2022 Profiles in Home Design

2022

PROFILES in home design

SPECIAL FEATURE PRESENTED BY

WORDS Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick some interviews have been edited for length and clarity

Do South® Magazine is proud to recognize the talents and contributions of architects, select home builders, interior designers, and invaluable suppliers in our community. They strive for excellence and are committed to providing their clientele the very best. Join us as we salute the passion they share for their profession!

2022

PROFILES in home design

SPECIAL FEATURE PRESENTED BY

WORDS Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick some interviews have been edited for length and clarity

Do South® Magazine is proud to recognize the talents and contributions of architects, select home builders, interior designers, and invaluable suppliers in our community. They strive for excellence and are committed to providing their clientele the very best. Join us as we salute the passion they share for their profession!

Acme Brick, Tile & Stone

With well over a century in business and a nationwide network of resources, no job is too big or complicated for Acme Brick, Tile & Stone. “When you deal with Acme, you’re not just dealing with the Fort Smith office,” says Kelly Haley, general manager. “We have forty-seven sales locations, and we have seventeen brick manufacturing plants. Having forty-seven sales offices, our ability to obtain material is considerably higher simply because of our buying power. We order in bulk; when you order pallets of something, it often makes it easier to get your hands on it a little quicker than ordering it by the piece. It’s a big plus.”

Despite its national reach, Acme’s locations don’t operate like a typical chain. Each store is invested in the community, supporting local fundraisers, and taking time to get to know their customers personally. It’s one of the main reasons Acme Brick will soon mark 132 years in business.

“We support our builders, we support our local Home Builders Association,” Kelly says. “We’re very active in the community as well, which sets us apart from a lot of our competitors. We cater to local architects, homebuilders, remodelers.”

Perhaps one of the most surprising things is the range of building and remodeling products it carries. “We’re more of a one-stop shop than what a lot of people realize,” he says. “People still don’t know that about us, even though we’ve been around for such a long time. They may not realize our showroom is open to the public, or they see Acme Brick and they think it’s just brick. They don’t realize all the things we offer.”

“We carry an excellent selection of tile. We also have outdoor grills, iron doors, plus all the masonry tools, cement and different components that pull a project together to improve the home.”

BURTON POOLS AND SPAS

Many things define Burton Pools and Spas as the premiere company of its kind in the region, but the most fundamental is the ethical and moral grounding that guides the company’s efforts each day. “We have scripture on the wall of our stores that reads, ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers labor in vain,’” says David Burton, founder. “We believe we have a duty to be good stewards of what we’ve been given. That’s number one.”

David says the company’s Christian principles are reflected in the care Burton Pools and Spas takes in providing recreation that brings families together. “We started with the desire to give all families a chance to have a swimming pool,” he says. “Before us, all the pools in our area were for the elite. We started saying, ‘Average guy, you can have a pool in your backyard.' We’ve talked about vacationing in your backyard for years, but it wasn’t until covid that people understood what a gigantic thing it was to make your backyard

a living space. Now, backyards are an extension of the inside of homes, which makes jobs more sophisticated. People went from just having a pool to showing what they can build around it.”

Since launching in 1978, Burton Pools and Spas has grown into an industry award-winning, one-stop shop for all things water. In addition to installing in-ground and above-ground pools, the company is a leading dealer of spas and provides a full line of pool chemicals, equipment, service, and repair.

It’s also branched into creating backyard elements that accentuate a pool such as fire pits, fireplaces, and outdoor kitchens. But no matter how big the company gets the joy of the business still boils down to the simple things. “In forty-four years, the one constant is people love water,” David says. “The thing that really motivated us at the very beginning was thinking about how we could bring a family together, see people smile and laugh and enjoy the product that we put in. That was a big deal to us then and it still is today.”

D & D Floor Covering

Walk into D&D Floor Covering and a few things stand out, like how the friendly and experienced staff greet you and offer expertise. You’ll also notice many different options, from hardwood and luxury vinyl to carpet to tile, stone, and laminate. You also see they offer window coverings and fabrics.

You might be suprised to know the attentive customer service and expert product recommendations have evolved through three generations of the Dean family, starting with J.D. Dean who opened Dean’s Carpet in Fort Smith with his son, Don, who would open D&D Floor Covering with his son, Donnie, in 1996. Today, Donnie and his wife Wendy own the company, a destination floor covering retailer for the entire region.

“We do things others aren’t always willing to do,” Wendy says to explain the store’s longevity. “I’ve gone out and re-stained grout

for customers. I’ve put sealer on for them, and showed them how to maintain their new purchase.”

Constantly evolving, D&D now offers window treatments, countertops, sinks, faucets and custom showers to help provide a turnkey solution for homeowners. “We have a paint deck for everything that’s sold around here,” Wendy says. “We can pull a customer’s existing, or remodel paint color or help chose one to complement their new flooring.” From free onsite consultations to an ever-changing inventory of the latest in hard surface flooring and carpet, D&D continues to do business the right way.

“We are strong Christians, and we feel blessed to have been able to serve our customers all these years,” Wendy says. “Our number one goal has always been to make our customers happy, and everyone goes above and beyond to make that happen every day.”

CHASEN GARRETT ARCHITECTS

For fifteen years, Chasen Garrett Architects has developed a reputation for designing spaces that function well for their clients, inspire their users and are beautiful to experience.

“Mies van der Rohe, a well-known twentieth century architect, once stated ‘Form follows function,’” Chasen says. “This ordering principle is our primary concern for any building or public space – it must first function properly then be beautifully formed. If it does not serve the needs of the client, then the project will not be a success regardless of its beauty and grace.

“A building certainly relies on brick and mortar to create space, but achieving an authentic human experience also requires the designer to reconcile the tangible with the intangible. Natural light and air are also building materials. A designer needs to address the transient rainstorm with their design, and they must find ways to inspire or subdue with color when appropriate. Good design is much more than black lines on white paper.”

Chasen was born and raised in the River Valley and was heavily influenced by the rural and agrarian character of the area. His family has roots in design and construction as well. This range of perspectives, combined with his own training, help craft his design ideals and create beautiful and functional structures.

“We have a long history in the hospitality and multi-family sectors,” he said. “Many of our efforts are now focused locally, but we’ve also completed projects from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to Oregon, and from Chicago to Louisiana.

“Additionally, we’ve been blessed to be a part of several of the outstanding projects being developed by the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education. Celebration Garden and Wellness Park, Haas Hall, and the Research Institute and Health and Wellness Center at the former Golden Living corporate office building are all projects that we have been involved with for ACHE.”

Of all the functions required of an architect, client relations is what Chasen enjoys the most. Having a strong relationship with his clients is a critical element in understanding the needs of a project. "Architecture is part art and part science,” he says. “An architect must think about how metals interact with each other, how concrete reacts chemically to develop strength and how the physics of structures work. These are all issues we must be comfortable with. Architects must consider the clients’ needs first, and then place those needs into the environment of our physical world, the realm of life safety and building codes, and bring together all those regulating factors to cast the vision and create the best solution for the project.”

Don Wise Construction

Any business with a four-decade track record of satisfied customers is doing something right and that’s just the kind of long-standing reputation Don Wise Construction has built.

“We do a lot of spec houses and some custom homes and every one of them gets the same expertise,” says Don Wise Jr., whose father started the company forty-four years ago. “We’ll build twenty-five to thirty homes every year and we put a lot of pride into every one of them.”

The firm is as well-respected by its network of subcontractors and suppliers as it is by homeowners, which is one reason why Don Wise Construction stayed busy through the pandemic, materials shortages and all.

“I think it helps that our contractors and our subcontractors have been with us throughout the years,” Don says. “Some have even carried on from working with my dad. I think that’s a real advantage, because we’re using people who we know are going to deliver quality work. We have a lot of long-term suppliers as well. We take a lot of pride in relationships.”

Don says the trends for homes today lean toward smaller footprints that make intelligent use of space, extending even into the outdoors.

“One of the things we build into almost every house is a nice outdoor living area,” he says. “We take a back patio and add a cathedral porch that flows nicely from interior to exterior living spaces. We’ll add a patio fireplace or an outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill. That’s one of the main selling points of our homes that not everybody else does.”

Another feature that sets them apart is use of technology which keeps homeowners up-todate on their project. “We have a lot of technology that allows the client to track their job, change orders, make color selections, see schedules,” Don says. “The client has access to their building plans at all times and we do weekly updates where we go out to a job and do a weekly log. It gives an overview of everything, including photos of what got done all week. That’s been an extremely popular feature that we offer.”

Asked what lessons his father taught him that are still in play today, Don says attention to detail has been and still is a primary focus. “The stuff most people don’t notice, that’s where we stand out,” he says. “Dad even put extra effort into the footings, even though the customer never sees that. Because of him, we still do more than what’s called for. He used to say, ‘If you don’t have good footings, the rest of the house doesn’t really matter.’”

Elite Roofing

Excellent craftsmanship using the best materials is the formula Elite Roofing follows and it shows. The company, which services both residential and commercial projects, is one of the most respected in the River Valley for new builds, replacement and roof repair. “The consumer is really taking a risk when they shop on price alone,” says Kendall Hogan, co-owner. “Quality of materials and workmanship can really vary from company to company and most customers don’t know if the company they have hired is buying seconds or first-off-the-line quality product. They don’t know their experience or work history. They don’t know if that individual has insurance. We provide that information before a customer can even ask for it, that’s how proud we are of our reputation and how willing we are to stand behind our work.”

The company has been building their reputation since its founding in 2004, accelerated since 2012 under current ownership. Workers

are certified in the installation of every product they carry for both shingled and metal roofs. Elite Roofing is certified by building products manufacturers GAF, Tamko and CertainTeed as masters of their craft. “As new products come out, new techniques come out, we take the time to educate our workforce. We don’t have a problem picking up new information,” says Gavin Collins, co-owner. “We welcome the opportunity to refine our skills, that keeps us a top-of-the-line company”

Elite serves an area encompassing the River Valley, Northwest Arkansas and parts of Oklahoma. Free no-obligation inspections are part of the award-winning Elite Roofing difference. “Our goal is to provide exceptional service, which helps us build lifetime relationships with our clients,” Gavin says. “We have a lot of repeat customers as a result of that. When you care about what you do, it shows, and we try to go the extra mile to make the customer happy."

Kendall adds, “As we like to say, Elite Roofing isn’t here just to protect your home or business, but to protect your loved ones inside.”

Lites Etcetera

For more than 20 years, Lites Etcetera has built a loyal following among homeowners and contractors by providing the highest in customer service and providing the best selection, including the latest and newest lighting styles. But as new co-owner Kelsey Przybysz says, the real secret ingredient in the store’s success formula isn’t what’s new; in fact, quite the opposite.

“All of our employees have been with the company for ten-plus years,” she says. “This is their life – they each have a very good role, they’re knowledgeable and excellent at what they do.”

Kelsey, who took ownership of the store with her husband Hayden and business partners Kevin and Brittany Faulkner in August, said the value of the team’s experience cannot be overstated. In a world where lighting can be purchased a million different ways, the overthe-top personal touch of Lites Etcetera still manages to stand out.

“Years ago, they decided that taking care of people and making it as easy as possible was going to always be at the top of everyone’s priority list,” she says. “For example, when we deliver your lights, we don’t just drop them on a pallet in your garage. They are labeled and placed in the room where they are to be installed just to make things a little easier for builders, electricians and the homeowner. We get a lot of positive feedback on that.”

As the only store in the area exclusively dedicated to lighting, Kelsey says customer expectations of Lites Etcetera are high for knowledgeable staff, unique inventory and great advice for their lighting needs. It’s a standard the next generation of company ownership is more than ready to meet. “Our goal is to introduce a whole new generation of customers to our store for an almost boutique-like shopping experience,” she says. “We’re not the place to come if you want your home to look like everyone else’s. In the last month we’ve opened up at least three new lines of lights. We want to be able to cater to people who want something unique that sets them apart.”

LUMBER ONE

In a world full of impersonal big box chains, it’s nice to know there are still hometown stores that take the time to know their customers as well as their product needs. Van Buren-based Lumber One is such a company. “Four members of our team have been here since day one, over twenty years ago,” says Brett Green, general manager. “We’ve got several more who’ve been here over fifteen years. As a result, our people know what they’re talking about and what’s involved with the building process from start to finish.”

Lumber One offers services that truly set it apart, starting with its custom door fabrication shop. “Our door shop is definitely a strong selling point of our operation, not many lumber yards have that option,” Brett says. “We’ll take raw materials and build a door to the customer’s specifications. Which can include different door styles, sizes, and can include a wide array of window choices. That includes interior and exterior doors.”

Another service is project estimating to help give builders and homeowners a projected cost of materials for their job. “We can take a blueprint and figure out a material list to give potential customers a quote,” Brett says. “We’ve got a full-time estimator on staff and that’s what he does; he takes a blueprint, does a takeoff, then calculates an estimate on how much material a job will take. From that, we can provide the builder or potential customer with a quote on estimated materials for that job.”

Lumber One’s delivery service is another strong feature that’s helpful to keeping customers’ jobs and projects on schedule. “We have a truck fleet that allows us to handle just about any type of job,” Brett says. “You’re not going to have to wait a week to get your materials. In some cases, we can even get an order delivered the same day or next day, depending on the size of the order and if it’s in stock. This separates us from most of our competitors in the area.”

SPICER INTERIORS

Katherine Spicer has one simple philosophy when it comes to serving her growing clientele: Deliver the very best in interior design creating warm, inviting living spaces that tell a story about the owner.

“I believe that every home should be a reflection of who we are,” she says. “I make a special effort to talk to clients and ask them a lot of questions about how they live, what they like, what they dislike, what their hobbies are. I gather as much information as possible to create an environment that reflects them. I’m not interested in designing spaces that look great but don’t function well. I’m totally committed to telling the client’s story by designing a room that says something about them.”

Graduating from Sheffield School of Interior Design in New York, Katherine opened her Fort Smith studio in 2012 and has built a large and satisfied clientele of residential and commercial clients.

Whether designing for one room or an entire building, she brings the same impeccable taste and attention to detail to every job. She’s even developed three tiers of service to accommodate the different needs of her customers.

“We offer what we call a Strategy Session,” she says. “It’s a two-hour, one-on-one meeting where we go over the house and discuss the problems they’re facing and address the solutions.

"Another tier is Interior Design Plan Only, which includes a design plan for a room or several rooms. We compile a shopping list and the client orders furniture and furnishings on their own. And, of course, we offer a Full-Service Interior Design plan which covers everything from beginning to end.”

Katherine said using an interior designer makes a space function better through the most efficient placement of furniture, not to mention improving the aesthetics. “With all the stress and pressures of modern life, people should have a beautiful oasis to come home to,” she says. “Why settle for a home that looks plain when it can be fabulous!”

Rucker Fine Homes

Emily Rucker is a groundbreaker on many levels. Not only is she unique in her role as a woman builder in an industry overwhelmingly dominated by men, she’s known for building custom and spec homes that function as beautifully as they look.

“No one wants to come home and do repairs at night, so our homes have very little maintenance to them,” she says. “They’re energy efficient. They’re green, they have cellulose insulation as well as high-efficiency heating and air units, tankless water heaters, all the things that keep the utility bills low. And, they have the aesthetics to match, such as a large open kitchen/living room family-type plan that people want today. If you’re in the kitchen cooking, you can see the TV and you’re not sheltered from your family and everything going on. They’re very easy to entertain in, with large islands and powder rooms for company. They’re very beautiful homes, inside and out.”

Location is another plus, as Rucker Fine Homes are found in some of the most desirable developments in the River Valley, including Pinnacle Park in Chaffee Crossing, Cisterna Villa, Belle Chasse and Blaylock Ranch in Alma. Homes typically range from 1,800 to 2,500 square feet.

Emily knows her customers because she and her children – son Chapen Rucker and daughter Whitney Ware – take time to listen. She said the company’s ability to relate to female clients, who tend to make the majority of design decisions in a family, is a particular advantage.

“I’ve had a lot of women in the past tell me they enjoy working with us because they feel like they can say anything about what they want instead of feeling somewhat intimidated by other companies,” Emily says. “Women feel like they can explain to us what it is that they want, what they’re looking for, what they like and what they want to change. This enables me to keep them on budget and make things more compatible with their expectations.”

Monica and Jeremy Ibison of Keller WIlliams Platinum Realty, are Realtors ® for Rucker Fine Homes and vouch for the attention the company pays to its clients as well as their attention to detail that borders on the obsessive. “Rucker Fine Homes goes above and beyond,” Monica says. “Emily, Whitney and Chapen all walk through the homes they’re building multiple times. Every little detail, every caulk bead is double-checked, every cabinet door adjusted. It’s just outstanding quality that you can see and feel when you walk into one of their homes. They really pay attention to the details.”

The Paint Store

In more than thirty years in the retail business Sue Moore, owner of The Paint Store, has seen a little bit of everything, including the rise of big box and online competition that has been the demise of many Main Street businesses.

Yet under her direction, The Paint Store has not only survived, it’s become a fixture for top-quality paint, brushes, accessories and expert advice.

“I’ve sold paint to generations of people,” Sue says. “Our thirty-four years of experience has given us the ability to discuss whatever the customer is trying to accomplish. We help them work through obstacles that they may have or give them insider information that we’ve learned over the years. We like to have conversations with people.”

And ask any contractor, homeowner or commercial account who’s shopped The Paint Store and they’ll tell you it spoils them for shopping anywhere else. To understand just how far Sue’s service-first mentality goes, just look at her mammoth card catalog, arranged by customer, detailing every purchase.

“When we started The Paint Store, I felt it was important to keep records of the colors customers purchased,” she says. “You always hear, ‘I can’t ever go back and get the same thing twice. This gallon doesn’t match the first one.’

“I developed a system where we keep those records on index cards complete with a wet sample of every gallon we mix on the back of that card. This way, we can maintain the consistency of the color and sheen of the paint. Some people keep files on the computer but without that sample, you really don’t know if the paint will match, because you don’t have anything to refer to.” Other unique services include on-site color consultations in clients’ homes or with builders and designers who bring in fabric, tile and floor covering samples to match just the right shade.

“There’s only so much hard surfaces can do to make a room,” she says. “The paint is the glue that brings everything together.” A visit to The Paint Store is more than just a great shopping experience, it’s also an abbreviated tour of Sue’s life. (Which explains why it’s the only paint store on the planet that also sells certified grass-fed beef cuts and freerange chicken eggs from M&M Farms, which Sue owns with her husband Tom.) After three decades, The Paint Store has brought her as much satisfaction as it has to her clientele.

“We’re so grateful for the people who have supported us all these years,” she says. “We love being part of the community and we like to think we’ve made it a little more beautiful, one gallon at a time.”