Sam Cooper
Where I live: Little Rock’s Kingwood neighborhood. I refer to it as “The OC”— Off Cantrell, Outside Cam-mack Village. My wife, Tracy, daughter Rachel (Pensacola, Fla.), and son Sean (Catholic High School), along with a one very large Newfoundland dog (Jasmine) and two cats (Alfred and Jasper) round out the family.
Occupation: Sales manager at Lamar Advertising Co. I like big ads, really big ads (billboards).
My favorite space is: Our backyard, poolside.
Why? It’s a tiny oasis — a nice space to relax and unwind. Whether gathering with friends or simply enjoying a moment of solitude, hanging out around the pool almost daily feels a like mini vacation. This is only our second year to have the pool. At first, I didn’t want a pool, but my wife campaigned for it long and hard. You see how things turned out. I prefer being outside versus inside (weather permitting). Given our lifestyle, the pool has proved to be a terrific amenity for us. I only wish Jasmine would join me in the pool. Newfoundlands are supposed to be a powerful swimming breed, but she tends to only get ankle-deep in the water. Go figure.
If I could make one change to improve this space, I would: Add more plants and landscaping. We put in a windmill palm and love it. I think we’ll add another palm this year and maybe a banana tree. The more tropical, the more fun!