23 May 2015 'The perfect family home'

Posted at 8:07 PMh in Food & Home Entertaining, Home by

by RaeLynn Callaway

Bruce and Donna Dickey knew when they pulled up in front of 21 Sugar Maple Ridge that they were home.

“We fell in love with the exterior of the house and the landscaping,” Donna said. “It was more like a southern plantation sitting on four acres than a house for sale in the middle of Conway.”

Even though the interior style didn’t reflect the couple’s eclectic taste, they knew the home had good bones and they could make it their own. “I saw the possibilities and what it could be,” said Donna.

The Dickeys, moving from Little Rock, wanted privacy, lots of outdoor living and easy access to the interstate with the convenience of being close to the city, “We wanted to downsize but still have room for our four children, their spouses and our grandchildren,” said Donna. “It’s the perfect family house. Every bedroom has its own bathroom. It’s a perfect set up for grown kids to come home with their families.”

The Dickeys enjoy their outdoor living area and sitting around the fire pit with the wonderful sounds of their beautiful rock water feature.

Another important feature to the Dickeys was the outdoor living. “We live on the porches,” Donna said. “The back porches are screened in and we have a beautiful water feature. They are perfect for grilling and entertaining. In the winter, we sit around the fire pit. From our front porch we enjoy the natural landscape and all the wild life.”

The Dickeys repainted the entire house and had 5-foot hickory plank floors installed throughout. They replaced all the plumbing and lighting fixtures and remodeled the kitchen and master bath. They also opened up the foyer by having French doors put in that open into the office.

“We have an eclectic style,” Donna said. “I don’t know that it can be defined but its English Cottage meets Nantucket New England style of the South.”

The kitchen, breakfast and hearth room previously had honey-stained cabinetry, gold walls and black granite. Now, the space features the simplicity of white cabinets, Carrera marble counter tops and hickory floors that make this space open and inviting.The kitchen, breakfast and hearth room previously had honey-stained cabinetry, gold walls and black granite. Now, the space features the simplicity of white cabinets, Carrera marble counter tops and hickory floors that make this space open and inviting.

Donna got a lot of her ideas and inspiration from Houzz and Pinterest. She also thanks Presley from The Pottery Barn and the folks at Ethan Allen in Little Rock for helping her pull the furniture, draperies and bedding together. “I knew I wanted it to be open and airy. I wanted it to feel comfortable and lived in,” she said. “This house has given us a lifestyle we could only dream of. It is a wonderful place; the perfect family home.”

 

A board certified interior designer, RaeLynn Callaway owns CYInteriors (raelynncallaway.com). She and her husband, Bart, have three children and live in Conway.

 

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