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French Connections

August 18, 2016 by Norma Edwards

Order, symmetry and classic touches add formal flair to a Little Rock garden

Overlooking the Arkansas River in Little Rock stands a quintessentially French maison, complete with a copper Mansard roof, climbing ivy and trademark formal gardens. The French Revival-style home was the first of its kind in Cammack Village, and the adjoining gardens designed by renowned Arkansas landscape architect Neil Hamill Park are acquisitions of the Smithsonian Institute’s Archive of American Gardens. When the current homeowners moved in, they began restoring the gardens to their former glory with the help of Scott Connerly at Landscape Architects.

Jardin à la Française
The philosophy behind formal French gardens encourages symmetry and clean lines—the imposition of order on nature. The result feels both traditional and modern, with symmetrical allées, or walkways, juxtaposed against bloom-filled parterres. The lead sculptures that dot the property are original to the home, and the homeowners took great care to restore and retain them during the renovation.

Local Flavor
Though the overall style of the gardens has heavy European influences, the homeowners wanted to include a nod to Arkansas by finishing the parterres with plants that had a more regional feel. Jordan Parker of The Good Earth Garden Center customized the gardens with annuals that thrive in the Arkansas heat, including white and yellow lantana, purple scaevola and Angelonia. Though it isn’t native to Arkansas, oak leaf hydrangea was used for its close resemblance to local varieties. “They’re very natural and local-looking,” Parker says, “and they can be used in a more formal design to tie it all together.”

Pretty Parterres
In keeping with the French style of the home, the remodeled gardens are separated into seven different parterres, including an apple orchard, an intimate gated courtyard with a geometric cobblestone walkway, and a formal oval garden filled with seasonal blooms. Lead sculptures backed by ivy-covered treillage are placed throughout the gardens to mark the intersections of the allées. Those fortunate enough to stay in the guest suite get a spectacular view of the third parterre allée, looking down toward the small wading pool which is appointed with lead swan fountains. At the edge of the property, a steel-framed pavilion with a Mansard roof overlooks the classic oval pool.

Design Resources
Contractor Chris Roystuart, Roystuart Brown, Little Rock, (501) 580-6262, roystuartbrown.com
Architect Rodney Parham, Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects, Little Rock, (501) 378-0878, polkstanleywilcox.com
Landscaping Jordan Parker, The Good Earth Garden Center, Little Rock, (501) 868-4666, thegoodearthgarden.com; Scott Connerly, Landscape Associates, North Little Rock, (501) 758-8711, landscapeassociatesar.com
Ironwork Mike Sedder, Sedder Iron Works, Paron, (501) 821-4068
Pools Brooks Pools, Little Rock, (501) 771-1501, brookspools.com

Room to Roam

July 19, 2016 by Norma Edwards

Exterior designer Daniel Keeley proves that outdoor spaces can add valuable square footage

With stately, Southern homes, designers walk a fine line between improving on the original and muddling something that was already beautiful. But when Daniel Keeley of DK Design received a call that his clients were breaking ground on a remodel of this favorite Fayetteville estate, he didn’t hesitate to jump at the challenge, working alongside Alan Madewell Architects of Tulsa and Tim Janacek of Janacek Remodeling.

The remodel allowed for a series of outdoor rooms around the property—the main terrace with an outdoor hearth and cozy seating area is a welcoming spot on cooler nights, while the fountain courtyard is a perfect reading nook. A dining area and fire pit around the pool terrace offer seating and lounging space for summer entertaining. Keeley used hedges and lush plant life to separate the rooms from one another and create a sense of intimacy, while luxurious furniture pieces in a monochromatic palette give the outdoor rooms a cohesive feel. “The homeowners’ commitment to quality and their ability to trust us and invest in the quality of the project is what makes this so great,” Keeley says.

Lush Landscaping
In keeping with the classic Southern style of this stately home, Keeley utilized hydrangeas throughout, including Endless Summer, Limelight, and Oakleaf varieties. Tall planters were given shape and structure with Kimberly Queen ferns, while purple Scaevola—Keeley’s favorite annual—adds a bright pop of color to the otherwise muted palette. Neatly trimmed boxwood and holly hedges juxtapose the lushness of the hydrangeas and ferns.

Double the Appeal
The front lawn is divided into upper and lower halves. Keeley surrounded the upper lawn with hedges and lush plantings to create an intimate arrival area and extension of the front porch.

Carport Conversion
Because a garage was on the list of additions in the remodel, an old carport off the dining room was no longer needed. Keeley repurposed the space as an intimate courtyard with comfortable seating and a water feature. The result was so beautiful, the homeowners added French doors from the dining room to access it more easily.

Hearth of the Home
Keeley teamed up with a local artisan to design a concrete console table that has the appearance of draped cloth, while chevron upholstered chairs and a white iron sofa create a space that feels as comfortable and chic as any indoor room. “I always tell people that outdoor furniture can and should be just as sophisticated as indoor furniture,” he says.

DK Design Outdoor, Fayetteville, dkdesignoutdoor.com

A Gracious Planting

June 21, 2016 by Norma Edwards

In Mayflower, an avid gardener creates an elegant setting for his hillside home

Alan Robinson isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. In fact, he invites the opportunity. As the owner of this stunning Mayflower home, he has planned and planted a garden that continues to evolve and thrive year after year. “I started in the spring of 2011, and it has kind of developed as I’ve gone along. I had the yard sodded but ended up removing sod in the places where I wanted to put in beds. There was no master design per se; Everything just kind of came to me as we went,” Robinson says.

Robinson credits his father with his green thumb. “My dad was a gardener and had a greenhouse where he raised orchids; I think he put it in my blood,” he laughs.

Four Tips to Creating a Backyard Haven

May 19, 2016 by Norma Edwards

The Grey Barn’s John Hendricks shares tips to make your backyard a retreat from the everyday routine

1/ Design an Extension of Your Home
“These homeowners entertain frequently, so they needed additional space and wanted to extend the house into the wooded area,” Hendricks says. A flagstone walkway with multiple spaces for use, including the firepit and spa areas, is an inviting and natural way to accomplish this in any backyard.

2/ Make It User-Friendly
Consider your needs before you design or install. Since this couple often hosts guests, having a bench in the firepit area was key for seating a crowd. They also wanted a place to relax at the end of the day; a roomy spa satisfied this desire. Thinking about how you will use the space before starting work will help to ensure you get the most out of it in the long run.

3/ Work with Your Surroundings
Hendricks notes that numerous boulders and rocks were found on the property. “About half of the retaining wall was created with pieces from on-site,” he says. Incorporating these with other native stones and the terrace’s flagstone material create a look that is in line with the environment and matches its aesthetic.

4/ Keep It Low-Maintenance
“The landscaping on the property is very low-maintenance. We kept it loose so they wouldn’t have to prune frequently,” Hendricks notes. Plantings such as knockout roses, a Japanese maple, an Oklahoma redbud tree, day lilies, and hostas all work together for a beautiful setting that doesn’t require a lot of upkeep.

Design Resources
Landscape and hardscape design and installation The Grey Barn, Fayetteville, (479) 521-8162, thegreybarn.com
Spa Luther Stem Pools & Spas, Fort Smith, (479) 646-7772, lutherstem.com

Lasting Beauties

April 26, 2016 by Norma Edwards

A grouping of colorful, fragrant plantings is a Mother’s Day gift that will continue to give for seasons to come

It’s hard not to love a gift that keeps on giving—especially when that gift is in the form of flowers and herbs you can enjoy in your own garden. Tipton & Hurst put together this wicker basket that is filled with individually potted azaleas, hydrangeas, kalanchoe, cyclamen, ranunculus, and two different herb plantings—lavender and spearmint. As the plants mature, the azaleas, hydrangeas, and herbs can be transplanted to your home’s garden, and the kalanchoe and cyclamen can be repotted and enjoyed as continuous houseplants—ensuring the thoughtfulness and memory of both the gift and its giver last far beyond the holiday.

Tipton Hurst, Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock, (800) 666-3333, tiptonhurst.com

Beauty Contained

March 22, 2016 by Norma Edwards

Better Lawns and Gardens’ David Munsey III shares a planting for spring

Even before the last frost of the year has passed, home gardeners are eager to plant the containers that so often greet guests at their front door or line the perimeter of their porches and decks. Here, David Munsey III of Little Rock’s Better Lawns & Gardens, shares one of his favorite spring pairings: a simple grouping of coral and purple tulips paired with trailing English ivy. “For this planting, we used a Spanish oil jar by Elegant Earth Pots from Antique Brick Outdoors,” Munsey notes. “These containers are especially great because there are so many different things you can do with them depending on the time of year and what you plan to grow. This particular planting could go into the container any time between March and May based on what that year’s temperatures are like,” he adds.

Better Lawns & Gardens, Little Rock, (501) 454-9803, betterlawnsar.com

The Start of Spring

February 17, 2016 by Norma Edwards

Exterior designer Daniel Keeley transformed a former backyard workshop into a cabana that can be used year-round

Long before moving into his Fayetteville home, Daniel Keeley had alternate plans for a small workshop area in the backyard. Desiring a space that could be used in all four seasons, he turned the room into a small but fully functional cabana area. Perfect for relaxing on an early spring day, the cabana room has French doors that open to the home’s garden along with a built-in daybed that offers storage drawers underneath the base. Durable, outdoor fabrics on the pillows and daybed cushions stand up to everyday wear-and-tear as well as nature’s elements. Additionally, a heater and fan ensure seasonal comfort, while a small refrigerator keeps drinks close at hand. Slender beaker vases filled with gerbera daisies line the wall as an official welcome to the season.

DK Design, Fayetteville, (888) 670-4899, dkdesignoutdoor.com

Something in the Air

December 30, 2015 by agill@athomearkansas.com

Air plants offer a striking and versatile greenery option in any environment

“The first question I often get is, ‘What is it?’” says Jonathan Edwards, of Fayetteville’s PIGMINT Florist and Garden Living store, in reference to his shop’s offering of air plants. “It’s a great conversation piece,” he laughs. Air plants get their name from their lack of a traditional, extensive root system. The variety shown here is a highly popular one known as tillandsia xerographica, which can be displayed on stands (as shown), in bowls, or even suspended in the air. The plants take in moisture and nutrients from their environments, thrive in bright, indirect light, and require little care other than soaking them in distilled water every two to three weeks. Here, Edwards situates the plants—which are often considered contemporary in style—in a highly traditional setting. “It’s interesting to me to contrast the modern plant with the traditional grasscloth wallpaper, mahogany server, and the blue-and-white ginger jar; I think it proves that these plants can work in any environment,” He says.

Air plants available in the Garden Living store and online through shopgardenliving.com.

Garden Living, 160 East Joyce Boulevard, Fayetteville, (479) 435-6999, shopgardenliving.com; PIGMINT Florist, 100 East Joyce Boulevard, Suite 113, (479) 444-0404, pigmint.com

Naturally Beautiful

November 20, 2015 by agill@athomearkansas.com

It just doesn’t feel like Christmas until the décor goes up. Whether you start decking the halls on Thanksgiving night or moments before holiday guests arrive, a wreath can be a simple statement that speaks volumes in the way of welcomes and glad tidings. This year, we asked floral designer and owner of Flowers & Home, Monroe Cranford, to share his take on a fresh holiday wreath. Designed with blue cedar, seeded eucalyptus, silver brunia, safari sunset, blue thistle, and red dogwood branches, his creation is accented with some of the season’s most-loved edibles, including clementines, red pears, and walnuts. How’s that for a natural way to usher in the season?

Monroe Cranford, AIFD, AMF, CFD, Flowers & Home, Bryant, (501) 847-5511, Hot Springs, (501) 525-0444, flowersandhome.com

Easy Autumn Color

August 25, 2015 by agill@athomearkansas.com

The experts at Hocott’s Garden Center used a mix of colorful blooms and classic greenery—all of which prefer protective shade—to create a container garden that’s ideal for a porch or sunroom. Use the list here as inspiration for your own fall plantings.

1/ Croton Available in a range of colors from green to reddish orange, it also works well as a houseplant.

2/ Ornamental Peppers Grown for show, this plant produces small fruits in a variety of hues from purple to yellow.

3/ Aucuba Known for its large, shiny leaves, this plant has brilliant evergreen color.

4/ Bromeliad Reminiscent of the tropics, this hardy plant offers a burst of red color; it also works well as a houseplant.

5/ Ivy One of the most popular and prevalent evergreen plantings for indoors and outdoors, ivy does require light to thrive.

6/ Heuchera ‘Brownies’ As noted by its name, this plant produces a mound of large, chocolate-tinted green leaves with purplish-red undersides.

7/ Kalanchoe Offered in an array of colors including yellow (as shown here), pink, red, white, and orange, this easy-to-grow, flowering succulent is a quick way to add color.

Plants, containers, and custom design service available through Hocott’s Garden Center, Little Rock, (501) 663-8376, hocotts.com.

French Connections

Room to Roam

A Gracious Planting

Four Tips to Creating a Backyard Haven

Lasting Beauties

Beauty Contained

The Start of Spring

Something in the Air

Naturally Beautiful

Easy Autumn Color

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