Creating a Legacy

March 26, 2014 by ark_admin

In celebration of its centennial year, the university of Arkansas’ chapter of Tri Delta enlisted an alumna to give its historic house a fresh new look

When the women of Delta Delta Delta at the University of Arkansas were ready to give their chapter house—an expansive 1931 Tudor-style structure—a new look, they called on Rogers-based designer Melissa Haynes to attend a House Corporation meeting. As a chapter alumna and owner of MH Design, Haynes was eager to see what the committee, which is charged with making regular updates to the décor of the house based on the chapter’s needs, would be discussing. The house had not undergone a full-scale redecoration in several decades, and because of the chapter’s rapid growth, the common spaces were in need of both a new look and a fuctionality update.

“After the initial meeting, I turned to my husband and said, ‘could you imagine me decorating by committee!?’ He reminded me that I had said over and over again that one day I would redecorate the Tri Delta house. I just never imagined that it would happen this soon,” recalls Haynes. She was soon offered the opportunity to infuse the house with her signature sophisticated look, with the stipulation that it be completed in time for the start of fall recruitment in just ten weeks.

“It’s always a challenge to put something together on a tight timeline,” says Haynes. “The amount of help and support we received over those weeks from so many Tri Delta women was truly amazing and appreciated. Pledge classes, alumnae, and House Corp members all pitched in many different ways.”

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The Heritage House

March 26, 2014 by ark_admin

On a countryside estate just outside of Little Rock, designer Barbi Rushing creates an heirloom-infused setting for the home and garden she shares with her husband

If antiques could talk, Barbi and Nolan Rushing’s home would have quite the story to tell. The moment you walk through the front door, you are greeted with a sampling of the home’s historic furnishings and elegant works of art, along with traditional fabrics and a soothing palette that seem to complement every piece. Continue to wind your way through the new construction home, which they refer to as Deer Lake, and you’ll soon figure out every piece is not only beautiful, but also meaningful.

Barbi, who owns Barbi Rushing Interiors, has curated the furnishings of each room of the home through the years. She inherited a number of her grandmother’s antiques including everything from furniture to artwork and accessories. “There is a lot of French heritage in my family. My grandmother’s maiden name was Gillette [which is of French origin] and she lived in a beautiful French home in the Heights,” relates Barbi. These much beloved pieces create the basis of the home’s style, which has a strong European influence.

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The Gathering Place

February 18, 2014 by ark_admin

When a natural courtyard emerged from a home renovation project, a Little Rock couple took the hint and created a private backyard escape.

There is nothing more tempting than the thought of relaxing outside on a beautiful day, sipping a cocktail and nibbling on a few tasty appetizers, all the while chatting with good friends. For Sheb and Danny Fisher this was not the initial vision they had when they began a home renovation project to better accommodate their family. However, as the footprint of the home fell into place, they realized they had created the ideal backyard patio for casual gatherings and quiet nights alone.

Before the renovation, a narrow driveway, an old deck and a small grassy area were all that comprised their backyard. As the remodel progressed, a courtyard area emerged as a natural extension of the house. There were essentially three wings of the house—the kitchen, the master bedroom and a newly constructed guesthouse—that had come together, each with French doors all opening to the one very private, yet shared space. It seemed like a natural fit for a courtyard to the Fishers. However, there was one concern that remained a mystery. “I couldn’t figure out how to get it all on the same level to tie everything together. I knew I didn’t want to walk down four steps any time I went out one of the doors,” says Sheb.

Chris Milligan, who at the time worked with Creative Heights Partners, was working on a renovation of the couple’s kitchen and it only seemed natural for him to lend his expertise to the patio’s design as well. Milligan elevated the entire area to create a natural flow of living space between the three areas. “To make the transition between the new kitchen I designed, the master suite that they currently had and the guesthouse, we had to raise the level of the ground up so you could walk out of each one of those spaces onto a nice flagstone patio area,” explains Milligan.

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Enchanted Estate

February 17, 2014 by ark_admin

In the midst of a bustling Little Rock neighborhood, a lush terraced landscape offers a retreat for family and friends alike.

When a young Little Rock family set out to update the outdoor living area of their Hillcrest-area home, they had three main goals in mind. For starters, they wanted to transform the home’s landscape into functional and cozy outdoor living spaces they would be apt to use. Second, it was equally important these spaces flow together to create connected entertaining areas to accommodate large groups. And finally, with two middle-school-age children living under the roof, it had to be practical and allow for play.

With this clearly marked roadmap in mind, landscape designer Chris Olsen along with Garry Mertins, who designed the interiors of the family’s home, set out to make the dream a reality. Working with the natural charm of the English Tudor style home, Mertins designed a terraced plan, designating areas for entertaining, gathering and relaxing. Starting at the front door and carrying all the way to the home’s pool, each level spills over with a sense of inviting enchantment.

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A Haute Outdoor Retreat

February 13, 2014 by ark_admin

Inspired by cosmopolitan hotels and the interior palette of this Fayetteville residence, designer Tobi Fairley adds vitality and comfort to an often-used outdoor area

Five years after the completion of the interior design work in a sophisticated Northwest Arkansas home, Tobi Fairley returned to a former project to bring her signature bold and tailored style to the outdoor spaces. “The homeowners wanted an area to use for large family gatherings, as well as smaller groups, like their children and grandchildren,” she explains.

To achieve harmony in the space, the family asked Fairley to work with Carolyn Lindsey of Yeary Lindsey Architects to make better use of the structures around the home’s existing pool. A trellis was replaced with a cabana and additional usable square footage was added to the existing pool house. She didn’t skimp on convenience on either, including a full-scale outdoor kitchen as well as multiple seating and lounge areas in the design.

Not only did the pool and patio area need to be fuctional, but the homeowners desired an outdoor space that reflected their interior décor. Known for her vivid patterns and bright punches of color, Fairley dove into the project with a clear vision for a refreshing outdoor escape. Inspired by the chic, boutique hotel pools the homeowners have visited around the world, she envisioned classic black-and-white stripes alongside more subdued elements that complement the interior of the home. “We took color cues from inside the home, which is done in layers of aqua, light blue and steel gray and accented with orange tones from pumpkin to cinnamon,” says Fairley. “Outside, we ramped up the volume on that palette.” The combination of aqua, orange, black and white is “edgy and fun,” says Fairley, who describes the homeowners as sophisticated and chic. “Their style—and mine—unites very clean furniture lines and tailoring with dynamic and bold uses of texture, pattern and color,” she adds.

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Call for Submissions

February 13, 2014 by ark_admin

This contest is now closed for submissions. And the winner of the DK Design exterior revamp is…Tricia Gentry of Little Rock! Thank you to all who entered the contest and all who shared the call for submissions. STAY TUNED to see the reveal of the makeover in our August 2014 issue!

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Official Rules

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Inspired by Nature

January 6, 2014 by ark_admin

Taggart Design Group creates an architectural work of art that also highlights the home’s natural surroundings

Burt Taggart, Jr. approaches a new home’s design much the way an artist approaches a blank canvas. “For me it always starts with walking the land and letting the land suggest how it should be developed,” says the celebrated central Arkansas architect who co-owns Taggart Design Group with his son, Burt Taggart, III.

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Relaxed Refinement

January 6, 2014 by ark_admin

A house with brilliant river views gets a polished old-world makeover

High on a bluff overlooking the Arkansas River in Little Rock, designers Scott Paterek and Tammie Weaver of Massimo Interior Design turned a home into a little slice of Europe. After the home’s reconstruction, the central Arkansas-based design team was brought in for what the homeowner calls “phase II,” the interiors of the home. Paterek and Weaver took inventory of the homeowner’s collection of antiques and set to work to create an elegant, yet relaxed space for family and friends.

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WEB EXCLUSIVE: Eat, Drink and Be Merry

November 26, 2013 by ark_admin

An empty nester redesigns her home’s kitchen to be fit for the bustle of holiday entertaining

At Home in Arkansas: We hear you are always on the go—how do you spend the holidays?

Homeowner Julie Roetzel: We’ll travel any time of the year—except Christmas! Around this time, our favorite thing is to stay home and entertain. We love hosting gatherings with our three grown daughters and their families as well as extended family members and friends throughout the season.

I bet they all look forward to seeing you and to your cooking.

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All the Comforts of Christmas

November 15, 2013 by ark_admin

Warm and welcoming spaces along with personalized accents create an inspiring family home in Little Rock

Inviting spaces, clean lines and uncomplicated patterns were just what this Little Rock family was looking for when they decided to refresh their home’s décor to reflect their casual lifestyle. “A less is more approach was what the client had in mind for the home’s design and seasonal décor,” says Jennifer Huett, interior designer and owner of Hot Springs’ House to Home. Huett, who worked on multiple rooms in the home as well as the holiday décor, was inspired by the family’s children—“they are so full of life,” she says—as well as the clients’ love of color, especially turquoise.

Using these cues, she started the home’s makeover with the teenage daughter’s bedroom. “All girls seem to start out with sweet pink rooms with lace, and then when they become teenagers they are ready for something a bit more grown-up,” explains Huett. Two pop-art-style canvases became the color inspiration for the bold space. From there, Huett mixed vivid shades of orange with a brilliant turquoise throughout the room, even finding the perfect Stray Dog Designs chandelier to complement the hues. Knowing that a place for “girl talk” was a top priority for teens, Huett included a velvet settee as well as an armchair to offer plenty of space for friends to hangout and chat. To add holiday flair, a tinsel tree—which is also a nod to the room’s mod undertones—provides holiday cheer without overwhelming the space.

Not to be overshadowed by his older sister, the client’s son was also eager to have a new personalized space. “We wanted to come up with something just as awesome for his room and the ‘Gage’ sign was perfect. He actually jumped up and down on the bed in excitement the first time he saw it,” laughs Huett. In juxtaposition to the bright lights, a simple pine tree and a pair of sweater-cable cone trees add just a hint of Christmas to his room.

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Creating a Legacy

The Heritage House

The Gathering Place

Enchanted Estate

A Haute Outdoor Retreat

Call for Submissions

Inspired by Nature

Relaxed Refinement

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Eat, Drink and Be Merry

All the Comforts of Christmas

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