MLH Designs helps a nature-loving couple design a contemporary dream home on the banks of the Arkansas River

Look around the home of Catherine and Dr. John Sims in North Little Rock and you’ll notice nods to nature everywhere. The biggest, of course, is the view outside of the Arkansas River. In fact, seeing this lot in the city’s Rockwater community was one of the couple’s biggest motivators to build rather than buy when relocating from Manhattan back to their home state. “We were moving from the city, and a home in the suburbs just didn’t feel right,” Catherine says. With its proximity to Argenta and downtown Little Rock as well as trails and a view of the river, this location hit the perfect balance of city living and natural appeal.

When she started finding inspiration photos that reflected her and John’s “organic modern” style, Catherine realized how much their time in Bali had influenced their look. “We love to travel internationally, and we typically end up in Asia,” she says. “Before moving back to Arkansas we spent a month in Indonesia. The style in Bali is very neutral with cool tones and warm woods. There’s tons of windows and everything is very sparse, very natural.” Recognizing the calming effect this simplified, contemporary aesthetic had on them—especially amid hectic lifestyles and now with 5-month-old daughter, Aspen, in tow—she set out to incorporate many of those same elements into their new build. “We couldn’t have a totally open-air house like you would in Asia, but we wanted that feel,” she says. “The view outside here is changing all the time. It’s beautiful every season of the year; it’s like art.”…

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