LIVING SPACES
By Nancy Peevy | Photos by Chadwick Turner
A Modern Refuge
This couple’s home balances simplicity with pops of color and fun
So, of course, they turned to her to decorate their new space.
“Our goal was to create authentic, personal spaces and inspire beauty with products that provide the backdrop to happy and memorable experiences,” Cornwell said.
When deciding on the floor plan and atmosphere of the home, Susan’s vision was to have a grand, two-story living room to give the house an open feel. She wanted it “modern, open and bright.”
When John and Susan Gauch sold their traditional house in Fayetteville, where they’d raised their three sons, they assumed a smaller home would be the obvious next chapter. Instead, every downsized house they looked at felt like a downgrade. So, they bought the lot around the corner and built a contemporary, light-filled home that has become their place of refuge.
When the couple moved to Arkansas in 2007, they had Hug Radler with Hug-R Enterprises remodel the house they bought in Fayetteville to make it their family home. So, in 2021, they again turned to Radler to build their new home.
“Hug is a very detailed builder, so a lot of the framing and construction was done by his son who works for the company,” Susan said. “Instead of just getting a whole bunch delivered and dealing with it, they actually went and picked every single piece of lumber to be sure it was straight. The house was built by a very small crew, very hands-on.”
Andrea Cornwell with iSpace Designers worked on the remodel of their first home and “has been working with Susan and John to create their personal stories throughout their homes for the last 19 years,” Cornwell said.
Susan found a floor plan online and reworked it to suit their needs. “We spent a long time getting it right,” she said.
Having space in the house for their son Brian was of utmost importance. He moved back to Fayetteville several years ago to work, then the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and he moved in with Susan and John. Susan said it worked out well, so he ended up staying.
As the Gauches planned, they wanted the floor plan to work well for him too.
Since Brian works both at home and in an office, the Gauches included a separate suite for him with his own entrance, office, living area and bedroom, with wired internet for his work and gaming.
“Brian had vacationed in Japan and was very impressed with their toilets, so we have bidets in all the bathrooms except the powder room,” Susan said. “I didn’t want to have to leave a user manual for guests.”
Susan’s favorite color is pink, and she wanted to have color that included hot pink, navy blue and a pop of lime green throughout the house.
“We strategically worked those colors into tile, wallcovering, furniture fabrics and the ribbon sculpture to blend well with the rest of the colors and finishes as not to overwhelm them,” Cornwell said. “Warm, inviting interiors with a contemporary slant was the goal for the colors in this home.”
Color extends to the custom-designed fuchsia ribbon sculpture hanging from the ceiling in the main living area.
“I really like the big open space because it’s a two-story area, but it felt kind of empty,” Susan said. “And one of my concerns is that many modern houses, if you just go black, white and gray, they can feel kind of cold and impersonal. I wanted to have some things to warm it up. And it felt like such a big volume of space that we had the LightArt company design a ribbon sculpture.”
Another important aspect for the Gauches was the outdoor spaces of the home.
“We liked the flow of the house, but because of the pandemic, we weren’t sure whether we would ever be entertaining inside again in our lives, so one of the important features was to have entertaining space outside,” Susan said. “So, there are two porches that are covered. One is an outdoor dining room and grill area, and the other is an outdoor living room with a fireplace and a television above; we can sit outside with a glass of wine and watch a football game. We entertain outside quite a bit.”
Married for 46 years, Susan and John are pleased with their beautiful new home and content with their lives and the space where they can step back from the rush of daily life.
Cornwell believes the secret is “the simplicity of the house, balancing minimalism with cozy tactility and celebrating color and fun.”
“I think for both of us that, when we come home from work, there’s a real sense of peace and a feeling that you’ve come someplace beautiful,” Susan said. “It’s a bit of a haven and a chance to recharge. We feel at peace when we’re home because everything is just the way we like it.”
Home Pros:
Appliances: Metro Appliances & More
Builder/Contractor/Architect: Hug-R Enterprises
Cabinets: Collins Custom Cabinets
Concrete/Driveways/Walkways: Ozark Pattern Concrete
Décor/Furnishings/Fabrics/Decorative Lighting Fixtures/Mirrors: Andrea Cornwell | iSpace Designers
Designer/Interior Decorator: Pam Nolen; Andrea Cornwell of iSpace Designers
Doors/Windows: Windsor Windows & Door
Electronics/Electrician/Wiring/Alarm System: Natural State Electric
Flooring: Custom Wood Floors
Garage Doors: Overhead Door Company
Granite/Marble: New Century Countertops
HVAC: Brinker Heating & Cooling
Landscaping/Lawn Care: Frank Sharum Landscaping & Design
Masonry/Bricks: Casas & Lara Stucco
Painting: JC Painting & Drywall
Plumbing/Fixtures: L&L Plumbing | Kohler
Shower Doors: Architectural Glass
Tile: Andrea Cornwell of iSpace Designers; Travis Tile Sales
Additional Vendors: Framing by Thatcher Radler; steel work by Custom Welding & Fabrication; roof by Perry Roofing