Southern Style

In a sheltered corner of the front porch, a hanging teak daybed with plentiful pillows becomes an inviting swing. Obsidian coloured paint for the floors and shutters combines playfully with melon coloured upholstery.

A pair of antique tête-à-tête sofas, an eighteenth-century mirror, and a chandelier with cascading strands of ball chain provide the parlor with a sexy, sophisticated air.

Homeowners Lisa and Vincent West were enamoured of the simple style of the cottage and the airy atmosphere of its high ceilings and two-story porch. It’s very much a traditional Lowcountry house.

At the suggestion of interior designers Carter Kay and Nancy Hooff, the dropped ceiling was removed, exposing the original longleaf pine joists and trusses. In addition to lending a casual appearance to the room, the change also draws attention to the solidity and integrity of the house’s original construction.

Primitive creamware jugs and convex mirrors are among the few decorative accessories in the room where a scenic mural painted by Bob Christian provides the art.

In keeping with the client’s pared-down vision, the designers commissioned a twelve-foot-long table made from worn but polished reclaimed chestnut boards, complementing the unpainted wood of the ceiling and mantel. Chairs consist of casual wicker with linen slipcovered headchairs.

In a small bedroom, the designers created an airy look with contemporary metal beds that recall the tall canopy frames of traditional plantation-style beds. The sheen of quilted polished cotton pillow shams and comforters contrasts with the room’s natural linen coverlets and seagrass rug.