Show Off With Simple Storage

 Keep It Real
  This 1840s house was moved to its current property in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and restored several years ago. The owners were mindful of its humble history and maintained its timeworn flavor throughout the home, including the cozy but airy kitchen.

The room's original wood floors and plank walls and ceiling set the stage for simple elements. Baton Rouge designer Patrick Tandy, working with colleague Helaine Moyse, suggested the homeowners install open shelves--simple and boxy--above the countertops and along one wall. One of the owners built the shelves himself in a matter of days.

 Color in the Lines
  The room's modest character calls for subtlety, so the owners turned to paint hues from the Benjamin Moore Historical Colors collection. The walls are Lancaster Whitewash. The trimwork and built-ins are Providence Olive.

 Take a Seat
  You don't need a wide expanse to create a perch with a bird's-eye view. Two window seats look down on the garden below. The seats aren't wide enough for long lounging sessions, but slender seat cushions and fabric shades on the windows add softness to the woodwork.

 Sources: 
 Page 142: Interior design by Helaine Moyse Interior Design, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, (225) 344-9778; wall color is Lancaster Whitewash (#HC-174), trim and shelf color is Providence Olive (#HC-98), both by Benjamin Moore, www.benjaminmoore.com; shade fabric is Plantation in Charcoal by Stroheim & Romann, www.stroheim.com (D); hanging lantern was custom-made.

"Show Off With Simple Storage" is from the June 2006 issue of Southern Living.