35 minute read
PERFECT UNION
Interior stylist Brandi Brownlee Thomas is known for her sleek boho style aesthetic which combines layers of texture, colors, and whimsical details. But her latest project, the interior of a French-style, modern château set in the airy woodlands of West Monroe, presented Thomas with new design inspiration; one consisting of a muted palette and enchanting design elements reminiscent of the romantic European countryside escapes we’ve come to love in period pieces.
When Thomas walked into the empty house around 2020, the surroundings consisted of window and door frames, poured concrete, and ceiling beams. In order to begin working her magic, she set out to better know her client. “I think the mark of a really great designer is, honestly, being a private investigator. Asking lots of questions from the front end. I try to get very specific,” she reveals, emphasizing that a good stylist helps elevate someone’s personal flair. Utilizing this forensic technique, Thomas began to uncover the homeowner’s design aesthetic. Pinterest boards aided in this achievement and Thomas was able to note the driving force of the homeowner’s vision for her family’s new home.
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Driven by the belief that “a home should tell the story of the folks who live there,” Thomas set out to work seamlessly with the homeowner. The pair became a dynamic duo, feeding off each others’ creativity. Acknowledging the flood of ideas running rampant in her mind, the homeowner credits Thomas with keeping her grounded, especially during the times when she got sentimental and wanted to drag everything they owned from their previous home into the new space: “A designer and a stylist is good in that they keep you going where you need to go.” Conceptualizing the interior also meant pulling from the feel of the formal elegance of the exterior, which Thomas describes as French provincial, as well as balancing the personalities of the homeowners. “She’s romantic in the sense of very sentimental, but you know, she lives with a man that likes to hunt and fish. So, you know, we gotta balance it out.”
“The lighting was a big thing,” explains the homeowner. With that direction, Thomas intuitively devised a cohesive design plan around the lighting, pulling light fixtures from various vendors in Texas, which was pivotal for the end result—rustic elements with a “splash of glam.” The most decorated chandelier glitters from the roof of the foyer. “It’s very substantial. We’re obsessed with it,” says Thomas, revealing that it took a crane and about 10 men to mount it. Establishing a tone of elegance and refinement, this empire crystal
AT LEFT THE EMPIRE CRYSTAL CHANDELIER IN THE FOYER TOOK A CRANE AND 10 MEN TO MOUNT. ABOVE AN OPEN CONCEPT KITCHEN OPENS INTO THE DINING ROOM. CUSTOM CABINETS WITH ACID-STAINED MIRRORS IN THE KITCHEN ECHO FIVE CLASSIC CUT-CORNER MIRRORS IN THE DINING SPACE.
FIVE CONTEMPORARY, FABRIC TUFTED UPHOLSTERED CHAIRS SURROUND THE TABLE, JOINED BY A COZY SOFA MEANT TO HOST THE HOMEOWNERS’ LARGE FAMILY.
chandelier stands out from the egg-shell walls and herringbonepatterned wood floor. From the foyer, the living room commands attention by way of wall-to-ceiling windows and stout, honeycolored wood beams. Natural neutrals mimic shades of light—soft beiges from the furniture, touches of gilded brass from wall and decor accents, and sandy tones from the brick fireplace. Two curvy chandeliers provide the final touches of light from vine-like arms.
“This is mine and [the homeowner’s] brainchild,” says Thomas, ushering me into the plush kitchen and dining room area. To call the room a showstopper would be an understatement. Five colossal, classic cut-corner mirrors line the lengthy wall of the dining space tying the exterior architectural style of the house, which is characterized by ornate cast stone detailing around the windows and dormers. The acid-washed mirrors came from New Jersey, and their frames were custom-made. Special attention was paid to the curvy shapes, which evoke gentle femininity. “We wanted to get the right shape. And you have it everywhere,” says Thomas, pointing to the curves of some of the kitchen cabinets, detailed with long brass handles and the same acid-stained mirrors illuminating the dining table, a local piece from Ouachita Antique Woods made by Kyle Snellenberger. Five contemporary, fabric tufted upholstered chairs surround the table, joined by a cozy sofa meant to host the homeowners’ large family. As in all the rooms, the light fixtures finalize the space, complementing each other. Heavyset, rectangular pendant lights dominate the kitchen, towering over a sleek marble island, while a classic pendant chandelier maintains an understated symmetry, representative of the space which acts as the heart of the home.
It was time to explore the bedrooms, the private channels of a home meant solely for the enjoyment of its inhabitants, and in that way, calling for an intimate interior that represents the personalities of those it will hold in sleep and in waking. The main bedroom is a cozy space, minimally furnished. The king bed is centered under the glimmering spell of a smaller-sized empire crystal chandelier. Dark wood beams line the ceiling, adding to the subtle textures of the room alongside two hand-carved, wood dressers. Pops of wood carry over into the bathroom, a sublime space seemingly out of the pages of a fairy tale. A heavily detailed, Anglo-Indian wood arch (a salvaged piece from Europe) frames a mirror, marking the entryway to a walkthrough shower. White marble herringbone tiles contrast the white sheen of a cast iron, slipper pedestal tub, and ivory marble vanities. Completing the space is an arched dark-wood paneled ceiling. “The arched ceiling is a stunner, no doubt about it,” emphasizes Thomas, who reveals the idea coming from the homeowners.
ABOVE THE MAIN BEDROOM IS A COZY SPACE, MINIMALLY FURNISHED. THE KING BED IS CENTERED UNDER A SMALLER-SIZED EMPIRE CRYSTAL CHANDELIER. AT LEFT A HEAVILY DETAILED, ANGLO-INDIAN WOOD ARCH (SALVAGED FROM EUROPE) FRAMES A MIRROR, MARKING THE ENTRYWAY TO A WALK-THROUGH SHOWER.
AT LEFT A BLACK MATTE WALL, TEXTURED WITH MODERN WALL MOLDING PATTERNS, CONTRASTS THE CRISP WHITE OF A JAPANESE-STYLE PLATFORM BED. OPPOSITE PAGE A QUAINT GUEST BATHROOM FEATURES A PETITE CLAWFOOT TUB AND VINTAGE WOOD SINK VANITY.
The additional bedrooms belong to the homeowners’ daughters, each matching their personality; yet, still maintaining the main stylistic motifs curated by Thomas. “I would call this transitional,” says Thomas, remarking on the simplicity of the middle child’s room, characterized mainly by a diamond-shaped, modern wall molding pattern in matte white. Making our way to the other end of the house, we pass a quaint narrow bathroom featuring a petite clawfoot tub and a vintage wood sink vanity. Another entryway leads to their eldest daughter’s room, dubbed affectionately the “heirloom room,” as it contains pieces belonging to the homeowner’s mother and grandmother. Velvet iron drapes and seafoam blue ruched shading add to the room’s enchanting quality. A few steps away, the youngest daughter’s room reveals a personality off the beaten path. The classic black and white palette make for a breathtaking space. A black matte wall, textured with modern wall molding patterns, contrasts the crisp white of a Japanese-style platform bed.
Not to be outdone by the personal flair of his daughters’ bedrooms, the husband opted for his very own personalized room, one which out-colors the rest. “So, this right here is not indicative of the rest of the house. This is her making a concession with her husband,” laughs Thomas, revealing the “hunting room.” Mimicking an old castle-style hunting lodge, the walls are filled to the brim with taxidermy game—a myriad of stately bucks, a Standard Bronze turkey, and even a mountain lion. The paneled roof opens up the moody room dominated by the grayish navy blue of the walls, and the deep blue of the velvet curtains. The space still holds elegance, accentuated by a large earth-toned Persian rug, two tan leather
sofas, and three industrial orb pendants hanging from the ceiling. This nestled lair is clearly a gentleman’s hideaway.
“And there’s a whole back patio,” enthuses Thomas. A wood pergola casts a shade on another custom-wood table with industrial distressed metal legs and customwood benches. Hanging ferns add to the natural, relaxed ambiance while chic light fixtures keep the interior’s theme alive in the open space lined with Chicago brick flooring. The view is a canvas of green and the blue sky peeking between the far-off line of trees.
Reflecting on the space, Thomas admits that a “touch of rustic and a splash of glam” is hard to attain, especially considering the romantic sentimentality of the exterior of the house, but as she and the homeowner learned, with balance, cohesion is possible. “It made me realize that all the things that I love can be brought together, you know, and complement each other,” says the homeowner, visibly delighted with the results and adding, “There is a way to bring the old in and pair it with the new and have all the things you like without having to sacrifice.” The perks of hiring a professional like Thomas can be found in their ability to find pieces through their sources and vendors that match a client’s exact vision. A home shouldn’t feel like a museum, says Thomas. “It shouldn’t feel like this is just a gallery. This should feel like your home with all of your favorite sentimental things. And there is a way to do that.”
Vendors:
Fabulous Fabric: Holly Richard Bedding and Drapes M&M Cabinets: Robert Holley (all cabinetry) Glass Works: Brian Blaylock (all custom antiqued mirror creations/shower/glass doors) Southern Bath & Kitchen: Amanda McCoy (faucets and plumbing fixtures) Custom Design Center: Melody Sullivan & Mary Francis Siggers (flooring and tile) First Choice: Jariel Herrera (marble countertops in kitchen and baths) Ouachita Antique Woods: Kyle Snellenburger (custom 10’ long kitchen and outdoor table) Walsworth & Co.: Patty Fuller & Karen Branham (furniture in bedroom with patterned molding on white wall) Traditions on Trenton: Pam Wood & Melanie Liles (antique sourced sundials & trumeau mirror in living area) Knotted Mercantile: Stephanie LaSuzzo (rug in blue/animal room)
AT LEFT MIMICKING AN OLD CASTLE-STYLE HUNTING LODGE, THE WALLS ARE FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH TAXIDERMY GAME–A MYRIAD OF STATELY BUCKS, A STANDARD BRONZE TURKEY AND EVEN A MOUNTAIN LION. ABOVE INTERIOR STYLIST BRANDI BROWNLEE THOMAS
Peach Fest Returns on June 4
Come Experience the Homegrown Flavors, Art, Music and Culture of Ruston, LA
THE 72ND ANNUAL LOUISIANA PEACH FESTIVAL will take place on Saturday, June 4, 2022 in Downtown Ruston. The single- day event will span from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. and feature 10+ hours of live music, more than 80 food and arts vendors, interactive kids activities, peachy treats and eats, and more fun for the whole family.
Last year’s festival saw a record-setting number of attendees, which signaled to event organizers that their new approach to the festival appealed to locals and visitors alike. The 2021 event put an emphasis on local art, music, and flavors, in addition to offering free kids activities and free admission for a portion of the festival.
“I think our efforts to refocus the festival back on the area’s unique culture and talent were really felt and embraced by the community,” said Amanda Carrier, President and CEO of the Ruston Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re taking the feedback we received after last year’s event and expanding on those elements that attendees enjoyed most.”
The festival will be extending its free admission period to 5:00 p.m. and “Kids Alley” activities will be spread out onto East Park Avenue to allow for more activities and entertainment for children, all offered completely free of charge.
“The Peach Festival is not only a wonderful celebration of our local culture, but it is a huge economic driver for our small businesses downtown and beyond,” said Amy Stegall, Ruston Main Street Director.
The festival continues to add more than a million-dollar economic impact to the area annually. Festival organizers hope that local businesses and vendors will see a substantial impact again during this year’s event.
In an effort to encourage the community to enjoy the festivities and shop and eat downtown, all festival activities will be free from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The evening concert from 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. will have an admission of $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Children 4 and under are free all day.
See below for the schedule of events for the 72nd Annual Louisiana Peach Festival on June 4:.
• 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Peach Arts Market - Discover art, handmade items, and homemade goods from local artists, artisans, and makers. Located in Sexton Lot across from
Railroad Park.
• 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Kids Alley: An Art Experience - Kids of all ages can enjoy hands-on art activities and crafts on
East Park Ave., along with interactive performances and demonstrations on the Kids Alley stage in Esma’s Alley.
• 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.: Live Performances on the Railroad Park Stage including Fifth Sunday, Hali Brown, Jarett Bailey, Katelyn Fajardo, Cal Presley Band, Derrick McLendon, The Joanitones, Dead Reckoning String Band, Cold Canyons, Johnny Earthquake & the Moondogs, and J.A.M. Brass Band.
Other offsite peach events will also be taking place during the week leading up to the festival. These events include: Peach Hunt, Peach Restaurant Roundup, Peach Art Exhibit, Peachy Sidewalk Sales, Queen Dixie Gem Peach and Princess Peach Pageant, and the Peach Rodeo. For a full list of events, please visit www.lapeachfest. com/schedule.
Official 2022 Peach Festival merchandise will be available for purchase at the Ruston Visitors Center two weeks before the festival. This year’s merchandise includes t-shirts (12M– 4XL), posters, and stickers. All festival merchandise will also be available at the festival on June 4.
For more information on the Louisiana Peach Festival, visit www. lapeachfest.com or contact 318-255-2031.
Off the Wall Fundraiser
On Friday, April 8th, the Masur Museum celebrated the 3th Anniversary of their Off the Wall event, Monroe’s premier silent art auction and one of the best events of the year! The main event is the silent auction where guests bid on a huge variety of visual work by both local and regional artists, as well as artists around the country. There was also a special curated gallery of highly collectible art from selected local artists. Local artist Doug Breckenridge created a live painting which was raffled off during the event.Everyone enjoyed food and drinks, live music from Cary Hudson, and walked away with fabulous pieces of art. 4
On the BayouScene
1 Courtney Thomas and Jay Davis 2 Melissa and Matt Baldwin 3 Jarrod and Meghan Sellar 4 Toni and John Navarro 5 Kelsea McCrary and Steven Keirsey 6 Steve and Janet Haedicke 7 Todd and Debora Colvin and Eron Bethard 8 Melanie Douthit and Ashlyn Johnson 9 Lillian and Albert Paxton 10 Frank Elkins and Vernon Wells 11 Lauren and Will Erwin 12 Jessica and Ryan Grigson 13 Milton and Tiffany Jackson 14 Amanda Wimberly and Ashley Doughty Able 15 Leigh Buffingston and Emily Caldwell 16 Jacera Francois and Drék Davis 17 Jennifer and Doug Harvey 7
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Shindig Benefits Ouachita COA
Guests came from near and far to kick up their heels at the 12th annual Shindig. The event that benefits the Ouachita Council on Aging was held at MBH Farms in Calhoun on Friday, March 25th. Party-goers enjoyed a silent and live auction as well as music featuring Lisa Spann and Company, a spread prepared by Catfish Charlies and cold beverages from Marsala Beverage. Tables were sponsored by local businesses and a live and silent auction were in tow. The MBH horses were a hit as always with the patrons who danced the night away at one of the biggest events of the year.
On the BayouScene
1 Dix and Jan Johnston, Trina and Tom Lowe, John and Dee Ledbetter 2 Beverly and Loyd Sivils, Melda and Lanny
Brantly, Daphne and Dickie Culpepper, Jeannie and Larry Jones 3 Tabitha Hendon and Billy Justice 4 Lynda McGehee, Lionel Eby Smith-McGehee, and Ashley Cutle 5 Ronald and Cheryl Carr 6 Nina Pate, Michelle Holt, Ray Cartwright, and George Pate 7 Georgia Street, Katherine Smith and Billy Caldwell 8 Kim Hudson, WIlliam Smart, Alison and Florida Glass 9 Alan Barth, Gay Nell Barth, Karen Gibbens,
Pam Lavender, Vicki Hilbun, Deborah Wall,
Gus and Jane Campbell 10 Larry and Leslie Knight, Angela Hamby and Marc
Mashaw 11 Sharon and Jerry McClain, Angela Grubbs, JoAnn
Powell, and Lisa Miller 12 Tom and Ronni Mulhern 13 Judy and Fred Bennett 14 Lee Sherrill, Bob Sledge, Sharon Sledge, GiGi
Harvey, Kim Sherrill, and Charlie Harvey 15 Marvin Dearman Rhonda Jones, Sandy Duplissey,
Ken and Michelle Rugg, Kim Essex, Patty Wilhite and Brent Vidrine
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Barbara Kingsolver’s novels regularly top the bestseller lists, as she’s written consistently since 1988. Her works explore the relationships between people and their communities. A masterful storyteller, Kingsolver’s attention to space and place captures readers through intricately woven stories of relatable characters frequently on the margins. Kingsolver explores this dynamic of belonging, but not quite fitting, in her 2012 novel Flight Behavior.
In the opening scene, Dellarobia, a married mother of two, is climbing up the family mountain to meet a man who is not her husband, intent on leaving her confining life behind. For the last 11 years, she has lost herself in being everything for everyone else and has come to resent her role in this family-in-law. In a bad marriage with a good man, Dellarobia feels hopeless. Suddenly Dellarobia comes upon a mass of butterflies, millions fluttering around the family property, a luminous and stunning sight that thwarts her plan of escape. Displaced due to environmental changes, the butterflies migrate to Tennessee in lieu of their normal Mexican winter refuge. The media attention ensues, bringing scientists and spectators to the otherwise ignored Appalachian town. Themes of religion, interpersonal family dynamics, climate change discourse, and class converge in this story of retaining individuality in a traditional rural community.
Kingsolver’s narrative skill surfaces through intriguing dialogue, laced with social commentary that represents diverse viewpoints. While the climate change debate is at the heart of this novel, Kingsolver showcases the immediacy of those regions severely impacted by environmental changes. While the people of this fictional town depend on the land for survival, they also view their livelihoods as legacies, tethering identity and career in a way that makes each decision transformational. While the outsider climate activists tell them what they should do to protect the migrating butterflies, it compromises a way of life that has sustained the family for generations. The push-and-pull between what’s right and who is right is stretched and shifted throughout the story, showing the issue is more nuanced than many understand. As an environmentalist, Kingsolver writes with respect for the land, but even more so for the people inhabiting those spaces. People and place cannot easily be separated, and a shifting dynamic in one case inevitably affects the entire ecosystem. Kingsolver’s engaging story reminds readers that humans are fallible, complex, and often driven by emotion, that sometimes the most logical choice accompanies potentially dire outcomes.
“As long as we won’t commit to knowing everything, the presumption is we know nothing. He did not claim that God moves in mysterious ways. Instead, he seemed to believe, as she did, though they never could have discussed it, that everything else is in motion while God does not move at all. God sits still, perfectly at rest, the silver dollar at the bottom of the well, the question.”
REVIEW BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE
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The professor St. Peter Godfrey is high off the fortune of writing a critically acclaimed book about Spanish history in North America. The years-long endeavor monopolized his work and while he is proud of his accomplishment, he is unsure what to devote his time to now. His financial windfall has afforded his family a new home, one luxurious and far beyond the meager salary of a professor. His grown daughters are recently married, and his wife, adjusting to her new lifestyle, is becoming less of the woman Godfrey fell in love with during his youth. The new house represents a new life, one Godfrey is unsure he wants to pursue. Instead, he isolates himself in the familiar space of the old house, lost in memories of a fading youth and his would-beson-in-law and muse who died in the war.
Set in the Midwest, the novel ruminates on the past, idealized as being preferable to the uncertain, fast pace of the present. Godfrey looks up from his studies and sees his wife and daughters living on their own terms, a family for which he is no longer the proverbial center. Having shunned family life for career, he no longer recognizes the family he mentally left behind. Cather’s title character represents America, a country unsure of its future and still clinging to its past. Published in 1925, America is fresh off World War I, shaken but not broken, waiting for the dust to settle.
The story is told in three parts: The Family; Tom Outlander’s Story; and The Professor. The first section provides the framework, the establishment of characters that make up the professor’s world. One daughter Rosamond has been left a potential fortune by Tom, her fiance who died in the war. Her new husband Louis represents the future, the shift of capitalism from physical labor to relentless dealmaking - assuring Tom’s invention is manufactured and profitable. Tom Outlander’s Story provides the backdrop for the man who would change all their lives, the wanderer who captures the hearts of all the Godfreys. The third section presents St. Peter’s reflection on his life, what was missed and what was allowed to simply pass by. Published the same year as Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, this novel is not the most critically acclaimed by Willa Cather, a regional writer who resented the classification. But her writing shows a budding America searching for identity and grasping at local places and discoveries for the answers of what it means to be an American. When we don’t have a shared history, to what extent will we strive to create one?
“The heart of another is a dark forest, always, no matter how close it has been to one’s own.”
REVIEW BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE
Original A Hays Town
LOCATED ON THE BANKS OF BAYOU DESIARD IN THE heart of North Monroe, a timeless original A. Hays Town design is now available following a three-year renovation project completed by the current owners.
The home is located at 3402 Lake Desiard Drive on a quiet and secluded street under a sweeping canopy of mature live oaks. This oneof-a-kind waterfront home is one of the legendary Louisiana architects’ few original homes in North Louisiana and represents the very essence of timeless design, graceful living and true Louisiana charm.
With 6,277 heated square feet of living space, multiple covered outdoor porches and breezeways and a boat/ party house with swimming dock, the home is filled with A. Hays Town trademarks such as high ceilings, antique wood and brick, oversized wood windows that flood natural light throughout and a sensible and very livable layout.
As part of the complete and historically accurate restoration project, the current owners retained all of the original features of the home while updating and modernizing the home for today’s living standards, sparing no expenses in the design and installation of the finest fixtures and finishes throughout the entire home.
The front elevation is a classic Louisiana style with a wide brick porch, enclosed front courtyard with foundation and second story balcony with iconic Bevolo gas lanterns. The grand yet understated front entrance showcases refinished wide-plank antique heart pine floors which flow throughout the house and a beautiful staircase with original custom millwork leading up to the second floor.
The formal dining room connects to the completely redesigned kitchen which contains marble countertops, custom cabinetry and island, an oversized Lacanche gas range imported from France and Subzero refrigeration including wine storage. Massive salvaged antique wood beams - a Hays Town trademark - cross the ceilings of the kitchen.
The pantry off of the kitchen contains custom cypress cabinetry, a coffee bar with marble countertop and undercounted Subzero refrigeration.
Entering from carport, the “cypress room” contains antique Saint Joe brick floors, irreplaceable pesky cypress walls and antique beamed ceilings with a brick mantle and wood-burning gas fireplace. In addition, a powder bath with designer wallpaper and fixtures and an industrious laundry/mud room are conveniently located nearby.
The “great room” contains heart pine floors, soaring windows and a custom oversized Rumford wood-burning fireplace with imported limestone surround. The great room flows out onto the enclosed veranda/ sunroom with a wall of stunning floor to ceiling windows and beautiful views of the ground as well as Bayou Desiard.
Off the great room is a wet bar featuring custom cypress cabinets, Subzero refrigeration and ice maker, exposed Saint Joe brick walls and antique wood beamed ceiling. Through the bar area, a hallway leads to a fully-enclosed walk in wine cellar with 3,000 + bottle storage capacity, a powder bath and a study with built in cypress cabinets, bookshelves, pesky cypress walls and a wood-burning fireplace.
The master wing contains an oversized master bedroom large enough to accommodate bedroom furniture and sitting area and a completely re-imagined master bathroom and closet design that is one of the most stunning features of the home - truly a must see!
Upstairs, the home contains three additional bedrooms, each with its own full-size walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom, all of which were completely remodeled during the extensive restoration project. French doors lead out to a beautiful upstairs rear balcony with peacock pavers and sweeping sunset views overlooking Bayou Desiard. All of the exterior trim was replaced and painted during the renovation while retaining the original antique aged lime wash finish on the exterior brick.
Outside the lush grounds have been completely landscaped and contain outdoor lighting, full irrigation system and dog kennels. A brand - new cedar shake roof was installed on the entire house, per the original A. Hays Town designed boathouse.
This is truly a one-of-a-kind family estate home, impossible to replicate. Move in today to this completely turn-key, renovated and restored A. Hayes Town classic on the bayou which offers much more than new construction. Owner has complete set of original hand drawn A. Hays Town architectural plans and signature plaque. Now is the time to enjoy your dream of relaxed and fun times of bayou living.
If interested, contact Susie Husted for more images and videos on this breathtaking property.
Susie Husted (318) 322-8262 or (318) 366-1472
Golden Roofing
Locally Owned Company Serving North Louisiana and Beyond
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE GOLDEN ROOFING TRUCKS around town. The big black trucks feature a giant G, the Golden Roofing logo and are cruising around Northeast Louisiana. However, their work really shines atop the houses throughout this community. They have done hundreds of roofs since they started their business in 2019. And while they have officially been in business for two years, they have decades of experience. The company is led by Andy Robertson and Jose Agouya. The pair has a combined 37 years in the roofing industry and their crews have decades of experience as well. Andy and Jose split day to day operational duties including overseeing their 16 crews.
Golden Roofing isn’t just in Northeast Louisiana either. Their service area covers Shreveport/Bossier, West Mississippi and East Texas, in addition to the Twin Cities. Their services include residential roofing, commercial roofing, commercial roof repairs, chimneys and maintenance plans. Their goal is to help homeowners and business owners who need expert assistance in selecting or maintaining their roof, and they have built a reputation for doing just that. Golden Roofing is proud to say they are a certified GAF Master Elite® Roofing Contractor and a CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator™, so you can rest assured your roof is being taken care of by certified experts. Only 5 percent of roofers nationwide have both of these certifications, which shows that Golden Roofing is a leader in their field.
RESIDENTIAL ROOFING As a CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator, Golden Roofing has the shingle expertise that you are looking for. They are also well experienced with other roofing materials and can help you choose what is best for your home and budget. Available residential roofing materials include Asphalt Shingle Roofing, which is one of the most popular choices for residential roofing, quality CertainTeed asphalt shingles provide decades of protection and great aesthetics for a low cost; Metal Roofing which is popular for its long-lasting durability and energy efficiency; Shake / Wood Shingle Roofing that can also provide natural insulation up to two times that of asphalt shingles; Flat Roofing that are generally versatile and easy to maintain; Ceramic Tile Roofing known for their unique look and long lifespan.
In addition to residential roofs, Golden Roofing also specializes in chimney maintenance. Whether you need a leak fixed or you need new chimney flashing installed, Golden Roofing is the contractor to rely on. They understand how your chimney works with your roofing system, so they can provide the knowledgeable, skilled help you need.
COMMERCIAL ROOFING Whether your company is in a large building with an expansive flat roof that needs frequent maintenance checks, or you own a small business in an older, quaint commercial building and need help with a sloping custom roof, Golden Roofing can help. They can handle any business’ roofing needs, from new construction to restorations. In fact, you can see a lot of their commercial work throughout Northeast Louisiana, including the Unitech Building off Trenton Street in West Monroe, pictured above. As a locally owned business themselves, Golden Roofing understands how valuable a business owner’s time is and how important it is to have a functional building to operate a business. They are experienced in the maintenance of all commercial roof types, including Flat Roofs, TPO Systems, Metal Roofs, Bitumen Roofing and Coating Overlays.
Just in the last year, our area has experienced tornadoes, hurricanes, hail storms, strong winds and more, all of which can damage a roof. If you see any signs of damage, it is important to repair the problem right away, before more issues occur. Common signs of damage include cracked, chipped or warped shingles, missing shingles, water spots on ceiling, leaking roof or chimney, damaged roof flashing and more. Most homeowners and property owners insurance policies include coverage for a storm damaged roofing system. Since Golden Roofing is the expert in their field, they have their turnkey operations down to a science, making insurance claims quick and easy. Here’s a look at the insurance claim process - 1. Think you have roof damage? Call Golden Roofing for a free roof inspection. 2. They will give you a storm date to provide your insurance company when you file the claim. 3. The insurance company will assign an adjuster and set a date/time for the visit. 4. Call Golden Roofing and let them know when the insurance adjuster will visit. They will complete a thorough inspection with the adjuster to ensure *all* damages are accounted for. 5. The insurance company sends over the paperwork and check. 6. Golden Roofing will go over paperwork, sign the contract, and complete the job. 7. Golden Roofing will file the final claim invoice with the insurance company. NO PAYMENT DUE until the roof is done, you’re satisfied, and have received all money from the insurance company.
They pride themselves on excellent customer service, quality products, accurate estimates, on-time appointments and competitive pricing. This has set Golden Roofing apart as one of the most successful, growing companies in their field. Their commitment to this philosophy is what keeps Golden Roofing on the cutting edge as the preferred roofing and construction company in the area!
ULM Honors Program
Students Present Research at Conference
JOSHUA STOCKLEY, PH.D., DIRECTOR OF THE ULM
Honors Program, was accompanied by eight students – Emmanuel
Perez, senior biology major; Michael Hollman, senior mathematics major; Caitlyn Cullen, junior political science major; Uchechi Owunna, senior toxicology major; Nautica Jones, senior biology major; Alisha Lirette, senior biology major; Blaine Warren, senior political science major; and Ariana Yelverton, senior biology major - to the Southern Regional Honors Council.
Seven of these students presented research.
Attending the conference were honors students and administrators from colleges and universities across the southern region of the United States.
Owunna presented “Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1,3-Diarylpyrazoles: in vitro Cytotoxicity Studies on Melanoma Cancer Cells.”
Perez shared the “Effectiveness of Stress Reduction Interventions in College Students During Finals Week.” Perez felt that this experience expanded his knowledge that he could take past his undergraduate time.
Lirette presented “One Night Without a Home.”
Yelverton presented “Effectiveness of Aromatherapy Scents in Reducing Canine Stress in a Veterinary Setting.” Yelverton enjoyed meeting other students within the Southern region.
Jones presented “Saving Louisiana’s Last Chenier.”
“I am grateful for the experience to attend and present at SRHC. It was an unparalleled opportunity for networking and professional development,” Jones said.
Warren presented “The Effects of Political Corruption in Contemporary Louisiana.” He felt supported in his endeavors by many in the ULM community.
Hollman presented “An Investigation into the Relationship between Louisiana Community Banks‚ Lending Practices and Profitability.” Hollman appreciated the opportunity to contribute and was inspired by his peers’ research.
Cullen did not present but still learned much from her experience, including how to develop a thesis.
The Southern Regional Honors Council is an educational organization that promotes and advances Honors Programs and Honors Colleges in the southern United States. SRHC currently comprises more than 100 member institutions, hosts an annual conference, publishes a literary arts journal, Sanctuary, and provides a variety of grants to support student efforts to engage in NCHC-sponsored experiential learning and leadership in honors organizations.
Max Porter Provisions
Northeast Louisiana’s Newest Men’s Mercantile
Max Porter Provisions, a men’s mercantile offering everything for apothecary to apparel, general store items to unique gift ideas, is located at 206 Trenton Street in West Monroe. Parters Laurie Cochran and Cassie Livingston had a vision to open a store in the old Mojoware store that would appeal to men looking to shop for themselves or women looking for unique gift items for the men in their lives. Vintage family memorabilia and antique furntiure sets the stage for Max Porter. When asked about the name of the store, Livingston said, “The store is named for my father-in-law, Max Livingston, who we lost to leukemia in 2011. It’s a tribute to our family roots – acknowledging the hard-working, veteran who devoted his life to family and country.
Among the brands that Max Porter Provisions carries is Paige jeans, a premium denim company that manufacturers all of their clothing in America. The Ampal Creative is another diverse line of socks, beanies and hats that are exclusively made in the USA. Shoppers can find a range of sauces and rubs from distributers like Hoff & Pepper, BBQ Rubdown, Strongarm Barbecue, along with drink mixes from awardwinning El Guapo Bitters. “The store definitely had ‘every man’ in mind when we were purchasing products,” says Cochran. “Whether you describe your style as western, modern, rustic, old-school, metro... our store has something for you.”
A favorite of the owners are the candles from Manready Mercantile. “Manready was really the inspiration behind the store. A friend put it on our radar, and the next time we visited Houston we really fell in love with the products. My husband loves the room sprays and candles – these were the first orders that we placed for Max Porter,” says Livingston. There are also candles and fragrances from Guy Fox, an under-the-radar company that offers affordable and unique colognes that are warm and full of zest.
Looking for a new razor? Supply offers an injector-style blade cartridge which allows you to reload the razor with ultra-sharp stubble-slicers, without ever touching a blade with your hands. Pair it along with Educated Beards delightful beard-grooming kit to keep your facial hair in place. Both of the companies, along with Duke Cannon are favorites of Livingston and Cochran’s husbands.
While Max Porter Provisions originally only intended to carry a few clothing brands, the owners have expanded their apparel lines to include items from Duck Camp, Flag & Anthem, Howler Bros, and Criquet. “We have clothing for everyone – pearl snap Western-inspired shirts, fishing shirts and light-weight shorts from Duck Camp, great looking golf polos from Criquet and favorites from Austin-based company, Howler Bros. We also carry boxers from Richer Poorer, socks from Ampal Creative, and fun hats from Sendero Provisions. Our husbands definitely weighed in when we were ordering clothing, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the unique apparel that we have.”
Leather goods is among one of the largest selections of gift items in the store. There are some beautiful, hand-crafted leather goods like wallets, belts, dog collars and leashes, bags, coasters, trays and more. “The Atticus duffle from Will Leather Company is my favorite item in the store,” says Cochran. “With plenty of pockets for organization and a dedicated shoe compartment, its roomy interior will hold all your essentials and more. It’s the right size for an overhead compartment and leather strap make going through the airport a breeze.” Even though the leather bags are a must-have, Max Porter also has a vintage camo print bag line from another local manufacturer that has been one of our best-sellers.
Along with drink mixers, Max Porter has several items to meet your barware needs – beautiful crystal rocks glasses, unique beer mugs and decanters, along with essentials like whiskey rocks, perfect for the craft cocktail connoisseur.
Whether you are looking for a birthday or graduation gift, something special for Father’s Day, or just need retail therapy, make sure to stop in and visit Max Porter Provisions. “We’ve had such great response from our community. We genuinely found a need for a store like this, and feel that we will continue to evolve to become a shopping destination for Northeast Louisiana,” says Livingston. “If you haven’t had the chance to stop by and walk through, carve out the time to check us out. If nothing more, come in and have a great chat with our manager, Bradley Castle. He has a wealth of product knowledge and experience and is super entertaining.”
Max Porter Provisions is located at 206 Trenton Street in West Monroe. The phone number is 318.737.7742 and you can find them on Facebook and Instagram. Store hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm.
