Stephen and Tammy Browning make ideal cultural ambassadors for both their adopted city of Hot Springs and their home state of Arkansas. This outdoorsy pair, along with 8-year-old son Beau, appreciate their new home’s proximity to the Diamond Lakes, and for good reason: Stephen’s a Bassmaster, and Beau is a junior competitive fisherman in his own right.

Red Oak Ridge’s well-stocked lakes allow them to fish any time, so Stephen hosts family fish fries where he even whips up the hushpuppies (“It’s just Aunt Jemima cornmeal and Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning,” he adds modestly). The spacious brick home’s natural setting allows a panoramic view of the surrounding forest, where deer graze at sunset next to the Brownings’ hammock. The place combines style and comfort with natural design elements to create an elegant yet supremely relaxing haven. “We moved in just in time for Valentine’s Day last year,” explains Tammy, adding that their first home in Red Oak Ridge gave them inspiration for this, their dream home. Together with builder Ralph Hughes, the Brownings brought their vision to reality, choosing “floating” archways, vibrant earth tones, handsome cabinetry, hand-scraped wood floors, and detailed tilework. “We had such a good experience with Ralph – he’s built several Red Oak Ridge homes,” says Tammy. Thirteen-foot-high tray ceilings and picture windows with plantation shutters allow abundant natural light throughout the open floor plan, while the foyer’s attractive lantern-style chandelier also draws the eye upward.

Tammy, who became a dental hygienist with Drs. Fleischner and Van Bebber after Beau started school, enjoys collecting art, decorating and creating seasonal flower arrangements. “A house, to me, is a never ending project – a work in progress,” she says. The harmonious look of the Browning home derives from Tammy’s appreciation of another Stuttgart native, designer Carolyn Kinder. “I like the Kinder Collection for Uttermost,” says Tammy, “She designs lamps and accessories too – her art has a timeless look.” Lithograph prints and decorative metal scrollwork fragments in shadowbox frames complement organic accents throughout the main living areas for a cohesive design that actually looks anything but a “work in progress”!

Since becoming a full-time professional fisherman and top-flight Bass Master, Stephen is able to pursue his life-long passion, living the dream of countless Arkansans. “He wakes up happy every day,” Tammy adds. Their bedroom features a bed with ornate Art Nouveau-style carved headboard and footboard, alongside an ultramodern accessory: A massage chair! This handy throne soothes Tammy’s shoulders and restores Stephen after those long fishing trips. Another refreshing retreat is found in the master bath, where a spa tub beckons under a large, colorful abstract painting of red flowers. The use of tumbled travertine and porcelain tile with the look of marble adds both texture and polish. The opposite “wing” of the house features a formal dining room; study/music room; a guest room and bath; and Beau’s own well-appointed space. Beau’s room reflects an equal love of the family sport, with fishing nets and tackle in full display upon the walls, alongside (of course) an aquarium and framed photos of his own trophy-sized catch: a 60-pound sailfish that Beau caught off the coast of South Carolina back when he was a mere kindergartner! “I caught a black-tipped sand shark this past summer,” Beau quips, adding, “It was only three feet long.”

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