The Goal:
Transform their outdated master bathroom into a functional and relaxing retreat. “It had a small shower, country blue whirlpool tub and the original plush carpet,” Anita says. “Our goal was to make it not only a sanctuary for evenings, but also an enjoyable place for getting ready in the morning.”
What they did:
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When architect Chip Chambers and his wife Susan designed a second home on Bella Vista’s Lake Windsor, they envisioned a simple yet functional kitchen with an easy-to-use layout. “We knew we wanted it to be open, bright and cheery,” says Chambers. The end result is a breakfast room positioned to take advantage of stunning lake views, and a kitchen that hosts numerous family functions.
Chambers’ philosophy on remodeling or building a kitchen is simple: “You start with something to hang your hat on, one design element you know you must have.” And whether it’s a specific color or must-have appliance, he recommends designing the rest of the room around it. “The most successful kitchens have no more than two to three main elements that keep things harmonious,” he explains.
He and Susan began the kitchen project by adhering to their motto and choosing their main element, the cabinetry, first. “We knew from the beginning that we wanted crisp, white cabinets with a simple style, so that was our jumping off point,” Chambers notes. The island, the kitchen’s second main element, required experimentation. In an effort to add character and distinction from the surrounding cabinetry, they decided to stain it and sampled a wide variety of colors. They decided on a watery blue shade to complement the home’s lakeside location.
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Basic and boring. Those are two of the terms that John and Susan Gauch relayed to interior designer Andrea Cornwell, ASID, when describing the master bathroom suite in their recently purchased Fayetteville home. Though the house was less than a decade old, the room’s beige walls and brown woodwork felt lackluster to the Gauches, and they sought Cornwell’s help in personalizing the space. “Making it lighter and airier, feminine but not fussy, were top priorities,” notes Susan, who sought a more soothing and inspiring retreat.
Cornwell assessed the suite’s strengths—a large window, a durable porcelain tile floor, plus a spacious floor plan with his-and-her vanity areas separated by a walk-in shower—and devised a plan for keeping those elements intact while updating the space with color, texture and spa-like fixtures. “We chose a subtle color palette of blue, beige and amber,” says Cornwell, “using relaxing shades that lighten the room.”
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As a young girl helping her mother prepare meals in the kitchen of her family’s new home in Little Rock’s Heights neighborhood, Jane Fraiser could hardly have imagined that she would one day stand in the same space and cook with her own grandchildren. Yet six decades later, that’s exactly what happens on a regular basis, as Jane and her husband, Dr. Lacy Fraiser, welcome their children and their two grandsons into the 1947 cottage that has always remained in Jane’s family.
Lifelong Little Rock residents, the Fraisers opted to return to Jane’s childhood home as empty-nesters, enticed by the cottage’s manageable size and friendly neighborhood. Less enticing, however, was its near-original-condition kitchen, which contained a tiny cooking area and a utility room. “We knew we’d have to renovate the kitchen into a more usable area if this house was going to work for us,” says Jane. “It was so small and closed off from the other rooms, and we envisioned an open space where we could all be together.”
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“Make yourself at home. Here’s a glass, grab a plate, and help yourself,” says Lyn Edge. “That’s the feeling I wanted this kitchen to convey to everyone who enters.” A busy grandmother who tends her 4- and 7-year-old granddaughters each day, Lyn needed an open space where family and friends could easily pitch in and where she wouldn’t be closed off from the living areas. What she and her husband, Dr. Otis Edge, began with in their 1930s-era home in Little Rock’s Hillcrest neighborhood, however, was the exact opposite.
Interested in relocating from West Little Rock to the Hillcrest area to be closer to their family, the Edges found a 2,000-square-foot bungalow that seemed a good fit for their needs. While the size and locale were appealing, the kitchen was a disaster. “There were two small cooking and pantry sections, a bathroom, and a screened porch alongside them with a floor that was caving in,” says Lyn. “My jaw dropped when I saw it.”
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We posted the SOS on our Facebook page: Seeking a boring bathroom, a space we could spice up with paint and fabric. Will offer designer suggestions for a colorful makeover.
Candidates quickly sent in photos of their rescue-ready baths, and our color expert, El Dorado-based interior designer Andrea Brooks, selected the master bathroom in Betsy Orr’s Rogers residence as an ideal candidate.
Since Betsy’s bath features both a soaking tub and a freestanding shower, Brooks choose a spa-inspired look. She opted for a color palette of blues, greens and purples, “all known for their passive natures, calming our nerves as well as lifting our spirits,” says Brooks.
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Old world is a term that comes up often in Bruce and Joan Johnson’s line of work. As owners of Fayetteville-based White River Hardwoods, a company known for its embellished moldings and hand-carved architectural elements, understanding classical design is an essential part of their business. To acquire this old world authenticity, the couple frequently travels to Europe—touring, studying and seeking inspiration. Eventually, after years of visiting castles and centuries-old manors, they were inspired to bring the look back home.
“We’d see these castles in mountain towns in Europe, built of natural stone and tucked into the hillside, and that seemed possible to accomplish here in the Ozarks,” says Joan. She and Bruce purchased acreage on a mountainside near Fayetteville and constructed the European-style manor house of their dreams.
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Of the many things Connie and Larry Gulick loved about their early 1900s home in Russellville, the kitchen was definitely not one of them. A small room that had last been updated in the 1970s, their old kitchen had appliances and an avocado green color that were sorely outdated. And it lacked room for a dishwasher altogether, leaving Connie with the arduous task of hand washing plates after get-togethers with family and friends.
While the Gulicks’ desired a more efficient kitchen, they also hoped to create a space that would blend with the Colonial-style of their home. “I wanted it to look like it was always part of the house, not like it was a new kitchen with old cabinets,” Connie explains. The couple opted to add on, designing a long, rectangular kitchen with ample spaces for both cooking and dining, and including a fireplace as a gathering spot for friends and family. To execute their plan, they hired a contractor to put up the framework and then took on the task of finishing out the space. “We are total do-it-yourselfers,” says Connie.
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On most evenings a crowd can be found in Dave and Stacy Grundfest’s Little Rock kitchen. While their 18-year-old son and his buddies rummage through the pantry looking for snacks, their 14-year-old daughter and her friends sit on barstools at the counter and do their homework. Meanwhile, Stacy and Dave wander through the room, prepping dinner at the island, sautéing at the stove and eventually serving dinner to the remaining gang.
But these kinds of daily interactions weren’t always so easy. When Dave, a commercial general contractor, and Stacy built their home 15 years ago, they opted for a bungalow-style interior with smaller, more separated rooms. Though they loved their home’s Craftsman styling, as their family grew the kitchen area in particular began to feel cramped.
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Jennifer Lewis can honestly say that she spends most of her time in the kitchen. As a mother of two, avid entertainer of family and friends and a cooking instructor who runs her business, Fresh and Fabulous Entertaining, from her own home, prepping food and preparing meals are continuous daily activities.
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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.