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A WARM WELCOME
PRETTY + POLISHED A porcelain arabesque backsplash, Taj Mahal quartzite countertops, and an antique runner lend an air of sophistication to the hardworking kitchen. A window over the sink provides a view of Rattlesnake Ridge. “Even when I’m doing dishes, I’m reminded why we moved out here in the first place,” Vicki says.
comfortable dining area, spacious prep zones, and warm woods mixed with a black-and-white palette. “Whenever we start house plans, we always start with the kitchen because it’s the heart of the home,” Mona says. “We started talking about accent colors because we knew whatever we picked was probably going to be something we would use throughout the rest of the house. Vicki immediately said she was drawn to black.” To this end, “Black Magic” by SherwinWilliams covers the lower perimeter cabinets and two taller cabinets on either end of the main wall. The hue is repeated in a nearby walk-in pantry, and black bamboo-back chairs also tie into the scheme.
Mona helped carry the Burnetts’ updated style throughout the house, including in the master bathroom, which is an airy retreat from the darker palette seen in the shared spaces. Over the soaking tub, the designer incorporated a cherished painting that used to hang in the dining room of the couple’s former house. “I love the way Mona is able to come in and interpret a space,” Vicki says. “Her creativity isn’t held captive by what used to be. I love this piece here and never would have thought to use it in this space; It makes you see the art in a new light.”
RELAXING RETREAT In the master bath, the homeowners wanted a light and airy atmosphere without the maintenance of a porous material like marble. “The flooring is a porcelain tile that looks like stone, and we used the same material in the shower. It’s attractive but indestructible,” Mona says. The tile’s herringbone pattern, a clean-lined chandelier, and a mix of warm and cool metals speak to the home’s updated yet timeless design.
—Vicki Burnett, homeowner
Design Resources BUILDER Bill Parkinson, Parkinson Building Group INTERIOR DESIGN Mona Thompson and Talena Ray, Providence Design APPLIANCES Metro Appliances & More CABINETRY AND HARDWARE Duke Custom Cabinets COUNTERTOPS Stone World Designs and Triton Stone Group FIXTURES Falk Plumbing Supply FLOORING, RUGS, AND TILE ProSource of Little Rock FURNITURE AND LIGHTING Providence Design PAINT Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams WINDOW COVERINGS Mountjoy’s Custom Draperies
A Warm
WELCOME
WRITER TIFFANY ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHER RETT PEEK STYLIST STEPH SMITH
In Sherwood, Sha Davari helps a longtime client perfect her newconstruction kitchen and bath
Art of Design owner Sha Davari and her client, Nancy Miller, have a history together; the two initially met during their high school years, and the designer has now helped Nancy and her husband, Bob, with three homes. “When we decided to build, we knew we definitely wanted to use Sha. This is going to be our last home, and we wanted to get it right,” Nancy says. While Sha helped with the overall design, the kitchen and master bath were two spaces where her expertise proved invaluable. “I tend to like more tans and taupes, and Sha really went with that and made it work,” Nancy says. “She is so good at getting a vision of what you want and then making it happen.”
Since Nancy and Bob both enjoy cooking, a spacious kitchen with plenty of seating for their children and grandchildren was a priority. Comfortable barstools at the large island allow for this, while the adjoining dining space has chairs on castors that can easily roll into the chef’s area. The contrast of painted cabinetry and a wood island break up the space and signal defined zones within the open floor plan. Accent colors were taken from the chandelier over the island, a find from Art of Design. “We got the black and gold palette going from the light fixture, and I love the way those colors pulled everything together,” Sha says. Nancy had purchased the painting seen in the adjoining dining space years ago at The Showroom in Little Rock; this, along with the new sideboard and drapery fabric Sha selected, repeated the hues throughout the spaces.
“She wanted the home to be warm and inviting—and, most importantly, for it to have a cohesive flow,” Sha says. With this thought in mind, several materials were carried into the master bath, including the travertine tiles, cabinetry hardware, and the wood flooring, which flows throughout the home, unifying all the spaces.
