Faulkner Lifestyle
Andrea and Scott Champlin of Conway reached a common crossroads of home ownership; should they move to a larger home or remodel their current house?
Their two sons, Adam and Andrew, were quickly outgrowing their bunk beds. Their kitchen needed a facelift, as did other areas of the home. Unsure of the best option to accommodate their family’s changing needs, Andrea called over her friend and interior designer, Beth Reed of Design Actually, to see if she had any helpful ideas.
“And I had a lot of them!” laughs Beth. “We’ve been neighbors for years… I knew in order to keep them in our neighborhood, I would need to convince them to stay. After they saw the 3-D renderings I did, they were sold on renovating.” The Champlins embarked on the remodel during the pandemic, requiring the dynamics of the process.
Local contractor Precision Construction used a visqueen barrier to block the large majority of the house in an effort to keep a safe distance. “Each time I came over, I unzipped the barrier to show them samples,” says Beth. The Champlin kids created their own adventure by making beds from cardboard boxes. The refrigerator was placed in the dining room. “It was especially challenging for Andrea, doing home school with three kids in such a chaotic space. Also, Scott was leading his company by conducting Zoom conference calls in the next room. Luckily, they are super creative and had fun during what could have been an extremely stressful process.”
Beth also pivoted due COVID. “I distinctly remember setting samples on my front porch and asking Andrea to walk over and look. We even talked about our vision through my dining room window. We had a good laugh!” she says. The process was naturally collaborative throughout. “Andrea and her family have such bright personalities, and they wanted a fresh start… after Andrea provided a couple of inspiration images, I began editing.” Beth begins the design process by focusing on a singular image or object that inspires her and using it as the project’s focal point. From there, she adds elements such as individual backsplash tiles, large paint samples, cabinet door profiles, light fixtures, and furniture pieces that evoke the same feeling “until the picture is complete with all the layers that visually remind me of the family.”
Beth says Precision Construction did a fabulous job executing their vision, and the craftsmanship was excellent. Design Actually provided all furnishings in the living room and kitchen. “Scott had three requirements; we had to have a comfortable recliner, a Wolf range, and a subzero refrigerator. We all know recliners can put a damper on a beautiful space. Design Actually travels to furniture markets throughout the country to find just the right furniture for our clients.” Beth was able to source a powered recliner with a retracting back that offered comfort while saving space without sacrificing the desired aesthetic. “Andrea was nervous about recliners, but after we showed her the gorgeous blue leather swatches, she was sold.”
In addition, with three active kids, the Champlin family needed a beautiful living room that allowed for fun and function. “When you look at photos of the living room, it appears they need to be super careful,” says Beth. She had the foresight and knowledge to have two matching sofas custom-built to the perfect size and to be constructed of performance fabrics, namely feather down-filled cushions wrapped around high-resilience foam with hand-tied construction. “In fact, once we gathered all the fabric and carpet swatches, I put ketchup and red wine on them, and the stains were no match for the performance fabrics; they came right off,” says Beth. They also added storage space. “Andrea and her kids are incredibly creative, and they needed significant storage for their crafting supplies. Looking at the antique glass cabinets, you would never know there are hundreds of paint bottles behind the doors.”
Their daughter Annabel’s room is what dreams are made of; it is bright with shades of pastel and gold and a fabulous chandelier selected by its occupant. Beth even added an entirely new bathroom to the space, which was previously an upstairs storage room. “Scott and Andrea decided to convert the existing storage space into a usable bedroom for Annabel to love… I scanned the room and produced a 3-D model. The storage room had two large skylights, and my goal was to keep the natural sunlight flowing in, giving it the feeling of a well-lit loft. The angles of the room proved challenging. In fact, to keep the skylights, we had to make the shower 11 feet long,” says Beth.
The end result of the remodel is a classic and chic space that exudes a relaxing, clean vibe. The bright home invites you right in and provides a beautiful living area for the family to enjoy. Adds Beth, “I am thankful that the Champlin family trusted me to remodel their home and I cherish their friendship!”
