Light and open

Soothing neutral colors, contemporary touches, and cool art promote comfort and elegance in a family room and kitchen.

After renovating a historic residence, John and Trish Newman discovered the past was a bit too close for comfort. "The walls were so confining," Trish says of their hot Springs, Arkansas, home. "They were coming in on all sides."

When the couple decided to update their house, they were inspired by the ranch-style homes that dot the Texas Hill Country landscape around Austin, and they longed for the light and airy feeling they experienced inside those homes. When they returned to hot Springs, the couple drew a picture of what they were looking for and hired architect David French, who turned their dreams into an actual plan that worked with the existing historic structure.

Encouraging Movement

The Newmans wanted as few walls as possible in the home's gathering areas, but the success of an open floor plan depends on more than architecture. The kitchen and family room flow together effortlessly through the use of calm colors and contemporary accents.

The light wood cabinets in the kitchen echo the design and color of the entertainment center and shelves that stand directly opposite in the family room. Neutral upholstered furniture is accented with silk throw pillows. The silk, in shades of chocolate, silver, and gold, mimics the sheen of the stainless steel kitchen appliances and buttery yellow of the cabinets.

The family room's accessories are kept to a minimum, allowing greater impact in displays. Touches of apple green and glossy black jazz up the space. A rug helps define the seating area and separate it from the kitchen. It also contrasts nicely with the hardwood floors and keeps the room from looking too cold, a common issue with contemporary design. A large potted ficus tree softens the harsh lines of the kitchen cabinets and appliances and helps to camouflage a white column between the areas.

Art With Attitude

A whimsical art collection keeps the sophisticated decor from becoming stuffy. For example, a large metal mask, purchased in Austin, hangs above an open stairwell. The mask's curly "hair" matches the iron details found on the wrought iron stair rail. AMY BICKERS MERCER

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Nov 2003
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