There's no wasted space here. It's easy to move around, and a straightforward worktable provides extra counterspace and storage. (Covered in zinc like an old-fashioned bar, it's a cinch to wipe down.)

Jim Strickland, who helped design the room, says, "I always describe this as 'the porch Mama turned into a kitchen when she got electricity.' " The traditional blue ceiling calls to mind an old porch, as do the long windows bringing light and air over the counters. The other colors in the room are equally restrained: milky white for the walls and rosy red on the pine floors.

What's Cottage

Plate racks: Practical and elegant, the two shown above were hammered together by a local craftsman and mounted over the windows. "Normally you'd have cabinets on the walls for storage, but that would block the sun," says designer Jim Strickland. "This was a perfect solution."

photography: J. Savage Gibson

Metal stove guard: Instead of a flashy metal stove guard or a wall of glazed tile, the owner used panels of roofing metal called Galvalume on the wall behind his range. It's a great look, the steel protects the wall from scorches and splatters, and it doesn't have to be painted.

Cabinets that look like furniture: All of the pieces in this kitchen, from painted cupboards to the center table and dry sink near the stove, look like furniture moved from other rooms into the kitchen. Even the counters have legs, so they look like an old pair of dressers.

Painted floors: A great choice for a simple farmhouse kitchen, the barn red on the pine floor adds a vibrant punch of color. The painters put down an undercoat of black and then painted red on top so hints of black will appear as the floor ages.

Farmhouse sink: With an exposed front and smooth profile, a simple white farmhouse sink is the ultimate expression of classic cottage style.

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