25 Aug 2013 An education in traditional
by RaeLynn Callaway
As the kids head back to school I thought it would be neat to highlight a local teacher and take you on a tour of her home. Teachers touch lives forever, and I am so thankful for all the teachers who have made a huge impact and lasting impression on so many lives.
Our featured teacher this year is Stephanie Lovelady. Stephanie has her B.S.E. in elementary education and her master’s in reading. Stephanie started her career in Little Rock but is currently teaching kindergarten at Jim Stone Elementary in Conway.
In her 18 years of teaching she has taught kindergarten, third-, fourth- and fifth-grade. “I love kids,” Stephanie said. “They make me laugh.”
Stephanie said she still remembers her favorite teacher, Mrs. Hogue. “She was a wonderful woman, and I always wanted to be like her.”
Married to builder Rex Lovelady of Conway Custom Homes, Stephanie has had countless opportunities to design, build and decorate many homes. “Being married to a builder has its perks, but it also gets old moving every two years,” Stephanie said. “When the kids were younger we lived a very fast paced life and it helped us keep things cleaned out and organized moving all the time. It was fun and I got to enjoy all the ‘new trends’ in home design.
“Now that it is just Rex, Lily and I, we really plan to stay put. This house is the perfect size for us, and we love our view of the golf course and the central location.”
Stephanie’s style has stayed pretty much the same through the years. “I love traditional,” she said. “A mix of old and rustic with touches of elegance. I’m not a fussy person at all, and I like to keep things simple.”
In the past, Stephanie and Rex used a lot of color on the walls throughout the house, but with this one they wanted to stay neutral and accentuate the stained beams and architectural elements of the home. “I absolutely love the open feel of the great room, kitchen and breakfast area. This is where we live, and it’s a great place to entertain.”
Their new favorite area may be the screened-in porch. “Like any profession, when you live with a builder the house is always a work in progress,” Stephanie said. “We just finished our screened-in porch, and we live out here. We love it! There are still plans for an outdoor kitchen and fireplace. When those are finished, we may never come in!”
A board certified interior designer, RaeLynn Callaway owns CYInteriors (raelynncallaway.com). She and her husband, Bart, have three children and live in Conway.
