Personal space

— Kay Tatum

Where I live: I live in a house built in 1899 in the MacArthur Park Historic District with my husband, John, and our four feline children: Tara Tatum, Tori Tatum, Tessie Tatum and General T. J. Churchill-Tatum.

Occupation: I am a fundraiser and volunteer for several organizations, and I serve as vice president of the Mount Holly Cemetery Association.

My favorite space is: The Ladies Parlor, where the ladies retired after dinner.

Why? I like to sit with T. J. on my lap, and think about the parties that have been hosted in the room. The Fred Hangers were the original family, and they hosted Mardi Gras balls that the “movers and shakers” of 19th-century Little Rock attended. When it’s very quiet, I imagine I can still hear the music, their laughter, the voices, and see the dancers. More recently, I reflect upon our friends who have shared such wonderful memories and dinners with us. The room is beautifully lighted with gasoliers and has a perfect view of the stained glass windows on the staircase landing.

If I could make one change to improve this space, I would: I sometimes wish the room was even larger to accommodate more people. But because it is a historic home, we could not make such a change.

HomeStyle, Pages 33 on 02/23/2013

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