Island Time

The property is rich with rolling hills and diverse vegetation, which inspired Gossen to draw from the tropical architecture tradition and incorporate generous front and back porches.

On the western edge of Iberia Parish near the banks of Bayou Petite Anse, architect Kevin Gossen conjured a distinctly contemporary home with deep Southern roots.

His client dreamed of a comfortably-sized Acadiana pied-à-terre, built on a lush, tropical landscape that had been handed down for generations. With homes in New Orleans and South Carolina, she gravitated toward a more contemporary space where she could entertain family and soak in the beauty of the natural surroundings. Gossen translated this vision into a sleek raised cottage with a metal roof and expansive front and back porches.

“She wanted the exterior to blend with the history of the area,” says Gossen. “She wanted the house to live inside out.”

Gossen achieved both with an expert mix of classic proportions and clean lines. The architect prioritized light throughout the home, making use of an enfilade floor plan with sight lines from the kitchen through to the primary bedroom.

(Left) Cole & Son Lily wallpaper adorns the power bathroom. Sleek, high gloss cabinetry adds more modern flair throughout the home. (Right) Bleached oak floors add sophistication and continuity from the entryway to the primary suite. The home’s finishings and architectural elements, like the stairway, combine contemporary and traditional elements.

His fine-tuned focus on the architectural details adds to the home’s understated elegance. One of Gossen’s favorite elements is the sophistication of the high-lacquered, flat-front kitchen cabinets. He points to the French doors as another example where he blended modern and traditional detailing. Gossen says he designed the crown molding and door casings to be substantial in size, but not ornate, for a more contemporary look and feel. 

“The balusters on the stairs are tapered like candle sticks, which makes a statement when you walk in,” he says.

The main house features four bedrooms, plus an attached one-bedroom apartment with its own entrance. The generous sunlight casts a glow throughout the homeowner’s collection of furnishings, antiques and fine art, including paintings by Nicole Charbonnet and Margaret Evangeline.

(Left) The open and airy kitchen is filled with ample natural light, drawing in color from the lush grounds surrounding the home. (Right) The primary bedroom accents mirror the blush and muted jewel-toned hues of the living rooms, where floor to ceiling windows simultaneously blend show-stopping drama with laid-back breeziness.

One of the home’s real treasures lies buried within the owner’s suite. A jewel box bath awash in mirrors, marble and black-and-white tile feels part Art Deco, part Old Hollywood. The homeowner says she drew inspiration from a core memory of relishing in the glamorous bathroom of her aunt’s Long Island home. 

This affinity for classic elegance is sprinkled tastefully throughout the interior, from crystal chandeliers and blush velvet pillows to gilded frames and lucite accents. These details, combined with the sophistication of the home’s architecture and landscape, work in harmony to create the hometown retreat she imagined all along.

Credits

Architect
Gossen Architects // GossenArchitects.com

Builder
Mark LaBorde Builders // MarkLaBordebuilders.com