We had a great time getting to know the sweet Pryor family. Jeremy and Janine Pryor moved to Northwest Arkansas from Seattle with their adorable one-year-old son Finley. This was one of the bigger projects we’ve worked on. Good thing the outside of their house is simply gorgeous as is and we didn’t need to do anything there, because the inside was a different story. Lots to do in there!

The inside of the house didn’t reflect the outside of the house at all, nor did it represent who the Pryors are. The house was clearly built as a custom home for a specific taste. It had lots of loud, conflicting colors going on, wild wallpaper and intricate dated trim details all over. They felt like they were moving into a house that belonged to someone else and wasn’t really theirs. Our goal was to give this family a home that is more casual, cozy, updated and much more their style.

BEFORE

One of the things that made the biggest difference in the living room (and throughout the rest of the house) was taking out the old flooring and replacing it with white oak. The consistent flooring makes everything look bigger and flow better. It all looks so much brighter now. The other big change was to update the huge fireplace. It was dated with intricate loopy designs that were popular in the early 2000s. We removed the old fireplace exterior and asked one of our go-to professionals, Chris Latham, to build a new marble-like surround. Now the fireplace looks much more streamlined and modern. We also took down an old chandelier and replaced it with a large, modern ceiling fan. Jeremy asked us to replace the large window with doors that would open up to the patio and make the backyard more accessible. The new doors look great and make for an immediate indoor/outdoor space. The whole living room is now an elegant, warm and cozy gathering place.

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture, Rug & Art | Howse

Living Room Fan | Kichler

Can Lighting | Kichler

Living Room Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

BEFORE

The kitchen needed a total rehaul, including knocking down the wall between the living room and the kitchen and widening the entrance from the hallway. This improved the whole flow of the house and let in a lot more light. We went right over the old (ghoulish) wallpaper with primer and a fresh coat of paint. Since we removed cabinet storage when we got rid of some wall space, we added storage back in with a large island that has cabinets on both sides. We also added custom cabinetry with super-durable quartz countertops. By painting the cabinets a nice, deep shade of teal we created a modern and homey feel.

We finished off the kitchen with new appliances and lighting… and, did you catch the gorgeous indoor garden bench Dave built? It’s such a simple and attractive way to display plants.

AFTER

SOURCES

Cabinets | Premier Concepts

Runner Rug | Turkish Trunk

Appliances | Metro

Kitchen Faucet | Overstock

Kitchen Sink | Overstock

Kitchen Pendants | Lumens

Kitchen Drawer Knobs | Amazon

Countertops Template & Install | Arkansas Granite & Marble 

Countertop Material | Fabstone 

Cabinet Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Vanderberg Blue #721

Dining Room Light | Kichler

Dining Room Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

BEFORE

All the bedroom needed was a big touchup. We removed the metallic paint from the ceiling and took down the wallpaper and chandelier. Then, to make it feel calmer and more serene, we chose a lighter paint color. The textured window treatments add warmth, and the full sized sofa in front of the window maximizes that space for a cozy reading spot.

The bathroom was a little bit more work. There was a lot of tile to remove, including some very well-installed crown molding tile. We installed new flooring and light colored vanities with quartz countertops for a sleek look. The green tiles make the shower feel so serene, and the special-ordered handmade bathtub adds a luxurious modern touch to a traditional bathroom. I chose silver fixtures for the bathtub and brass for the shower and sinks. It’s OK to mix metals; different shades can still look cohesive and modern if you do it right.

AFTER

SOURCES

Bedroom Furniture | Howse

Bedroom Fan | Kichler

Tub | Vast Studio

Bathroom Rugs | Turkish Trunk

Bathroom Sinks | Gerber

Bathroom Faucets | Gerber

Hand Shower | Gerber

Shower Tile Floor | Home Depot

Shower Tile Walls | Home Depot

Bathroom Lighting | Lamps Plus

Bedroom Wall and Trim Paint Color | Farrow and Ball Jitney No. 293

Bathroom Wall and Trim Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

Bathroom Vanity | Farrow and Ball Jitney No. 293

What a fun space to fix up! I love working with unexpected rooms that have unusual angles. The room had been originally painted a dark blue all around which had given it a cavernous feel. It was easy to freshen it up with new carpet, lighter paint and some fun sea animal decals. Dave built an amazing pirate ship play area for Finley that Luke tested out and approved. We also added a little built-in table for Finley to color or maybe build Legos when he’s a little bigger. For the larger, front part of the room, we maximized the space by turning it into a comfy TV viewing area.

The Pryors have a beautiful property, so we definitely wanted to make sure they get to enjoy that as much as possible. The pergola they had in the backyard was pretty, but they really needed a more substantial cover in order to make it enjoyable out there. We extended the roof over the patio for more shade, and now that the living room has doors that lead directly to this spot, it’s all the more usable. We also added an outdoor kitchen with a small refrigerator and built-in grill. My favorite part, though, is the bird city! Dave really outdid himself with the Seattle-theme Space Needle bird feeder and skyline housing. I know Finley and his dad are going to love feeding the birds out here!