Little Rock Soiree | July 2023
Room Service: Inside Stunning Spaces by Local Designers
by Little Rock Soirée Staff on July 1, 2023
SAFE & SOUND IN STYLE
Designers: Natalie Biles + Stacey Breezeel, Shine ID Studio
Location: Chenal Valley
Photography: Aaron Stone Photography
What were the major goals of this home?
This new construction home was designed to accommodate the homeowner's severe health condition. Her mast cell activation syndrome led to a condition with a severe, often anaphylactic and life-threatening latex allergy. The clients approached the design team needing help with everything from careful material selection to furnishing selection and installation. They not only wanted the home to be healthy, but to be designed in a beautiful, updated traditional style with Old World touches. Indoor air quality and healthy materials were also essential to the project.
The color palette was chosen to provide a clean and serene feel while traditional fabric patterns and furniture forms provide a traditional home aesthetic. We were tasked with not only making the home environment beautiful and comfortable, but also healthy and accessible.
What were the must-haves for the homeowners?
They wanted the home to be healthy and also serve as a retreat and a gathering space, as the health condition keeps the owner almost completely homebound. They wanted a space for their children, grandchildren and friends to gather and entertain.
They had personal requests of creating a gourmet kitchen they could cook and entertain in, as well as personal hobby spaces such as a piano room, wine room and outdoor living.
How did the initial concept evolve en route to the final project, if at all?
After the initial design presentation, the powder bath wallpaper and the fabric in the kitchen were stand-out favorites, and we tailored the remainder of the house to the color palette.
More often than not, a home built with sustainability in mind lends itself to capturing a more modern aesthetic. From the very beginning, we tailored our design to utilize products, materials and finishes that supported the client’s desire for a traditional home aesthetic with Old World touches. This design direction was carried throughout the whole project.
What's your favorite attribute of the home?
There is a sense of peace and comfort as soon as you enter the home. It’s beautiful and inviting. The entry takes you down a hallway filled with personal touches curated just for this family, then the spaces start to open up with gathering spaces filled with sunlight.
It gave us great joy to see the couple with children and grandchildren enjoying the space together.
What lesson did you learn from this project that you'll take with you going forward?
With every design decision we make, we can make choices that have an impact on the health and wellness of a home and our clients. It has challenged us as designers to incorporate more of these practices into each project.