Island Life, English Style - Kitchen

The kitchen’s lowered ceiling sets it apart from the rest of the great room. To give the space a sense of history, Jackye topped an antique dressmaker’s table with granite to serve as an island. “It’s simple elegance,” says Linda McLain, a certified kitchen designer.

Details are understated: plain inset cabinet doors with recessed panels, satin nickel pulls, and honed granite countertops. Industrial stainless steel pairs nicely with custom, painted cabinets. For all its charm, it’s still a working space: “This kitchen is about featuring main appliances instead of hiding them,” says Rick Broome, a Charleston-area sales manager who represents upscale appliances.