Our annual celebration of New Orleans design industry professionals at the top of their game

Top: Graci designed a bar that emulates the Old World restaurants of New Orleans. It features a belle époque chandelier with beaded fringe and red silk taffeta lining, custom iron brass étagères with brass pineapple finials, an antique mercury mirror, soapstone counters and Madeleine rattan stools in black oak from Restoration Hardware. Bottom left: The kitchen features a Victorian bar cabinet, a convex mirror by Ballard Designs and a vase by local artist Kevin Gillentine. Bottom right: Graci had the gilding on the belle époque mirror restored for the entry hall. Facing page: The bright kitchen features glazed cypress cabinetry, Carrara marble counters and backsplash, and an antique Venetian chandelier.

The room where the bar is now located was only about eight feet wide. When the homeowners mentioned that they wanted to — in true New Orleans fashion — turn it into a bar, Graci took the reins to transform the awkward space. Graci enlisted local metal artist David Rockhold to fabricate the iron and brass étagères. He then included cypress wood cabinetry, antique mirrors and glass shelving, and he relocated an antique beaded belle époque chandelier from the main house that now perfectly complements the design. The bar flows freely to the kitchen and an outdoor courtyard. Meanwhile, another found item, a large antique mirror that sits in the main hall, was regilded and restored, but just enough to make it still feel of the era.

Other custom touches include the pecky cypress cabinetry (designed by Graci Interiors and executed by Pomar Gutierrez Renovation) and in the guest suite, which has a custom built-in bed with a secret trundle below to maximize space for guests.

“When you have a house with that much character, you have to stick with a design aesthetic that reflects that,” Karen says. “We use the house for entertaining and fun, so we wanted the aesthetic not to be too stuffy or serious. I love to collect art, objects and books that I find interesting and that add to an ever-evolving aesthetic. Chad not only mixed traditional, antique, modern and unique elements, but he also layered rich textures and materials to create interest.”

Pops of color can also be found throughout the rest of home. For example, a purple and green rug in the dining room pairs with sky blue walls, yellow silk draperies, tiger-print upholstered dining chairs and a chinoiserie cabinet. Graci also added silk and velvet draperies throughout the home for a sumptuous French Quarter feeling. Other standout design elements include a posh red velvet sofa in the parlor and a custom cypress kitchen with Venetian glass chandelier. Overall, the townhome’s design aligns perfectly with the French Quarter aesthetic. “It is sexy, fun, eclectic and just looking for a good time,” Graci says.

The Boulwares, who love to take part in the culture of New Orleans — whether it is Mardi Gras, concerts, Saints games or just exploring the French Quarter — now have a place that is perfect for entertaining and uniquely their own. Karen also appreciates owning a slice of history. “I always wonder if these walls could talk, what stories would they have to tell of the people and things that happened over the last 100 years,” she says.

Top: A bedroom in a converted attic space feels fresh and cozy thanks to the Serena and Lily Buchanan bed in raffia, topped with Serena and Lily Soho sheeting in pink sand. Graci sourced the curved London metal bench at Ballard Designs and the pair of French 19th century walnut nightstands at Fireside Antiques in Baton Rouge. Bottom: The classic New Orleans courtyard is outfitted with the homeowners’ own rattan bistro chairs and a Shades of Light colonial lantern. Facing page:The dining room exudes youthful elegance with an antique Chinese chest from Kenny Ball Antiques, dining chairs covered in Schumacher Serengeti Tigre fabric, golden silk taffeta curtains and an art deco Chinese rug from Nashville Rug Gallery.

BY LEE CUTRONE PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA ESSEX BRADLEY

DESIGN

MASTERS

AUTUMN 2021 MYNEWORLEANS.COM

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A year and a half after the onset of a world-changing pandemic that suddenly had people at home most hours of the day, locals have had a chance to think about the meaning of home. As we’ve re-evaluated the role of our homes in our lives, we’ve also had the opportunity to consider the way they look and function — and that is precisely the expert domain of our Design Masters. Whether creating architectural drawings, choosing colors, furnishings and finishing details or designing custom carpentry, each one of them helps us give our homes the attention they deserve. At a time when we could all use a distraction, we decided to have a little fun getting to know our honorees. We hope you enjoy learning about them, too.

MASTER OF KITCHEN DESIGN KATHERINE DIAMOND

KATHERINE DIAMOND DESIGNS

What did you want to be when you were 7? Julie, the cruise director on “The Love Boat.” What would your 7-year-old self think about what you are doing now? My 7-year-old self would think my career is fabulous.

What is your guilty design pleasure? Passementerie. Which designer living or dead would you have dinner with and why? Howard Slatkin because in your fridge? Nail polish and coffee. Favorite New Orleans band? Dash Rip Rock. This music transports me back to college which was absolute-

the spaces he creates evoke luxurious curiosity through a sensuous amalgam of colors, texture, pattern, materials and light. His work is a kaleidoscope of everything that delights

me. Favorite New Orleans design landmark? I just loved the Rivergate. It was so sculptural and expressed the presence, strength and movement of the Mississippi River which is just several yards away from the droves of people completely ignoring its existence as they enjoy all the French Quarter has to offer. I think there is another neoclassical box there now.

I LOVE TO CREATE AND RECREATE SPACES THAT WILL EXPRESS THE ARTISTIC VISION AND MEET EVERY NEED OF MY CLIENTS, WHO BECOME MY MUSE. KITCHENS ARE MY PASSION. ly magical. What is your favorite beverage? Or favorite New Orleans cocktail? The imperial martini — absolutely divine. I love to sip one on the terrace of The Chloe which is also divine. Favorite snowball flavor? Hansen’s jalapeño cantaloupe

Perfect road trip? Drive to the Keys. Favorite movie? “The Shape of Water.” What is something you’ve learned from living in New Orleans? I don’t want to talk about that ... But I can tell you this, I learned how to pronounce Tchoupitoulas and Burgundy. What makes you laugh? I make myself laugh.

Favorite activity for creative inspiration? Listening to inverted Bach always stimulates my mind. And I enjoy discussing trends and ideas with my creative friends in New Orleans, London, Italy, France and Egypt. I also have a creative friend in Baton Rouge I speak to daily [who] keeps me inspired. I love that fundamental elements of design are universal and instantly creates a commonality with my friends of different cultures. What is always

Something you learned to do during the pandemic? Or something you’d like to learn to do? I am learning to play the cello and the recorder. I aspire to play Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G major.

MASTER OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN SEAN MATYAS

MATYAS LANDSCAPE, LLC

What did you want to be when you were 7? I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. What would your 7-year-old self think about what you Orleans band? Soul Rebels. What is your favorite beverage? Or favorite New Orleans cocktail? Canebrake beer. Favorite snowball flavor? Han-

are doing now? I definitely think my 7-year-old self would be proud of where I am at today and ecstatic to be working outdoors

for a living. What is your guilty design pleasure? Incorporating Japanese maples in my design plan when I can in the

right settings. Which designer living or dead would you have dinner with and why? Fernando Wong; I have personally worked with him on a project and I appreciate his vision. I admire his work ethic and drive. Favorite New Orleans

design landmark? Superdome. Favorite activity for creative inspiration? I like to sightsee in my own city and travel to different places to collect ideas and inspirations for our custom projects. What is always in your fridge? Water and protein drinks. Favorite New

sen’s nectar snowball. Perfect road trip? West coast road trip, which my family and I just took this June. The most beautiful and I CONNECT WITH scenic views I have ever driven though. Favorite movie? CLIENTS TO CREATE, MAINTAIN, “Old School.” What is something you’ve learned from living

AND ILLUMINATE in New Orleans? That New Orleanians are generally warm

BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES people and the soul of this city cannot be duplicated any-

THROUGHOUT where else in the world. What makes you laugh? My wife

SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND and children, great comedy movies and impersonations.

BEYOND. Something you learned to do during the pandemic? Or something you’d like to learn to do? I learned to never take my family’s health for granted during the pandemic. Something I’d like to learn; to play the guitar.

MASTER OF TEXTILES ALEXIS WALTER

What did you want to be when you were 7? An interior designer, artist or archaeologist. What would your 7-year-old self think about what you are doing now? She would be surprised and very excited about how things have turned out. What is your guilty design pleasure? A hand-painted floor is my ultimate design indulgence. Ours were painted by ELJ Fine Finishes.

Nancy Meyers movie. What is something you’ve learned from living in

Which designer living or dead would you have dinner with and why? Gerrie Bremermann, who sadly recently passed away, because she was always so supportive of my work. Fa-

vorite New Orleans design landmark? Hermann-Grima gardens. Favorite activity for creative inspiration? Travel, wheth-

I’M AN ABSTRACT ARTIST AND TEXTILE DESIGNER INSPIRED BY MY EVERYDAY LIFE AND SURROUNDINGS IN NEW ORLEANS.

er it’s far away or just down the street to a new destination. What is always in your fridge? Lemons, champagne and French mustards. Favorite New Orleans band? I have the best memories listening to Louis Prima with my grandparents, so he’ll always be number one for me. What

is your favorite beverage? Or favorite New Orleans cocktail? That’s a tossup, but during the summer it’s definitely a Pimm’s Cup. My favorite is at the Napoleon House. Favorite snowball flavor? Depends on where we’re going. Imperial Woodpecker – grapefruit-basil. Plum Street – chocolate with condensed milk. Hansen’s – spearmint. Sal’s – cherry. Perfect road trip? I would love to do a big trek around the U.S. and my first stop would be Los Poblanos in New Mexico. Favorite movie? Any

New Orleans? I learned how much I love the architecture, age, cuisine and music of New Orleans when I temporarily left and immediately couldn’t wait to come back. I’ve been back for a while and still can’t imagine living anywhere else. What makes you laugh? A whole lot of things, but on a daily basis the personalities of my cute little cocker spaniels. Something

you learned to do during the pandemic? Or something you’d like to learn to do? During the pandemic, I realized how important it is to make art accessible to everyone, so I started painting a special size I don’t usually paint for sale at half price and we found a beautiful wooden frame people could use to frame the painting themselves. It was and still is very touching to see my paintings.

MASTER OF LIGHTING PAUL GRÜER

PAUL GRÜER DESIGN STUDIO

What did you want to be when you were 7? An astronaut. What would your 7-year-old self think about what you are doing now? My 7-year-old self would be surprised. What is your guilty design pleasure? shop windows. What is always in your fridge? Dijon mustard … always.

Favorite New Orleans band? Preservation Hall Jazz Band. What is your favorite beverage? Or favorite New Orleans cocktail? A Pimm’s

Guilty design pleasure is watching design and art competi-

tions on Netflix. Which designer living or dead would you have dinner with and why? Without question I would want to have dinner with Tony Duquette. From his set designs, jewelry designs and interior design he was a truly unique creative

force. Favorite New Orleans design landmark? My favorite New Orleans design landmark is the ‘Wedding Cake’ house

on St. Charles Avenue. Favorite activity for creative inspiration? Walking

IN MY BYWATER Cup at the Napoleon House on a hot summer’s day. Close STUDIO I DESIGN AND BUILD ONE- second is an ice-cold martini at Hermes. Favorite snowball OF-A-KIND NEW flavor? Hands down, chocolate topped with condensed milk. ORLEANS INSPIRED MIXED MEDIA LAMPS, Perfect road trip? Anything headed towards New York City. SCONCES AND Favorite movie? “The Philadelphia Story.” What is someCHANDELIERS. thing you learned from living in New Orleans? Patience. What makes you laugh? Dry Humor. Something you learned to do during the pandemic? Or something you’d like to learn to do? Fun answer

MASTER OF COLOR LOUIS AUBERT

LOUIS AUBERT INTERIOR DESIGN

What did you want to be when you were 7? I wanted to be 8 so that I’d be closer in age to my cool, older cousins. What would your 7-year-old and gardens. Still photos allow you to focus and absorb details; it’s the next best thing to travel. What is always in your fridge? Water and pickles.

self think about what you are doing now? My 7-year-old self would be very pleased as I have always loved houses and have managed to create a job in which I love what I do. What is your guilty design pleasure? My guilty design pleasure is yelling at HGTV. Frequently books are placed on shelves with their spines to the wall rendering them useless. How could I not yell at them? Which designer living or dead would you have dinner with and why? Only one? Impossible; may I invite a group over for dinner or a crawfish boil? If forced to choose only one, I would invite Albert Hadley. Favorite New Orleans design landmark? That’s an easy question, Gallier Hall of course; it is so very grand and speaks of New Orleans. I’ve admired it since childhood; in fact, it was pictured in my high school 9th grade Latin textbook. Favorite activity for creative inspiration? Reading books about design, architecture

Favorite New Orleans band? Preservation Hall Jazz Band. What is your favorite beverage? Or favorite New Orleans cocktail? Iced tea with lots of lemon. Favorite snowball flavor? Coconut. Perfect road

I ASSIST CLIENTS trip? A leisurely drive through The Hamptons after Labor WITH THE SELECTION Day when it’s nearly deserted. Favorite movie? If only one?

AND PLACEMENT OF BOTH INTERIOR “Moonstruck.” What is something you’ve learned from living

AND EXTERIOR in New Orleans? Always stand in the shade whenever possiCOLOR AND FINISH ble and make time to truly appreciate the beauty that is New

MATERIALS. Orleans … architecture, landscape, music, food and the spirit of this special place. What makes you laugh? I laugh at a lot of things including myself. I follow the old Italian proverb “In life you can laugh or you can cry.” I choose to laugh. Something you learned to do during the pandemic? Or something you’d like to learn to do? I have mastered the TV remote and the DVD player.

MASTER OF CARPENTRY DANIEL BELL DANIEL BELL, LLC

What did you want to be when you were 7? Definitely never imagined I would be doing this, I think I wanted to be a lawyer. What

would your 7-year-old self think about what you are doing now? How did that happen? What is your guilty design pleasure? Use whatever I’ve got to just make it work and get it

done. Which designer living or dead would you have dinner with and why? My wife … she’s the best and we don’t get out

Favorite New Orleans band? Any brass band. What is your favorite beverage? Or favorite New Orleans cocktail? Old Fashioned. FaMY COMPANY vorite snowball flavor? Dreamsicle. Perfect road trip? Beach. FABRICATES AND Favorite movie? “Roadhouse.” What is something you’ve INSTALLS CUSTOM ARCHITECTURAL learned from living in New Orleans? It’s so important to have MILLWORK AND fun and enjoy life. What makes you laugh? My kids. SomeCASEWORK. thing you learned to do during the pandemic? Or something

enough. Favorite New Orleans design landmark? City Park. Favorite activity for creative inspiration? I love to look at details on homes as I’m driving around town. What is always in your fridge? Milk and eggs. you’d like to learn to do? I try not to put this kind of pressure on myself, I figure that I’m doing enough already, but I would love to learn another language like Portuguese or Italian.

MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE GABRIEL VIRDURE

TRAPOLIN-PEER ARCHITECTS

What did you want to be when you were 7? Something design fo- dens. Favorite activity for creative inspiration? Traveling, no matter if

cused. I spent a lot of time building Lego houses, and sketching layouts for neighborhoods with winding roads and parks. What would your

7-year-old self think about what you are doing now? I the destination is familiar or new. There is always something new to discover or reflect on, wherever I wander. What is always in your fridge? Creole mustard. Favorite New Orleans band? The Meters.

think she would be surprised by the architect’s opportunity to impact day-to-day life for individuals and the

overall community. What is your guilty design pleasure? I spend time looking at old city maps and comparing them to how they’ve evolved over time. I love the history

of an evolving city. Which designer living or dead would you have dinner with and why? Chanel. I would love to I CREATE AN ARRAY OF FUNCTIONAL, AESTHETICALLY PLEASING SPACES THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECTS.

know her source of courage and endurance to redefine an industry and simultaneously challenge social expectations and norms.

What is your favorite beverage? Or favorite New Orleans cocktail? French 75. Favorite snowball flavor? Pina colada. Perfect road trip? Is there such a thing as a perfect road trip? I haven’t taken one yet but would love to explore the Hill Country area outside of Austin. Favorite movie? “The

Money Pit.” What is something you’ve learned from living in New Orleans? I’ve learned that we should not take things for granted and to be resilient on many levels. What