Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Chip Jones |
A West Little Rock family tackles a home addition and style update with the help of a team of local professionals
In 2002, when this couple built their dream home, they were a family of three. Thirteen years later, they are now a party of five with two teenage sons and a young, school-age daughter. Needless to say, things had changed, and it was time for their home to follow suit in order to better meet their current needs.
Expansion Team
Putting first things first, the family began by assessing their need for additional square footage. “We needed a bigger space for our kids to hang out and wanted them to have a separate den for when friends come over to play,” says the homeowner of their initial motivation for the project. Additionally, all four of the bedrooms were upstairs, so while everyone did have their own space, there was no place for overnight guests to stay. Working with Dwellings, Inc., they drafted a plan that transformed the existing garage into a part of the home’s livable interior space and included a master bedroom and bath addition, freeing up one of the upstairs bedrooms for use by houseguests. The reconfiguration also allowed for a larger, more open kitchen that now flows from workspace to dining area to a small living area. To masterfully execute the new plans, the family turned to homebuilder Richard Harp, who was charged with merging the existing home with the renovation to create a seamless structure. “Doing an addition or remodel can be harder than building a new construction home, because you don’t know what sort of obstacles you will run into within the existing home,” notes Harp, who was up for the challenge. “We didn’t want anyone to know where the old home stops and the new portion starts; that’s the true sign of success,” he adds.
The home’s interior design and its furnishings were also a major consideration from the start. Conscious of their evolving personal style and eager to put a fresh spin on the furniture, fixtures, and finishes throughout the home, the homeowners met with interior designer Krista Lewis of K. Lewis Interior Design. She worked with them to “tweak the plans” and offer ideas that would help with traffic flow and everyday comfort. Lewis, who grew up in North Little Rock with the homeowner and was also her sorority sister at the University of Arkansas, was thrilled to work with her friend, and knew the larger home could still adhere to a cozy design scheme that reflects the family’s distinctive style.
A Marriage of Styles
Two main styles emerged as favorite looks for the homeowner, Lewis says; “She wanted things to be a little more contemporary but mixed with a rustic style.” The result is a space that’s warm and inviting, with fresh and youthful accents. This juxtaposition shows up in the base elements of the design—including the cabinetry, hardware, and light fixtures—and is further amplified in the home’s furnishings and accessories. For example, in the master bath, dark wood cabinetry stands in contrast to the light, marble-look tile, modern light fixtures, and chrome hardware. The same is true of the kitchen where a dark, wood-grain island takes center stage amidst white wall cabinetry, natural quartzite countertops (in “Taj Mahal”), and polished brass hardware and fixtures. “I love that [the quartzite] has grey but also has warm veins in the design. It’s light like a marble, but very durable—which is why we chose it,” Lewis says of the countertops. In the dining room, there’s a slightly more formal air, yet the same aura of warmth and hospitality prevail. The orange color palette started with a painting the owners had, and the piece is now a focal point in the room, hanging prominently over the buffet. “Orange is my color—so I love it,” adds Lewis. The formality of the silk drapes is paired with the familiarity of a wood table that was an existing piece in the home and rustic pottery pieces that accent the artwork. “This room feels very Southern to me,” Lewis says of the collected-over-time look.
The exterior of the home was also in need of a refresh to match the interior’s cozy, rustic vibe. “When we originally built the home it had more of a Tuscan exterior, but I wanted it to have the look of an older, more traditional home that had been in place for years,” the homeowner says. Stonework was added to the stucco exterior around the front entrance and sides of the home to create a woodsy, natural look and to add to the amiable welcome guests will feel upon arrival.
Comfortable & Classic
While gaining square footage was the premise of the renovation, comfort and functionality were still at the forefront of the plans.In the kitchen, the central island allows for traffic flow to the laundry room on one side and to the den on the opposite, making it a true activity hub. The room’s former dining table was relocated to the new den to provide a place for games and snacks, and a larger version that more comfortably seats the family now stands in its place.
Fabrics that are family- and dog-friendly were a must when it came to furnishings. The chairs around the tables in both the kitchen and dining room, as well as the two club chairs in the den, are covered in durable, easy-to-clean leather. “There’s a lot of leather throughout the home, which really adds to that rustic feel they wanted,” Lewis notes. The large sectional in the den is covered in a striated velvet fabric that seems to invite afternoon naps, while layered rugs offer plushness underfoot. “She has such great taste,” Lewis says of the homeowner. “She really brought so much to this project, and we were able to use a lot of pieces they already had,” she adds—proving it is possible to reinvent your home without sacrificing your style, your comfort, or—most importantly—the pieces you love.
Design Resources
Architectural design Chris Milligan, Dwellings, Inc., Little Rock, (501) 831-0729, dwellings-ar.com
Contractor Richard Harp, Richard Harp Homes, Little Rock, (501) 821-4646, richardharphomes.com
Interior design Krista Lewis, K. Lewis Interior Design, Little Rock, (501) 952-6952, klewisinteriordesign.com
Landscape design Better Lawns & Gardens, Little Rock, (501) 454-9803, betterlawnsar.com
Accessories Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock, (501) 664-4249, West Little Rock, (501) 219-3676, cobblestoneandvine.com; Emporium Home Heights, Little Rock, (501) 313-2418, emporiumhome.com; K. Lewis Interior Design, Little Rock, (501) 952-6952, klewisinteriordesign.com; Marshall Clements, Little Rock, (501) 663-1828, West Little Rock, (501) 954-7900, marshallclements.com
Appliances Metro Appliances & More, Jonesboro, (870) 933-7800, North Little Rock, (501) 758-1988, Springdale, (479) 750-2200, metroappliancesandmore.com
Art Emporium Home Heights, Little Rock, (501) 313-2418, emporiumhome.com; Phoenix Interiors, Little Rock, (501) 225-0400
Bedding Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock, (501) 664-4249, West Little Rock, (501) 219-3676, cobblestoneandvine.com; Pottery Barn, Little Rock, (501) 663-0181, Rogers, (479) 246-0118, potterybarn.com
Countertops A-1 Granite Man, Maumelle, (501) 753-9696, a1graniteman.biz
Fabrics, hardware—drapery, lighting, and wallpaper K. Lewis Interior Design, Little Rock, (501) 952-6952, klewisinteriordesign.com
Flooring and tile ProSource, North Little Rock, (501) 758-0801, prosourcewholesale.com/littlerock
Furniture Cantrell Furniture Design Center, Little Rock, (501) 225-0002, cantrellfurniture.com; Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock, (501) 664-4249, West Little Rock, (501) 219-3676, cobblestoneandvine.com; K. Lewis Interior Design, Little Rock, (501) 952-6952, klewisinteriordesign.com; Marshall Clements, Little Rock, (501) 663-1828, West Little Rock, (501) 954-7900, marshallclements.com
Glass West Little Rock Glass, Little Rock, (501) 223-3034, westlittlerockglass.net
Lamps Cantrell Furniture Design Center, Little Rock, (501) 225-0002, cantrellfurniture.com; Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock, (501) 664-4249, West Little Rock, (501) 219-3676, cobblestoneandvine.com; Marshall Clements, Little Rock, (501) 663-1828, West Little Rock, (501) 954-7900, marshallclements.com
Mirrors K. Lewis Interior Design, Little Rock, (501) 952-6952, klewisinteriordesign.com; Phoenix Interiors, Little Rock, (501) 225-0400; West Little Rock Glass, Little Rock, (501) 223-3034, westlittlerockglass.net
Rugs C & F Flooring and Rug Gallery, Little Rock, (501) 399-9909, candfcarpet.com
Upholstery Howard’s Upholstery Shop, Little Rock, (501) 225-0476
Window coverings Designer Supply, North Little Rock, (501) 851-8066; Pam Meredith Custom Sewing, Lonoke, (501) 266-2325
