Dwell: Where the Heart Is
photography by Janet Warlick
awrence FinLn serves as CEO for The Village at Hendrix in Conway, Arkansas. The community is an idyllic neighborhood with residential and commercial spaces set in a picturesque community in which nature and man are at harmony. So, it comes as no surprise that Finn, an out-of-the-box thinker, would want to live in a setting that espouses these same ideals.
Welcome to his home in Argenta.
“Argenta is going through an exciting resurgence. I was drawn to its history — all the businesses along Main Street, the fact that you can walk to so much, like the [Dickey Stephens] Ballpark, the trolley and the historic district … it all adds to a quality of life that is pretty special,” Finn said.
Dining Room
Helen Lockhart, designer and owner of Red Chaise Designs, assisted Finn in incorporating modern conveniences with items that echo the home’s design, such as the distressed-wood dining table and ladder back chairs in the dining room.
The dining room’s sideboard also features a wine rack adding convenience and aesthetic value. The kitchen, living and dining rooms are open spaces awash with light, thanks to the abundance of windows and transoms, dressed with simple window treatments and wood blinds that contract vertically.
Kitchen
Space is at a premium in this cozy abode, “So the island is outfitted with pullout drawers versus cabinets,” Lockhart said. Distressed maple was used on the floors throughout Finn’s home, and the walls painted warmer tones in fitting with the craftsmen style. They also incorporated modern touches such as stainless steel appliances, yellow river granite counters — chosen for its distinctive veining —and subway-style tiles for the backsplash.
Layout
To achieve a large home feel without the maintenance and expense of a large home — “everybody’s downsizing” — Finn devised a “win-win” situation: build a home that includes a small condominium that can be used as income property. “The condo is connected to my home, but has its own private entry. It’s a testament to the design; it works well, yet the residents don’t feel crowded,” he said.
Master Bedroom
The master suite features a door made of reclaimed cypress. Finn had it placed on a track for ease. “This also allows us to display its beauty — like a piece of art — even when the door is open to the bath,” he said. The master bath features a spa-inspired slate tile shower with rain and side showerheads.
