Inspiring your Home and Lifestyle
Recently named to the Salonnière 100, a list of America’s top 100 party hosts, Little Rock-based designer Tobi Fairley will be gracing the pages of At Home in Arkansas in a yearlong series where she will share hostess tips, theme inspiration, and loads of details on how you, too, can pull off a fête to remember. This month, she’s set the scene (and the table!) for a colorful brunch in honor of moms everywhere.
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For the last installment in his yearlong entertainment series, designer Kevin Walsh pairs whimsy with sophistication for a trendsetting toast to 2018. Here are his tips to make it a fun and festive gathering.
Rise to the Top
“Balloons aren’t just for birthday parties,” Kevin says. Here, the designer uses them to bring a hint of playfulness to the atmosphere and add visual interest to the ceiling. “I wanted it to be festive, and I used both clear and white balloons to mix it up.”…
Need a little inspiration for your Thanksgiving menu? You’re in luck: Amy Hannon, owner of Euna Mae’s and host of KNWA’s “Cooking Today,” recently penned her first cookbook, Love Welcome Serve: Recipes that Gather and Give, and it’s stocked full of recipes perfect for this season (or any other for that matter). Here’s what she had to say about writing her first book and how she sets the table for her own family’s feast.
For Amy Hannon, writing a cookbook felt like the next natural step after opening her Springdale kitchen shop. “I had secretly dreamed of writing a cookbook, but I never imagined it’d ever really happen until I was pursued by a literary agent who believed in me and my message,” Hannon says. “My heart’s desire is to encourage people to use their homes to impact the lives of others. I call it ‘intentional kitchening’—and I hope my cookbook does just that.”
Filled with Southern comfort recipes, the book is designed to inspire and educate cooks who enjoy showing hospitality to loved ones. “Some of the recipes are family recipes, and some are my own. All of the recipes are very approachable and delicious! There’s even a section in the back where I include our favorite menus for gathering folks as well as my favorite menus for making and giving food to people,” Hannon says….
Designer Kevin Walsh shares his hints to elevate your setup and make it convenient to grab your gear at a moment’s notice
“Why not make it chic?” Kevin Walsh says of his philosophy on tailgating. “That’s really my whole mantra with everything.” Whether you’re heading to a polo match, a fireworks display, a picnic in the park, or a football game, convenience is also key when it comes to packing up the car, unloading, and enjoying the day with friends. Here, Walsh uses items from his home as well as his Little Rock shop, Bear Hill Interiors, to set the scene for a laid-back day with kicked-up style. Follow his tips to create your own stunning setup.
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Kevin Walsh creates a backyard party with Southern charm and a patriotic palette
“Family. Friends. Food.” These are the words Kevin Walsh of Bear Hill Interiors uses to describe his take on Fourth of July festivities. Along with a dose of classic Americana design, Walsh used this mantra to create a backyard celebration full of fun activities with a flavorful menu. “I really wanted to keep this simple,” Walsh says. “For me, this holiday is more about spending time with people. Food is just the vehicle to get people there,” he says with a smile. Read on for ideas for your own Independence Day gathering….
Designer Kevin Walsh thinks outside the basket with kid-friendly Easter ideas that are easy, affordable, and too cute not to try yourself
“I really wanted this party to be whimsical and kid-friendly,” Kevin Walsh of Little Rock’s Bear Hill Interiors says. “To me this is sort of a holiday for children, and I wanted it to be fun for them,” he adds.
To do this, he started with hues that are reminiscent of the light and bright spring Sunday holiday. “We went with an Easter color palette, which is also similar to a Bear Hill palette because we love pastels so much,” he notes. From there, Walsh got crafty with the décor, went sweet with the day’s treats, and even arranged for an appearance from the Easter bunny….
Floral designer Chris Norwood of Tipton & Hurst uses the season’s freshest blooms to set the scene for a gathering of close friends
‘Tis the season—for wedding parties, baby showers, and spring socials. With warmer weather and a host of reasons to invite friends and family into your home, we asked Chris Norwood of Tipton & Hurst to set the scene—and the table—for an easy yet elegant brunch at the home of his client, Mrs. Barbara Hoover.
Naturally, Norwood started with the floral design. “We always try to match the look and the feel to our customer. As you can see, Mrs. Hoover loves tradition and Southern elegance, so we tried to use spring flowers that would accent her home,” Norwood says. “She also loves different shades of pink, so we used a range of them from soft pastels to bright pinks.”…
Designers Mara Lamb Malcolm and Retha Lamb create a classic Christmas setting for beloved family friends in North Central Arkansas
For years, Mara Lamb Malcolm and her mother Retha Lamb decorated homes for the holidays. And, while the mother-daughter design duo continues to grow their interior design business, they have dramatically pared down their number of Christmas décor clients. In fact, there is just one client in Malcolm’s hometown of Melbourne that they continue to help decorate for the season. “We have done this family’s home for years and it’s so special to continue to help them and to do this in my hometown,” Malcolm says….
Don’t fret over your holiday table décor. Acclaimed designer and owner of Bear Hill Interiors, Kevin Walsh, shows you how to add flavor to the look with a few simple ideas
Think of Thanksgiving and you’re likely to envision a cornucopia and a pumpkin or two. “Pumpkins are awesome, but I really wanted to do something that felt a little different and was more in line with the design of the room,” Kevin Walsh says of a “friends-giving” scene he set for a Little Rock homeowner. Read on to see how he created the look and find inspiration for your own Thanksgiving gathering….
Stephanie Reeves of Dapper Cookie prepares for Halloween with decadent gluten-free treats for her family, friends, and trick-or-treaters
A stay-at-home mom and the creative designer and owner of Dapper Cookie, Stephanie Reeves is passionate about her family, who are gluten-free, and providing the most adorable, decorated cookies for others who are also gluten-free. From birthday parties and baby showers to school spirit days and holiday soirees, there isn’t an occasion Reeves hasn’t decoratively adorned with her fanciful cookies, and Halloween is no exception….
At Home in Arkansas offers you a look inside the state's most inspiring homes. The magazine features monthly advice from the experts to help you plan your next remodel or redesign, entertain at home, or find Arkansas's best kept secrets. It is your definitive guide to the state's finest homes and gardens, design professionals, fashion and entertaining essentials, and premier shops and showrooms.