Project Provence

September 21, 2009 by ark_admin

When interior designer Kim Brockinton and her husband decided to build a home in Little Rock’s Heights neighborhood, she envisioned a space befitting of the villages she had visited on trips to the French countryside. “I wanted to make certain this house had a real sense of authenticity,” Brockinton explains, “as though it had been transported right from a small town in the Provence region of France.” She also wanted to have ample space to entertain large groups, including her two then-teenage children and their friends, while still maintaining a sense of charm. “Now that we’re empty nesters, it’s not overwhelming for two people,” she says. And while it’s comfortable for a dinner party of 10 or 12, the residence has just as easily accommodated large house parties of 100 people.

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Classical Cooking

August 19, 2009 by ark_admin

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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Built from Scratch

August 19, 2009 by ark_admin

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that had last been updated in the 1970s, their old kitchen had appliances and an avocado green color that were sorely outdated.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.

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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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Colorfully Craftsman

August 19, 2009 by ark_admin

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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Going for Baroque

August 19, 2009 by ark_admin

A Little Rock couple faced a design dilemma when outfitting the master bathroom in their downtown high-rise condominium. While they enjoyed the panoramic views of the Arkansas River, Clinton Presidential Library and city skyline from the room’s expansive windows, they also wanted to maintain a sense of privacy. Similarly, though the space had modern lines, they were interested in creating the kind of luxurious retreat they had enjoyed during hotel stays in Paris. So they turned to interior designer Bill Beringer for assistance in creating a space that emphasizes the view within an elegant and relaxing setting.

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Table Service

August 18, 2009 by ark_admin

“It was summer, and I knew juicy, ripe Arkansas tomatoes were out there,” says Shane Henderson, a Little Rock chef. “Only problem was, I wasn’t sure where to go to get 20 pounds of them.”

Henderson and other area chefs found a resource to fill that gap with the newly formed Farm to Chef Network, part of the Certified Arkansas Farmers Market program which currently hosts outdoor markets in North Little Rock, Hot Springs and Searcy as well as an on-line sales component. Begun by Jody Hardin, a fifth-generation farmer at Hardin Farm in Grady, the network pairs a chef or restaurant with a local farmer with the goal of matching what the farm produces with a part of the chef’s menu.

“It gives me the chance to sit down with a farmer and talk about what we’d like to serve,” says Henderson. “We both come away better informed about what’s being produced or might be desired, the quantities, availability and timing.”

The program covers a range of food sources, from produce to livestock, a concept that Hardin believes can help bridge the gap in the local food movement and put Arkansas chefs and farmers on the cutting edge. For diners, the outcome is better access to the freshest seasonal foods, and restaurants participating in the program can showcase their involvement on their menus.

“Ultimately, we hope that this will dramatically increase commerce for our local farmers,” says Henderson, “and provide customers with high-quality dining experiences.”

Farm to Chef Network Members:
Jason Godwin, Simply the Best Catering, North Little Rock
Shane Henderson, Argenta Market, North Little Rock
Scott McGehee, Boulevard Bread Company, ZaZa, Little Rock
Lee Richardson, Capital Hotel, Little Rock
For updated listings, visit www.arkansasfood.net/chef.php

Farm to Table Recipes from Chef Shane Henderson

The first two recipes are for a Saturday night get-together, the last is for breakfast the next morning, and all feature produce you can find this fall at Arkansas farmers markets.

Sweet Potato Soup
Apple Salad
Butternut Squash Pancakes

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Nursery Suite

July 28, 2009 by ark_admin

Eden Moody may be only 17 months old, but she’s already developed an appreciation for original art. “We’ll peek in her room and find her awake in her crib, looking at the painted ceiling,” says her mother, Angela, which is just what she and her husband, Edward, had in mind when they envisioned Eden’s nursery.

Seeking a space that would soothe the senses, Angela began by giving the walls a soft, old-world finish. A duo of Hot Springs-based artisans took on the transformation, with Spring Cottage Designs applying a pearl-finish paint treatment to the walls to add a subtle sheen and painter Eric Maurus following with a cherub-inspired mural on the ceiling. “Something peaceful for Eden to gaze up at was our goal,” says Angela. “Plus it was important that her nursery fit with the rest of our house, which has European influences.”

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Family-Style Cooking

July 28, 2009 by ark_admin

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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Bella’s Ballroom

July 27, 2009 by ark_admin

Creating bedrooms for her twin son and daughter that were unique yet equally inviting was the top priority when graphic designer Sandra Marbaise, co-owner of Little Rock-based SanLori Invitations, and her family moved into their Heights home. As inspiration, she looked to each child’s favorite activities.

For Isabella’s room, Sandra envisioned a space where her daughter could play dress-up and make-believe with her favorite stuffed animals and dolls. From that starting point, the room’s color palette followed easily. “I love pink and green together, they’re happy and festive,” she says. She painted the walls green and the ceiling pink and then repeated the combination in the bedding, mixing in green and white toile fabric “to give it a little bit of an elegant edge,” she says.

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Ethan’s Escape

July 27, 2009 by ark_admin

In contrast to daughter Isabella’s dress-up inspired room, graphic designer Sandra Marbaise had a maritime theme in mind for her son Ethan’s space. “My husband grew up with this great love of the ocean and fishing, and that became our starting point,” she says.

Coastal vacations are a family favorite and the Marbaises have taken their seven-year-old twins to Nantucket three times. “The painting of the boat is from Nantucket and the map up on the wall is of that area,” she says. The sailboats around Ethan’s room are from the family’s travels to the beaches of Brittany in the west of France.

Artist Andrea Trieschmann added the flags and captain’s wheel over Ethan’s bed. “The nautical theme was already established, but Andrea came in with some wonderful touches,” Sandra says. Polished oak furnishings and an extra-deep armchair, designed as a cozy reading nook, completed the nautical retreat. “Now Ethan has a room that reflects his love of the water and fishing, things that his daddy loves so much too,” she says.

Freelance writer and Little Rock native Emily Benton Ryan is a recent Baylor University graduate.

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Project Provence

Classical Cooking

Built from Scratch

Colorfully Craftsman

Going for Baroque

Table Service

Nursery Suite

Family-Style Cooking

Bella’s Ballroom

Ethan’s Escape

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