DESIGNWORKS 2023

Fitzroy at the Grove, Huffman Development

Rogers, AR

Atkinson Collaborative Interiors

Fitzroy at the Grove is a mountain-living, lodge-like luxury apartment complex with exquisite Adirondack elements embodying the outdoor nature of the surrounding Rogers, Arkansas Pinnacle neighborhood and nearby Ozark Mountains.

The design team embraced the luxurious living mountain modern concept mixed with the quality outdoor community spaces to create an intriguing presence within the community. The 250-unit apartment complex provides many conveniences for its residents. The 9000sf clubhouse is filled with top-rated amenities from vaulted beamed two-story great rooms with fireplace to self-service Starbucks coffee bar, a social lounge decked with multi-sports simulator, shuffleboard, and full kitchen. Every residence building has a 1300sf co-working lobby with a coffee bar, conference table, private meeting rooms, lounge, and mail center, as well as a communal courtyard. Even with so many wonderful interior amenities, the core of this property is the outdoor living with an abundance of opportunities – from courtyards with grilling stations, 3 hole putting green, pickle-ball court, dog park, yoga lawn, pool house, cabanas, several fireplaces and fire pits, turf lawn and even community garden.

Appealing to 250 unique families/individuals is a strategy. The strategy here was to create a plethora of outdoor amenities with the pool at the central axis connecting to outdoor courtyards to help encourage community among the residents while filling the 9000sf clubhouse with destination-quality amenities. Getting the space plan right in the clubhouse is critical in order to provide control for leasing staff after hours but maximize usage times for all of the amenities for the residents. More accessible amenities result in higher lease rates. The great room, coffee bar, meeting room, business center, mail room, fitness center, social sports lounge, and all outdoor courtyards are accessible 24/7. Controlled access points at the social lounge were implemented for private parties and flexibility for management if hours did need to change. Each space in the clubhouse is cohesive while have a personality all itself. It was important to the design team to create destinations and appeal to the different personalities and potential desires of the residents. The materials utilized in the clubhouse encompass an overall masculine tone but infused with a variety of playful patterns, mixed-media art, and varying tactile experiences. Reclaimed wood, steel, mixtures of tiles, patterned wallcoverings, and deep, saturated greens, browns, and blacks paired with neutral greys and high contrast creams all join to create a soft sophistication. The furniture within and out further enhances the design with mixed-colors, curated mixes of materials, custom-designed banquettes, leather sofas, tapestry ottomans and a plethora of varying fabrics. All the elements within the complex work together to create a unifying design while also bringing individuality and uniqueness to every amenity.

It was important to the client that this property evoked the same modern luxury woven into their other brand properties. But with this location set near the Ozark Mountains, an approachable lodge concept was desired to set the property apart from others. The property would be modern yet warm, luxurious yet casual. The interior design team, architectural design team and client’s development and management team worked together to establish an Adirondack-inspired “mountain modern” lodge concept for the property’s identity. Implementing this concept throughout the interior design, FF&E design, outdoor living design, and exterior material palette (all in the interior designer’s scope of services), the goal was to appeal to as many potential residents as possible; to create areas of refuge, excitement, relaxation, and community in spaces that were undoubtedly sophisticated but always comfortable.