House Tour: Country Clever

Elegant white ironstone and other vintage dishes act like art in the dining room. "There's no point in collecting if I have to put it all in a closet," homeowner Andrea Dickerson says. To expand display space, she and her husband, Eugene, built shelves (17 inches tall and 13 inches deep) to fit their collectibles.

Modern dining chairs contrast a salvaged bench and a farm table made by Eugene. Andrea pulls the styles together by sticking to a tight color palette.

On the wraparound porch, a painted farm table and wire chairs with new cushions echo the interior. A weathered windmill tail propped against the porch wall becomes uncommon art.

The kitchen's original dark wood cabinets made the 10x12-foot room feel even more cramped. "I couldn't bring myself to tear them out, so I painted them all white," Andrea says. "That helped open up the space," as did removing doors from upper cabinets flanking the window.

A 39x19-inch island conceals recycling and trash cans on the sink side. A new apron-front sink, modern faucet and butcher-block counter meld with the country character.

A dresser scored for $50 gains new life as a bathroom vanity. The Dickersons cut a hole in top for the sink and in back for plumbing. Enamel paint for wood and metal protects the dresser from moisture.

A wooden drying rack on the wall and a large spool of twine serve as photo holders.

Hanging kids' art from clothespins makes it easy to switch out.