Personal Space Northwest Arkansas

Suzanne Slinkard Lentz stands in her favorite personal space with her dogs, the decorated deck in the backyard of her Prairie Grove house Monday, August 10, 2015.
Suzanne Slinkard Lentz stands in her favorite personal space with her dogs, the decorated deck in the backyard of her Prairie Grove house Monday, August 10, 2015.

Suzanne Slinkard Lentz

Where I live: My house is on a hill in a small neighborhood in Prairie Grove. I am just a few blocks from the historic Prairie Grove Battlefield Park and the quaint downtown shopping district.

Occupation: Owner of Summit Hill Cottage Shoppe

My favorite space is: The pergola in my backyard.

Why? Hanging from the rafters of the pergola is an old rusty box springs that I've converted into a swinging bed. Inspiration for the pergola came from the gardens I saw in British Columbia where my daughter lived for a time, and the box springs was salvaged from a 1920s Mississippi house just down the road from where the blues were born. When my granddaughters visit it is where they gather to pet Daisy, my short-haired shabby-chic shop dog, and Violet, the calico cat. I start most of my mornings on the swing with a "cuppa." Daisy and Violet usually join me unless they have the resident squirrel treed in the sprawling oak that shelters the cottage. For me, the pergola is where I recharge my batteries. A good book or a nap does it for me every time.

If I could make one change to improve this space, I would: I love the space already, but if it were on a sunny beach overlooking the Pacific ... perhaps I would love it more. A gal can dream!

HomeStyle on 08/22/2015

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