Mary, what fun! I'm reminded of my college days in Massachusetts -- five girls rented a Buick for $25 a day, unlimited mileage, and thirty hours later we were at Mardi Gras for the weekend.

My first thought when you mentioned brick and cayenne was a Bourbon St. establishment that had a copper bar. I don't think I'd want a work surface in copper, but a backsplash in copper -- or any metal -- might work. Also thinking wrought iron bakers rack if there's a spot.

Beyond that -- it could go formal or casual -- what direction were you thinking?

Agree with the copper. Perhaps add lighting with copper accents? Any chance you have a photo of the space? Does the kitchen open to the living space?

Thanks guys! The doorways are small to the dining and hallway. I agree and love the idea of copper and rod iron. I am even thinking lampposts somehow (but could be a little kitschy) the home is SO formal...

I do not have a photo, yet. There are a lot of large and very gracious windows which have to stay.

Maybe a pot rack with antique copper pans! I like the iron baker's rack idea, maybe with a marble top? I would say accessorize a ton - maybe try to find some new Orleans style signs you could hang.

Do you have an island or is it more galley-style layout?

Great idea, but sadly no hanging allowed :(

I have the art I think: Jazz paintings and some signs.

It's going to be gutted so an island, or type of, is up for grabs.

I so need an inspirational picture. All shots from the area are too .... well, not for a formal Georgian. Argh....

I REALLY appreciate all of your thoughts/help!

Mary -- I did a houzz search that came up with a mish-mash of images, but I think about 20% of them show some possibilities -- see if you can find some inspiration pix:
http://www.houzz.com/brick-copper-tin-kitchen

Depends on what period. You could have a separate building for cooking or if you want to get up to the period when many Garden District houses were built, then your kitchen is indoors for the most part. It would not have had exposed brick due to climate considerations. See if you can find the spring of 2013 Junior League of New Orleans Kitchen Tour. I think I saw photos of it somewhere, maybe on Nola.com. They looked like big modern kitchens in expensive houses to me. My guess is that unless you're talking about a French Quarter look, then a New Orleans kitchen is defined more by what comes out of it than what it looks like. More traditionally regarding New Orleans, off the top of my head I would say: bespoke mural on canvas in dining room; swinging doors into pantry; separate pantry before kitchen; swinging doors into kitchen; sink in pantry and kitchen both; shelves in pantry with glass doors with muntins, so you see where stuff is; counter space in pantry with drawers below. Those tour pictures will tell you what such kitchens look like now.

I attached a photo of a sugar cane boiling pot, more a repurposed industrial object than a kitchen utensil, because they're pretty and are still sometimes used to boil crawfish, or at any rate used to be.

I forgot, the New Orleans kitchen-to-the-nines place is called Lucullus; it's in the French Quarter. Patrick Dunne owns it, I think. Very expensive. Lovely things.

Sugar cane boiling pot