Page 132 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2017

HOME personality
Cottage blends colorful charm with industrial vibe
story by Lynn Lofton photos by Janice Hall
The Bay St. Louis cottage of E. Carroll Rogers is brimming over with personality and cheer — a reflection of its owner. Built only a few years ago, it has all the amenities of new construction blended with the charm of a much older home, beginning at the cypress front door from the early 1900s. The door has an old-fashioned bell that’s rung with a twist of the lever. The navy and white exterior paint
colors are in keeping with Rogers’ career as an admiralty and maritime lawyer with a New Orleans firm. The turquoise shutters are an unexpected pop of color.
“I didn’t want to do the traditional cottage,” Rogers said. “I wanted an open, airy feeling with an eclectic look.”
The front entrance is through a screened porch that includes whimsical touches — a rusted child’s tricycle, reclaimed wood table, striped rug and painted metal ‘butterfly’ chairs reminiscent of old canvas chairs.
Stepping into the main room is a treat for the eyes. Rogers definitely hit the mark with the eclectic look she wanted. “I wanted it to be a surprise,” she says of the decorating scheme that’s industrial mixed with a few antiques, bright colors and art by local artists and art from Rogers’ travels. The industrial vibe rings true with a metal coffee table and metal-faced fireplace surround and mantle. The design of the mantel mimics the design in the painting, purchased in Lima, Peru, that hangs over it.
The walls are ‘whisper white’ providing the perfect backdrop for Rogers’ exuberant art and artifacts collection. Again turquoise is the accent color as it
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