Beauty on the Bayou

Located on Louisiana’s Contraband Bayou, this residence is an ode to the region’s vernacular.

Wood planking softens the home’s formality. Carter Kay and Nancy Hooff opted to keep the millwork and walls one color, allowing the molding to become part of the architecture.

In the central space for entertaining, a folding interior window between the custom sconces allows for both food and conversations to flow freely from the kitchen to the table.

While the rooms feature some degree of separation similar to older homes, carefully conceived visual sightlines—like the kitchen to den—create flow.

Storage was a priority for the client, who has both inherited and collected many dish and serveware pieces over the years. The solution came in the form of top-to-bottom cabinetry in the kitchen that can be accessed via a ladder. Barstools in a green leather by Lee Industries add a subtle hint of color. The lantern is from Urban Electric Co.

Storage was a priority for the client, who has both inherited and collected many dish and serveware pieces over the years. The solution came in the form of top-to-bottom cabinetry in the kitchen that can be accessed via a ladder. Barstools in a green leather by Lee Industries add a subtle hint of color. The lantern is from Urban Electric Co.

The client’s tapestry panels take on the form of artwork above the mantel. Hooff took lead in arranging the shelves, mixing contemporary elements with family heirlooms.

In the den, a Fortuny drapery fabric was repurposed as upholstery for new armchairs.

A series of mahogany doors connecting to the combination living-and-dining room not only doubles the entertaining space but gives the couple’s little loved ones more space to play and explore. The wicker chairs are from Lloyd Flanders’ Mackinac collection.

A series of mahogany doors connecting to the combination living-and-dining room not only doubles the entertaining space but gives the couple’s little loved ones more space to play and explore. The wicker chairs are from Lloyd Flanders’ Mackinac collection.

Historical Concepts’ Terry Pylant introduced shutters along the upper portion of the back porch to mitigate the westerly sun’s exposure.

Bed hangings on the couple’s Rose Tarlow bed were stripped off to give it more modern appeal, as does its new leather back. This leather is repeated on the bench.

A suspending mirror is the master bath’s focal point. Other winsome details include an antique garden stool and a custom light fixture by Jason Smith of Smithworks Iron & Design.

When a Louisiana couple was ready to downsize and plant new roots along Lake Charles’ charmingly named Contraband Bayou, they called in some outside help—specifically, Atlanta-based design pros.

Drawn to the work of Historical Concepts—an architecture and planning firm headquartered in Atlanta and well versed in the architectural heritage of the Deep South—the couple sought out principal Terry Pylant to give life to their new beginning. “They had this incredible home designed by A. Hays Town in the 70s, but it was quite formal and didn’t fit their needs anymore,” says Pylant. “Their children now have children so they wanted something where they could entertain in a more relaxed fashion.”

He and his team presented them with an impressive Creole-style home that blends tradition and comfort and is punctuated with details informed by the region’s vernacular. Exposed rafter tails on the home’s exterior offer a classic touch, as does the expansive open porch running the length of the back of the home. Inside, high ceilings allow natural light to flood the rooms while dissipating heat and allowing for airflow.

Pylant’s commitment to ensuring authenticity included a two-day tour of nearby towns in the project’s early stages. “We took a ‘precedent tour’ to further study the vernacular and document every detail, from railings and posts to sleeping porches,” he recalls.Thus, careful consideration was given to the home’s building materials, particularly the brick and mortar, which is traditional to the area. Landscape architect Don Hooten—another Atlanta-based talent and frequent collaborator with Historical Concepts—incorporated it into the front hardscape, which became an important feature as the home’s arrangement of buildings (a two-story garage and dovecote flank the central home) called for an auto court in lieu of a traditional leafy front yard.

Completing the final piece of the design puzzle was Carter Kay Interiors, also based in Atlanta. While Pylant describes it as “a little bit serendipitous that everyone working on the project was from Atlanta,” he also notes that, “there’s no better place to draw talent from.”

“We joked that if they had hired someone in Louisiana, they’d still have to go to Atlanta to buy it all,” adds interior designer Carter Kay. “Our city has established itself as such an important design hub where we’ve got everything at our fingertips.”

 Kay, along with designer Nancy Hooff, introduced the homeowners to pieces from Atlanta showrooms and artisans that could be incorporated alongside treasured heirlooms and antiques. The effect is comfortable, inviting and simplified—perfect for the next stage of their lives. With neutral wood planking as their backdrop, the duo layered rich textures in an earthy color palette inspired by the home’s scenic natural surroundings.

“Much of the home is about taking advantage of the views,” says Hooten. As he continues to shape the landscape (future plans include a lap pool, grill area and side yards), the land’s magic is not lost on him. “There’s something about the sound of the lapping waves and smell of the salty waters,” he says. “It’s an idyllic spot to call home.

ARCHITECT Terry Pylant, Historical Concepts, (678) 325-6665; historicalconcepts.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Don Hooten, Hooten Land Design, Inc., 404-373-9816; hootenlanddesign.com INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN Carter Kay Interiors, (404) 261-8119; carterkayinteriors.com