A Fort Smith man calls on trusted professionals to create a country getaway that’s anything but rustic

The West Camp is where Steve Clark hangs his hat when he needs a change of pace. Located outside Fort Smith on approximately 2,000 acres, the cabin and its outdoor living spaces have quickly become a restorative retreat. “There’s no television, and that’s intentional. I like to be fully present,” he says. “It’s so quiet out here; you forget how noisy it can be in town. It’s incredibly relaxing.”

Considering its modern amenities and inviting living spaces indoors and out, it might be hard to believe this house is a century old. While Steve has been coming to the land for years, he decided it was time for an overhaul that would turn this old farmhouse—which was once home to the ranch’s cattle manager—into an overnight destination, and he called on Daniel Keeley of DK Design as well as Carrington Creek Homes to lead the transformation. Chase Smallwood, who had worked with Steve through his role at Carrington Creek Homes on past projects, served as interior designer for the project. “The directive was to modernize it in a way that would still lend itself to the history of the home,” Steve says. The contractor maintained the cabin’s integrity by staying within its original footprint while maximizing space; this involved gutting and rearranging the kitchen, turning a wasted hallway into a Jack-and-Jill bath, and building custom bunk beds to accommodate Steve’s grown children and their spouses. “Overall, he wanted it to feel warm and furnished, but not overcrowded, so we kept everything pretty simple while using richer tones and texture for interest,” Chase says.

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