New Orleans Homes and Lifestyles Winter 2019

winter 2019

SPONSORED

Why Design+Build: Q & A with the Team at DMG

T

he influx of companies calling themselves design & build firms has brought a lot of hype and a lot of confusion to the homebuilding and remodeling industry. The team at DMG Design+Build in New Orleans is here to get to the root of this change in the industry, what exactly it means, and why it is a good thing for the customer.

DMG Design+Build is an award-winning force to be reckoned with. Year after year they continue to make their mark on the industry at a national level by showcasing design from New

Orleans-traditional to modern and everything in between. Joining us in this Q&A is DMG’s CEO, Ryan McCroskey and two members from their design team, Justin Fredricks and Madeline Comeaux. Notably, in 2019 this team has been honored as Remodelers Top 550, Qualified Remodeler Top 500, General Contractor Magazine’s pick for number 1 kitchen remodeler, an Inc 5000 company, recipient of two prestigious Chrysalis awards and Ryan has been recognized as PRO Remodelers 40 under 40. Let’s see what they have to say.

SPONSORED

Ryan McCroskey: Design & build is a company’s ability to take a project from inception to completion under one roof.

Some companies focus on only the design aspect or only the build aspect and outsource the other. At DMG Design+Build we recruit and train the best people in the industry to work together as a team. This team takes a client’s vision and makes it a reality. The ability to create blueprints for any project in-house, ensuring a fluid aesthetic design with an interior designer, and then executing the build without delay is the very definition of design & build, and it’s what we do at DMG Design+Build.

Q. What is the benefit of going with a design & build company rather than hiring separate architects, designers and contractors?

Ryan McCroskey: A design & build company develops an in-depth and cohesive understanding of the client’s vision and maintains that vision as the project moves from the design of blueprints, to the selection of finishes such as paint and fixtures, through the building process. It takes constant communication to get this right and the ability to communicate just isn’t the same when a project team is split up in multiple companies. Similarly, communication with the client is improved because they always have just one point of contact rather than one from each company. Also, there is no way for three separate companies to work independent of one another and realize the client’s budget.

Justin Fredricks: Don’t forget time either.

We are able to deliver this service all under one roof, which is a time savings in itself.

When you can cut out the inherent delays in waiting for one firm to send their work to another firm who then needs to check back with yet another firm, you gain more control over your schedule. Projects are completed in less time and scheduling is more accurate.

Q. What sets you apart from other design & build companies?

Ryan McCroskey: Customer service. Our industry has developed a bad reputation for having poor customer service. We

regularly meet with prospective clients who tell us about problems that their neighbors or family members had with being unable to get in touch with their contractor or having a firm that does not plan properly, resulting in delays to the project. We realize that for us to be successful, everything we do must revolve around the client being informed and satisfied with our work from the start of the project to its completion.

We have built our reputation on customer service and we take that responsibility seriously.

Q. What should a potential client be aware of when seeking a design build company?

Ryan McCroskey: Many companies add design & build to their name because they know an architect and designer that they have done work with before. However, this is not the same as being one company with an architect and designer in-house.

They are not a team working together, they are not communicating regularly throughout the process and estimating as the design evolves. Remember, a true design and build company has a staff to take a project from its inception to completion with the necessary personnel under one roof.

Q. You guys have accomplished so much in such a short time solidifying your position as industry leaders. What can we expect to see from DMG Design+Build in 2020?

Madeline Comeaux: We have a lot of exciting things planned for 2020.

Throughout this past year we have been traveling around the country to visit shops and designers so that we can begin bringing design finishes in-house so that our clients can see a wider selection in one location without worrying about items being discontinued or sold out during the selection process. This is not typically seen in our local market and we are excited to be on the front lines of bringing this service to our clients.

Ryan McCroskey: This also allows us to eliminate the middle man which shows greatly on our clients bottom line.

Left to Right: Justin Fredricks – Blueprint Designer / Estimator, Madeline Comeaux – Interior Designer, Ryan McCroskey – CEO, Aren McCroskey – General Manager, Brett Richman – Project Manager

Q. What does Design & Build mean?

new orleans

homes & lifestyles

Winter 2019 / Volume 22 / Issue 4 Editor Melanie Warner Spencer Art Director Tiffani Reding Amedeo ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ashley McLellan Web Editor Kelly Massicot Contributing Writers Mirella Cameran, Laura Claverie, Lee Cutrone, Fritz Esker, Valorie Hart, Pamela Marquis, Lisa Tudor, Margaret Zainey Roux Contributing Photographers Thom Bennett, Sara Essex Bradley, Theresa Cassagne, Jeffery Johnston, Eugenia Uhl Copy Editor Liz Clearman Vice President of Sales Colleen Monaghan 504/830-7215 or Colleen@MyNewOrleans.com senior Account Executive Brooke LeBlanc Genusa 504/830-7242 or Brooke@MyNewOrleans.com senior Account Executive Alyssa Copeland 504/830-7239 or Alyssa@MyNewOrleans.com Director of Marketing and Events Jeanel Luquette event coordinator Abbie Dugruise Digital Media Associate Mallary Matherne

For event information call (504) 830-7264 Production manager Emily Andras Production Designers Rosa Balaguer,

Meghan Rooney Traffic Coordinator Lane Brocato Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne President Alan Campell Executive Vice President/Editor-in-Chief Errol Laborde Distribution Manager John Holzer Administrative Assistant Mallary Matherne Audience Development Claire Sargent

A Publication of Renaissance Publishing LLC Printed in USA 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Ste. 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 New Orleans Homes and Lifestyles, ISSN 1933-771X is distributed four times a year and published by Renaissance Publishing LLC, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005; (504) 828-1380. For a subscription visit on line at NewOrleansHomesandLifestyles.com. Periodicals Postage Paid at Metairie LA and Additional Entry Offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright Š 2019 New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Magazine is registered. New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazines’ managers or owners.

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auTUMN 2019

FEATURES

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South Market Style

In the Details

Bathing Beauty

RevĂŠillon Revival

The weekend home of Sandra and Joel Chaisson offers luxury, convenience and stunning views of the city

Maureen Stevens took a young couple’s Uptown cottage from house to home with color, approachable design, and details that represent their lives

4 fabulous bathrooms

The quintessentially New Orleans holiday celebration comes back home again

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neworleanshomes&lifestyles.com

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CONTENTS Editor’s Note Including the Editor’s Pick 16

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Design Diary News and events 18

Style For the Love of Leather: Whether it’s grainy or glossy, home décor in luxe leather is what’s hot this winter 20

Get Organized Be Our Guest: Tips and tricks for your guest room 22

Artist Profile Anita Cooke 24

Bon Vivant Cozy Countdown: Staying in is the new chic for New Year’s Eve celebrations 26

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Gatherings Mama Knows Best: Using pantry staples, Chef Rebecca Wilcomb recreates her mother’s original weeknight pasta dish that warms the heart and fills the belly 28

For the Garden Louisiana Natives: Master Gardener Ann Barnes’ backyard wildlife habitat and native plants 30

Masters of Their Craft City Restored: Master welder and blacksmith Darryl Reeves creates new works of art, restores historic metalwork and trains the next generation 34

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TrendWatch Soft and Warm: Snuggle into winter colors and textures with chic toss pillows and cozy throw blankets 36

home with tranquil tones and nature-inspired decor. 78

trends in tile and stone for your home 82

Roof Rules: What homeowners need to know to keep roofing problems at bay 76

Price Mix

Last Indulgence

Pop the Cork!: Our selection of corkscrews for any occasion 80

Inspiration Board

Expert Advice

Gentle Cycles: Luxurious fabric care for even the most delicate items in your linen closet or wardrobe 88

Feather Your Nest: Design your

Hard Surfaces 101: Tips and

Home Renewal

on the cover

The weekend home of Sandra and Joel Chaisson at The Standard is an art-filled retreat (p. 44) Photo by Sara essex bradley

editor’s note

holidays AT HOME In 2014, I was invited to my first Réveillon dinner at the home of a friend.

Having grown up in Kentucky, the tradition was new to me, but it was love at first bite (after bite, after bite). Friends and loved ones gathering for a lavish, post-Midnight Mass meal? Sign me up. Much to my surprise and delight, I later learned that myriad restaurants in New Orleans carry on the tradition.

From Brigsten’s in Uptown to Galatoire’s in the French Quarter — and a lot of places between — there are plenty of choices for a festive, no fuss réveillon dinner.

Since that first year when we experienced réveillon in the welcoming abode of our friend, however, I’ve noticed that more and more people are hosting at home. Perhaps its the alltoo-common habit of humans to pull family and friends closer during uncertain times, or maybe it’s a yearning as adults to recreate some of our own childhood experiences for the younger generation — whatever the reason, I’m here for it.

Which is why for our winter entertaining feature on page 60, we created a réveillon dinner to remember. We also combined the best of all worlds — entertaining at home with the help of a talented New Orleans chef. In this case, we partnered with the newly revived Gabrielle Restaurant’s husbandand-wife team Greg and Mary Sonnier, but take your pick of your favorite chef or catering company in town. It’s a win-win.

Home cooks, of course, will want to bring their own razzle dazzle and if you are open to something less traditional, turn to page 28 for a delectable family recipe from Chef Rebecca Wilcomb of Gianna.

However you choose to celebrate the holidays this year, from our krewe to yours, may it be merry, bright and filled with warmth — and great food, naturally. Cheers!

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editor’s picks There are few things more inviting than a seasonal wreath adorning the front door. Even better if it is handmade. The “Design Your Own Holiday Wreath” class at FAIT NOLA Nursery (547 Jefferson Ave.) offers the opportunity to craft a fragrant wreath with expert instruction

by Kathleen Robinson, who has more than 30 years of experience in floral design. Bonus: The workshop is BYOB. The class is Dec. 12, 6 to 8 p.m. If wreaths aren’t your thing, check out the hoiday centerpiece class on Dec. 18. Visit faitnola.com for additional details and to register.

Preserve and protect In November, The Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans launched its new book, “Building on the Past: Saving Historic New Orleans.”

Penned by Susan Langenhennig, John Pope and Danielle Del Sol with photos by Chris Granger, this 192-page, hardcover tome tackles the complicated narRative of historic preservation in a 300-year-old city. Building profiles, personal stories, tools and insider information from preservationists are presented together to create a compelling and essential resource for anyone interested in restoration or planning to undergo the process. prcno.org/shop

THERESA CASSAGNE PHOTO

design diary

Weird and Wacky

Architectural Accolades Trahan Architects — the renowned architectural firm behind the Mercedes-Benz Superdome redevelopment and the revamped Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre in Atlan-

Returning to New Orleans for the third year, the Weird Homes Tour (tickets from $30) celebrates all that’s out of the norm in home design — a unique specialty here in the Crescent City.

During the self-paced tour, visitors can discover eight to 10 of the most charming and unconventional homes whose owners include rare art collectors, designers and architects.

Notable homes include the Inn at the Old Jail (a jail-turnedinn), the Magazine Street Remaker Home (filled with found and recycled art) and the KAN House (made from seven converted shipping containers).

Ten percent of all proceeds benefit HousingNOLA, a local housing nonprofit working to solve New Orleans’ affordable housing crisis. weirdhomes tour.com

HOMe library

Origin stories Architect, author and professor emeritus at Tulane University, Geoffrey H. Baker, recently published a coffee-table book entitled “New Orleans: An Intimate Journey Through A City with Soul” (Images Publishing, $32), with photography by Timothy Dunford.

“New Orleans and Hove [a 19thcentury seaside community in Southern England] each tell a very human story to which we can all relate,” Baker says. “Each time, in either place, I marvel at the ‘stage’ that is all around me.

This goes so deep that it is hard to explain in words.” The hardcover tome follows architectural origins across the city’s distinctive neighborhoods — from coffee shops and museums to preserved buildings and stately homes.

ta, Georgia — earned the 2019 International Architecture Award for a newly designed home on Magazine Street. The site, currently occupied only by the 1854 façade of a home lost to fire, is located in the Picayune Place historic neighborhood in the Central Business District. The award, presented

by Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, recognizes the world’s best international architecture practices and examples of global architecture. The home design consists of museum-quality concrete, glass and a weathered steel-sculpture wall. The steel panels form the backdrop for the interior of the house, delineating the juxtaposition of natural light and shadow. A quiet respite in the heart of the city, the home invokes a subtle atmosphere void of internal visual and acoustical distractions. trahanarchitects.com — Compiled by Misty Milioto

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Wine Down We are all lamenting the end of rosé season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the spirit of wine.

Thankfully, luxury glassware maker Riedel has launched a new line of tabletop accoutrements that should be on everyone’s wish list this winter.

The curly pink decanter ($350) makes a subtle and sweet statement, while the horn decanter ($599) takes a stand during any gathering. Pair either one with the handmade Fatto A Mano Old World Pinot Noir glassware ($540 for a set of 6) for a colorful affair. riedel.com

style

For the Love of Leather Whether it’s grainy or glossy, home décor in luxe leather is what’s hot this winter Produced by Margaret Zainey Roux

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1. Magazine rack, Oak + Arrow Interiors, 5331 Canal Blvd., 9198268, oakandarrowinteriors.com

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2. Schumacher faux leather wallcoverings: Ostrich in Ginger, Sueded Leather in Cordovan, Crocodile in Java, Spruce, 2043 Magazine St., 265-0946, sprucenola.com

3. Metallic suede journal in gold, White’s Mercantile, 3811 Magazine St., 354-8629, whitesmercantile.com

4. Medallion valet tray, Sazerac House, 101 Magazine St., 910-0100, sazerachouse.com

eugenia uhl PHOTO

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get organized

Pro-tip

dedicated space Let your guests know you care by leaving a vase full of fresh flowers, flyers of local attractions gathered in a hand-crafted basket, adult coloring book with freshly sharpened colored pencils or perhaps the current issue of “New Orleans Home & Lifestyles.” Be sure to keep personal items out of this room. This is not the space for your Saints memorabilia, vintage doll collection or vastly underused treadmill.

You want an uncluttered space to accommodate all of your guests’ items.

The essentials

Be Our Guest Tips and tricks for your guest room A well-furnished guest room is the key to a memorable stress-free visit with loved ones, friends or out-of-town business associates. And here are a few simple musthaves and handy tips to make your guest room cozy, efficient, and welcoming..

Make sure your guests can snuggle and peacefully dream in a comfortable bed. A sofa bed with a thin or lumpy mattress simply won’t do. Or at the very least, cover your worn out mattress with a luxurious featherbed topper and make sure the bedding is fresh, clean and soft with a high thread count. High-quality pillows will guarantee a restful sleep and a down comforter will offer your guests cloudlike comfort. For that extra special touch freshly iron your guests’ pillowcases.— by Pam marquis

In the bag A luggage rack is a simple accessory that makes a world of difference when it comes to comfort and efficiency. It comes in handy if you cannot provide enough storage as it will let your guests get their belongings in and out of their bags easily.

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You must provide lighting by the bed: a beautiful table lamp or an eye-easy reading lamp will do the trick. Also, provide a nightlight; stumbles can happen in unfamiliar surroundings. Other simple amenities include a lighted alarm clock, clean fluffy towels, a note about how to access your wifi and a power strip with several outlets and USB charging ports.

Home library

Host with the most Do you want a practical guide that establishes ground rules for successfully spending time with your house guests?

We recommend the book “The Art of the Visit: Being the Perfect Host/Becoming the Perfect Guest” by Kathy Bertone.

artist profile

anita cooke Anita Cooke’s journey as an artist has included a variety

of mediums and paths. Raised in the Midwest, she drew and painted as a child and began working with clay as a teenager. Today, she creates mixed-media “sewn works,” which she describes as relief sculptures or dimensional patterning.

In 1980, two years after graduating from Kent State with a BFA in ceramics, Cooke and three friends took a trip down the east coast, made their way to New Orleans and fell in love with the city. All relocated here and Cooke quickly became a working artist by setting up a potter’s wheel in her apartment and turning out large quantities of functional work.

“I have a midwestern work ethic,” she says. “I wanted to be a production potter.”

She soon developed an interest in non-representational and abstract work as well. Without a kiln to fire her vessels, she began manipulating them into sculptural forms.

“It was a turning point in how I worked,” she says. “It started me on a completely new path.”

By day, she sold restaurant supplies and waitressed to pay the bills.

By night, classes at Tulane’s University College gave her access to the school’s clay studio where she spent her free time.

“I basically lived at Tulane,” says Cooke, who worked as a teaching assistant and obtained her MFA in ceramics and sculpture at the university.

Marriage, a daughter and years of thoughtful, labor-intensive works and gallery exhibitions followed, but Cooke’s artistry changed course once again after Hurricane Katrina flooded her home and studio.

While Cooke and her husband rebuilt, she found her aunt’s sewing

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machine in a closet and began using it to sew pieces that she then used to construct multi-layered, highly textural reliefs, some with a ceramic look. Though she had tired of the monotonous labor required by her clay pieces, she once again found herself immersed in repetitive, time-consuming work, which she likens to factory piecework.

“I had to have enough quantity to build a piece,” she says.

“It doesn’t have impact unless there’s a lot.”

Her recent work explores themes of pathways: adjacent, interconnected, blocked, linear, circuitous or tangled to name a few.

“I’ve had a lot of different chapters,” says the artist who begins with a working idea, but leaves room for interpretation.

“I like the idea of doing work that people can tap into their own creative center.”

For more on Anita Cooke’s work, visit anitacooke.com — by lee Cutrone

thom bennett portrait

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bon vivant

cozy countdown Staying in is the new chic for New Year’s Eve celebrations

Wi th lo n g wa it s for taxis

(and Uber and Lyft surge pricing), unpredictable weather and the disappointment when that allegedly fabulous event you commit to winds up being a dud, a night in for New Year’s Eve sounds more and more appealing. You could, for example, spring for the Galatoire’s Roaring ‘20s Moet & Chandon New Year’s Eve Dinner and Party and a cushy hotel room for the evening, which sounds like a swanky way to ring in the new year, but staying in can be just as chic.

For those not so interested in cooking, a quick call to your favorite local catering company — or order placed (early) through

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food delivery apps such as Postmates or WAITR — and dinner is served.

A champagne tasting is on the schedule at my house. After a quick walk to Martin’s Wine Cellar on Baronne Street, we’ll be all set for bubbles well past midnight. The food menu begins with a charcuterie and cheese plate for snacking. Next, I’ll serve cornbread pancakes with caviar from Chef Justin Devillier’s new book, “The New Orleans Kitchen: Classic Recipes and Modern Techniques for an Unrivaled Cuisine.” Finally, for dinner, a house favorite: filet mignon with mustard cream sauce and wild mushrooms with roasted root vegetables. For dessert, I might bring out a little Lillet Blanc.

If I end up shorting us in the champagne department, never fear, the alcohol delivery service Drizly will come to the rescue and the front door with a fresh bottle. The delivery service gets your order to you within an hour and you remain off the roads.

Our playlist is still in progress and I’ll likely have a movie on tap as well, just in case. Either way, watching the Crescent City Countdown fleur de lis drop and fireworks on TV in the comfort and convenience of home with a glass of chilled bubbly sounds like the perfect way to welcome 2020. (Editor’s Note: A version of this article originally published on myneworleans.com.)

– By Melanie Warner Spencer

gatherings

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eugenia uhl PHOTO

Mama Knows Best Using pantry staples, Chef Rebecca Wilcomb recreates her mother’s original weeknight pasta dish that warms the heart and fills the belly Produced By Margaret Zainey Roux

Rigatoni with Tuna, Olive Oil and Parmesan Ingredients

Directions

1 pound rigatoni pasta

1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook according to the directions on the package.

1 can or jar of tuna in olive oil (the better the quality, the better the dish) 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated (plus more for sprinkling on top) 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoons chili flake (optional) salt and pepper to taste

2. While the pasta boils, place all other ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the oil from the tuna.

3. Drain the pasta and reserve a ½ cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the large mixing bowl and stir vigorously until everything is incorporated and the pasta and sauce are creamy. If the pasta seems dry, add a little pasta water as needed.

4. Taste for seasoning, adjust, and divide into serving bowls. Top with parmesan and enjoy. Serves 4

About the Chef Chef Rebecca Wilcomb draws inspiration for her authentic Italian cooking from her family’s homeland in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Together with chefs and partners Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, Chef Wilcomb opened Gianna in the Warehouse District in April 2019. She was previously honored by the James Beard Foundation with a Best Chef: South award. neworleanshomes&lifestyles.com

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for the garden

Hint Barnes believes a new plant or tree is just like a newborn baby and should be treated as such. “It needs nurturing and tender care,” she says.

“It should get water on a regular basis and be kept from too much stress.”

Events

louisiana natives Master Gardener Ann Barnes’ backyard wildlife habitat and native plants

A hungry toad eats a plump slug, a

sparrow devours a wiggly worm and ladybugs munch on aphids as a black snake slithers through an Uptown garden. From her porch, Ann Barnes watches all of the action with sheer delight.

Barnes’ yard is certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife habitat and it abounds with life, color and intoxicating fragrances.

“She a master naturalist, an avid and knowledgeable pollinator and perennial gardener and has been a Master Gardener since 2011,” says extension agent Joe W. Willis with LSU AgCenter.

She was also active in putting together The Louisiana Native Plant Initiative (LNPI). Since its inception in 2011, the LNPI has collected more than 60 individual species and over 400 individual collections of native plants. To look at Barnes’ yard you might think she has all of them growing within the cast iron fence that surrounds her stately home built in 1910 on a large triple lot.

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It’s brimming with Mexican petunias, witch hazel trees, swamp sunflowers, native persimmons trees, bronze fennel and dozens of pots filled with herbs. She also has the largest collection of salvia in the state consisting of 80 different varieties.

Early on in her gardening ventures Barnes had a rose garden full of old-time roses. But she lost almost all of her plants when the garden took on two feet of flood water from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“So I made the decision to purposely plant a wildlife garden,” Barnes says. “To thrive wildlife needs three things: food, water and shelter. I also choose things that bloom over a long period and at different times of the year.”

Barnes believes gardeners are the most generous people on the face of the earth and says she gardens because she simply can’t help it.

“My husband sometimes shakes his head when he opens the water bill but I tell him, ‘you’re lucky — I could be buying a lot of antiques instead’.”

– By Pamela Marquis

Wreath Making with Amy Graham Longue Vue Gardens 488-5488 Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon Tickets are $65 and they include all the supplies.

The workshop will be led by Director of Horticulture Amy Graham.

Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes City Park Botanical Garden 483-9488 Jan. 25 at 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. $25 per person Landscape architect Thomas Rainer will discuss real world strategies for designing multi-layered, colorful and resilient urban plantings.

Learn tips about how to select plants for urban conditions, how to prepare the soil, and how to reduce weed pressure. Both practical and inspiring, the talk will focus on an expanded vision of nature in the city.

Rose Propagation City Park Botanical Garden 483-9488 Feb. 15, 10:30 a.m. to noon $15 per person Don Hanson, a volunteer and rose enthusiast, will teach how to choose the right rose and make the proper cuttings needed for propagation.

cheryl gerber PHOTO

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MASTERS OF THEIR CRAFT

city restored Master welder and blacksmith Darryl Reeves creates new works of art, restores historic metalwork and trains the next generation

Since 1968 Darryl Reeves, owner of Andrew’s Welding and Blacksmith,

has lovingly spent his days heating wrought iron or steel and shaping the metals into incredible works of art. He’s a founding member of the New Orleans Master Crafts Guild and creates everything from wine racks to massive gates. Above all else, with his skillful restoration, he’s preserving New Orleans’ iconic ironwork.

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“He’s my go-to-guy especially if it’s a restoration job,” says Robert Cangelosi, Jr., president of Koch and Wilson Architects. “He’s currently restoring all the hardware for the shutters on the Beauregard-Keyes House. He’s a true master.”

Reeves’ 5500-square-foot studio is in the heart of the 7th Ward, a block away from where his parents once ran an awning business.

“I worked for them when I was younger and we often worked in the Quarters,” he says. “People kept asking me about repairing old hinges or latches. One day I asked a woman how much she’d pay me to do a strap hinge. When she told me the price I knew I could make it and now I knew I could make money making it.”

So what started as a little side hustle quickly grew into a thriving business. Reeves has gone on to work on most of New Orleans’ architectural treasures including doing all the restoration metal work in Jackson Square, restoring a fence at the Cabildo and repairing an almost 300-year-old chimney bracket on the Old Ursuline Convent.

He considers himself a bit of a blacksmith detective because he must take the pieces apart, figure out how they worked together and then recreate it so that the piece is exactly as it was when it was forged sometimes hundreds of years ago.

Reeves is also a knowledgeable historian who can trace most of the city’s early ironwork and he can identify what nationality made it by the style be it French, Spanish or Italian. However, he says much of that work was done by enslaved people from West Africa, who often wove symbols into the designs. These symbols communicate complex messages and complicated concepts. One of the most commonly found is the Adinkra symbol, Asase ye duru. It translates as “the earth has weight.” The image can be found on a doorway located at 710 Royal St. “They left signs of their presence all around the city,” he says. “It was a language and you’ll find Adinkra symbols everywhere if you just look.”

He’s currently training three apprentices and laughingly says he’s training his competition as he teaches them techniques used 300 years ago when our country was being built.

It’s likely that with his efforts, he’s keeping this centuries-old creative craft alive and preserving it for many generations to come. – By Pamela Marquis

eugenia uhl PHOTO

TRENDWATCH

Soft and Warm Snuggle into winter colors and textures with chic toss pillows and cozy throw blankets By andy myer photographed by eugenia uhl

Textural knobby navy pillow with X-front fringe design, navy and white Hunt Slonem bunny pillow with navy backing, blue and white pouf with decorative pom-pom tassels and striped blue, silver and cream rug with tassel edge available at Perch, perch-home. com; large pink flamingo velvet pillow with double tassels, silk pink and white Ikat pillow with indigo brush fringe available at Eclectic Home, eclectichome.net.

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Clockwise from top: Midwest CBK handwoven wall hanging available at Belladonna, belladonnadayspa.com; organic lavender eye pillow made in Covington

by Leaf + Root, ecru and dune Lands Downunder herringbone throws, cashmere and wool striped Soho throw, Arrow Fleece Lined Throw by Turkish T and Creative Co-Op cotton and chenille lumbar pillows available at White’s Mercantile, whitesmercantile.com; storage basket and cream bobble knit pillow in natural available at West Elm, westelm.com.

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Corded Abstract Puzzle pillow in Royal Green, Horseradish and Red, Corded Quadrant lumbar pillow in So red, hand-spun Amplified Arrow pillow in Dark Horseradish and waffle weave throw with frayed border in Dark Horseradish available at West Elm, westelm.com; tan knit throw with rope fringe available at Perch, perch-home. com; midcentury-style woven leather and wood chair available at Hazelnut, hazelnutneworleans.com.

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Facing page: Sandra Chaisson (left) and her husband Joel (not pictured) collaborated with their longtime friend and interior designer, John Fernandez (right). The living room table is from Katy Koch, as are the Italian sconces on the wall.

The custom-fit rug and other furnishings were sourced from the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center.

South Market Style The weekend home of Sandra and Joel Chaisson offers luxury, convenience and stunning views of the city

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he stylish weekend home of Sandra and Joel Chaisson serves many functions for the couple.

Sometimes it’s a quiet place to sip cocktails in the evening after a long work week — Joel is is the district attorney for St. Charles Parish and Sandra is a retired teacher who now devotes her life to charitable causes, serving on numerous boards. Other times it’s bustling with activity when their grandchildren visit. It’s also entertaining for them to watch Saints fans, more than 10 stories below the windows, rallying before games.

During the week, the Chaissons reside in Ormond, but they wanted to purchase another property in order to be closer to the kids.

The ongoing opportunity and excuse to spend more time in New Orleans, where they love dining out and participating in the art and philanthropy scenes, was also a major draw for the couple.

They were impressed by the luxurious residences in The Standard, a newer building in the South Market area, designed by architect and New Orleans native Morris Adjmi and developed by the Domain Companies, and they decided to buy it.

An added bonus is that it’s walking distance to some of their favorite shops, restaurants and things to do in the city. It also happens to be close to their daughter Martine Chaisson’s eponymous, contemporary art gallery — where they sourced most of their artwork.

With the help of longtime friend and designer John Fernandez, the Chaissons added some updated, elegant touches to the condo to personalize the space, including new paint jobs in one of the bedrooms and a hallway, adding drapery and lighting, and hanging artby Sarah Ravits

work. They have worked together for so long that Sandra says, “He has free reign” with a laugh, adding that they know each other so well at this point that “we finish each other’s sentences.”

Fernandez notes that Sandra has an eye for classic design with a modern twist, and he himself is also cautious about being too trendy.

“I say if you start with traditional bones and give it a little bit of flair, it keeps it from feeling stale, but it stays timeless,” he says of his design philosophy.

In this case, the condo had “traditional roots,” but he wanted to add a few modern touches to give it “a little bit of fun,” — but “not so much that it’s going to feel so 2019.”

Fernandez added extra hints of luxury throughout the home.

“The lightness of the walls was something I wanted to respect,” he says of the living room and kitchen area, which features floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for sweeping views of the city’s downtown.

He lined the walls with a silk grass cloth. “It gives it more texture,” he says. The kitchen had a warm, organic nature to it, he said, so they didn’t make too many updates in that room. “I loved [Domain’s] use of the wood cabinets,” says Sandra.

Some of the furnishings were sourced regionally — sconces on the wall in the living room were added from Katie Koch; and a few of the furniture pieces are from Villa Vici. Fernandez, who works primarily in Atlanta but flew to New Orleans at the Chaissons’ request, also obtained items, including drapery and rugs from Atlanta Decorative Arts Center.

Over in the master bedroom, Fernandez wanted to turn the space into Sandra’s personal “dressing room,” as she is a fashion enthusiast — one of her many roles is president of the Women of Fashion, an organization that supports the Ballet Resource And Volunteer Organization (BRAVO).

photography by sara essex bradley

Top, left: The foyer to the Chaissons’ space introduces guests to a seamless blend of styles. The walls were painted a chic, dark green to off-set the light-filled open kitchen, living room and dining area overlooking downtown. They placed a giant painting and mirror in the hallway to “pay with proportions,” says Fernandez Top, right: A sliding door past the kitchen open to an en-suite guest area Bottom, right: The guest room — unlike the master bedroom — is all-white with eye-popping accents and art. Bottom, left: The cabinet in guest room is from Villa Vici. Other furnishings were sourced from Atlanta Decorative Arts Center Facing page: The colorful butterfly mural, by artist Hunt Slonem, like much of the other artwork throughout the space, reflects Sandra, a hobbyist beekeeper’s, love of natural elements. The table and chairs are from Atlanta Decorative Arts Center.

Fernandez and the Chaissons mostly stuck with the original design of the kitchen but added new overhead lighting from Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. They also custom-fit the barstools with a performance fabric, knowing their young grandchildren would spend a lot of time in the area.

Here, Fernandez designed and custom-built two floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, added more sconces and painted the room a dark, “moody” regent green color, while the rest of the home remains bright and airy — including the guest room and bathroom which is accessible via a sliding door just past the kitchen.

Much of the art that fills the home is by Hunt Slonem, a close friend of the family. His work is also prominently featured in their daughter Martine’s gallery, where they obtained some key pieces. (Martine also curated the art collection displayed inside The Standard’s lobby and on other floors of the building.)

Fernandez also wanted to experiment with

the proportions of the art. In some cases, a large painting will take up most of a small wall. Elements of nature are also displayed throughout the condo— the artwork and decor often depicts bunnies, bugs and butterflies — so it’s not entirely surprising to learn that Sandra is also a beekeeper who makes her own honey in Ormond.

The result of the Chaissons’ collaboration with Fernandez is an inviting, stylish atmosphere.

When the couple arrives on most weekends, Sandra says, “We park, and then we don’t get in our cars again” as they take off on foot to visit their favorite nearby restaurants and venues. “We enjoy all the things that city has to offer.”

Left: Fernandez custom designed two extra floor-to-ceiling wardrobes for Sandra, who has a passion for style and fashion.

He also added new lighting and sconces from Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. Top, right: The poster bed is from Atlanta Decorative Arts Center as is the bedside table. Fernandez chose to adorn the windows with clean, simple drapery with an element of luxury cashmere. Bottom, right: Artwork in the room primarily is by Hunt Slonem, a longtime friend and favored artist of the couple.

“

I love a room of storytellers,” says designer Maureen Stevens

In the Details Maureen Stevens took a young couple’s Uptown cottage from house to home with color, approachable design, and details that represent their lives

By Lee Cutrone Photography by Sara Essex Bradley

“I

love a room of storytellers,” says designer Maureen Stevens of the curiosities and artifacts that bring a house to life.

Stevens, who gradually made her way from physical therapist to designer by blogging and helping family and friends before going into design full-time in 2013, knows that a well-designed space is about conveying the lives of the people who live there. As someone who’s passionate about design and attuned to its nuances, she also recognizes that good design is grounded in detailed space planning, scale and proportion.

The Uptown cottage of physicians Skylar Souyoul and Tyler Plauché is such a space.

Originally a shotgun built in the 1920s, the house was purchased in 2017 by a developer, who renovated the existing L-shaped structure and increased its size by adding a

mirror-image rectangular volume to the other side. The couple loved the original wood floors and the privacy afforded by the new U-shaped footprint. The master bedroom is on one side and guest quarters on the other with living areas in between. But Skylar’s vision called for adding neutral window treatments, lively pops of color and a mix of both investment pieces and reasonably priced items that were comfortable and livable.

Skylar also wanted to incorporate a few things the couple already had — the distressed dining table, the bed in the master bedroom and a trio of deer skulls acquired

by Tyler, an avid hunter. Lastly, the couple wanted to include art, most of which they find during their travels, or pieces with special sentimental meaning.

Skylar found Maureen on houzz.com and the two went to work.

“The house was pretty much a blank canvas when we started,” says Skylar. “But one of the reasons [Maureen and I] got along so well is that she also really helped the space come together with things that we had and wanted to keep.”

In addition to wanting to communicate the homeowners’ updated traditional aesthetic, Maureen, who relocated from Austin with her husband and their 4-yearold son last year, wanted to make sure the

design was functional for the couple’s day to day life, which includes two dogs and a love of casual get togethers such as seasonal fish fries and crawfish boils.

She maximized the 1,500-square-foot space and made it feel larger by keeping walls and windows light and adding color in the forms of furnishings, accessories and art. She also used creative space-saving ideas such as small foot stools that double as extra seating when needed and

top, left: An Ikat-covered bench and a place for hanging things do the work of a closet near the front door. bottom: Skylar Souyoul and her yellow lab, Belle right: Maureen incorporated the dining table that Skylar already owned into the interior design, pairing it with neutral Louis XVI style chairs and emerald green upholstered chairs on either end. The painting to the left of the table is by Alabama artist Carol Furman. Space above the kitchen cabinets is used to display framed menus that Skylar has saved from special occasions. facing page: Pops of navy, one of the colors Skylar requested, enliven the white sectional in the living room. Pillows from Williams Sonoma. Cane velvet chair is from Niche in Mandeville.

left: A neutral headboard from Perigold is paired with more navy in the guest bedroom. The chest was made by Tyler. top, right: A painting that evokes the feeling of water and sky hangs above the master bath’s clawfoot tub. Painting from Anthropologie. bottom: A combination of sheers and matchstick blinds provide natural light and privacy. facing page: A tufted gray headboard and a midcentury modern nightstand that Skylar already had are mixed with pink bedding in the master bedroom. Tyler took the photograph above the bed during the couple’s honeymoon in Canada and Skylar had artist Terri Hamilton of the Pineapple Gallery in Mandeville enlarge it, add paint, and frame it. Pillows from Williams Sonoma.

Maureen Stevens’ infatuation with design began early. For as long as she can remember, she’s loved arranging vignettes around the house, creating pretty gift wrapping and helping friends with beautiful tablescapes. But it wasn’t until she began blogging about her love of design that she decided to make a career of out of her passion. In 2013, she went into design full-time and her work has been in HGTV magazine, Make It Over magazine and on HGTV. com. She also can be found on MaureenStevens.com and on Instagram.

The following are her top three design tips for telling your story at home: 1/ Use pieces from travel and experiences — mementos, curiosities and artifacts as accessories throughout the house. For example, a postcard from faraway travel can be framed and placed in a little nook in your study, a seashell or coral you picked up from a beach getaway can be on top of some books in your bookcase.

2/ Showcase your collection — a lot of us have a penchant for something that’s special to us, whether it’s Victorian china, primitive baskets or depression glass; don’t be afraid to show them off. Me, I’ve started a collection of busts for fireplace mantels and on top of bookcases and I’ve been thinking of collecting oyster plates — I’m planning to do a curated wall with them.

a minimally furnished spot near the front door that does the work of a closet without giving up any interior real estate.

A mix of styles bridges the historic character of the house with today’s design ethos.

Tufted fabrics, mirrored surfaces and gold accents are at home with rustic wooden surfaces, traditional and modern lighting, and lots of cheerful color, including navy, one of the three colors that Skylar specifically re-

quested as one of her favorites.

“Maureen came up with the original plan and a lot of great ideas,” says Skylar. “She was also good about taking our ideas and bringing it all to life. I had in my mind the way I wanted the final product to look and somehow she got into my mind and did it.

She is one of those designers whose projects really represent her clients.”

3/ Commission an art piece — this is something meaningful and I have done this for some of my clients, whether it’s an illustration, watercolor or acrylic art. I’ve asked artists to do portraits of my client’s kids, their dog or a scene from their travels.

Bathing Beauty 4 fabulous bathrooms

photography by jeffery johnston

Contractor: Tyson Construction Designer: Tyson Construction Cabinets: Jim Owens Flooring and Cabinets Countertops: Crescent City Countertops Tile: Jim Owens Flooring and Cabinets Lighting: Ferguson Plumbing Fixtures: LCR Glass: Reliable Glass

Contractor: DMG Design Management Group, Ryan McCroskey Designer: Penny Francis, Eclectic Home Cabinets: DMG Design Management Group, custom Flooring: Eclectic Home, honed Italian porcelain cut and set in chevron pattern Backsplash: Quartz Countertops: Quartz tile, shower feature wall marble chevron mosaic Tub: Acrylic freestanding tub by Maax, Southland Plumbing Fixtures: Kohler, Southland Plumbing Lighting: Eclectic Home Door Knobs: Eclectic Home Glass and Doors: Universal Glass, custom frameless glass surround and custom mirrors Furniture: Eclectic Home

Contractor: Walter Guillot, Guillot Building Designer: Erin Raizk, Raizk Design Architect: Daniel R. Samuels Cabinets: Custom vanity Floor Tile: Honed Lilac marble, Stafford Tile & Stone Wainscoting: InLine Collection by Pratt & Larson, a mix of all 12 patterns in color R51, Stafford Tile & Stone Shower Floor Tile: Hexagon Mosaic in Lilac by Artistic Tile, Stafford Tile & Stone Countertops: Blue Moon granite, Paris Stone, LLC Fixtures, Vanity Hardware & Accessories: Levoir Collection by Brizo in polished nickel, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery Lighting: Fabrian wall sconce

by Possini Euro Design, Lamps Plus Door Knobs: Helios lever with rosette in polished nickel, Emtek Furniture: Yaquina frameless pivot mirror, Rejuvenation; American walnut shelves with polished nickel brackets, Rejuvenation Art: Abstract paintings in black and white by Lex Williams Other: Lintot

Contractor: Sweeney Restoration, LLC Tile Subcontractor: Geo’s Flooring Designer: Mason ¡ Ros Architecture Cabinets: Manufactured by Jackson Cabinetry and Kaiser Custom Cabinets, Grey Maple Inverted Shaker supplied

by French Quarter Facades Flooring: Dolomite White Natural tile, Triton Stone Mosaic Shower: Emser Confetti Hex White, Triton Stone Wall Tile: Amazing Gray, Emser Accent Wall: Tile, Triton Stone Plumbing Fixtures: Kohler Vent: Panasonic

Réveillon Revival H

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Written and styled By Valorie Hart

inter entertaining would not be complete without a réveillon dinner. Réveillon is a Creole tradition and the word is derived from the French word réveil for “waking,” which dates to the 1700s. It refers to the all-night parties often held by nobels. This special meal served on Christmas Eve is held after midnight mass and originated at a time when New Orleans was predominately Catholic. Family members would come home from mass famished and awaiting them was feast prepared ahead of time. Sideboards would be laden with egg dishes, breads, turtle soup, oysters, grillades of veal and puddings. Wines, cordials and other fortified drinks were served. The food and spirits would revive dinner guests, so the repast could go on until dawn.

By the 1940s as more Americanized holiday traditions came into vogue, réveillon nearly vanished, but the tradition is kept alive in New Orleans. Tourism motivated a revival in the 1990s taking réveillon out of the home and into popular local restaurants. Visitors now had an additional incentive to come to New Orleans during the holiday season.

Locals also enjoyed the special menus offered by their favorite dining establishments who interpreted creative versions of réveillon. Restaurant révellion dinners are still popular today.

In yet another réveillon revival of sorts, many hosts are returning to the tradition of an intimate holiday supper in the home. Not confined by the Christmas Eve timeline, a réveillon dinner can be offered anytime during the holiday season. It makes a dinner party all that more special and festive for family and friends.

Steve Moser, transplanted from Los Angeles to New Orleans 23 years ago, acquired his Bywater home when the neighborhood was down at heels. As an artist, this made it possible for him to become a home-

Photogr aphy by Sara Essex Bradley

owner. He embraced the ethos of 18th-century Creole New Orleans by decorating his home with all of the touchstones: a hand-painted mural (done by him) in a formal dining room, Paris porcelain, lovely silver — evoking a genteel, easier way of living. The idea of hosting a Creole-style réveillon dinner for his adopted family of friends was attractive to Moser. However, he admits, he’s no cook. His tiny, jewel box of a kitchen mainly serves the purpose to showcase his collection of china and teapots. He does fix breakfast for himself, which he takes on the veranda in his French-style secret garden at the back of the cottage.

Moser called upon the Sonnier family to provide the menu for his réveillon dinner. The Sonniers are a first family in the restaurant world.

They recently reopened their restaurant Gabrielle in Mid-City. Dad Greg is the chef de cuisine, daughter Gabrielle is front-of-the house and her husband Marsh is the mixologist behind the bar. Mom Mary is co-owner and keeps them all on track, and guides the dessert menu. Nearly 30 years ago she pioneered homespun Southern desserts as restaurant worthy. How much more perfect can it get than to have a family produce a most wonderful family dinner? It’s a family affair in all respects.

The menu chosen and executed by Chef Greg Sonnier for réveillon is a riff on the classics. Shrimp toast with a marmalade dipping sauce with Creole mustard and horseradish is passed during cocktails. A festive signature cocktail called Laissez Les Bon Temps Rosé adds to the fun.

The main course starts with stuffed artichokes and truffle butter. This is not the typical stuffed artichoke ubiquitous to local menus. Rather, it is loaded with truffles. The main course is a play on the classic, circa-1800s réveillon dish of grillades of veal. It’s show-stopping braised veal shanks with green olives and capers, dusted with a pimento gremolata. The veal is served with Creole cheese grits drizzled with basil oil. Dessert is a big, Southern-style iced cake. In this case-fresh pear cake with lemon-honey frosting.

H A festive signature cocktail called Laissez Les Bon Temps Rose adds to the fun.

Ingredients include Ketel One Botanicals Grapefruit and Rose vodka, grapefruit juice, splash of grenadine, and edible rose petals.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rosé

1 ½ ounces Ketel One Botanicals Grapefruit & Rose vodka 2 ounces white grapefruit juice 2 ounces rosé champagne Splash of grenadine (for color) ice highball glass dried edible rose petals Pour vodka and grapefruit juice in highball glass. Fill with ice. Top with rosé champagne. Splash with grenadine (it will sink to the bottom of the glass). Sprinkle rose petals on top.

Coconut Shrimp Toast with Sweet and Tangy Dipping Sauce

Shrimp Toast 12 thin slices of sandwich bread 1.5 pounds shrimp peeled and deveined ¼ cup potato starch (half if using corn starch) 4 green onions, white part only, minced 1 large egg 3 teaspoons fresh ginger-grated 1 teaspoon seafood seasoning Olive oil for frying

H Host Steve Moser welcomes guests. His Bywater cottage is the perfect backdrop for the Creole inspired réveillon dinner party.

Coconut shrimp toast with sweet and tangy dipping sauce is served during cocktails before dinner.

1. Place shrimp, cornstarch, green onions, egg, ginger, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until almost smooth. You may need to scrape the bowl down a few times with a spatula. It should resemble a chunky paste; however, there shouldn't be any large pieces of shrimp left. If you don't have a food processor, you can mince the shrimp with a knife and mix everything else together in a bowl by hand.

2. Cut the crusts off the bread (the crust will burn if you leave it on), then cut the bread into four triangles, squares or sticks. Spread about a teaspoon of the shrimp mixture on each piece of bread. Make sure to get the shrimp all the way to the edges or the bread will curl while frying. Press a small piece of parsley into each toast for color.

3. Add about 2 inches of oil to a heavy bottomed pot and heat to 350 F. The oil needs to be very hot, or the bread will soak up excess oil, and the shrimp will get overcooked.

4. Add the toasts, shrimp side down. When the edges of the bread start to brown, flip the toasts over and fry the bread side until it is golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined rack with the bread side facing the paper towel to drain as much oil as possible.

Dipping Sauce 1 18-ounce jar orange marmalade 5 tablespoons creole mustard 5 tablespoons horseradish Combine all the ingredients for sauce and mix well.

Tips 1. Do hire a caterer.

2. Do use your most beautiful china, glassware, flatware and ironed linens to set the table.

3. Serve a special signature cocktail.

4. Keep the menu simple in the number of dishes served, but make each dish extra special.

Be inspired by the classic family dishes served during holiday time in New Orleans.

5. One type of flower massed together makes a chic presentation. In this case several large, fluffy bunches of baby’s breath were used as winter “snow” arranged in one special vase.

6. Use one type of fresh fruit as décor. We used pears on the dessert table, a nod to the pear cake being served, and mounds of winter oranges in a pair of antique compotes as the dining table centerpiece.

Braised Veal Shanks with Green Olives and Capers Veal Shanks ¾ cup unpitted green olives, rinsed well 5 pounds 2 inch-thick veal shanks (6 to 8 shanks) all-purpose flour for dredging 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 medium-large onion, halved lengthwise and sliced thin 2 large garlic cloves, minced 1 anchovy fillet, chopped 5 strips of lemon zest 1 ½ tablespoons capers, rinsed and drained 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves 1 ½ cups dry white wine 1 ½ low sodium chicken broth

H Chef Greg Sonnier of Gabrielle Restaurant serves his take on the traditional réveillon dish grillades of veal by presenting braised veal shanks with olives and capers, served with a pimento gremolata.

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Securely tie each veal shank with kitchen string to keep meat attached to bone.

2. Pit ¼ cup olives and chop fine. Lightly crush remaining ½ cup olives with side of a large knife.

3. Pat veal shanks dry between paper towels and season with salt and pepper.

4. Dredge top and bottom (not side) of each shank in flour, knocking off excess. In a 12-inch heavy skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil and butter over moderately high heat until foam subsides and brown tops and bottoms of shanks in batches, about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer shanks as browned to a flameproof roasting pan.

5. Wipe out skillet and add remaining tablespoon oil. Heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook onion, stirring, until golden. Add garlic and anchovy and cook, stirring 1 minute. Add chopped olives, zest, capers, rosemary, and wine and boil 5 minutes. Add broth and crushed olives and bring to a boil.

6. Pour broth mixture over shanks and cover tightly with foil. Braise shanks in oven 2 hours, or until meat is tender.

7. Reduce oven temperature to 325 F. Transfer shanks with a slotted spoon to another roasting pan or deep oven-proof platter and keep warm, covered, in oven. Strain cooking liquid through a sieve into a 1-quart glass measuring cup and serve solids, discarding zest. Let liquid stand until fat rises to top and skim and discard fat.

(There should be about 1 ½ cups liquid. If necessary, in a saucepan boil liquid until it is reduced.) Add reserved solids to liquid and pour over shanks.

8. Serve shanks sprinkled with pimento gremolata and garnish with caper berries. Serves 6

Pimento Gremolata ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic ¼ cup finely chopped roasted red pepper In a small bowl toss all ingredients together well.

Makes about 1/3 cup.

Creole Cheese Grits and Basil Oil Drizzle Grits 1 cup chopped onions 1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 cup chopped celery 4 tablespoons butter 2 bay leaves 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese 7 cups whole milk 2 cups stone ground grits

Sauté trinity vegetables and bay leaves in butter until soft and onions translucent. Add in grits and milk. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low.

Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cheese. Salt to taste.

Drizzle with basil oil.

Basil Oil 1 ½ cups of packed basil leaves ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

H Special thank you to Steve Moser and Gabrielle Restaurant, gabriellerestaurant. com. For more recipes visit neworleanshomesandlifestyles.com.

Blanch basil in medium saucepan of boiling water for about 10 seconds.

Drain. Rinse under cold water. Pat basil dry with paper towels. Transfer to blender. Add oil and puree until smooth. Transfer to small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.

H Use one type of fresh fruit as dĂŠcor. We used pears on the dessert table, a nod to the pear cake being served.

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Sutton House by Kelly Sutton

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home renewal

safety standards The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety Fortified Standards 1. All shingle roofs must meet ASTM D 3161 Class F and ASTM D 7158 Class H shingle standards 2. All roof decks are retailed using 8d ring shank nails at specified intervals 3. All roofs must have a sealed roof deck (peel and stick over the entire roof cover) 4. Gable end wall vents must be sealed off or have removable covers to prevent water intrusion 5. Drip edge must be nailed a minimum of 4 inches on the center nailing with 3-inch overlaps 6. There must be an evaluation and photo documentation of all materials and installation phases

roof rules

7. Hurricane straps or clips are not required, but are recommended

What homeowners need to know to keep roofing problems at bay

In a city like New Orleans, the weather can be brutal.

It often rains — and as anyone who has spent a summer here knows — it often rains hard. A house’s first line of defense in protecting its residents from the elements is its roof. But it’s not easy for homeowners to know what kind of roof they have and how much work needs to be done on it.

“Even for informed homeowners, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a good roof and a bad one,” said Margot Brandenburg, CEO of MyStrongHome.

Unfortunately, many roofs can look the same from the outside.

What are some of the things you should look for and ask for when speaking to a contractor?

Brandenburg said there should ideally be a secondary water barrier inside the roof. If there is an adhesive material over the roof decking, homeowners can have another line of defense if a shingle is blown off during a storm. If roofing damage occurs, even a small leak can create mold and mildew problems, which can cause allergy and breathing difficulties for residents.

New Orleanian Dana Eness has a shotgun home with a camelback portion she added to it. When she bought her house, she installed a passive roof vent system that isn’t as likely to become airborne in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane as the whirlybird vents the home originally had.

Brandenburg also recommended that people follow The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety Fortified Standards when shopping for a new roof. These are third party standards, not ones made up

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by an individual roofing company. She said a fortified roof typically costs 10 percent more than a non-fortified roof, but the fortified designation can result in cheaper insurance for homeowners.

The home services website Angie’s List recommends asking your roofer if they use a consistent dealer for shingles. If not, they might apply mismatched shingles to your roof. It is also good to ask about proper attic ventilation. If you don’t have that, the shingles might wear out early, resulting in ruined insulation and skyrocketing energy costs.

Lastly, ask your contractor for documentation of their insurance policy in case one of their workers damages your property during installation or sustains an injury during installation.

Some roofing considerations have more to do with reducing aggravation than structural safety. Eness said she replaced the metal roofing on the camelback portion of her home with tiles because they’re not as noisy when it’s raining.

Part of roof care means keeping up with maintenance. If you insist on doing a roofing inspection yourself, the Home Inspections, LLC website (dontbuyituntilIInspectit.com) says to clean gutters or add gutter shields, seal leaking gutter seams, check the slope on the gutters, check for loose gutters and gutter nails, remove tree debris from roof, check for nail uplift, and check for broken or cracked shingles.

For general cost considerations while installing a roof, Brandenburg said homeowners can expect to pay about $6.50 per square foot. She added that an average roof in the Gulf South should last about 15 years.

Of course, some will last a little longer and others not quite that long – By Fritz Esker

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INSPIRATION BOARD

Feather Your Nest

Black and white crosshatch pottery lamp from Sunday Shop, sundayshop.co

Design your home with tranquil tones and nature-inspired decor.

By Mirella Cameron

White sectional sofa in white denim from Villa Vici, villavici.com

Natural Brazilian cowhide rug from Villa Vici, villavici.com

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“Oysters” mixed media painting by Charlotte Parrino of New Orleans & Charleston, @ charlotte_parrino_ paintings

Natural wood, Lorna two-door sideboard from Eclectic Home, ​ eclectichome.net

price mix

Pop the Cork!

Our selection of corkscrews for any occasion Having the right tools for the job is always essential. When it comes to enjoying your favorite wine, having the right corkscrew can mean the difference from getting the party started to having an “oeno-fail.” - By Ashley McLellan

$1

$4.99

$35.99

$140

$235 Full-bodied A very special gift for a very dedicated wine collector, the Forge de Laguiole is hand made with real raw materials in the south of France.

These particular models are often called “Sommeliers,” for their usefulness and for their dedicated wine expert following.

Forge de Laguiole Bone, $235, Keife & Co.

simple sipper

light yet flavorful

bold notes

its got legs

Perfect pocket-sized popper for picnics, poolside entertaining or impromptu parties, this colorful travel corkscrew is a stocking stuffer that can be enjoyed and employed year-round.

Oenophilia Pocket Travel Corkscrew, $1 each, Martin’s Wine Cellar

Sometimes easy is best.

Restaurant workers and bartenders often prefer the simplicity of what has become known as the “waiter’s corkscrew.”

The Curve is an elegant solution and a must for all kitchens and bars.

(P.S., the price is right, so grab a few extra for hostess gifts throughout the year.) Curve Waiter’s Corkscrew, $4.99, Dorignac’s

The Rabbit Electra allows users to open a bottle of wine at the push of a button. After just a single charge, the Electra is ready to open more than 30 bottles. Also a plus for those that struggle with traditional lever or pull corkscrews.

Rabbit Electra, Corkscrew, $35.99, Martin’s Wine Cellar

A “must-have for wine collectors with particularly old bottles of wine,” according to John Keife at Keife & Co., the Durand corkscrew “works splendidly in extracting old corks without putting a bunch of cork bits in your wine.” The unique design was created by an American inventor and was named after the celebrated sommelier Yves Durand. The Durand, $140, Keife & Co.

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ASK THE EXPERTS

Stone Interiors

Hard Surfaces 101 Tips and trends in tile and stone for your home

While consumers

often have a general idea of what they want for their home’s hard surfaces, choosing materials such as stone and tile requires more consideration than a simple preference of color or substance. The complexities of natural stone and the beatings your surfaces might take can turn one quick decision into buyer’s remorse and an expensive redo.

While granite countertops and travertine tiles were once king, the stone and tile industries have evolved to include a vast number of products and options, all with varying pros and cons for certain applications. This season, we’re asking our experts

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for a little clarification on today’s trending surfaces.

As a global manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom countertops, sidings and sinks, Cosentino has long been a supplier of popular stone surfaces. From Scalea, Cosentino’s line of natural stone and Sensa, a premium, treated granite, to Silestone quartz and the new, innovative Dekton, a surface made of glass, porcelain and quartz, Cosentino’s products all feature different properties.

According to Jodie Amore, general manager of Cosentino New Orleans, the biggest cause of buyer’s remorse happens when a customer isn’t fully informed about their purchase.

“I feel like it is our responsibility to explain to customers when they visit the showroom what all their options are and all the details,” she says.

Amore recommends customers view full slabs prior to fabrication to know what to expect of a stone’s appearance.

It’s important to have confidence in a stone’s veining and color, but what about its other properties? As more people choose solid surfaces for shower walls, tub surrounds and fireplaces, there are more considerations than appearance alone.

Marble, granite, quartz, quartzite, and now Dekton — which material is best for which application? How do the surfaces be-

have differently?

“When choosing a material for your project, it’s crucial that you learn what to expect from each type of stone long-term,” says John Cognevich, president of Stone Interiors, a local stone fabricator and one of the few in Louisiana to be fully accredited by the Natural Stone Institute.

“For example, marble is a soft stone that lives with you; its appearance will change and age over time,” says Cognevich.

“Some customers love that feature, but if you want your countertop to look exactly the same five years down the line, then marble may not be the right choice for you.”

For this reason, quartz has become extremely popular for kitchen countertops — an engineered product, quartz can resemble marble while being non-porous and much more durable. In addition to porousness and durability, materials react differently to moisture and temperature changes.

“Marble, for example, can take extremely high heat, making it well suited for a fireplace surround; whereas engineered quartz is susceptible to heat and would not be appropriate for a fireplace application,” says Cognevich.

As the popularity of quartz has risen over the last decade, so has the confusion over quartz

theresa cassagne PHOTO

versus quartzite. Quartz is an engineered stone surface made of a combination of natural quartz and other materials. On the other hand, quartzite is a natural stone that offers a light, translucent, marble-like look.

“Quartz countertops have a more consistent color and pattern, while quartzite countertops have a more natural, almost marble appearance,” says BJ Farrell, vice president of sales and marketing at Campbell Cabinets. Farrell personally loves the natural look of quartzite in colors like Taj Mahal and Cristallo. Due to its somewhat translucent characteristics, Farrell notes the design possibility of backlighting quartzite.

“It’s definitely a conversation piece in a house with a backlit onyx island or quartzite bar countertop,” says Farrell.

Chris Kornman, co-owner of Entablature Design-Build, is also a fan of the natural beauty

offered by quartzite. As an alternative to marble in the kitchen, quartzite offers durability and natural beauty. However, quartzite tends to be more expensive than engineered quartz, which has made large strides in marble-like designs over the years.

“Ten years ago there were probably 20 colors of quartz, and now there’s around 100,” says Kornman. “Every year they are getting better and better at making it look like natural marble, giving consumers the beauty of natural marble without the maintenance issue.”

At DMG, Interior Designer Madeline Bernard is a big fan of quartz for this very reason.

“Quartz is a product that has the best of all the countertop worlds and is my favorite stone to work with,” says Bernard. “It’s durable like a granite, beautiful like a marble, and consistent in color like a solid surface. This engineered stone is non-porous,

low maintenance, and has great design possibilities.”

As a designer, Bernard gets to have fun with all of these materials. She recently designed a waterfall countertop island — where the solid stone surface extends down the side of the island — using a bold, contrasting, monochrome stone. The island created a focal point to the home while expanding the kitchen’s prep area as well as its seating.

At Entablature, Chris Kornman also loves a waterfall design. One of his favorite applications for a waterfall countertop is the bathroom vanity.

“With a waterfall, we can make the vanity look like a piece of furniture — rather than going wall to wall, it’s a standalone piece with a beautiful look,” he says.

While stone has long surpassed tile as the go-to hard surface for a countertop, tile is still very much a part of the con-

versation when it comes to floor and wall surfaces. Kornman notes that large-format tiles are still trending upward, including larger format subway tile.

At Floor & Decor, chief executive merchant Lindsay Swenson loves the rising creative and bold use of tile on walls.

“We’re seeing stone and tile installed where wallpaper once was used,” says Swenson. “Creating architectural focal walls out of stone and tile is everywhere.”

To avoid buyer’s remorse with tile, Swenson recommends a three-pronged approach. First, buy what you love, not your second choice. Second, unless you’re prepared to change your tile over the years, go with a timeless approach rather than a trend that runs the risk of being dated. Third, when installing stone tile, always ask your installer to use a premium sealer.

When in doubt, she says, buy it yourself. - By Kelcy Wilburn

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SPONSORED

ad ver tising direc tor y

Abode 2114 Veterans Blvd., Metairie 504/266-2135 contact.abode@gmail.com Ashley Hall Interiors 832 Howard Ave, New Orleans 504/524-0196 ashleyhallinteriors.com Bell Architecture 755 Camp St., New Orleans 504/596-2355 Brian Gille Architects 810 Union St Storyville Hall, New Orleans 504/581-2220 gillearchitects.com Campbell Cabinet Co. 220 Hord St., Harahan 504/733-4687 4040 Highway 5, Mandeville 985/892-7713 campbellcabinets.com Classsic Cupboards 5809 River Oaks Road South, Harahan 504/734-9088 classiccupboards.com Colmex Construction 4334 Earhart Blvd, New Orleans 504/383-8092 colmexconstruction.com Cosentino Silestone and Dekton architectural surfaces Cosentino Center New Orleans, 5800 Jefferson Hwy, Elmwood cosentino.com Crescent City Countertops 5960 Mounes St, Harahan 504-520-8888 crescentcitycountertops.com Demoran Custom Homes 504/810-5346 985/788-7857 demorancustomhomes.com DMG 2345 Metairie Rd., Metairie (504/275-6664 DMGnola.com Doorman Designs 504/408-1616 social: @DoormanDesigns DoormanDesigns.com

Donna Bianchini-Tully Exclusive Sales Agent Allstate Insurance Company 504/828-5578 donnatully@allstate.com

Louisiana Custom Closets 13405 Seymour Meyer Blvd. #24, Covington 985/871-0810 louisianacustomclosets.com

Ruffino Custom Closets 110 Campbell Ave., Mandeville 985/809-7623 ruffinocustomclosets.com

Eclectic Home 8211 Oak St., New Orleans 504/866-6654 eclectichome.net

Mattix Cabinet Works 415 N. Solomon St., New Orleans 504/486-7218 mattixcabinet.com

Sanderson Services 504/628-0095 sandersonservicesllc.com

Elan Studio Lighting 3515 Division Street, Metairie 504/446-1135 elanstudiolighting.com Entablature, LLC 8438 Oak St. Suite C, New Orleans 504/322-3822 entablature.com Entablature Realty, LLC 8438 Oak St., Suite C New Orleans 504/327-5868 entablature-realty.com Exterior Designs Beverly Katz, Land. Design New Orleans 504/866-0276 exteriordesignsbev.com Floor & Decor 2801 Magazine St, Ste A, New Orleans 504/891-3005 Flooranddecor.com Home Bank 1600 Veterans Blvd., Metairie 504/834-1190 Imperial Kitchen Ventilation 425 Apollo St., Brea 800/851.4192 imperialhoods.com Lambeth House 150 Broadway, New Orleans 504/865-1960 lambethhouse.com Landscape Images 655 Central Ave., New Orleans 504/734-8380 landscapeimagesltd.com Leonel’s Fine Upholstery 2843 Piedmont St., Kenner 504/469-0889 leonels.com

M L M Incorporated 3500 N. Causeway Blvd. Ste. 160, Metairie 504/322-7050 South Shore 985/231-0233 North Shore mlm-inc.com Modern Market 1200 Annunciation St., New Orleans 504/896-2206 modernmarketlifestyle.com Mullin 10356 River Rd., St. Rose 504/275-6617 mullinlandscape.com Nola Rugs 300 Jefferson Hwy #401, New Orleans 504/891-3304 nolarugs.com Nordic Kitchens & Baths Inc. 1818 Veterans Blvd., Metairie 504/888-2300 nordickitchens.com Pieri Tile & Marble Co. Inc. 3622 Toulouse St., New Orleans 504/488-1509 pieritile.com Poydras Home 5354 Magazine St., New Orleans 504/897-0535 poydrashome.com Reliable Glass & Mirror 504/731-2911 Renaissance Doors 1000 Edwards Ave., Harahan 504/344-6994 renaissancedoors @gmail.com renaissancedoorsllc.com

Shotgun Design Group 4404 St Peter St., New Orleans 504/233-4442 shotgundg.com Sleep Number 4852 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Ste A, Metairie 504/443-4777 stores.sleepnumber.com/la/ metairie/4852-veteransmemorial-blvd.html Sold on St. Bernard 8201 W Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette 504/278-4298 soldonstbernard.com Southern Refinishing 708 Barataria Blvd, Marrero 504/348-1770 southernrefinishing.com Stafford Tile & Stone 5234 Magazine St., New Orleans 504/895-5000 4273 Perkins Rd., Baton Rouge 225/925-1233 staffordtile.com Stone Interiors 504/620-4048 nolastone.com Sunday Shop 2025 Magazine St, New Orleans 504/342-2087 sundayshop.co Sutton House by Kelly Sutton 3937 Magazine St, New Orleans 504/302-2547 kellysuttoninc.com The Historic New Orleans Collection 533 Royal St., New Orleans 504/523-4662 hnoc.org

The Plant Gallery - TPG 9401 Airline Hwy, New Orleans 504/488-8887 theplantgallery.com Tuscan Stone Imports 720 S. Galvez St., New Orleans 504/837-1511 7150 Pecue Lane, Baton Rouge 225/753-5870 tuscanstoneimports.com Tyson Construction New Orleans 504/905-1042 Zach@Tyson-Construction. com Valerie Legras Atelier 4236 Canal St, New Orleans 504/265-8475 valerielegras.com Vision Wood 504/265-8983 6010 Magazine St., New Orleans visionwood.com Wilkerson Row 3023 Chartres St, New Orleans 504/899-3311 shaunwilkerson.com Wren’s Tontine Shade & Design 1533 Prytania St., New Orleans 504/525-7409 wrenstontine.com •

last indulgence

Gentle cycles Luxurious fabric care for even the most delicate items in your linen closet or wardrobe

There are certain household and clothing items that

require a little extra TLC. Vintage linens and delicate silk camisoles come to mind. For handwashing enthusiasts and those who are loathe to cart “dry clean only” items to the cleaners, The Laundress products are a revolution. Developed by Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Boyd, luxury-brand product development and retail management specialists who met at Cornell University’s Fiber Science, Textile and Apparel Management and Design program, the eco-conscious fabric care line is designed to be easy-to-use and gentle on even your most fragile textiles.

The original lineup of products, which hit the market in 2004, was limited to a well-curated selection including detergent, deli-

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cate wash, all-purpose bleach and wool and cashmere shampoo, has grown into a full collection of home care products, such as dish soap, glass cleaner and surface cleaners. Simple packaging and gentle- tono fragrance appeal to minimalists and those with sensitive skin.

A small selection of product is available in New Orleans at White’s Mercantile. Find the full line at thelaundress.com. Pro-tip: The website offers a comprehensive how-to section for instructions on everything from oven cleaning to cashmere care.

Come January, when you stock up on linens during the white sales and cash in those holiday gift cards, there’s no reason not to spring for the good stuff — no dry cleaning required.

— By Melanie Warner Spencer