12 minute read
Design Diary
LAURA STEFFAN PHOTO
Nascent Venture
Hattie Collins launches interior decorating firm
Hattie Collins, owner of the erstwhile Hattie Sparks boutique, recently forayed into the world of decorating. Though the boutique — which specialized in women’s clothing, unique jewelry and gift items, accent pieces and art — is now closed, it served as the perfect launch pad for this new venture. With a master’s degree in art history from Tulane University, Collins has long been fascinated with interiors. The ability to style or merchandise a room, and a keen eye for vintage and antique pieces, perfectly positions Collins in this new role. She also spent the last decade collaborating and building strong relationships with independent designers, craftsmen and artists — close connections that are invaluable for curating spaces that reflect relaxed-yet-refined style. Collins’ design philosophy centers around a fluidity to interior spaces where elements should be able to change without altering the room’s visual cohesion. Since inception, Hattie Sparks has been tapped for projects in Montana, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Washington, D.C and more. hattiesparks.com
— COMPILED BY MISTY MILIOTO
TRAHAN ARCHITECTS MENTORS JAVIER CASTELLON
Trahan Architects, a global architecture firm with offices in New Orleans and New York, and Son of a Saint, a nonprofit organization that exists to transform the lives of fatherless boys, have announced that Javier Castellon has joined the firm as a mentee of founder and CEO, Trey Trahan, and his entire staff. Castellon joined the firm in January and will be learning the ins and outs of architecture until he goes to college in the fall to study the field. Castellon — a 17-year-old senior at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts — has been an active participant in a the Son of a Saint program since its inception in 2011. “We at Trahan Architects are thrilled to be partnering with Son of a Saint for the first time,” Trahan says. “The tremendous and admirable work of Sonny Lee is truly inspirational and an incredible asset for our city and its underserved youth. We could not be more excited to welcome Javier to our team and help him thrive in the architectural field.” trahanarchitects.com
M.S. RAU’S BEST OF THE BEST CATALOG
M.S. Rau — the French Quarter-based shop offering world-renowned collections of rare antiques, jewelry and fine art since 1912 — released its most important catalog of the year. “The Best of the Best” catalog includes one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, as well as M.S. Rau’s best in fine art, silver, glass, art and furniture. For example, the catalogue includes items such as “Berthe Morisot,” an oil-on-canvas painting by Édouard Manet completed in 1872. It also includes a George III Dressing Table by Thomas Chippendale, a 20.10-carat Asscher-cut diamond ring by Tiffany & Co. and Flora Danica porcelain dinner service by Royal Copenhagen. View the entire catalog on M.S. Rau’s website. rauantiques.com
AMBER HOWELL NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AIA NEW ORLEANS
Amber Howell, who has 20 years of experience in executive nonprofit leadership and nearly 30 years of experience working for and with nonprofit organizations, has joined the AIA New Orleans as the new executive director. Howell previously served as the executive director of the New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology where she raised more than $1 million and increased membership by 39 percent. She also created new programming that increased attendance at the organization’s educational meetings by 65 percent.
WELL EDITED
No one knows style quite like Sara Ruffin Costello. The writer and designer has made a career out of finding and forecasting the next best thing in décor, fashion and travel for world-class magazines and A-list clients, so we asked her for the scoop on what’s hot this summer.
PRODUCED BY MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX
1
3 2
4
5
1. ACRYLIC DISPLAY PIECES Boxes, plinths or pedestals in acrylic or lucite transform ordinary objects into stunning displays of art. Tara Shaw, tarashaw.com. 2. GROWN-UP GAMES Luxe shagreen, burled wood and brass make a winning combination for this backgammon set. It’s guaranteed to make a splash at your next pool party or keep houseguests entertained during an afternoon thunderstorm. Rivers Spencer, riversspencer.com. 3. FLOWER POTS Not the everyday clay pots from the hardware store, but those with unusual shapes, mossy finishes or an artisanal feel. The Plant Gallery, theplantgallery.com. 4. HANDWOVEN BASKETS Perfect for bringing texture into an otherwise sleek space and for containing everything from plants to pool toys. West Elm, westelm.com. 5. TURKISH TOWELS Made on the traditional Turkish loom from natural fibers, these flat weave towels are perfect for the beach or bath and wash beautifully. Sunday Shop, sundayshop.co.
Curated Cabana
Pool house prep for summer safety and fun
Ah, the pool house. It gives swimmers a place to freshen up and enjoy a snack or drink. Plus, guests aren’t tramping through the house in dripping swimsuits. But with all of the use — toys, floats, pool equipment, wet towels and wetter swim suits — the pool space is often disorganized and potentially dangerous. Consider a few options keep gear organized for safety and to maximize lazy and playful pool days.
— BY PAM MARQUIS
DRY
Towel racks make poolside organization a breeze. This one blends effortlessly into outdoor or pool house décor and can handle multiple towels. Pro-tip: Hang a wine rack and place clean, dry rolled up towels where the wine bottles would go.
MOUNT
A large, blank wall near the pool is a handy place for storage. Gather outdoor-grade hooks with non-damaging adhesive on the back. Attach them to the wall and hang a cargo net on each of the hooks. Store floats, toys, pool noodles and more safely behind the net. Make sure it’s loose enough for easy access to fun pool accessories.
RINSE
A pool house can be a shady lounge with a bar area or a full outdoor kitchen. But one of the most popular and useful things to have is a bathroom, and a beautiful shower can complement any pool house. This one is sleek and modern. If you are looking to create a relaxing staycation, an organized pool house can make any hot day feel like a summer getaway.
COVER
STORE
Fashionable and functional, a cabinet can be the one thing that keeps everything in its place. This teak cabinet can store dry towels, toys and more and will add high style to your pool house. Keeping things casual and low maintenance can’t be done without a durable rug. A sisal rug is just the ticket. It’s composed of natural fibers and earth tones, making it perfect for wet feet and high traffic.
NATE SHEAFFER
NATE SHEAFFER BEGAN AN ART CAREER THAT HAS SPANNED
nearly 40 years by blowing glass while in college at the University of North Carolina. By the time he graduated in 1986 with a degree in German, working with glass had led to an enduring passion for neon and to Sheaffer’s first neon business.
Sheaffer’s experience includes crafting his own original sculpture, producing commercial signage and even manufacturing and wholesaling neon tubing. Along the way, he has collected hundreds of pieces of vintage neon, much of which he refurbishes and sells.
While many of his early works were abstract, he describes his latest original pieces as “exotic” and “kinetic.” A work entitled “Light The Woods with Sound,” exhibited at a park in Raleigh, North Carolina, consisted of hundreds of vibrant neon coils programmed to original digital compositions and audience input via musical instruments. Locally, a smaller outdoor installation of 24 neon units was at the Lafitte Greenway last fall.
Sheaffer patterned his current Raleigh studio on God’s Own Junkyard, a “kaleidoscopic” warehouse of neon north of London, and now the artist, who splits his time between Raleigh and New Orleans, has brought a similar environment — Big Sexy Neon — to the revitalized Oretha Castle Haley corridor.
Colorful neon radiates through the windows across the front of the space (originally a five and dime, more recently the home of Zeitgeist Arts Center and now a hip destination with an industrial SoHo feel) that Sheaffer and partner Dianna Knost are busily completing for its spring opening.
Inside the remodeled circa-1905 building that will serve as a gallery, rentable event venue and coffee shop, a glowing white neon piece against one wall announces “This Must Be The Place.”
Knost’s curatorial eye and creative spirit, known from her former shop, A.K.A. Stella Gray, complements Sheaffer’s stable of work, which ranges from edgy to ethereal and the two have collaborated on multiple works. The coffee shop, La Vie En Rose, run by Kirby Jones and previously housed at the CAC, is intended to make the studio as much of a gathering place as an art space. — BY LEE CUTRONE
Big Sexy Neon, nate@bigsexyneon.work
BRUNCH BUNCH
Melanie’s mellow (or not) Michelada
IN MAY, I HIT THE 10-MONTH MARK of a year-long alcohol-free challenge. (It’s going well, I don’t miss booze and I feel great, thanks for asking!) I like to celebrate these milestones with treats and rewards, including creating alcohol-free versions of my favorite cocktails. One that has become a staple of my repertoire, both because it is easy to make and because you can also often get one out at a bar or restaurant is a Michelada. If you aren’t familiar, think of it as a Bloody Mary made with Mexican lager instead of vodka. I absolutely love having a Bloody Mary or Michelada at brunch, so virgin versions have been a welcome option.
MELANIE’S MELLOW (OR NOT) MICHELADA
Ingredients 4 ounces Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix (or your favorite) 4 ounces non-alcoholic lager (I used Heineken 0.0) or your favorite Mexican lager, such as Tecate (non-beer lovers, sub N/A or regular beer with four ounces of soda water) ½ ounce lime juice 2 lime wedges Hot sauce to taste Creole seasoning (for rim) Cracked black pepper Assorted garnishes such as celery, olives and pickled things, cured meats, cheeses and chicken wings, as well as toothpicks and skewers, as needed
Directions 1. Run a lime wedges along the rim of the glass and coat it with Creole seasoning. 2. Fill glass with ice. Add N/A or regular beer of choice or soda water, Bloody Mary mix and hot sauce to taste. 3. Stir gently until blended. 4. Sprinkle more Creole seasoning and pepper on top. 5. Place lime wedge on rim and add any other garnishes.
There are of course as many variations for a Michelada as there are for its vodka-infused counterpart. I like to use Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix with my favorite non-alcoholic beer, because I love the taste. Also see: I am lazy. But you can go as simple as adding a splash of tomato juice and lime juice to your beer or as elaborate as mixing up your special, time-honed Bloody recipe. The world is your lime wedge!
Rather than spending a lot of time on finding or developing a whizbang Bloody recipe, I focused my energy on garnishing it beyond what’s likely considered decent or sane because, snacks!
Here’s my Michelada recipe in both non-alc and full proof versions. I recommend sipping it on the porch or patio, out by the pool or with breakfast or brunch. OK, really anywhere at any time is good. Oh, and I’ve offered an alternative to N/A beer if you aren’t a beer lover. Cheers! (Editor’s Note: A version of this story published at an earlier date on mynewor-
leans.com.) – BY MELANIE WARNER SPENCER
Goodness To-Go
Perfect for picnics and potlucks, food blogger Timothy Pakron’s pasta salad is so tasty you’ll forget it’s vegan
PRODUCED BY MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX
PICNIC PASTA SALAD WITH OREGANO DILL DRESSING
Serves 6-8
Dressing
1 ½ cups vegan mayo ½ cup finely chopped fresh oregano ½ cup finely chopped fresh dill 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast 1 garlic clove, minced ½ teaspoon sugar ½ teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper dash cayenne pepper
Salad
1 pound bowtie pasta 3 cups bite-size pieces broccolini (about one bunch) 2 cups bite-size pieces peeled carrots ½ cup frozen peas 1 small red bell pepper, chopped 1 large cucumber, peeled and chopped ½ cup diced red onion 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved ½ cup high-quality pitted green olives, sliced
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper chopped fresh oregano and dill, for garnish 1. In a bowl, whisk together mayo, oregano, dill, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, nutritional yeast, minced garlic, sugar, sea salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper. 2. Fill a large bowl with ice and a little water to make an ice bath for vegetables. This will shock them, lock in color, and retain crunch, while also cooling down the pasta for the dressing. 3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for about 7 minutes. Try a piece. When it feels close to being done, needing about one more minute, toss in broccolini, carrots and peas. Drain and transfer to ice bath.
4. Once cooled, transfer pasta and vegetables back to colander and drain thoroughly. Excess water will dilute dressing. 5. In a large bowl, toss dressing, drained pasta and vegetable mixture, bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, tomatoes and olives. Mix well. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh dill and oregano.
About the Chef
Despite his Mississippi upbringing, New Orleans always felt like home to food blogger and recipe developer Timothy. Pakron. He moved permanently to New Orleans after publishing his first cookbook, “Mississippi Vegan,” and continues to adapt classic recipes and concoct new ones while serving as a full-time butterfly gardener.
