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Blended Style

November 23, 2020 by Tiffany Adams

A Little Rock designer helps Mechan and Dr. Susanna Shermer meld their distinct styles in a cohesive, well-loved family home

Dr. Susanna Shermer has always had a knack for reviving homes in her favorite Little Rock neighborhoods, the Heights and Hillcrest. However, when she and wife Mechan first stepped foot in their current home, they had different thoughts about just how much renovation the place required. “When this house came on the market, Mechan was like, Oh, it’s perfect! We don’t have to do anything,” Susanna recalls. “And I was over here going, this has good bones, but we can change everything.”

As soon as they moved in, Susanna got to work on the spaces she recognized as areas for improvement. “She’s touched every part of this home,” Mechan says of Susanna’s involvement in the process, which included painting all the walls, removing heavy draperies, and updating the kitchen with new countertops and a concrete finish on the brick pillars. “My preference is so neutral and light and airy, and everything was a lot darker when we moved in,” Susanna says.

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Creative Outlet

November 23, 2020 by Tiffany Adams

An eye for design and a passion for creativity combine in Jonathan Stiers’s Rogers home

Design is a way of life for Northwest Arkansas native Jonathan Stiers. Even before graduating from the University of Arkansas, he began working as a graphic designer with Walmart and has risen in rank, having the opportunity to change departments and focus over the course of two-plus decades with the company. Today, he works with their sister brand, Sam’s Club, as the senior creative director for their private label. However, he doesn’t check his ingenuity at the office door; it manifests itself at home.

“I encourage people in creative roles to find a secondary outlet to help avoid burnout—something you can have 100 percent ownership and influence over,” Jonathan says. Taking his own advice, he started blogging about food and home interiors. “I love styling things and bringing a scene to life. It’s all about trying to create a moment you want to live in—much like my work,” he says. “I also enjoy doing interior design in my home. In this realm, I don’t have to negotiate with anyone but myself.”

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Blushing Beauty

November 23, 2020 by Tiffany Adams

Shades of pink and vintage-inspired accessories inspire this Little Rock home’s Christmas decor

Anna Dickinson likes to think outside the box. Having spent a number of years in the design industry, formerly as the owner of Little Rock home design store White Goat and now as owner and lead wedding designer and planner at Perception by Anna, she’s been exposed to a variety of styles. This continues to push her to go beyond the norm when it comes to her own home.

After starting their family in a smaller house, she and her husband, Thomas, felt the need for more space, which prompted a move to a nearby neighborhood. “I walked into this house, and it had the aesthetic appeal I was looking for. I especially liked the wide plank floors, the beams, and these unique little latches on all of the doorknobs,” she says. Anna hired Katie Rees of Katie Grace Designs to help her “put the puzzle pieces together,” using her collection of vintage home goods along with a few new additions. “I can walk into a wedding venue or someone else’s home and tell you exactly where to put things because I’m not personally attached to them; but it’s much different in your own home,” she says.

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Back to Nature

November 2, 2020 by Tiffany Adams

An unexpected twist in a family’s home search leads to an outdoor-inspired design filled with comfort and style

Making their home in a Jonesboro subdivision was not part of the plan for Britni and Josh Brown. “We had purchased 10 acres, revised a house plan, and were pulling the permit to build when we got a call about this house,” Britni says. However, with a wooded landscape, nine acres to roam, and even backyard access to a lake, the property hardly felt like it was in the middle of a neighborhood. “I’m attracted to older homes, so I wanted to see this house,” Britni says. “And, as soon as I saw the backyard, I fell in love. We couldn’t have gotten the natural landscape on the other land.”

While the setting drew the couple in enough to lay their plans to build aside, the interior of the home also spoke to them. “I knew there was a lot of potential inside,” Britni says. Having built a home once before, she recalls not being hands-on during the process and felt like the outcome didn’t truly reflect their tastes. “I thought, Styles are going to change, so you might as well do what you want,” she recalls.

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Country Made Modern

November 2, 2020 by Tiffany Adams

Guided by her connection to nature and interior designer Ashley Cardiel, Michele Anthony builds her dream home in Northwest Arkansas

El Dorado native Michele Anthony had been living in downtown Fayetteville for several years when she got the itch to move to the country. The idea started small, with Michele taking drives from time to time to look at property right outside of town. “I kept coming back to this land. There was something about it that spoke to me,” she recalls. “I could envision a house up on the hill and everything.”

As soon as she purchased the property, Michele started to dream up the details of her ideal home. “Part of my inspiration was to bring in some of the features of my dad’s cabin in El Dorado, like the open concept, stone fireplace, and exposed beams,” she says. “But I also wanted it to have modern features so it didn’t look completely rustic.” Michele assembled a team of professionals, including Legend Builders and Parkco Architects, to help bring this concept to life. For interior design, she has her sister, Andrea Brooks, to thank for the introduction to Ashley Cardiel Interiors; Andrea was already working with the designer to remodel a house of her own in Fayetteville, and she suggested the two get together. “It worked out great, too, because Ashley got me very quickly. There were very few things she would show me that I didn’t like,” Michele says.

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Full Circle

November 2, 2020 by Tiffany Adams

A beloved setting turns out to be the perfect homesite for designer Heather Fuller’s comfortable and casual family home

When Heather and Bryan Fuller were married in a west Little Rock barn 21 years ago, it wasn’t in the plan to move to the property where they said I do. “I never would have guessed we’d be living here and the barn would be a part of our lives forever,” Heather says of the picturesque property that is close enough to the city to allow for an easy commute but far enough away to reap the benefits of country living. “There was nothing out here at that time, and this piece of land had the barn and a cabin that was a bed and breakfast,” she recalls.

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Take Your Time

October 1, 2020 by Tiffany Adams

A blend of early Americana and English influence brings warmth and charm to this collected Little Rock home

“It’s a little Southern, a little English, and a little Colonial,” Donna Dickey says of the Chenal home she shares with her husband, Bruce. Though the couple moved in two and a half years ago, Donna—who served as both interior designer and contractor on the project—still considers the house a work in progress. “The key is patience. I don’t buy anything just to fill a spot,” she says. “I only buy things I love, then I’ll find a spot for them.”

When it comes to décor, this is the intentional mindset Donna has had for decades. “Some of the pieces in my house I’ve had for 30 years,” she says, pointing to collections of antique rugs, nautical-inspired oil paintings, and barley twist furniture and accessories throughout the house. “I like interiors that look like they’ve taken time.”…

Historical Context

October 1, 2020 by Tiffany Adams

In Little Rock, a team of professionals thoughtfully updates a home designed by architect Fay Jones

Maintaining integrity was top priority when interior designer Brittany Nixon Brun and architectural designer Rodney Parham began to update a home by famed Arkansas architect Fay Jones. Built in 1964, Pine Knoll, as the property is known, was in good condition when the new owners purchased it; however, after almost 60 years, it was time to modernize its amenities.

“I was kind of nervous about working on an icon’s project,” Rodney says of Jones, who is the namesake of the University of Arkansas School of Architecture and Design. “I told everyone in my office that I was going to touch it with a feather,” he adds of his careful approach. The homeowners echoed this desire for mindfulness as they spent days researching decisions, sourcing products, and going about the process hand-in-hand with both Rodney and Brittany. “In working on the house, whenever we came to a challenge, we’d always ask ourselves, What would Fay do?” one of the owners says. The saying became a type of mantra for the design team in solving for both planned updates as well as the unforeseen. “This is a case of the right person buying the right house,” Brittany adds. “They wanted everything to feel cohesive and look like it has always been in place.” …

Bringing It Home

October 1, 2020 by Tiffany Adams

Inspired by Texas architecture, a young family works with designer Becky Charton to achieve the look in their central Arkansas new build

For many, the use of natural elements like stone and wood might fall into the category of traditional home aesthetics. However, this contemporary new-construction home makes use of both—along with the clean lines and minimalistic polish you might expect to see in a modern design. “They are a little more contemporary in their taste, and this project was really at the beginning of the trend for this style home,” notes interior designer Becky Charton, who had worked with the owners previously and came onboard in the early stages of planning this house….

Creole Flavor

September 4, 2020 by Tiffany Adams

Storybook Renovations and WaterHouse Market team up to create a New Orleans-inspired abode in Conway

Walking through this home in Conway is like being transported to a historic residence in the French Quarter. From the exposed brick and lantern pendants to the antique art and stocked bar, you would never guess this was once a dilapidated house in central Arkansas. Breathing new life into such a structure is a challenge Niki Thompson of Storybook Renovations invites. Her business is built around flipping homes, all with a precise theme laid out in her head before she ever gets started. “I think of a story first, then make sure every decision lines up with that story. It just results in a really cohesive design,” she says.

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Blended Style

Creative Outlet

Blushing Beauty

Back to Nature

Country Made Modern

Full Circle

Take Your Time

Historical Context

Bringing It Home

Creole Flavor

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At Home in Arkansas