01 Mar 2025 Couple of the Month: Becca and Kal Swarna
HER STORY:
I’m naturally the type of person who will pour my whole self into what I do. Over the years, I’ve learned to exist within my limitations and find joy in the simple things. Beauty, originality, sincerity and quality are values that I do my best to live out. I love my family fiercely and think they are the coolest people on the planet.
native of: Floyd (White County).
Children: We have three children: Ethan (8), Haven (6) and Harvest (4).
Education: I have a master’s degree.
Employment: Together, Kal and I started Simplified Hosting, LLC, a short-term rental management company that provides stylish, welcoming places for those visiting Little Rock and the surrounding areas. While we meet clients at any stage of their property’s readiness to host, we love taking on a project that needs renovation and getting to put our creative touch to it. Once the house is all setup, the rest is just icing!
I have one more honest confession about my vocation. I used to work for a church, and even though I felt my soul come uniquely alive when I painted a room or arranged furniture, it never felt as important as my full-time job. Until one day I reread that in the beginning, God created. That I knew. But what did He create? A place for people — to live, to feel safe, to find beauty, companionship and rest. In essence, He created a home! In our work now, that is EXACTLY what I get to do — create a welcoming, temporary home for those traveling to Little Rock. And when I do, I feel the divine pleasure of God. My advice is to find the thing that makes your heart sing and when you have found it, don’t hold back. The world really does need who you were made to be.
Special interests: I love to travel, especially with people I love. I’ll look for any “good enough” reason to pack my bags and go exploring! I’m also a big fan of reading, good food and spending time with Kal and our three amazing, energy-packed kids!
Church activities: Our family is a part of St. Andrew’s Church in Little Rock. We love the way they are so committed to authentically living like Jesus through serving one another and the people of this city.
HIS STORY:
I am a passionate husband, fun dad and a constant innovator who thinks out of the box to get better at everything I do. I am very outgoing and friendly and have never met a stranger. My faith in Christ fuels every aspect of my life and work.
Native of: India.
Education: I have a Bachelor of Arts.
Work: We own Simplified Hosting, LLC.
What inspired you to get into renovations? I was always intrigued about construction even from a very young age. As a kid, I was constantly curious about how things came together in a building. My firsthand experience with this curiosity was fulfilled when I got to volunteer at a teen missions camp that built churches for rural communities in India. After I moved to the U.S., I started to develop a passion for construction and home renovation. The tools, resources and opportunities that were readily available in this country became the perfect sail for my journey into construction. The abundance of time during COVID-19 brought together the perfect marriage of Becca’s gift for design and my passion for construction, and that’s how our business was born.
How do you describe yourself? I am a passionate husband, fun dad and a constant innovator who thinks out of the box to get better at everything I do. I am very outgoing and friendly and have never met a stranger. My faith in Christ fuels every aspect of my life and work.
Church activities: We are members of St. Andrews Anglican church. We love hospitality and supporting missions both locally and globally.
special interests: I like to travel and explore new places, foods, music and culture.
What do you love about living in the 501? I wasn’t sure what to expect when I came to the U.S. I was nervous about finding my place in this culture and society. After living in Arkansas for more than 12 years, I can say with confidence that there is no better place to live and raise my family. People are genuinely kind and loving, and I have never felt like an outsider.
THEIR STORY:
We met in India in 2010 while we were working for nonprofits. In India, young girls ask if your marriage is a “love” or an “arranged” one. We didn’t fall in love (at least at first) but had a very deep peace that God had brought us together. We spent the next year getting to know each other over the internet. We were married in India in 2012 and lived there another 18 months. During that time we lived out of our suitcases and traveled around the country. A heart for hospitality was born and continued to grow over the years. As a family, we are committed to living with open hearts, open hands and open doors.
Working together has its challenges, as does being a cross-cultural couple! Becca has a great eye for seeing what a space can become, while Kal is fantastic at taking an idea and implementing a plan. But there are moments where we have to stop and ask, “OK, who is the decision maker here?” Sometimes, it’s Becca’s area of expertise; other times, it’s Kal’s. As we commit to hearing each other out, we eventually find the path forward. Respect for each other goes a very long way. So does a genuine apology. But overall, we’ve found that working together is a dream come true. Our work highlights both of our natural and developed skills and when combined, we’re able to create a beautiful space, and then open it up for others to enjoy.
