Inspiring your Home and Lifestyle
Designer Jill Lawrence builds an abode where the amenities and style of a luxury hotel meet the personalization of a cherished home
Little Rock designer Jill Lawrence had been drawing a “someday” house for years. Thinking she and her husband, Frank, would pull the trigger on a move when their daughter left for college in 2022, she was steadily dreaming and taking her time to finish the plans. Then came the market rush of 2020 and the process began to move more quickly.
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A Little Rock designer gives her own 1930s cottage practical updates with a punch of personality
When designer Jill White first walked into this two bed, two bath cottage in Little Rock’s Heights neighborhood, she knew it was just what she needed. “It was literally the perfect size for me and little Stella,” she says, “little Stella” being her 10-year-old daughter. “You can stand in the middle and see every room in the house. We didn’t need anything bigger.” The only drawback? The residence would need some major love to truly fit their needs and style.…
Designer Andie Anderson transforms a portion of her home’s primary bedroom into a dreamy bath
For Andie Anderson, the chance to be her own client was both a challenge and an opportunity to design with free rein. “Designing for yourself is tricky; you know what you love yet there are so many options,” she says. Having graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design and worked with Northwest Arkansas-based Ashley Cardiel Interiors for the past four years, she found unlimited creative freedom in the primary bath of the home she shares with her husband, Will. “It felt like I was finally having a chance to have full control over my project,” the Fayetteville native says, noting she did put all the usual client practices in place, even measuring herself for the tub.…
Designer Carrie Kidd brings a pastel palette and preppy sensibility to the heart of a Little Rock home
Step into this kitchen and living room in Little Rock’s Heights neighborhood and you’ll find no shortage of eye candy. From whimsical lighting to a playful mix of light-hued patterns, every detail feels as happy and refined as the people who call the space home—all thanks to a recent refresh completed by their friend Carrie Kidd. “We have six kids and raised a family here, with little hands everywhere,” the homeowner says. “It was well lived in and time to change a few things and bring in a more modern look.”…
Larry West helps the owners of Duke Custom Cabinets bring vitality to their central Arkansas new build
As the owners of Duke Custom Cabinets, Rhiannon and Doug Duke have had the opportunity to work with numerous local designers on one-of-a-kind cabinetry for their clients’ homes. That was one of the reasons designer Larry West felt honored when the couple asked him to help bring style to their new construction home. “Doug and I have always had a great relationship, and he has worked on some favorite houses,” Larry says.
Knowing the residence would also function as a showpiece of his work, Doug was especially thoughtful about selections. “I took some time designing this house,” he says, noting he enjoys that process as much as crafting the pieces, which include everything from doors and millwork to traditional cabinetry. “We make everything from scratch, and I try to bring some customers over to let them see how the final product will look and to show them different door styles,” he adds.
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Designers Kymberlyn Lacy and Jessica Bernard pair up to turn a 1990s bath into a modern-day retreat
For designers Jessica Bernard and Kymberlyn Lacy, the 2020 Arkansas Symphony Designer House proved to be more than an opportunity to showcase their talents; it was the start of two new working relationships. “That was our first project to do collaboratively, and we worked really well together,” Jessica says of the bath renovation in the property’s guesthouse. Not only did the pair discover their love of working with each other, they also caught the eye of future client Lisa Hayes, who was touring the residence.
Wanting to update her home’s primary bath, Lisa reached out to Kymberlyn and Jessica to see if they could create a similar look in her space, which had remained untouched since she and her husband, John, built the house in 1995. “It was kind of like walking into a time capsule,” Lisa says. Drawn to the “clean and calm” aesthetic the duo had given the show house project, Lisa says she “felt very at ease in the bath they created, and I wanted that.”…
Space reconfiguration and color infusion result in an attractive, livable hub for a pair of Little Rock empty nesters
With their kids grown and out on their own, this Little Rock couple was ready to downsize. After finding a home in a gated POA community, Realtor Brandy Harp recommended calling designer Heather Krijt to update its look, maximize the common spaces, and make them function at peak for everyday use as well as when their children and grandchildren visit.
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Employing transitional style with a coastal flair, designer Ashley Brewer helps a Marion family get the most from their home
When Brittney and Alex Dean bought their home in Marion eight years ago, they knew they’d found the one. “We loved the bones, the size for just starting a family, and the location,” Brittney says, noting both its proximity to nearby Memphis and friends in the neighborhood. However, the house seemed to shrink as their two children reached late elementary school, prompting the desire for more space without making a move. In 2020, as the family found themselves together more than ever, they decided it was time for changes that would make the most of their cherished home. Enter Ashley Brewer, a longtime friend who had recently launched her interior design business….
Maggie and Blake Chism embrace family life in a west Little Rock home that’s equal parts style and substance
After five years spent completing a medical residency and fellowship, Maggie and Blake Chism were ready to return to the Natural State. “We had lived in Memphis and, most recently, in Baltimore in a two-bedroom apartment with our three young children,” Maggie explains.With the light of a job for Blake in Little Rock at the end of the tunnel, the Chisms began the hunt for a home for their family of five.
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After learning they would be grandparents times two, a Little Rock couple creates a colorful, comfortable nursery fit for twins
When Leslie and Joey Wiggins learned their son and daughter-in-law, Blake and Courtney, were expecting twin boys, they knew they needed to make a move—to the couple’s neighborhood, to be exact. “Like most people, we are very family oriented and wanted to be close by to help and to watch them grow,” Joey says.
As luck would have it, they were able to find a home under construction that backed up to the soon-to-be parents’ property. They called on designer Jill Lawrence, whom they had worked with on their previous home, to personalize the space and create a dream nursery.
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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.