Jim Rule
Where I live: Riverland neighborhood, Maumelle
Occupation: Antique and rare book dealer
My favorite space is: My sun porch/solarium.
Why? My favorite place in the home I share with my wife, Anna Cox, is a wonderful hangout and meditation space overlooking the Arkansas River, which flows a mere 100 yards away beyond a lovely, well-tended neighborhood park.
The west wall of this area features a collection of original framed Maxfield Parrish prints in vivid colors. Beneath the grouping of this artwork is a large, over-stuffed sofa where you can sit and gaze eastward to see the I-430 bridge three miles downriver. It's a perfect space in which to sit and ponder the perfect Parrish childhood that none of us ever had or to just enjoy a morning cup of coffee and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette before a busy day begins.
If I could make one change to improve this space, I would: We recently completed the ultimate space improvement by replacing the gridded sash windows with picture and crank-out windows. Completing this update dramatically improved the view of the river and also our back garden which, as a recent graduate of the Arkansas Master Gardener training program, I am trying to restore to at least some of its former glory.
-- Linda S. Haymes
HomeStyle on 05/07/2016