Date:  November 22, 2017  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Chip Jones  |  

With a little help from their friends, this young Little Rock family’s home is transformed into a rustic-meets-refined winter wonderland

It wasn’t a chance meeting that brought Kirstin and Glen Johnson together, but rather the help of two close friends—Whitney Lammers and interior designer Beth Davis. “I was a sales rep for Delta faucets at the time and had been trying to call on Beth in Searcy for a while. I was able to meet with her, and almost immediately she asked if I was single,” Whitney recalls. “After a conversation we had, I had been trying to set my friend Glen up with someone,” Beth notes. “Whitney just had such a precious demeanor about her that I knew if she wasn’t single, she must have a friend.” As luck would have it, Whitney did have a friend—Kirstin. She and Glen are now married with three children.

Similarly, when the couple moved from Searcy to Little Rock, they had a little help with their home décor. The two women who were instrumental in their meeting, along with another of Kirstin’s dear friends, Katie Henry of Katie Grace Designs, helped to make their house a home. Here’s how the designing trio brought everyday style and holiday cheer to this young family’s space.

HOT SPOT
A recent addition to the home, the outdoor space is a favorite hangout for family and friends, including the Johnson girls and Whitney’s daughters (all seen above) who are frequent playmates. The area also serves as overflow for guests during holiday parties. Designed by Katie and built by Mark Caruthers, the space features an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, seating for a crowd, and a television for watching Christmas movies or Razorback football. Drapery panels, made from outdoor fabric, allow the space to be either enclosed or open to the backyard. “This is really a four-seasons space for them,” Katie notes. “It’s comfortable and so cozy.”

FIRESIDE SWEETS
The outdoor fireplace offers more than just warmth; it’s a perfect spot to roast s’mores on a crisp afternoon. The Johnsons keep the essentials on hand—along with sticks for roasting—in case friends pop by for a treat.

FIRST IMPRESSION
A set of double doors dressed for the season with a mix of faux and fresh greenery as well as pinecones, magnolia clippings, and cream and burlap ribbon, greets guests. The décor on the front columns’ lanterns also features mercury glass ornaments. “I wanted everything to flow from the front entry,” Whitney says. “The front door has a sort of rustic glam look, and I think that is indicative of the dressy décor on the interior and the more casual, natural elements I used on the back deck.”

NEUTRAL ENCHANTMENT
The tree in the living room is adorned with ornaments in glimmering shades of silver, gold, and a range of light creams. Whitney added a fur tree skirt to coordinate with the elegant elements, which include packages wrapped in the same palette.

CHIC MEETS COZY
With three children, one can imagine that the Johnsons’ living room is a bustle of activity on Christmas morning. It is decorated in the same serene hues seen throughout the interior and accented with whimsical stockings for Santa to fill. “My husband is constantly on the go, so we look forward to staying at home on Christmas morning, playing with our kids, and really soaking in that time together,” Kirstin says. Beth had the standalone cabinets (seen on either side of the fireplace) custom made for the family. A work by Little Rock artist Amanda Kella (who is Whitney’s sister) rests on the mantel.

FINE DINING
Katie helped the couple find complementary furnishings to pair with the dining table they already owned, while Beth selected the drapery fabric and sourced artwork and accessories. “Kirstin and I originally wanted to wallpaper the entire room in this Thibaut wallpaper that I found; however, Glen thought that might be over-the-top, so we instead decided to frame a couple of pieces and hang them as art,” Beth says of the colorful installation at the far end of the room. More pieces from Kirstin’s mercury glass holiday collection add polish to the seasonal décor.

SET THE TABLE
The Johnsons also enjoy hosting their extended family for holiday gatherings. Here, Whitney created place settings that subtly convey the spirit of the season. Magnolia leaves, clipped from the front yard’s tree, serve as place cards for each guest.

DREAMY RETREAT
A restful master bedroom was a must for the Johnsons. “I added softness to the space with draperies, which are a Tilton Fenwick for Duralee pattern, but didn’t go overboard on accessories,” Beth says. Whitney added a light layer of Christmas décor, including a magnolia wreath, to carry holiday cheer throughout the home.

Design Resources
Christmas décor Whitney Lammers, Christmas by Whitney
Contractor—outdoor room Mark Caruthers, WillMark Homes
Design—outdoor room Katie Henry, Katie Grace Designs
Interior design Beth Davis, Beth Davis Interiors
Accessories Beth Davis Interiors, Katie Grace Designs, and The Bee’s Knees
Accessories—Christmas Christmas by Whitney, The Good Earth Garden Center, Kaufman by Design, and Tipton & Hurst
Art Amanda Kella
Bedding—master, fabrics, and window coverings Beth Davis Interiors
Decorative painting—living room cabinetry AF Decorative
Fabrics—outdoor Fabric Gallery
Furniture Beth Davis Interiors and Katie Grace Designs
Furniture—outdoor Antique Brick Outdoors and Katie Grace Designs
Lighting—outdoor Antique Brick Outdoors
Mirrors—living room cabinetry West Little Rock Glass