CUE MAGAZINE A M O N T H LY
LIFE + STYLE + DESIGN
GUIDE TO NEW ORLEANS
APRIL 2019
DESIGNER TIPS
How to make an impression in your entryway
THE
HOME ISSUE ROOM BY ROOM
How to refresh your kitchen
GARDENING
How home gardeners can fight hunger in their communities R E A L E S TAT E
How much home can you afford?
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C UE M AG A Z I N E •
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CONTENTS
YOUR HOME COMFORT SPECIALIST!
APRIL 2019
13 15
CUE TIP
Mark Sanders’ Ninth Ward Nursery
SHOPPING
The Bank Architectural Antiques offers plenty of history
5 6 10
TRENDS
How fashion trends affect home decor
ROOM BY ROOM
FREE ESTIMATES ON EQUIPMENT
$125 DIAGNOSTIC FEE
APPLIES TO ANY SERVICE WITHIN 30 DAYS QUALITY COOLING AND HEATING SYSTEMS AT AFFORDABLE RATES. FROM RESIDENTIAL AIR CONDITIONERS TO COMMERCIAL HEAT PUMPS
REAL ESTATE
A guide to buying a home in New Orleans
19
GARDENING
A designer’s advice on how to make a bold statement in your home’s entryway
Help relieve food insecurity by taking the Garden to Give pledge
ON THE COVER: COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF SINGER KITCHENS.
ON
CUE
Publisher JEANNE EXNICIOS FOSTER Editor KATHERINE M. JOHNSON Creative Services Director DORA SISON
ADVERTISING
Advertising Inquiries (504) 483-3150 Advertising Director SANDY STEIN BRONDUM (504) 483-3150
[sandys@gambitweekly.com]
Sales Coordinator | MICHELE SLONSKI Sales Assistant | KAYLA FLETCHER Senior Sales Representatives
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C UE M AG A Z I N E •
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Refresh your kitchen for spring
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IN YOUR SPACE
JILL GIEGER (504) 483-3131
EDITORIAL
[ jillg@gambitweekly.com] Sales Representatives
Managing Editor KANDACE POWER GRAVES
BRANDIN DUBOS (504) 483-3152
Contributing Writers APRIL BLEVINS PEJIC, SARAH RAVITS, SUZANNE PFEFFERLE TAFUR
PRODUCTION Pre-Press Coordinator JASON WHITTAKER
504-348-7128 985-624-3808
[brandind@gambitweekly.com]
SAMANTHA FLEMING (504) 483-3141
[samanthaf@gambitweekly.com]
ABBY SCORSONE (504) 483-3145
Graphic Designers
[abigails@gambitweekly.com]
WINNFIELD JEANSONNE, MARIA BOUÉ, SHERIE DELACROIX-ALFARO
(504) 483-3143 [taylors@gambitweekly.com]
TAYLOR SPECTORSKY
823 C A M P S T R E E T | N E W O RL E A N S, L A 7 01 3 0 504.486 . 5 9 0 0 | cue@gambitweekly.com
[ TRENDS ]
FROM THE RUNWAY TO THE
HALLWAY How fashion trends influence home decor BY APRIL BLEVINS PEJIC
trends into home decor without blowing the budget.
Bold color
Francis loves the color revival happening in both fashion and interiors. “We are seeing the all-white schemes fading away in favor of homes showing more of a curated look built on personality as opposed to what a spread in a magazine looks like,” she says. Paint can be an inexpensive option to freshen a room, but if you aren’t ready to cover the walls in a bold hue, Cordaro Daigle suggests using throw pillows to add in color. “It’s always good to start with pillows because you can change them seasonally and they aren’t a huge financial commitment,” she says. An often-overlooked option is right under the table. Cordaro Daigle suggests adding a punch of color on the seats of dining chairs or barstools. “Since chairs and barstools are tucked under the table most of the time,” she says, “they can be an easy place to incorporate an unexpected pop without overwhelming a room.” Reupholstering tired seats can add new life to furniture you already own and is more budget-friendly than buying something new.
Mix and match
Scarf and tie prints got an update for Spring 2019, and the more modern take is headlining spring home decor as well.
THE SPRING FASHION RUNWAYS were full of bright colors and bold patterns. If
Seventies vibes
The runways also were full of macrame and other style nods to the ’70s. In interior design, this trend translates to lots of rattan and other natural materials. If you’re drawn to these looks, Francis suggests juxtaposing these raw textures with refined ones. “Pairing a woven accent chair with something softer like a velvet sofa will keep a room from feeling too cold,” she says.
Feathers
Colorful ostrich, marabou and emu feathers were all over the runway for Marc Jacobs, Saint Laurent and Valentino, among others. Francis says feathers and fringe are trending in interiors as well. “That luxurious look is back,” she says. “But a little goes a long way.” She advises using them sparingly as accents or trim. Cordaro Daigle suggests a few unexpected ways to incorporate feathers in home decor. “I would use feathers in lighting,” she says. “I just saw a really cool drum light covered in colorful feathers.”
Tie-dye
The kaleidoscopic pattern may be associated with art teachers and hippies, but it made a big showing on runways from some of the biggest fashion houses like Dior, Prada and Stella McCartney. “Tie-dye is actually a timeless trend that can be a really fun splurge,” Cordaro Daigle says. Her shop features a number of tie-dye patterned fabrics. Many are in single colors, so the design isn’t too over the top.
C UE M AG A Z I N E •
Polka dots
All of the major fashion houses sent polka dots down the runway, including Burberry, Celine,and Dolce & Gabbana. Cordaro Daigle shares the fashion industry’s obsession with dots, but Francis doesn’t view the pattern as a trend. “Polka dots are timeless,” she says.
Fashion trends — colors, textures, patterns and materials — directly impact trends in home decor, like with the newer fabrics brought in for spring at Fairfax Fabric Company.
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your goal is to be as “extra” as possible, this is the season for it. These fashion trends influence more than just wardrobe choices and closet updates. According to interior designer Penny Francis, owner of Eclectic Home (8211 Oak St., 504-866-6654; www.eclectichome.net), interiors follow fashion. “Fashion comes first,” Francis says, “but the next season, you start to see those trends incorporated into interiors.” Patricia Cordaro Daigle, owner of Fairfax Fabric Company (3613 Magazine St., 504-309-9503; www.fairfaxfabriccompany.com), agrees and points as an example to the velvet trend first seen on runways for fall/winter 2017. “Velvet has been huge in home decor for the last few years,” Cordaro Daigle says. “Velvet has great texture, so it’s an easy way to add depth or a pop of color.” She cites palm frond and banana leaf motifs as another example. They were a hit on runways in spring 2017, and now they’re popular choices for upholstery and wallpaper. While retailers offer fashionable choices in a range of prices for clothing, making it affordable to refresh your wardrobe with the season’s trends, most people likely wouldn’t redecorate their homes every season. Francis cautions clients against going overboard when decorating with trends. “Too much of one style or trend won’t have lasting appeal,” she says. “You don’t want to keep reinventing. So, our advice is to sprinkle in the things you love.” Francis and Cordaro Daigle offer some tips on how to incorporate spring fashion
The idea of scarf and tie prints may conjure the smell of moth balls, but that association is a thing of the past. Runway shows from couture houses Balenciaga, Etro and Chloe presented an updated bohemian style that mixes and matches these prints. Floral patterns, which flooded the spring 2018 runways, are back again this year in bigger and bolder colors, and they are nothing like your granny’s chintz curtains. If you find a print or floral that you love, Francis suggests finding a way to pair it with what you already have. “Using a floral or print on an ottoman or accent chair is a great way to incorporate it because it’s a lot more inexpensive than reupholstering a sofa,” she says. Anything goes when it comes to mixing and matching prints, Cordaro Daigle says. “You just want to make sure the prints don’t compete with each other for balance,” she says. “They need to play an equal role in the scheme.” For example, Daigle pairs a large geometric print with a smaller cheetah-inspired polka-dot pattern in the same gold and silver tones.
“That’s one thing that never goes out of style. They actually work as a neutral, sort of like an animal print, and they can be great complements to stripes or florals.”
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[ KITCHENS ]
EVERYTHING AND THE
C UE M AG A Z I N E •
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kitchen sink
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WHEN YOU HOST DINNER FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, the kitchen is where you prepare the feast you sit down to enjoy. But it also tends to be the place where people gather to sip wine, snack and chat with one another beforehand. That’s especially true today, since many homes feature an open kitchen layout, where hosts can chop a salad and check the pork tenderloin while mingling with guests. To create a welcoming vibe, homeowners may consider renovating the kitchen by replacing countertops and cabinets, adding modern appliances and ultimately designing a room that’s spacious, bright and practical. “There are several reasons why people decide to renovate their kitchens,” says Nancy Norton, vice president of Singer Kitchens (231 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-4860067; www.singerkitchens.com). “One of the reasons is lifestyle improvement. You might want to knock out a wall to
make it more open for your family and create an open bar where your kids can do homework.” When Singer Kitchens begins a kitchen renovation, consultants generally start with the cabinets and move on to the countertops. The cabinets usually are the first thing people notice, Norton says. Usually, clients prefer simple, wooden Shaker-style cabinets, a five-piece door with a recessed center panel. Most clients opt for white cabinets, but shades of white with blue or gray undertones have become popular. “The look now is more streamlined,” Norton says. “A lot of people want open shelving and open cabinets, so there are more compact storage options that can give your kitchen an open look.” New cabinet styles are equipped with greater storage possibilities, including ample space to stash pots and pans, pullout trays and mixer lifts — an inner cabinet shelf that can hold a large electric
What to consider when renovating a kitchen B Y S U Z A N N E P F E F F E R L E TA F U R
mixer or other kitchen appliance. It can be extended and raised to countertop level when in use. As for countertops, the most popular surface options include marble, granite, quartz and wood. Granite, a natural stone, is available in shades of blue, brown, red and shimmery black. It’s resistant to bacteria and the effects of heat. Engineered quartz (also called silestone) is a less expensive alternative to both marble and granite. According to Singer Kitchens, although some quartz countertops are made of quarried slabs of the natural stone, engineered material is actually created through a manufacturing process that mixes approximately 95 percent ground natural quartz with 5 percent polymer resin. The result is a hard, low-maintenance, natural stone-looking countertop available in a variety of styles and colors. Silestone quartz resists stains and corrosion from cooking oils, liquids and most household cleaning products, so
PHOTO BY NICOL AS MCCOMBER/URBAN CULTIVATOR
The Urban Cultivator indoor garden (center appliance; available at Nordic Kitchens & Baths) can grow vegetables, herbs and microgreens in any kitchen.
[ KITCHENS ]
there’s no need for periodic resealing. Norton says clients have been leaning toward silvery white Carrara marble, but since marble crushes and stains easily, homeowners should consider engineered stone that looks like marble. “It goes really well with painted cabinets, but you also have the lower maintenance because they’re able to make (the countertop) noncoarse and stronger,” Norton says. Bin Hang, owner of BC Kitchen & Bath (3939 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 504-338-6227; www.bckitchenbath.com), says quartzite — a durable, natural stone — is another popular-but-pricey option for countertops, so many people stick with quartz or silestone. “A lot of contractors or homeowners, even if they [are renovating with the intent] to sell the house, are leaning to purchase the quartz, because it’s less expensive,” Hang says. To keep renovation costs down, she suggests replacing countertops, but repainting (rather than replacing) the cabinets. Hang says clients with high ceilings may decide to remove the furr down, the enclosed area between the top of a kitchen cabinet and the ceiling. Removing the furr down creates a more open feel in the room. Crown molding can be added to the wall above the cabinets, and home decor items such as woven baskets can be displayed in the now-open area. On the other hand, some people choose to extend the top cabinets, so they reach the ceiling.
“Generally, people’s tastes are changing,” Hang says. “New Orleans people are very traditional, but now, especially for kitchen cabinets and countertop styles, they are leaning towards more contemporary styles.” After choosing a basic style and theme for the renovated kitchen, add the bells and whistles. There are built-in wine coolers and cutting-edge counter appliances, such as an incubator that can grow an indoor herb garden. Randall Shaw, owner of Nordic Kitchens & Baths (1818 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 504-888-2300; www.nordickitchens. com), says combi-steam ovens are “the rage right now.” Miele’s MultiSteam oven, for example, is a built-in oven that cooks with an even distribution of steam to prepare several small dishes or entire meals in a single cooking process. Combi-steam ovens have the baking and roasting capabilities of a standard oven as well. The oven’s built-in warming drawers can keep meals warm before serving, but they can also be used for slow, low-temperature cooking. U-Line creates sleek, undercounter refrigeration systems, ice machines and wine preservation and storage products that blend seamlessly into the kitchen. Shaw’s favorite appliance is the Urban Cultivator, which allows users to grow gardens complete with vegetables, herbs and microgreens, right in the kitchen. “You can go from planting seeds in this machine to having 3- to 6-inch sprouts in a week or two,” says Shaw, noting that he uses
one in his home. “It’s really amazing.” As for countertop appliances, Shaw recommends the Wolf Gourmet series, which includes a slow cooker with a sous vide function, in which food is placed in a plastic pouch and cooked in water for an extended period of time at a regulated temperature. The series also includes state-of-the-art countertop griddles, blenders, toasters and coffee makers. Miele offers a countertop coffee maker that grinds whole beans and packs the beans into an espresso pod before adding the water. It also allows you to steam milk for frothy lattes and cappuccinos. These appliances come with a hefty price tag, but “they’ve got some great warranties,” Shaw says. So, before you splurge, do your research. “Do it through a brick-and-mortar store, where you can talk to salespeople who truly have the experience,” he says. “We find that when one customer has a bad experience, they have a tendency to write negative reviews. The people who are happy with their products are busy with their day-to-day lives, so it’s very rare that they write these great reviews.” Don’t go overboard, however. Norton believes you should choose appliances that complement the style and theme of your kitchen. “Don’t go with appliances that don’t fit the space,” she says. “We find some people will go with overpowering appliances, and then it takes away from their overall layout, and the layout very much affects their lifestyle.”
With Miele’s new coffee maker (available at Nordic Kitchens & Baths), you can make a cappuccino — complete with foam — in your kitchen.
FAR LEFT: PHOTO COURTESY SINGER KITCHENS
LEFT: PHOTO COURTESY SINGER KITCHENS
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A silestone countertop is made from engineered quartz, which is durable, low-maintenance and wallet-friendly, while mimicking the beauty of natural stone.
C UE M AG A Z I N E •
New cabinet styles are equipped with greater storage possibilities, including shelves that can be extended and raised to counter-top level when in use.
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SPONSORED CONTENT
Spring
HOME
PLANNER
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Since 2002, Harold’s Plants has delivered the highest quality products and the most knowledgeable, helpful service. We offer landscape and rental services, while carrying a huge selection of indoor and outdoor plants such as vinca, delphinium, pocket book plants, alocasias and more. We have oodles of plant accessories including terra cotta pots, iron plant stands & soil. Our nursery staff live and garden locally, which gives us first-hand knowledge of the climate, soils, and the sometimes-difficult issues involved with gardening in the South. Don’t miss our holiday trees & wreaths at year end!
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BC Kitchen & Bath
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The Plant Gallery The Plant Gallery is a full-service Garden Center, open 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm. We pride ourselves on offering the widest selection of plants, pots, and fountains. We have licensed horticulturists that are always happy to assist with your gardening questions and offer delivery if needed. Additionally, we are your one-stop shop for all things gardening. We have an extensive array of gardening supplies, gear, tools, and chemicals. Our beautiful boutique is always brimming with wonderful and luxurious garden inspired gifts and indoor and outdoor decor. We are here to maximize your outdoor and indoor spaces and help you get ready for Spring. Come by and see us!
Locally owned and operated by Bin Hang, BC Kitchen & Bath started over 15 years ago with a dream. Now BC Kitchen & Bath helps homeowners make their dreams come true. They have a range of all wood cabinetry and beautiful stone that customers can pick from and a 2-day turnaround time for ordering. From contractors to designers and homeowners alike, everyone can walk into their showroom on 3939 Veterans Blvd. in Metairie, or if you choose you can pick up cabinets at their 50,000 square foot warehouse at 10100 River Road located in St. Rose.
SPONSORED CONTENT
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Grand Rental Station
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Brothers Richard and Wiggins opened Grand Rental Station to fill a void in New Orleans area equipment rental post-Katrina, providing a high level of quality customer service to smaller contractors and homeowners who were often turned away by large commercial rental companies. Grand Rental Station caters to equipment needs of construction, landscaping, home improvement, party rentals, and weekend warriors. They are native New Orleanians who want to help their customers and city and region grow and thrive with the right tools. At Grand Rental Station no job is too big or too small.
Dunn & Sonnier is a popular shopping destination for locals and visitors along vibrant Magazine St. Enjoy the charm and atmosphere of a European shop that includes a purposeful mix of home decor, upscale gifts, antiques and fresh florals. Inside you can find pieces hailing from all over Europe and materials from marble to metal to mirrors as well as unusual found objects. Dunn & Sonnier is also a full-service florist with daily deliveries, while also catering to weddings, events and every occasion.
C UE M AG A Z I N E •
Dunn & Sonnier
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[ BUYING A HOME ]
HOW TO
BUYa HOME
BY S A R A H R AV I T S
IN NEW ORLEANS
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Breaking down the process, step by step
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BUYING A HOME IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMMITMENTS one can make, and there are a number of things that may surprise firsttime buyers as they navigate the process. As with other aspects of living in the city, purchasing a house here will present some unique challenges and concerns, but there are local experts who can help even the most clueless figure it out. Even the most financially savvy future homeowners should talk to a lender in-person when considering purchasing a house. Georgia Harrington, a senior loan officer at NOLA Lending Group (3197 Richland Ave., Metairie, 504-355-5121; www.nolalending. com), specializes in working with first-time homebuyers. “One of the most important things is to have your credit straight,” Harrington says. It’s
even more important than your annual income, she adds. As a general rule at NOLA Lending, if potential buyers have a credit score of 680 or higher, the process of taking out a loan will be “much smoother.
GETTING A LOAN Loan applications are all about “offsetting risks,” she says. While each lending company may come up with its own requirements for approval, companies examine several factors, including a potential homeowner’s savings, income, job longevity, and/or low debt-to-income ratio, which takes into account income and the number of other obligatory monthly expenses. There are a few types of loans out there — most individuals qualify for conventional or Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loans, while veterans can
qualify for loans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. FHA loans are more flexible (and a good option for people with lower credit scores); a conventional loan requires a higher credit score and down payment. If your credit score is on the low side, Harrington says ways to increase it include paying bills on time and making sure you stay within one-third of the credit card limit. She adds that maxing out a credit card drastically decreases your credit score. Harrington recognizes that many people don’t like to use credit cards, but she recommends using one at least for smaller purchases, such as gas or groceries, then paying off the balance completely every month to build or improve a credit score. Lenders also help potential buyers figure out their specific budgets based not only on their
income, but also on their lifestyle preferences and other monthly expenses (such as car payments, health insurance and student loans). They also go over additional home costs, such as mandatory flood insurance (in certain zones), homeowner’s insurance and property tax. In some cases, there will be neighborhood association fees or condo fees. “There can be discrepancies between how much you qualify for versus how much you want to pay for the house,” Harrington says. “Someone might make enough money [and] could qualify for a huge loan, but that’s not what they want. They don’t want to be house-poor. You have to think about disposable income.” Harrington strongly recommends purchasing an escrow account, allowing the mortgage lender to pay money owed on taxes and insurance.
[ BUYING A HOME ]
“It’s like a savings account. Every month when you [the buyer] make your payment, part of it goes into an escrow account that will hold the funds for flood [insurance], property taxes and homeowner’s insurance,” she says.
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
INSPECTIONS Once the offer is accepted, the property is considered “under contract” and the inspection period begins. The prospective homeowner will bring in some experts (recommended by the real estate agents in most cases) to inspect the home for potential hidden problems. Common issues in New Orleans homes include termite damage, dysfunctional sewer lines and leaky roofs. “I always advise [clients to] use a general inspector, termite inspector and get someone to do video plumbing,” King says. “Inspection is so valuable. Even if it costs you $800 to hire an inspector, it can save you tens of thousands of dollars in the long run.” During the inspection period, real estate agents help buyers put together a list of the deficiencies and recommended remedies. You can ask the seller to fix the deficiencies prior to purchasing the home, but King says another option is to negotiate the price, or ask for closing cost credits (i.e., if there’s a $5,000 roof repair, ask for a $5,000 closing cost credit). He adds that closing costs are limited by the loan type and the money spent on the down payment.
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HOME WORKS
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While the house is under contract, King says it’s time to do “due diligence.” He recommends driving past the house often. “Do your work commute from the house at the time you’d be driving to work if you lived there,” he says. “Go by it at all times of the day, check it out when it rains — does the street flood? You want to be certain about all the things that factor into your everyday life,” he says. “Your ability to walk away is a very powerful tool. Don’t feel like you have to buy it.” During this period, a homebuyer has the power to get out of the contract if there are problems that are too much to handle. Once the house is up to your standards and passes the inspection, the next step is to get in touch with your lender again to assess the home, which will determine the property tax. With the title in hand and the closing costs paid, you’re finally ready to move into your home, sweet New Orleans home.
C UE M AG A Z I N E •
Once you’re approved for the loan that works for you, the exciting part happens: finding your dream home within the set budget. Buddy King, a senior Realtor with Korman Gerrity Real Estate (4505 Magazine St., 504-4838884; www.wesellnola.com), says spring and fall typically are busier seasons for real estate purchases in the New Orleans area, meaning you’ll need to “pull the trigger a little faster” in terms of completing the homebuying process. In the winter and summer months, there is less competition, he says. Nevertheless, he says, “If you’re ready financially, there’s never a bad time.” He encourages clients to attend open houses, consider their priorities and weigh the pros and cons of specific features in each home. One of his missions is to get to know buyers so he can help them decide what’s best. He and Harrington agree there is a huge value in meeting face-to-face and getting to know clients. When it’s time to make an offer, the agent will work with the buyer to decide the best price. “I will look at properties that have sold around the target house to create a comparable market analysis [CMA],” King says. “Ideally, I will find at least three houses that have sold in the last six months that are similar to the target house in terms of number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, square footage and condition.” “The next term I discuss with my clients for the offer is the amount for the deposit. … Typically, a deposit is 1 percent of the purchase price rounded to the nearest $500,” he says. The agent and buyer then draft a purchase agreement that puts these figures — as well as the desired act of sale date and the length of the inspection period (usually between seven and 14 days) — into writing. The document is sent to the seller or the seller’s agent, who will respond by accepting the offer as it is written, countering the offer or rejecting it. “Most of the time the offer is countered in some way, and pretty much any term can be negotiated,” King says. “Usually, I will see any combination of the price, inspection period, deposit amount or who it is held by, or the home warranty countered.”
Home Works
This process can go back and forth until both parties are satisfied; King says he typically sees one or two counter offers per transaction.
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C UE M AG A Z I N E • A p r i l 2 01 9
[ F E AT U R E ]
WE BUY AND SELL
HE CAN
DIG IT B Y K A T H E RI N E M. JOHNSON
THREE YEARS AGO, MARK SANDERS
PAULA DEEN 82” tall corner cabinet $399
Ninth Ward Nursery owner Mark Sanders (and official dog mascot, Pickles) in the bamboo-framed shade house at the nursery.
home • office • hotel
3939 Toulouse St • Mid City (1 block off Carrollton) • Open 7 days! 504-638-7332 or 504-251-6262
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Have Arrived 5101 W. ESPLANADE @Chastant • Ste. 17 Metairie • 504.407.3532 nolagiftsanddecor.com
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and learning what sources are better than others,” he says. “I’m very big on mentorship, so I’ve found a few experts [that run other nurseries] whose opinions I trust. … I’ve also had the same bamboo encyclopedia on my bedside table probably for about three years now. I seriously will fall asleep reading this bamboo book.” In a short time, Sanders has developed his own encyclopedic knowledge about the array of plants he offers at the nursery. I mention a mystery succulent that a co-worker gave me years ago that sporadically shoots out one long stem, which then erupts into a cluster of neon-red blooms. He immediately identifies it as kalanchoe and points me to his stock of those plants, adding a few quick notes about proper care and varieties of petal color. Many of Sanders’ planters are recycled (vintage coffee cans), upcycled (retired woks from Red’s Chinese restaurant) or deals from garage and estate sales. Shoppers also will find hand-crafted ceramic planters made by local artisans, such as Byrdie’s Pottery on St. Claude Avenue. Sanders also provides design and maintenance of indoor plant installations at a few commercial spots around town, including Maypop restaurant and Frank Relle Photography Gallery. “New Orleans is a very small town,” Sanders says. “Everybody knows everybody, so it behooves me to give the best customer service I can, and it’s the most gratifying thing in the world to see people come back and to also see people give referrals. I had an Uber driver a couple of weeks ago who overheard me talking in the backseat and she said, ‘Oh wait, do you run that nursery in the 9th Ward?’ It’s amazing how I’m one guy who started out with a few plants. … It just keeps getting better. It’s like positive feedback on an infinite loop.” Ninth Ward Nursery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the first Saturday of every month and by appointment. Follow Sanders on Instagram (@ninthwardnusery) for news of occasional popups and open house sales.
HOUSE sTUFF
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decided he didn’t want to see the neighbors’ two-story house behind his home anymore. He hopped in his car, and after a four-hour roundtrip drive, returned to his home in New Orleans with an organic solution to his privacy problem: 10 potted clumping (noninvasive) bamboo plants, for which he paid $100. Instead of planting the bamboo, he sold all 10 after posting an ad on Craigslist, doubling his initial investment. He took that $200, returned to the bamboo nursery and bought more stalks, and again doubled his money by reselling the bamboo online. “Ironically, after a few months, I still hadn’t planted any bamboo in the yard,” Sanders says. “Actually, come to think of it, I never did.” But he did begin to take cuttings of adolescent bamboo plants to grow new shoots. Eventually (to the consternation of his wife) he set up a makeshift nursery in his still-exposed backyard. Several Craigslist shoppers and potted bamboo plants later, Sanders’ wife suggested he find a plot of land where he could expand his operation. He purchased a slender strip of commercially zoned land in a mostly desolate stretch of the lower 9th Ward, and Ninth Ward Nursery (2641 Deslonde St., 504-296-8398; www.ninthwardnursery.com) was born. Sanders, a full-time travel writer and editor, was as surprised as anyone that his slapdash hobby had taken on a life of its own. “My mother was a master gardener,” he says, “but this just happened organically — pardon the pun. … I had done some landscaping work when I was younger, but really, this started out as a game to see how far I could push my (initial) $100.” Sanders isn’t a trained horticulturist, but a casual observer wouldn’t know that from a stroll through the nursery. His curiosity and genuine pleasure at watching “plants do their own magic” has taken him far beyond bamboo babies and into the realms of silver squill, baby sun rose, zebra plants and other flora. It’s been a mostly self-guided ride. “At first it was a lot of Googling, but eventually the Googling becomes expertise once you start memorizing it
traditional •vintage • modern • antique
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C UE M AG A Z I N E • A p r i l 2 01 9
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door TO HISTORY
[ SHOPPING ]
Central City shop sells doors and other architectural antiques BY
K A T H E RI N E
M .
J O H N S O N
also a corbel from St. Aloysius College, founded at the corner of Chartres and Barracks Streets in 1869, and several doors and other fixtures from St. Martin’s Manor on N. Johnson Street, which originally was built in 1872 as a convent, but was renovated in 2015. Wilkerson and his crew found accents dating back to 1792 while working on the renovation. “We’ve got 300 years of history in this city, and 80 percent of our housing stock is shotgun doubles from around the 1870s,” Wilkerson says. “People come in here and they want stuff that’s genuine, that’s got some character, some soul and some history behind it.”
The main floor of the shop is bursting with mantles, doors, shutters, windows, transoms and wagon wheels. (Yes, wagon wheels.)
looked until you take the paint off of it. The dental molding in the diamond panel on the front door — that is a real Irish Channel special. They’re hand-carved, with lathe work [and] shaping table work. We’ve started reproducing some of these doors, but we can’t reproduce this kind of scrollwork.” The woodworkers at the shop also build tables and countertop islands from reclaimed wood and are happy to fill custom orders, either from materials already in the store or things a customer brings in from home. The woodworkers can’t reproduce the construction methods used on turn-of-the-century wood projects that allowed them to survive more than 100 years of near-continuous use. Wilkerson points to a set of doors in the workshop. “These are from 1910 or 1920,” he says. “Their construction technique is unlike anything you see today. There’s double mortise and tenon (joints) in there — it’s all slotted. There’s no glue, there’s no nylon, there isn’t anything to fail in there.” The Bank also contains pieces that belong to the city’s cultural as well as its architectural history. High above the shopping floor rests a gable from the old Mercy Hospital on Annunciation Street, which was founded in 1924; the building, left over from the old Saulet Plantation, dated to 1832. It was damaged by fire and demolished in 1957, but Wilkerson and his predecessors were able to acquire and hold on to this piece. There’s
Antique corbels feature scrollwork and lathe work that’s difficult for contemporary woodworkers to reproduce.
The Bank is able to sell matching sets of accents like these doorknob plates because they acquire them from whole-home demolition projects.
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The Bank is a treasure trove of New Orleans’ architectural history. While vintage and antique doors are the “bread and butter” of the business, the store is bursting at the seams with corbels, mantles, shutters, windows, molding and hardware for hanging each type of accent. Most of the shop’s inventory comes from demolition jobs. “We’ve torn down about 550 shotgun doubles,” Wilkerson says. “They’re blighted, usually. … There are only 10 or so homes on the demo list now, but there used to be hundreds.” The Bank is able to acquire matching sets of architectural accents — from doorknobs, strike plates and light switch covers to interior doors and wainscoting — through these demolitions. Sometimes the shop gets towering door frames (complete with transoms) that are more than 10 feet tall. Wilkerson calls these “giraffe doors,” but says the shop usually disassembles the frame and transom, leaving an 8-foot-tall door, which is much more common in contemporary homes. These doors are stripped (many arrive at the workshop patinaed in several layers of paint), squared, sanded and plugged where necessary, usually with reclaimed cypress. Wilkerson says it often costs the shop upward of $150 to get these doors ready to be rehung, but it’s worth it to own a piece of New Orleans’ history. “(Woodworkers) were just showing off back in the day,” he says. “A lot of the details on these (doors) are over-
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THE FIRST THING TO CATCH MY EYE when I enter The Bank Architectural Antiques (1824 Felicity St., 504-5232702; www.thebankantiques.com) is not an ornate, hand-crafted architectural detail. It’s a 2-foot by 1-foot sign, printed in black and white on matte vinyl, that reads, “Gold Teeth: 2 for $150.00.” I think to myself, this place is going to be good. The Bank has been operating since 1972 and got its name from the building at the corner of Magazine and Octavia Streets that originally housed the store’s merchandise, which was a bank in its former life. (Ironically, it’s a bank now, too.) The shop moved to Tchoupitoulas Street for a while, but it found its permanent home in Central City, in a building that housed Dixie Casket Company, a manufacturer of funeral caskets for St. Louis Cemeteries Nos. 1 and 2, and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. “It didn’t sound as cool as ‘The Bank,’ so we didn’t change the name when we moved,” says owner Sean Wilkerson. “We’ve just been filling this place up with old doors and things for almost 50 years,” he says. “Some of the doors have been here for the duration. This is the largest collection of salvaged doors under one roof in the world.” He pauses for a second. “Actually, I’m not sure about that. I put the claim out there on the internet and no one’s challenged it, so I’m going to keep saying it,” he jokes. I think I know who put up the sign about the gold teeth.
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[ DESIGNER TIPS ]
IN YOUR
SPACE Stumped about styling? Your home decor challenges, addressed by local designers
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B Y K AT H E R I N E M . J O H N S O N PHOTO BY K ARLA PHOTOGRAPHY
CARRERA MARBLE-TOPPED MARTINI TABLE BY ACCENTS BEYOND, AVAILABLE AT DOERR FURNITURE (914 ELYSIAN FIELDS AVE., 504947-0606; 1645 N. HIGHWAY 190, SUITE 600, COVINGTON, 504-900-2425; WWW.DOERRFURNITURE.COM).
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DECOR DILEMMA: MODERNIZING A TRADITIONALLY DECORATED ENTRYWAY, WHILE MAINTAINING A NEUTRAL PALETTE THAT DOESN’T COMPETE WITH THE SPACE’S ART COLLECTION
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Stephanie Quinlan has decorated her Old Metairie home in an eclectic style over the decade she and her family have lived there, and while she loves her neutral palette and transitional decor that mixes modern and traditional styles, she feels she could incorporate a few more modern touches in the design of her entryway. “If I were to repaint, I would probably go with a grayer white, because this is sort of a yellow neutral palette, which I like, because I want the focal point to be the things that are hanging on the walls,” Quinlan says. “But I would use less in terms of yellow undertones and more of a blue undertone.” Cohesion is important to her — she created a gallery wall along the staircase that contains a series of works painted by her godmother, and she hung a few of the smaller works on the walls adjacent to the home’s French doors. She also wants help with furniture placement in the space. She loves the look and welcoming feel of a round pedestal table in a home’s foyer, but the short distance between the front door and the staircase prohibits that particular accent in her entryway. Her favorite item in the space is the hall tree, with its intricate yet understated carving. She likes the light fixture above the door, “but that might be a place where I’m interested in getting more modern in terms of a simpler line or a cleaner line,” she says. Whitney Jones of Whitney J Decor shares her ideas for updating Quinlan’s foyer.
In lieu of a foyer table, Jones suggests placing a 15-inch round table in the corner to the left of the door, with a 12or 15-inch vase on top in a design that incorporates colors from the formal living room on the left.
Whitney Jones OF WHITNE Y J DECOR (@whitneyjdecor) PHOTO BY BRITT SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
What she loves: “The first thing that caught my attention was the beautiful floors, and the long hallway with the tall ceilings,” she says. Like the homeowner, she’s entranced by the amount of natural light in the space.
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“I’d recover (the cushion on the hall tree) with something that mixes a modern pattern with traditional colors … like a herringbone or a damask, something fancy but up-to-date,” Jones says. DAMATH DAMASK FABRIC IN MAGENTA BY FABRICUT FABRICS, AVAILABLE AT BENSON’S UPHOLSTERY (3044B GALLERIA DRIVE, METAIRIE, 504831-5244; WWW.BENSONS-UPHOLSTERY.COM).
[ DESIGNER TIPS ]
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Jones says this chandelier is more modern because of the thin rectangular crystals and it has an updated traditional silhouette. Jones says to hang the light a little lower than usual, aligning the bottom of the chandelier with the top of the door to make it the focal point of the entryway. TEN-LIGHT CRYSTAL CHANDELIER, AVAILABLE AT LIGHTING INC. (8180 EARHART BLVD., 504-4865761; WWW.LIGHTINGINCONLINE.COM).
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Jones suggests making this wall more dyynamic. “I would love to see something else here that breaks up all the frames,” Jones says. “Everything is on the top half of the wall. She could do some chair rail trim,” and cover the lower half of the wall in wallpaper in a color and texture that’s found in the dining room to the right of the hallway. FINESSE CHAIR RAIL TRIM BY DALTILE, AVAILABLE AT HOME DEPOT (CITYWIDE; WWW.HOMEDEPOT.COM). EXTRA-FINE SISAL WALLPAPER IN FOG BY THIBAUT WALLPAPER & FABRICS, AVAILABLE AT WHITNEY J DECOR (WWW.WHITNEYJDECOR.COM).
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INTERIOR PAINT BY BENJAMIN MOORE IN REVERE PEWTER, AVAILABLE AT MARY’S ACE HARDWARE (732 N. RAMPART ST., 504-529-4465).
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PAK-WEAVE RUG (AVAILABLE IN SEVERAL SIZES), AVAILABLE AT PEEL & COMPANY (2850 MAGAZINE ST., 504539-5595; WWW.PEELRUGS.COM).
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“I would love to see a very cool oriental rug, something with some pattern or color, and large in size — at least 4-by-6 (feet),” Jones says. Place the rug so that it abuts the doorway, but not the stairs.
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“I would stay away from the cooler (tones),” Jones says. “Everything looks so warm. … A gray with a blue undertone is too cool for the space. Bring in the cooler colors in the artwork or the textiles.”
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RE/MAX Office in Louisiana Congratulations to our Outstanding Agents & Thank You New Orleans!
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8001 Maple St., New Orleans, LA 70118
504-866-7733 • www.nola-homes.com Each office independently owned and operated.
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Beautiful antiques, quality gifts and fresh florals for your home & every occasion. 3433 Magazine st • 504.524.3235 www.Dunnandsonnier.com
[ G A R D E N F E AT U R E ]
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GARDEN TO
GIVE BY K AT HER INE M . JOHN S ON
504-488-0826
Accessories | Flora of all kinds | Advice & Help
1135 PRESS ST. @ 2900 ST. CLAUDE | (504) 947-7554 | HAROLDSPLANTS.COM
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lots and lots of people, six bunches of Swiss chard are not going to make a big difference,” Goss says. “But if everybody in the city gave six bunches of Swiss chard, it would be huge.” In its first year, Molinari says nearly 1,000 home gardeners from all over the country took the pledge. While Second Harvest receives most of its fresh produce from corporations (such as Walmart) and large-scale local farms (such as Liuzza Produce Farm in Amite), Goss also has received donations through the Garden to Give program. “It’s inspiring that a major company would [begin such an initiative],” she says. “It’s inspiring that they can take product placement and marketing and actually galvanize a movement.” When there’s a large enough quantity of an item, the cooks at the facility’s community kitchen prepare soups using that fresh produce and distribute it to Second Harvest’s more than 700 partner agencies. In smaller quantities, Goss encourages locals to donate those items directly to food pantries (which can distribute perishable produce quickly) rather than the food bank (which, as a distribution center, may need to shelve food items for much longer periods of time). “Smaller donations should go straight out to the local food agency in that person’s area, where it’s going to do the most good,” she says. “They could actually give those six bunches of Swiss chard directly to one person.” For a list of food pantries in your neighborhood, visit www. foodpantries.org. Gardener’s Supply Company has more hunger relief initiatives in the works, but in the meantime, Molinari urges home gardeners to keep taking the pledge and not to doubt the impact that one small donation can have, even in the face of a crisis as widespread as hunger. Goss agrees. “There’s an understanding all gardeners have that food is for sharing, and the way you build up people and build up communities is through sharing and growing food,” Goss says. “The community spirit is as or more important.”
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AS HOME GARDENERS PREPARE TO PLANT late spring and summer flowers, fruits and vegetables, there are plenty of calculations to be made. One that’s prevalent among gardeners who plant produce is whether to try to fit that extra row of tomatoes or zucchini in a garden already bursting with veggies, but aside from foisting it on already-wary friends and family, few gardeners may ponder what to do with the produce left over at harvest time. Vermont-based Gardener’s Supply Company (www.gardeners. com) has a suggestion that won’t result in your relatives avoiding your phone calls and texts. Last year, the company launched its Garden to Give campaign, in which home gardeners pledged to donate surplus produce or plant an entire Giving Garden for those in need. The company posted step-by-step instructions and recommendations on its website — everything from a Giving Garden schematic and an interactive hardiness zone map to a pest and disease directory — for free, and encouraged people to take the pledge to help end food insecurity. Employees run gardens at each of Gardener’s Vermont facilities (as well as three other locations), where they grow produce to donate to local food pantries. The “Company Garden” (as it’s affectionately called) began six years ago, and the concept of Garden to Give grew out of that project, says Lena Molinari, public relations manager at Gardener’s Supply Company. “We wanted to translate this to our customers and broader community of home gardeners, and ask them to join us and rally around healthy solutions to hunger,” she says. “If everyone contributed even just a little extra from their harvest, or planted an extra row, home gardeners have the power to make a serious difference in bringing fresh, organic produce to food shelves nationwide.” Susan Goss, director of the community kitchen at Second Harvest Food Bank (855-392-9338; www. no-hunger.org), echoes Molinari. Second Harvest, the largest of Louisiana’s five food banks, prepares thousands of hot, cold and frozen meals per day. “Frankly, if you’re trying to feed
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EMERGENCY SERVICES
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