Our July issue featured the story behind Hannah’s Bananas, a Little Rock-based dipped-banana operation dreamed up by Hannah Thomas. Here, she shares her recipe for her gluten-free banana bread—a baked treat that will please the palate year-round.
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Hostess Tips from Jessie Gillham
As the owner of Little Rock’s Festive Haus event planning service, Jessie Gillham knows how to host a party. In our December issue, she and her mother give us a glimpse into their winter solstice soirée (read the full story). Here, she shares a few of her tried-and-true tips to fully embrace and enjoy hosting guests.
1/ The host should be having fun. If you are enjoying yourself, your guests will be, too. This can change the entire mood of a gathering so think about the prepwork and timeline to ensure this happens.
2/ Put together a playlist. No matter your theme or what time of day, music is a must. It’s a detail that can add to the customized feel of the gathering.
3/ Manage your menu. You want the menu to be delicious and something you can pull off without feeling stressed. This is not the time to time a new recipe. Use your tried-and-true favorites or practice new ones beforehand.
4/ Dim the lights. Lighting is also one of the key elements that sets the tone for a party. For evening events, I like to turn off the bright overhead lights and rely on softer lighting.
5/ Be thoughtful when it comes to details and décor. Are there dietary or drink restrictions you need to accommodate? Plan for those ahead of time. A bar set-up where you can build your own drink or a signature cocktail for the evening are small touches that can add to the overall theme and comfort of your guests.
6/ Consider the flow. Not just in terms of movement but for conversation and connection, it’s important to space out the food, beverages, and seating to make sure your guests can move around freely to talk with one another.
Find more ideas for your next party in our Gather section.
Gladys’s Apple Butter Pie
Our December issue takes readers inside Charlie Groppetti and Todd Smith’s Vilonia home. As the owners of Porch View Home, decorating for the holidays seems to come naturally to them—as does baking. During the season, Todd’s grandmother’s apple butter pie is a must-have dessert that is laden with memories.
“I grew up in her kitchen,” Todd recalls. With six grandchildren, Gladys held a camp every summer to make sure they all knew how to sew, set the table, can vegetables, fry chicken, make tea, and grow a garden. “We learned all the home economics and shop basics,” he says. Here, he fondly shares the recipe for her apple butter pie.
SHOP
2 cups apple butter
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons flour
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pre-baked pie crust
whipped cream, for garnish
maple syrup, for garnish
PREPARE
Preheat oven to 350℉. Mix together all ingredients and pour into pre-baked pie shell. Bake for 35 minutes. Allow to cool. Top with whipped cream and drizzle with maple syrup before serving.
Ask the Designer: Favorite Arkansas Artists
In our August 2025 issue’s “Trendsetters” section, we asked Arkansas designers to share some of their favorite names in the local art scene. Here are the artists currently inspiring the state’s interior designers
Flora Saldivar in her home studio
“We have fallen in love with the work of local artist Flora Saldivar, a Mexican-American abstract painter. We love how she uses vibrant colors and movement. The soft edges of her ‘bleeding colors’ technique bring an approachability to her abstract visuals. We find her work very easy to incorporate into a variety of spaces and designs.” —Krista Couch and Heidi Burks, KH Collaborative
“Velesero! I’m loving his pieces right now. We have several of his in the store, and I’d take one home right now if I could! I love the luminescence of the silver leaf that comes through and the subject matter.” —Casey Sarkin, Casey Sarkin Design
“I’m a big fan of Leah Pollock’s ceramic sculptures—they have an otherworldly elegance to them that feels organic and rooted to the earth. I’ve visited her studio in Bella Vista, know her personally, and love to support her work.” —Betsy Soos, Proximity Interior Design
“William McNamara. I am a big fan of watercolor, and his Buffalo River paintings are amazing! —Stacy Sheid Epps, Stacy Sheid Interiors
Abstract flower painting by Zac Woodiel. Design by Providence Design
“Zac Woodiel, of course! I love his art (which can be purchased at Providence), but not only is Zac a talented artist, he’s impossible not to love as a person.” —Kimberly Mannis, Providence Design
“There are so many fantastic Arkansas artists! Among my faves are Katherine Strause, Catherine Rodgers, Bryan Frazier, Sharon Simmons, Milkdadd, Lisa Krannichfeld, Patrick Phillips, and Barry Thomas—I could never select just one! They all have different styles, different vibes, different mediums, and all create pieces with soul.” —Mara Malcolm, Lamb’s Interior Design
Art by Lori DeYmaz. Design by Art of Design
“Lori DeYmaz is an incredibly gifted artist who we are always proud to work with. Her pieces instantly bring happiness and dimension into any room. I also love any work that Barry Thomas creates. His paintings bring the beauty of Arkansas into the home to enjoy every day.” —Paula Storey, Design1
“Joëlle Storet of Fayetteville. I’m in awe of her mural featuring Fayetteville landmarks and historical figures along Nelson Hackett Boulevard.” —Andrea Cornwell, iSpace Designers
“I have been working with Harrington & Meyers Woodworking on some special custom pieces for my projects, and those guys blow me away every time. Their attention to detail and dedication to their craft is inspiring.” —Marianna O’Dea, O’Dea Studios Interior Design
Art by Ashley Saer. Design by B. Interiors
“I love Ashley Saer. She does great watercolors and house paintings; plus, her colors are amazing.” —Chandler Bailey, B. Interiors
“With the growth of Northwest Arkansas and the new Walmart campus, there is an ever-evolving array of murals, sculpture and local boutique galleries popping all over the area—we can’t name just one! But we are inspired by and love how unique each one of the artist’s styles are.” —Mary Beth Williams, Warrior Designs
“Sean Shrum. We love his work and have used it in several of our favorite projects.” —Kimberly Harper, Harper Howey Interiors
Lisa Krannichfeld in her studio
“Lisa Krannichfeld is an artist that we have admired for a long time. We love the combinations of color and pattern she uses with her subject matter. We love that her artwork empowers women and creates beauty on bland spans of building facades; her art brings life with vibrancy.” —Stacey Breezel, Shine Interior Design Studio
“Arden Boyce is an artist from my hometown that I’ve always loved and followed. It’s been a joy to incorporate her artwork into our interior designs. Her soft brush strokes, vibrant color palette and subject matter transform you to a memorable place and time.” —Natalie Biles, Shine Interior Design Studio
Art by Barry Thomas. Design by Bear Hill Interiors
“Buddy Whitlock. He’s a local boy (from Des Arc!) and really a hard worker and so talented. I have his very first piece of art. I also love Barry Thomas because of his ability to capture the outdoors.” —Paul Guess, Guess & Company
“Jeff McKay. We love his use of color in his pieces, and being in The Natural State, we love how he highlights the outdoors and brings them to life!” —Studio West Interiors
“Ellen Hobgood! I have loved her from the start. Everyone should have one of her ‘Santa Claus’ paintings in their home. After all, a Santa hanging in your home brings you luck!” —Dana Parker-Gilbert, Simply Charming Window Works
Tanya Sweetin with a piece of her art
“I have a couple: Emily Cobb and Tanya Sweetin. They both do fantastic work. They have timeless art.” —Miguel Newberg, M.N’Teriors
“My favorite Arkansas artist would have to be Andrew Bruckman. I admire his knowledge of art and the complexity of his work. He paints with such depth and emotion.” —Jayson Cain, Jayson Cain Interiors
“Mark Jackson at Velesero. We are really drawn to Mark’s photography of seemingly ordinary life experiences yet the layers he applies to the photograph stop you in your tracks. One cannot simply glance and move on; you are drawn into the piece. Seeking and recognizing beauty in our immediate surroundings is essentially what our entire ethos is at Lefler Teeter Designs and Mark’s work envelopes that for us.” —Meghan Teeter and Erin Lefler, Lefler Teeter Designs
“There are so many wonderful local artists, but one of my favorites is Heike Talbert. Her artwork instantly elevates a room.” —Lisa Stagg, LJ Interiors
Required Reading
Add them to your coffee table stack, your bookshelves, or your to-read list. These are the forthcoming design book releases we can’t wait to dive into
Written by Kathryn O’Shea-Evans (whose name you might recognize from previous bylines in At Home in Arkansas), Merry & Chic: Your Most Dazzling Christmas Ever is a guide to creating a spectacular holiday celebration. The book shares advice from design professionals (including another familiar name, Little Rock’s Jonathan Parkey), classic holiday recipes, and even a spirited playlist. Available August 5 from Gibbs Smith.
Rebecca Atwood, author of Living with Pattern and Living with Color, releases her third book, The Harmonious Home: Designing Peaceful, Personal Spaces Inspired by Nature. Here, Atwood invites readers to look to different landscapes (for example, oceans and forests) for inspiration in the colors, textures, and materials used to create a home. Available August 26 from Clarkson Potter.
Design Reimagined: A Fresh and Colorful Take on Timeless Rooms is the second release by Corey Damen Jenkins, whose use of rich color and classic architecture has made him a recent design world darling. Focusing on 10 projects across the country, Jenkins’ maximalism-meets-new traditionalism is evident on every page. Available September 2 from Rizzoli.
Written by Giles Kime, the executive editor of Country Life magazine, Sims Hilditch: Beautifully British Interiors features the collected, comfortably layered work of the firm founded by Emma Sims-Hilditch. Find inspiration for the English country house look of today, mixing new and traditional styles that optimize functionality for 21st century living. Available September 9 from Rizzoli.
Tradition Made New: Houses with a Sense of Soul and History is the debut tome from Tim Adams, principal of T.S. Adams Studio Architects in Atlanta. Growing up with a sketchbook in hand, Adams has long been drawn to the shape and form of structures, and Tradition Made New showcases his mastery of the craft. Available September 9 from Rizzoli.
In Home Again: A Return to Gracious Interiors, Southern design icon James T. Farmer brings his warm and refined traditional style to cottages and estates across the country. Captured in stunning photography by Emily Followill, these houses remind readers that the very best homes tell a story. Available September 9 from Gibbs Smith.
Comforts of Home: Tailor-Made, Family-Friendly Interiors That Feel Just Right is the second book from Jacksonville, Florida-based designer Andrew Howard. A master of using bold patterns and bright colors to create happy interiors, Howard’s passion for his work shines through in photography by Noe DeWitt and Eric Piasecki. Available September 9 from Abrams Books.
In Southern Sensibility, designer Edith-Anne Duncan captures the essence of Southern style: sophisticated yet casual interiors with respect for history and a modern twist. Penned with the help of our very own managing editor, Tiffany Adams, this book offers a peek into homes that are colorful, curated, and bursting with personality. Available October 14 from Gibbs Smith.
Originally published in the August 2025 issue of At Home in Arkansas
Curried Chicken Salad
In our March issue, event designer JoBeth McElhanon of Lilias & Olive set a table—and a menu—for the “Here Comes the Sun” feature. She shared the recipe for her Almond Strata in the story, and now she is graciously sharing this easy-to-make, healthful Curried Chicken Salad that’s perfect for a spring soirée. Read the full story along with the rest of our March issue here.
CURRIED CHICKEN SALAD
SHOP
3 cups shredded chicken
½ cup mayonnaise
3-4 green onions chopped, green included
2 ribs celery, diced
1 ½ teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
¼ cup golden raisins
½ cup red grapes, halved
½ cup slivered almonds, toasted
salt and pepper, to taste
PREPARE
Add shredded chicken, mayonnaise, onions, celery, curry powder, honey, lemon juice and mustard to a medium bowl, and mix until combined. Fold in additional ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill for 1-2 hours to allow flavors to marry. Serve in in a scooped-out avocado half or on a butter lettuce leaf.
Enjoy!
More to the Menu: A Haunting Affair
In our October 2024 issue, event planner Meredith Corning shared a soirée inspired by the works of poet and short story writer Edgar Allan Poe—perfect for an elevated All Hallow’s Eve affair with fellow bibliophiles. Here, she and Vibrant Occasions Catering share the recipes for their “Raven” Grilled Cheese sandwich and Charcoal Black Bread. Check out our October edition for the full story, including the recipe for “The Masque of the Red Death” Creamy Tomato Bisque.
The Raven Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Shop
2 slices Charcoal Black Bread (see recipe below)
1 slice Muenster cheese
1 slice Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons basil pesto sauce
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon butter
Prepare
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and butter and melt. Dip one side of each slice of bread slices into the oil/butter mixture. Spread the non-buttered side of the bread with the basil pesto sauce and top with cheese. Put the other slice of bread on top, buttered side up, and place in the heated skillet. Cook until cheese is melted and bread is crusty. For the full effect, use a raven-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the sandwich.
Charcoal Black Bread
Shop
5 ½ to 6 cups all-purpose flour, separated
3 tablespoons sugar
4 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
2 teaspoons salt
1 ½ cups water
½ cup milk
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons activated charcoal
Prepare
Preheat oven to 400ºF. In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of flour with sugar, yeast, and salt, and set aside. Microwave water, milk, and butter until temperature reaches 120ºF. Add to the flour mixture and mix at medium speed for 3 minutes, scraping sides of the bowl as you go. Add 1 cup of flour and activated charcoal and mix for 2 more minutes. Mix in 2 ½ more cups of flour.
Knead dough for 6-8 minutes, using an additional ½ cup of flour, if necessary. Form into a ball, then place in an oiled bowl and cover with a towel for 10 minutes. Roll into a log and place in a greased, deep loaf pan. Cover and allow to double in size, roughly 45 minutes, then bake for 20 minutes.
Once the bread sounds hollow when thumped, run a knife along the sides to release it from the pan.
Read the full story from the October 2024 issue of At Home in Arkansas here.
Required Reading
Forthcoming and recent releases we can’t wait to get our hands on
1 Interior designer Bunny Williams’s forthcoming release is a love letter to her garden and the wooded property surrounding her 18th century Connecticut home. In Life in the Garden, tour Bunny’s conservatory, vegetable garden, orchard, aviary, and more—all with the esteemed designer as your guide. Available March 5 from Rizzoli.
2 Australian editor Annabelle Hickson releases a second edition of A Tree in the House: Flowers for Your Home, Special Occasions and Every Day. An ode to the beauty of nature, this book contains ideas for flower arrangements, floral installations, and seasonal bouquets alongside a peek into the author’s rural life Down Under. Available February 13 from Hardie Grant.
3 The Landscape of Home: In the Country, By the Sea, In the City is a collection of outdoor projects by New York landscape architect Edmund Hollander, who has been named one of Architectural Digest’s AD100 designers. From countryside to rooftop, Edmund shares the essential elements of outdoor garden design. Available March 12 from Rizzoli.
4 Bohemian Soul: The Vanishing Interiors of New Orleans by Valorie Hart celebrates the unique history and style of the Crescent City. In a world that is increasingly cookie cutter and fast-paced, Bohemian Soul highlights what can be learned when you slow down and appreciate the eccentric. Available March 12 from Rizzoli.
5 Home at Last: Enduring Design for the New American House features the work of Gil Schafer, III, a New York-based architect known for his contemporary take on traditional design. Home at Last features a look at Gil’s guiding principles along with beautiful photography by Eric Piasecki. Available February 27 from Rizzoli.
6 Nora Murphy is the author of an award-winning blog, an online design magazine, and the book Nora Murphy’s Country House Style. Her follow-up, Country House Living: Celebrating the Beauty of Life at Home, explores the ways in which different homeowners embrace the historic charm of country style. Available March 12 from Rizzoli.
What new interior design books are on your list? Let us know!
Erin Wilson’s Pistachio Cake
In our December 2023 issue, we share Erin and Josh Wilson’s classic Clarksville home decked for the holidays. Here, get the recipe for the family’s pistachio cake, a special tradition passed down from Erin’s great-grandmother. Read more of our December 2023 issue here.
Erin Wilson’s Pistachio Cake
SHOP
1 package of white cake mix
5 large eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 package pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix
3/4 cup dark chocolate syrup
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
green food coloring (optional but festive)
PREPARE
Preheat oven to 375º degrees. Mix cake mix with eggs, oil, sugar, water, and pistachio pudding mix until well blended. Transfer one cup of cake mixture to a separate bowl, add dark chocolate syrup, and mix well. To your remaining cake mixture, add green food coloring to your liking.
Grease a bundt cake pan with Bakers Joy or butter and flour the pan to prevent sticking. (This is important!) At the bottom of the cake pan, sprinkle chopped pecans first, then layer with chocolate chips. Pour green cake mixture next, then pour chocolate cake mixture in the center of the green mixture. Bake for 40-45 minutes and check often based on your oven. Cake is done when you an inserted fork comes out clean and the cake is nice bouncy.
Enjoy!
Required Reading
We’ve rounded up forthcoming and recent book releases we look forward to adding to our libraries. Take a look!
1 Pennsylvania-based designer Betsy Wentz’s first book, Design Happy: Colorful Homes for the Modern Family, is an inspiring take on practical solutions for casual, comfortable living, complete with design lessons and pro tips. Available February 21 from Gibbs Smith.
2 Now based on the West Coast, New Orleans native Suzanne Rheinstein still calls on Southern influence throughout her design, which is evident in the projects photographed for her third book, Suzanne Rheinstein: Welcoming Elegance. Available March 21 from Rizzoli.
3 The Joy of Home is Alabama interior designer Ashley Gilbreath’s first book. Readers are invited to tour homes across the South, including Gilbreath’s own beach house, to soak in the designer’s fresh take on traditional design. Available April 17 from Gibbs Smith.
4 Charm School: The Schumacher Guide to Traditional Decorating for Today is a handbook for all who live for the quintessential design brand’s fabric and wallpaper patterns. The tome showcases more than 250 rooms from iconic names such as Mario Buatta and Sister Parish. Available March 8 from The Monacelli Press.
5 McAlpine: Romantic Modernism explores the marriage of architecture, interiors, and landscape design through work by Bobby McAlpine’s acclaimed firm, which has offices in Atlanta, Montgomery, Nashville, and New York City. This is McAlpine’s fourth book. Available April 4 from Rizzoli.
6 In Arranging Things, New York stylist Colin King and editor Sam Cochran team up to offer insights about composing vignettes, styling bookshelves, and working within scale, palette, texture, and proportion. Available March 14 from Rizzoli.
What new interior design books are on your list? Let us know!
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