryant
Artwork: Tobi Fairley Fine Art, Little Rock
Custom rugs: New River Artisans, to the trade

A Gallery of Design

February 16, 2009 by ark_admin

For interior designer Tom Chandler, of Chandler and Associates in Little Rock, great design is not always about purchasing an entirely new house full of furnishings. “We really pride ourselves on taking into consideration what the client already owns,” he says. “More times than not, we can create a totally new feel by simply rearranging the client’s existing items and adding a few key pieces.” This is what he and his team were able to accomplish for Jim and Joyce Faulkner. “We looked around our house and said, ‘Well it looks like we have everything, but it’s not in the right place,’” says Joyce. “That’s when we knew to call Tom.”

“The Faulkners had wonderful art already,” Tom says. “We rearranged everything except the dining room table and master bed.” Tom’s approach to reworking a home begins with analysis of traffic flow and moves to purposeful furniture groupings and the home’s visual vistas. “I consider the architecture of the Faulkners’ home timeless, and they have great taste, which offered us wonderful items to work with,” he says. “The first thing I considered when placing furniture is traffic flow. This should be the springboard for everything else. Secondly, I focused on crafting areas of purpose that are obvious to people as they enter the room. It should be discernable that there’s a specific area for conversation, a music space, a game space, a bar area, a writing area and whatever else the room calls for.”

Tom then moved on to the details of each of these designated spaces, making sure the design is independently strong. “Each grouping needs appropriate lighting and a usable surface,” he says. “I define this surface as anything flat as long as it would accommodate a scotch on the rocks, a Bible or both.” In the Faulkners’ home, Tom took cues from the fireplace and windows when designating furniture placement. “We concentrate on the vistas provided by the house, and this is really anything that stops the eye,” he says. “A fireplace suggests a primary conversation configuration, and we take care not to obstruct any views from large windows.” Tom’s team was able to create an office space in the master bedroom, casual seating around the fireplace in the den and more formal offerings around the fireplace in the living room. He also took care to place the Faulkners’ works of art in prominent places. “I particularly enjoyed working on this house,” he says. “I enjoyed the people and their beautiful possessions. Their range of fabulous art from paintings to sculptures and accessories presented on pedestals allow for an almost gallery feel, while still being very welcoming and comfortable.” The Faulkners were amazed by their new home. “Everything was perfect,” Joyce says. “We built this house 20 years ago, and many people who come over think we purchased all new furnishings. Re-envisioning a space is truly one of Tom’s talents.”

The Sunset Scene

February 15, 2009 by ark_admin

After purchasing their waterfront home, these homeowners devoted an entire summer to reconfiguring the backyard of their home, located on a serene branch of the Arkansas River. They headed up the work themselves, designing the overall layout of the backyard and even taking care of some of the labor, including installing the steel piers under the deck and pouring the foundation for the family’s prayer bench. “I really enjoy the work,” he says. “I even made the stone tables with the lifting power of five of my friends. I picked out the large slabs of stone, cut them to size and shaved them down.”

With the original space only affording overgrown bushes and a sand burr-filled yard, they focused on making the backyard family friendly, which included adding a fence, a deck, a pool with a patio and a fireplace. “Landscape Specialists installed new sod for us, and Tim Sutterfield of Leslie created all the stonework from the pool surround to the fireplace,” he says. “I sketched what I wanted for the fireplace and he made it happen.” The fireplace doubles as a pizza oven and offers built-in log holders for easy use. “It all turned out great,” he says. “We really enjoy being outside, and with the fireplace, we can be comfortable almost year round. The kids love roasting marshmallows and hot dogs, and we chose comfortable furniture so we can really relax.”

After the months of hard work, the family is now able to enjoy their piece of nature. “The location is perfect,” he says. “We feel like we live in a vacation home, but we’re in town. The kids can fish from the dock, we can easily take our boat out, and we see all kinds of wildlife from deer to bald eagles. One of our favorite things is the sunsets. They are so incredible over the water. It’s a great place to raise a family.”

A Natural Gathering Place

February 15, 2009 by ark_admin

Working with a Fayetteville family in designing their home from the ground up gave interior designer Dixie Pittillo of Shepherd’s Interior Design in Pine Bluff an added advantage when it came time to design the outdoor space. “I drew a lot from the home’s design when we turned our attention to the outdoors,” she says. “They wanted the house to be very open, and with the back side mostly windows, the exterior had to visually blend with the interior.” One reason the homeowners chose to purchase the site was the expansive backyard and views, and Dixie wanted to highlight that in her design.

Dixie collaborated with Seaside Pools in Springdale, Sharum Landscaping and Design in Springdale and Landscape Associates in North Little Rock, to create a large, versatile space centered on spending time with family. “These homeowners are all about family, and I wanted to give them plenty of room to enjoy each other and to entertain,” she says. The pool features an extended shallow end for a game of volleyball, and the hot tub, located closer to the house, is ideal for relaxation.

By building varying levels on the slightly slopping lot, Dixie gave the homeowners various areas that can be used separately or together. “We extended the space surrounding the pool to allow lots of seating room, and we included an outdoor kitchen with stainless-steel countertops, by L&L Metal Fabrication in Springdale, where they can cook and entertain with easy clean up,” she says. “Down the steps from the pool is an open area for sports and games, while the fire pit offers seating around it.” Durability and beauty played a role in choose the furnishings. “We of course wanted the space to be beautiful, but we also wanted the furnishings to withstand kids and lots of use,” Dixie says. “It’s also easy to maneuver and relocate throughout the space, depending on the size of a dinner party or family time on the yard. Flexibility was foremost in my mind for this family.”

Life Outdoors

February 15, 2009 by ark_admin

Family Fun

February 15, 2009 by ark_admin

Margaret McConathy and her daughter Gina Garrett both enjoy getting the most of their El Dorado homes, inside and out. Each of their spectacular yards are neighborhood showplaces and family gathering centers, with pools, outdoor kitchens and all kinds of activities to keep Martha and her husband Denny, Gina, her two sisters and all three husbands, as well as their seven combined children happy. To maintain and develop their gardens, both Margaret and Gina enlisted Dixie Pittman, of Pittman Garden Center in El Dorado.

When Gina and her husband moved into their home, they were attracted by its location. “Our home is right in the heart of town, but it’s on five acres, so we really get the best of both worlds,” she says. However, much of that acreage was not usable for their young family. The Garretts’ first step was to add a pool and to begin taming the landscaping, which included a wide variety of fantastic mature plants that they were able to relocate. “There were so many beautiful hybrid strains that had been planted by the previous owners,” Gina says. “We just had to utilize them.”

Once the basic structure of the yard was in place, the Garretts embarked on an extensive home renovation that also included the addition of a spacious outdoor kitchen. But they were careful to preserve plenty of woods and green space for their three sons to enjoy. “Our house has become the gathering spot for all the neighborhood kids,” Gina says. “There’s plenty of space for baseball, football, whatever they’re into at the moment.” However, for Gina, the best part of the day is enjoying a glass of wine and the scent of verbena in the yard after the boys have gone to bed.

Gina’s mother, Margaret, began her own landscaping project with something of an ulterior motive: creating a resort-like space where her seven grandchildren would clamor to spend time. The hot tub and pool, which includes a wading area and only goes to a depth of five and a half feet, fit the bill perfectly. “We spend a lot of family time out here,” she says. “When we moved in, there was just a little patio back here. We expanded that, put in the pool, and just kept adding more over the years.”

To match their own interests, Margaret and Denny also added a putting green and a complete outdoor kitchen. “But the putting green is for me, because I’m a golf nut, and the outdoor kitchen is all Denny’s, because he loves cooking and it is the family chef,” she says. “We have fish frys and cooking contests between Denny and our three sons-in-law.”

Relaxing amidst the beautiful foliage, including a wide variety of tropical palms and more south Arkansas plants like gardenias, is the McConathys’ favorite pastime, whether they’re reading by the fireplace or enjoying the game on the big screen television. “We’re just backyard people,” Margaret says. “We stay home more than we used to because everything we’d go to a resort for is right here.”

Arkansas Master Gardeners

February 13, 2009 by ark_admin

With Master Gardener programs in 55 counties and nearly 2,500 members, the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is a powerful force in Arkansas, working hard to make many of the state’s public areas more beautiful, while also educating citizens on the intricacies of successful gardening. The program, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary, was established in 1988 in just four counties and has grown exponentially every year. “As county extension offices became smaller, the requests for information did not slow down,” says Janet Carson, extension horticulture specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service and state coordinator for the Master Gardeners. “So the Master Gardener program was implemented to train these interested volunteers to answer others’ questions and promote horticulture.”

To become a Master Gardener, you must complete 40 hours of training in your county or an adjoining county. “We train them in a variety of subjects, including horticulture, soil, irrigation, insects and disease,” Carson says. “There are numerous opportunities each year, and they mostly take place during the fall and winter, when our members can’t get out and garden.” Once training is completed, you’re required to return 40 volunteer hours to the organization by working on gardening projects, planning events, creating presentations or even manning the phones. “A lot of our Pulaski County gardeners answer the hotline at the Master Gardeners office, and they learn so much from researching the questions they get,” Carson says. After the first year, 20 hours of volunteer service are required, with lifetime status achieved after 15 years and advanced classes available for continued education.

Master Gardeners create and maintain landscaping at many non-profit spaces, including courthouses, libraries and even the Old State House, but their mission goes beyond beautifying their surroundings. They also spearhead youth gardening projects and plant therapy in nursing and retirement homes. “The plant-people connection is very strong, and many older people really miss it when they move into assisted living situations,” Carson says. Garden Voice classes are also available in leadership and public relations, teaching the gardeners the fundamental of PowerPoint presentations, graphic design, digital photography and public speaking, enabling them to promote horticulture across the state. “After Garden Voice, the volunteers have a month and a half to create a presentation or flyer or teach a class in their community,” Carson says. “And now we have an amazing library of materials that any chapter in any county can utilize.”

Yearly projects including the state meeting, which brings 500 gardeners to a different spot each year, and the Flower & Garden Show in Little Rock, which is staffed almost entirely by Master Gardener volunteers. A variety of trips are also available to the members, from regional and international meetings to trips abroad and around the country. “We just got back from a trip to New Zealand in celebration of our 20th anniversary, and next year we’re going to Charleston, South Carolina,” Carson says. “Everywhere we go, we meet with the Master Gardeners in that area and get to see lots of private gardens and behind-the-scenes things you wouldn’t be able to see on your own.”

Though many Master Gardeners are retired, the group becomes more diverse every year, with men and women from all walks of life participating. “The youngest ever was 13, but every county’s membership is a little bit different,” Carson says. To become a Master Gardener, call your local county extension office and ask about their program, or one in an adjoining county. After completing an application and interview process, you’re ready for training, and the opportunity to strengthen community bonds and beautify your own neighborhood.

Around the Color Wheel

Spatial Recognition

A Livable Space

Glam It Up

A Gallery of Design

The Sunset Scene

A Natural Gathering Place

Life Outdoors

Family Fun

Arkansas Master Gardeners

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