Fitting it all together: a Jackson family combines elements of their own style and favorite features from former homes in a creative renovation project.

"Renovating this house was like put-together a jigsaw puzzle for me," says homeowner Carolyne Howard, reflecting on the challenge involved in the transformation of the house she and her husband Randy purchased in 2004. After having lived in New Orleans, the couple wanted to re-create that laid-back Louisiana-style ambience in the heart of Jackson. Achieving such a look and the openness they desired prompted the addition of a front arbor along with a screened back porch that serves as one of the family's main living areas.

Two interior challenges presented themselves immediately: how to create more space in the downstairs living area, and how to fit in furniture from the family's previous homes in New Orleans, Vicksburg, and the mountains of North Carolina. The windows and doors had not been protected from the elements, and the wood floors beneath them had begun to deteriorate, so the Howards wanted to act quickly to protect the house from further damage. They had worked with Old South Construction in Vicksburg during another renovation, so Jeff and Penni Burnett, owners of that firm, were the natural choice to help renovate their new Jackson home.

"I was honored that they asked me to do the renovation," says Jeff. "I had previously done three projects in their Vicksburg home to their liking. We worked on this house in Jackson from one end to the other; we tore out ceilings and floors. It was a joy to work on the house, and the outcome was wonderful."

The first order of business was the removal of the damaged wood. The couple decided to install marble floors in the foyer and the hallway to the master bedroom, thereby salvaging the original foyer floor wood for the wood replacements beneath the windows and doors.

Upon entering the renovated house, one is struck by the grandeur of the marble-floored entrance hall, which gives a panoramic view of the formal living area. The large front door, taken down and reassembled over a three-week period, opens to the right of the staircase, and the removal of a partial wall gives spaciousness and depth to the area. Craig Campbell, a Gulf Coast ironsmith, designed and created the staircase's unique forged-iron handrail. Carolyne wanted the handrail to reflect the twisting vines seen on an original Walter Anderson painting hanging nearby, and she says she hopes future grandchildren might liken the winding design to a "Jack and the Beanstalk" climb upward.

The hallway from the foyer leads to the elegant master bedroom, with window treatments by Four Seasons Interiors and Upholstery of Ridgeland. The connecting master bath, with its marble floors, sunken tub, large vanity, and shower, reflects the creativity that went into the entire renovation project. Above the sunken bath, Carolyne created a unique effect by removing a mirror from its elaborate burnished gold frame and attaching the frame to the ceiling, where it surrounds a chandelier that was once used in the couple's Vicksburg dining room.

Carolyne, who considers herself an old hand at creative home renovations (this was her tenth remodeling project!), then shifted her attention to the compact living room. "You can 'big-size' a small space for a good impact, and that is what we have done here," she says. "We were able to give the New Orleans feel to it as well." To maximize the floor space in the living area, a bookshelf was removed from the wall on one side of the fireplace; on the other side, a door that once opened onto the breakfast room and kitchen was eliminated. Because there is another door in the dining room that leads to the same area, the homeowners decided to remove the extra living room door for the sake of extra wall space.

Together with her sister Fran Riddell, also a savvy home decorator and renovator who worked extensively on this renovation, Carolyne tried out several colors on the living room walls and studied them during different times of the day in order to see the natural light's effect on each hue. Choosing colors proved even more difficult because of the existing upholstered furniture. "I already had an established color scheme on my furnishings with the blue-greens, greens, cranberries, and magentas. And the Oriental rugs--well you can't just throw them away, so I had to place them in different areas. This would change the configuration of the room," explains Carolyne.

The original living room fireplace posed yet another challenge. A little innovation resulted in an elegant and economical solution. Plaster was applied over the existing wood mantel and finished to resemble rough-hewn stone, then craftsmen cut a granite piece to finish off the top. "It was an experiment at first, but it worked well," says Carolyne. "It's like a game--you kick around and decide where you want to put your money to achieve the look you want to have. So you might be able to buy a Viking stove and then be able to make up for it by saving on the expense of a new mantel."

Connected to the living room, the dining room serves as a dramatic focal point from the front door. An oversized chandelier, similar to one in the Howards' previous Louisiana home, sets the tone for the area. Because Carolyne wanted to keep the New Orleans feel, she knew she needed to "big-size" once more. "We wanted a real punch with the chandelier," she says.

Double French doors lead from the dining room to the kitchen and adjacent intimate sitting area. The finish on this mantel and on doors that lead outside mimics the pickled sideboard used in the couple's previous residences. The totally remodeled kitchen is adorned with Verdi Butterfly granite countertops and sports gleaming new Viking appliances. Carolyne and Randy, native Jacksonians, say they believe strongly in using Mississippi products to support the state's economy. Randy chose the glazed beige hue for the cabinets, which are protected with a baked-on finish, and Carolyne, an accomplished chef, suggested the kitchen design to the Old South Construction team, knowing just how she wanted the space to flow.

The largest addition to the house, a screened back porch off the living room, can be easily viewed from indoors because Carolyne opted not to use multi-paned windows. "I'm not a windowpane girl," she says. I like the clear expanse of glass; it's not as busy. Architecturally, this traditional French-style house must have panes on the front, but back here, I had the luxury of getting the windows and doors without panes, which opens up the small space and brings the outside in."

The porch echoes the interior's Louisiana style with overhanging eaves and copper gutters designed and crafted by Joel Misita of Copper by Joel in Natchez. The space is furnished as if it were yet another interior room and has become one of the family's favorite spots to relax. The screened porch was cleverly designed so that glass panes can be installed if future homeowners desire, Carolyne notes. "One always keeps options open for the next buyer," she says.

When the couple's college-age son and daughter are home, two bed-and-bath suites await them upstairs. Nearby, a large den area, complete with a kitchenette with original cabinetry brought from the family's Vicksburg home, gives the younger Howards an ideal place to entertain their friends. A study area within this large upstairs den also provides Randy a spot to retreat and work. Always thinking ahead, Carolyne, a passionate supporter of the arts, renovated this upstairs family area as a possible place for housing visitors, such as dancers involved with the USA Intemational Ballet Competition.

From its perfectly manicured front yard, landscaped by Watkins Nursery of Vicksburg, to its breezy New Orleans-style back porch, this tastefully renovated house projects a warm and comfortable retreat. Reflecting on the project, Carolyn surmises, "A renovation is never completely over. It's an ongoing puzzle. When you go into someone else's space and make it your own, it takes a lot of time. A house will show you what it wants to be."

renovation dos don'ts

* DO ask contractors for a portfolio of previous jobs.

* DO interview contractors' past clients.

* DO ask contractors for more information about their subcontractors.

* DO ask if contractors will let you choose subcontractors if desired.

* DO research ways to save money and still achieve the look you want.

* DO consider your family's future needs (children grow up and parents age).

* DO choose an interior designer who understands your family.

* DO decide whether your renovation is a long- or short-term investment.

* DO choose an interior designer who will invest the necessary time in your project.

* DO choose paint colors that will suit your house, and study natural light sources and their effect on the interior.

* DON'T be in a hurry.

* DON'T expect the cost to be exactly what was predicted; plan for lagniappe expenses.

* DON'T have too many "cooks in the kitchen;" consider having one spouse authorize each minor decision,

* DON'T be afraid to think outside of the box and be creative.

* DON'T be afraid to buy recycled items, especially beautiful vintage draperies.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG CAMPBELL 

Contractor: Old South Construction, 6609 Paxton Rd., Vicksburg, 601/638-2466, www.oldsouthconstructionllc.com.

Landscaping: Watkins Nursery and Landscaping, 3698 1-20 Frontage Rd., Vicksburg, 601/636-3852. Additional items, Green Oak Nursery, 5909 Old Canton Rd., Jackson, 601/956-5022.

Copperwork: Copper by Joel, Natchez, 601/445-8745, www.copperbyjoel.com.

Window treatments: Four Seasons Interiors and Upholstery, 647 Hwy. 51, Ridgeland, 601/605-3530.

Stair railing: Craig Campbell, 110 W. Beach Blvd., Pass Christian, 800/339-6242, www.ironworkartist.com, e-mail [e-mail].

Kitchen: Appliances, Viking Range Corporation, Greenwood, 888/845-4641, www.vikingrange.com. Sub-Zero refrigerator, Riverwood Home Appliances, 645 S. Pearson Rd., Pearl, 601/932-6900.

Furniture and interior accessories: Designer Warehouse, 5465 1-55 North, Jackson, phone [phone], www.designerwarehouse.info; Merchandise Warehouse, 208 Meadowbrook Rd., Jackson, 601/362-5239.

Lamps: Ye Olde Lamp Shoppe, 4505 1-55 N., Jackson, 601/362-9311, www.yeoldelampandshadeshoppe.com.

Flowers: Fresh, Accents by Pickell Lea's Flowers and Gifts, 4800 1-55 N., Ste. 17-A, Jackson, 601/321-8633. Silk, Mostly Martha's Florist, 898 Centre St., Ridgeland, 601/956-1474.