Fixing up this home for Rikki and her son, Pearson, brought me so much joy. Rikki bought this small cedar cabin as a newly single mom, having just gone through a difficult divorce, when Pearson was a toddler. In that season, she prayed it would be a safe, secure, peaceful, loving and hopeful home – and it has been! The cabin was simple and rustic, and a perfect fit for the two who were just getting back on their feet. The quiet space in Bentonville (near loved ones) surrounded by woods was just what they needed.  

Ten years later, the cabin was still home, but Rikki and Pearson had outgrown it, and it needed a lot of maintenance and updating. Pearson, now a teenager, was still sharing the upstairs space with his mom and having to walk through her bedroom to get to his small alcove. 

The two of them still loved the feeling of being nestled in the woods and living near family and friends. They loved their cabin and didn’t want to give it up. Pearson even says he wants to keep the house forever when he grows up. 

Our goal was to repair and replace everything needed to restore the cabin and make it safe and functional. At the same time, we wanted to make it even better than they had dreamed by adding special touches throughout and making it a place where they would feel proud to invite their friends and family.

BEFORE

Located in a heavily wooded area, this little cabin already had a peaceful feel to it, but it was looking a little outdated. We fixed up its wraparound porch by replacing the old wood-and-wire railing with a more updated black metal railing. We also beefed up the existing columns with thicker wood, making them stand out more and creating a nice warm contrast to the dark paint we chose for the exterior. We also put in a gravel walkway leading up to the front porch with fresh landscaping on both sides to make the entrance grander and more inviting. The front door got a refresh and we added new lighting to finish off the entrance.

AFTER

SOURCES

Exterior Light | Kichler

Railing | Regal Ideas  

Siding & Trim Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

BEFORE

Rikki had no counter or cabinet space. One of the things she asked for was to have a kitchen where she could be proud to host family and friends. To do this, we removed all the existing cabinets and replaced them with a new L-shape cabinet layout. We installed new appliances, including a dishwasher which she didn’t have before. We went with a soft green color for the cabinets. It’s a warm shade that brings in the color of the trees outside and goes nicely with the white counters and white farmhouse sink. To make the most of this small space, we took advantage of the unused space under the stairs and made it into a pull-out pantry and a cute little dog nook. With new lighting and refinished floors, the kitchen looks like a sweet cottage and it’s much more functional.

AFTER

SOURCES

Appliances | Metro Appliances & More

Sconce | Etsy

Faucet | Gerber

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon 

Countertops | MSI Surfaces

Countertop Fabricator | Genesis

Runner | Turkish Trunk

Chairs | DJM Collection

Cabinet Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Treron

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

BEFORE

The living room needed a refresh. It had old wood paneling all around that made it feel smaller, darker and dated and the ceiling was just plywood. We painted the existing wood paneling to brighten it up, and now that it’s white, it has a light and airy cottage feel. The vertical shiplap feels so cozy. We also refinished the ceiling with a wood treatment to cover the plywood and added wooden beams for character. The fireplace got bumped out onto the deck to gain more space in the living room. The old-fashioned chimney fits the look perfectly. We created a small alcove for it and painted the brick white to blend in with the house, with a wood mantle to tie in with the beams on the ceiling. 

At the bottom of the stairs, we included a special project – a painting by our friend Bethany Carroz. You’ve seen her paintings in other homes we’ve done. She’s so talented. Rikki had an old picture of her and Pearson standing in front of the house when they first moved in. Bethany turned it into a sweet painting.

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse 

Living Room Art | Juniper Prints 

Stairway Art | West Oak Watercolor – Bethany Carroz

Heating and Air Conditioning Material | Daikin 

Heating and Air Conditioning Labor | Bud Anderson

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

BEFORE

Rikki and Pearson had been sharing a room with a small section walled off for Pearson. This had been the most affordable way to add a room for him when he was five but was no longer a good solution. He would have to walk through his mom’s room to get to his, not allowing privacy for either one of them. Since he would be getting his own bedroom in the basement, this gave us the opportunity to make a special space just for Rikki. 

We started by removing the wall that separated Pearson’s room so we could gain more space and give Rikki a walk-in closet. Then, we took out the carpet and replaced it with new LVT flooring. We replaced the trim around the windows and doors and painted the walls a soft serene shade, while warming up the room with natural wood beams on the ceiling.  By removing all the original walls and starting over, we were able to add a window, center the bed and give her a built-in book shelf. 

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Flooring | MSI Surfaces

Large Art | Juniper Prints

Small Framed Art | Juniper Prints

Wall Paint Color | Farrow & Ball French Gray

The bathroom was much smaller before we bumped it out towards the stairs. Now, it has a stand-up shower and a larger vanity with storage. Black fixtures make it modern, while the vanity’s natural wood balances it out to keep the cottage style. We stayed traditional with the shower tile but added a fun touch with the design on the floor tile.

SOURCES

Sconces | Kichler

Faucet | Gerber

Shower Kit | Gerber

Countertop | MSI Surfaces

Countertop Fabricator | Genesis

Floor Tile | Wayfair

Shower Wall Tile | Daltile

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon

Rug | Turkish Trunk

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

Rikki had mostly been using the basement as a storage area, but she knew it could be the perfect space for Pearson to get his own room. When we talked to him about it, he said he loves movies and then mentioned in a non-serious way how he would love movie room. We ran with that idea by creating the ultimate bedroom/movie theater space, complete with a kitchenette and a full bathroom. 

This was such a fun project! We put in a murphy bed that becomes a movie screen when it’s closed and hung a projector from the ceiling. With big, cozy seating and a full kitchenette stocked with movie-watching snacks, Pearson has the ultimate at-home theater where he and his friends can hang out. 

We were also able to create a new bathroom for Pearson, complete with a shower and tub.

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Home Theatre System | HomeTroniX

Dinnerware | Marrs Mercantile

Large Art | Howse – Buddy Whitlock

Countertop | MSI Surfaces

Countertop Fabricator | Genesis

Flooring | MSI Surfaces

Basement & Bathroom Art | Juniper Prints

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon

Bathroom Faucet | Gerber

Bathroom Sink, Toilet & Shower Kit | Gerber

Bathroom Rug | Turkish Trunk

Shower Wall Tile | Daltile

Shower Floor Tile | Home Depot

Floor Tile | Daltile

Behind The Tub Tile | Lowes

Mirrors | Amazon

Basement Wall, Cabinets & Bathroom Vanity Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Dark Olive

Bathroom Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

BEFORE

The wooded area behind this home is so peaceful. It’s easy to see why one of Rikki’s first requests was to fix up the porch. With a view like this, you definitely want to make the most of it. We replaced the handrail and repaired the back deck so they could fully enjoy their new cedar hot tub. Beyond the deck, we brought in a new shed. Since they were losing the storage space in the basement, they would now be able to store those things here.

SOURCES

Outdoor Furniture | Howse

Hot Tub | Robert’s Hot Tubs

Storage Building | Holden Buildings

Exterior Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal