New Orleans Homes Winter 2022

Photograph by Sara Essex Bradley

EDITORIAL

Editor Melanie Warner Spencer

Creative Director Tiffani Reding Amedeo

Associate Editor Ashley McLellan

Style Editor Andy Myer

Web Editor Kelly Massicot

Contributing Writers Mirella Cameran, Lee Cutrone, Fritz Esker, Eva Fedderly, Rebecca Friedman, Misty Milioto, Margaret Zainey Roux

Copy Editor Liz Clearman

ADVERTISING

Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Kate Henry, Kate@MyNewOrleans.com

Account Director Meggie Schmidt

Senior Account Executives Erin Chiartano, Brooke Genusa, Rachel Webber

Ste. 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380

Glad Tidings

The holiday season is in full swing and for the first time in nearly a decade, my hus band and I won’t be in New Orleans for Christmas. This year, we are spending the holidays with family in Kentucky. On the one hand, I’ll miss the traditions we’ve cultivated on our own, but on the other, I’m looking forward to meals and celebrations with family and extended family. The pandemic has taught us many things, but especially to visit loved ones as often possible and to cherish time spent in their company. We plan to do that, and to relish revisiting the traditions we grew up with as well as, perhaps, make new ones.

For anyone staying in town, there is of course so much to do, it’s challenging to jam it all into the allotted time frame. Saying no becomes the survival skill we all need — until fear of missing out takes hold. Thankfully, in those rare moments when we’ve managed to either do everything we wanted to do that day (or say no when we needed to say it), we can cozy up on the sofa or in our favorite chair with a soft, fuzzy blanket and a warm beverage and just enjoy a quiet moment in our sanctuary. If your sanctuary could use more cozy-ing, as always, we have you covered with home items that will make you want to stay put in this issue’s “Trendwatch” spread. Meanwhile the inspiration you’ll find in our home tours this issue is incomparable with gorgeous abodes in the Garden District and Uptown, as well as our annual bathroom feature and — if that’s not enough — a primer on working with contractors (in case your place needs a little more TLC or you need an altogether new place).

Gardeners won’t want to miss the pro-tips on winter gardening we have for you in “For the Garden.” Speaking of gardens, The Soup Garden — a seasonal pop-up on Magazine Street — shared one of its recipes with us in “Gatherings.” I can’t wait to whip up a batch. If that’s not your thing however, you can let them make it for you and grab a few servings to take home. (Tip: Purchase a couple containers to hand off to your unhoused neighbors to supplement your annual giving.)

Wherever you find yourself this season, I hope you have a nourishing meal and that you are warm. We can always count on locations and traditions changing, but as long as we have food and shelter, everything else is simply lagniappe. Cheers!

French Surrealism

The Frenchmen Hotel, which was originally built in 1860, has been reimagined and redesigned by Denver-based FAM Design and hospitality entrepreneur Robert Thompson (who purchased the hotel in 2021). The hotel features 23 guest rooms, two loft suites and two, two-bedroom suites; a patio area with outdoor pool and hot tub; a lobby lounge with a curated retail area; a mezzanine bar with views of Frenchmen Street; and Midnight Revival, the first-floor cocktail bar specializing in tropical-inspired drinks. The design is inspired by Leonor Fini (a major figure in the French surrealist movement) known for her independence and eccentric, flamboyant style. Fini’s artwork depicts independent women often posing with cats or metamorphosing into them. The Frenchmen Hotel now features three of Fini’s artworks in the hotel lobby, plus a mural by local artist Rachel Loyacono depicting plants and flowers native to New Orleans (plus a few poisonous varieties as a nod to Fini’s rebellious ways). Guest rooms feature artistic touches like handcrafted, paper-clay pendant lights by ceramist Paola Paronetto and prints by artist Strange Dirt (Marsha Robinson), who takes inspiration from Parisian Art Nouveau style. Meanwhile, the upper corridor features large-scale works by Sofia Bonati, an Argentinian artist, who creates whimsical and melancholic female portraits. Another surprising touch is the lobby stair and corridor wall covering of interconnected female forms by artist Laura Berger. thefrenchmenhotel.com

— COMPILED BY MISTY MILIOTO

Art as Design

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities recently opened The Helis Foundation John Scott Center, led by Center Director Asante Salaam. With 51 works on view by New Orleans artist, educator and humanist John T. Scott, the 6,000-square-foot center presents expansive representations of heritage and symbolism interpreted through the lens of Scott’s life, art and legacy. The artfully designed space also acts as a community hub of interactive exhibitions, programs and experiences fashioned to nurture connections, enhance human potential and drive social change. leh.org

Master the Art of Furniture Painting

Oxford, England-based paint and color expert, and creator of Chalk Paint, Annie Sloan, recently visited New Orleans for The Big Paint Weekend.

During the two-day event, Sloan hosted paint demos with some of the biggest names in the furniture painting world, including Kaćha Furniture, Brushed By Brandy, Jonathon Marc Mendes and All Shabbed Out at the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute. The workshops were designed to teach popular decorative painting techniques such as marbling, ombre and traditional distressing. For those who couldn’t make it to the event, Sloan shares these top furniture painting tips: Instead of buying new, paint an existing bookcase, lamp base or photo frames to bring them back to life; paint the inside of drawers, cupboards and door edges for a quick pop of color; and pick a hue that sparks joy for you, and then go for it. Also be sure to check out Sloan’s new line of products, which includes the long-awaited wall paint collection of 17 new colors, and satin paint in 14 colors for interior woodwork and metal. Available at Bella Gifts to Geaux, bellagiftstogeaux.com

Children’s Cottage

Hales Cottage, Uptown’s oldest existing residential building, recently underwent a historic renovation and was dedicated in honor of Children’s Hospital New Orleans’ longstanding board member Dr. Stephen Hales, and his wife, Nancy. The cottage now serves as a coffee shop and place of rest for Children’s Hospital patients, families, staff and the community at large. Additionally, the Preservation Resource Center partnered with Children’s Hospital to produce a new book penned by renowned Tulane University geographer Richard Campanella, entitled “The Cottage on Tchoupitoulas: A Historical Geography of Uptown New Orleans.” Available at Octavia Books, octaviabooks.com

No-Limits Design

Founded by artist and musician Carly Sioux, NO ERA is a New Orleans-based art and design house specializing in vintage interiors. Sioux therefore focuses on sustainability by sourcing vintage and antique furnishings — all while transcending stylistic periods. Her background in the arts influences Sioux’s creative style at her studio. At NO ERA, you’ll find photographs of Sioux’s art and design work alongside the works of cultural icons such as Maria Callas, Balenciaga, Iggy Pop, Salvador Dalí, Carlo Scarpa, Antoni Gaudí, Mario Bellini and Schiaparelli. Sioux is now expanding her design services by developing relationships with even more retailers, collectors, dealers, clients and vintage enthusiasts. noera. design

Cozy Comforts

We Might be on Fire, a New Orleans company founded by Shaun Watson in 2019, offers high-end, artful rugs designed to evoke the beauty of the region’s surroundings. Each rug is designed in New Orleans and handmade in India. In September, We Might be on Fire released a new collection of rugs (five that are handtufted designs and one that is a flat-woven design), made from 100 percent hand-dyed wool in a variety of sizes. The new collection also features a selection of five blankets, made from 100 percent cotton in the United States. A portion of proceeds benefits Gulf Coast restoration efforts. wemightbeonfire. net

PHOTO BY NO ERA DESIGN, LLC

PHOTO BY LAURA STEFFAN

Pattern Player

Fashion and textile designer Sue Sartor takes cues from her iconic hand-printed kaftans to dress rooms in color, comfort and soul.

PRODUCED BY MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX

1

How’s it Hangin’

Art elevates a room and expresses its own unique identity. I love the look of an oversized abstract painting surrounded by an eclectic mix of smalls including old landscapes, charcoal nudes, and black and white photography. alexiswalter.com

2

Four on the Floor

My grandfather was a wool merchant, so heirloom rugs were mainstays in my childhood home. Today, in my own home, I like to layer vintage and antique rugs in different sizes and palettes to create a collage of color and texture. nolarugs. com

3

Bright Idea

Highlight a room with a statement-making lamp. Whether it’s vintage or contemporary, an overarching eyeball lamp is a real ‘looker’ that brings an element of the unexpected into a more traditional room. westelm.com

4

Antique Alchemy

A marble-top console makes a cool alternative to a bar cart, particularly one with a drawer or two for storing cocktail napkins, bar tools and assorted accoutrements. Top it with a large tray to corral silver, crystal and Bakelite barware for order and cohesion. chairish.com

Art of the cart

If you don’t have a wet bar or large beverage service space, or you need a satellite drink station for a gathering, the bar cart is ideal. Models come in every style and size, for indoor and outdoor use, so you can have cocktails at your fingertips anywhere. Carts can also provide handy stations for serving a signature drink or themed cocktail. Pull it all together with a floral or botanical accent.

Nice ice

A handsome ice bucket and serving tongs are a must for any bar setup, and there are many options for getting fancy with ice shapes (like large spheres or cubes for serving with spirits in a lowball glass).

Bar Belle

Winter brings (we hope) many opportunities for hosting and toasting. Between the glassware (cider mugs, champagne flutes, the punchbowl unearthed once a year) and spirits to fill it, the bar can get busy. Tom Cianfichi, co-owner of Hazelnut on Magazine Street, is a fan of sleek bar setups. “I love a bar that is as good looking as it is functional,” he says. Here are his tips, and a few of ours, for ensuring your beverage area has everything you need for entertaining beautifully this winter — and nothing you don’t.

— BY REBECCA FRIEDMAN

Less is more “It’s best to keep the look uncluttered,” says Cianfichi, though he makes exceptions for “useful extras that also express personality and style” like monogrammed cocktail napkins, glass stirrers and a bowl for nuts or garnishes. To keep things streamlined, limit the bar display to components you’re serving on a given occasion.

Try a tray

By the batch

If you don’t want to mix drinks during the party or have guests make their own, preparing a pitcher of your favorite cocktail can simplify the serving and keep the bar free of shakers, strainers and jiggers. Just set out the appropriate serving glasses and garnishes, and your work is done.

“A lacquered bar tray is a perfect way to corral your favorite cocktail glasses and the tools you routinely use to make your signature drinks,” says Cianfichi. Use a tray to group related items, like the glassware and fixings for a particular cocktail, or to wrangle small elements like bitters, bowls of cut fruit, napkins, and stirrers. The right tray can also highlight the beauty of eye-catching glassware or spirit bottles.

Beatriz “Soco” Ocampo

AT FIRST GLANCE, BEATRIZ “SOCO” OCA MPO’S “narrative collages” look like colorful abstract paintings. But upon closer inspection, they combine fig ural representations, paper, photographs, painted imag ery, archaeological finds, cultural references and symbolism.

“My work deals with a lot of native things,” says Ocampo, whose says her own Colombian ancestry includes Native American blood lines, and who alternately describes her soulful work as prayers and stories of her life.

Ocampo’s earliest memory of expressing herself through art was making Christmas cards as a child. In the late 1960s, her family moved from South America to the United States for her father to get his doc torate at Columbia University. Ocampo found artistic inspiration in museums and began her own artistic journey. She has studied with other artists but considers herself mostly self-taught. She also found life-changing empowerment in the messages of activists such as Martin Luther King Jr., and Angela Davis.

After moving to New Orleans as a widow and mother at 40, and lat er marrying native New Orleanian Raul Esquivel, she found that sever al other things had a profound influence on her work as well. Jungian philosophy opened her mind to the healing power of creativity. And

studying with artist John Scott, who taught at Xavier University for 40 years, gave her a love of printmaking that she continues to explore. She regularly incorporates prints into her collage work — the latter being a fitting medium for an artist who is examining many things at once: her Colombian heritage, her Catholic faith, her roles as woman, wife, moth er and grandmother, feminist and humanist causes, her fascination with other cultures and her belief that we are more alike in our humanness than we are different.

The mountains of Colombia, the bridges of New Orleans (whose peaks remind her of the Andes), religious iconography, women, moth ers and their children, Mardi Gras Indians and pre-Colombian motifs are part of the vernacular she weaves into her collages, pastels and quilts. They are also part of the 3-D tableaux she creates inside trian gular flag boxes.

“My voice wasn’t heard when I was young,” says Ocampo. “Art helps advance causes such as feminism. And it shows children, they can do this too.”

Several quiet acrylics of Venice scenes and a vibrant Matisse-inspired collage depicting Matisse’s red atelier are currently available at Meet Me in Venice, a collection of Venetian textiles and other arts on Magazine Street. LEE CUTRONE

Seasonal Sipping

Mulled wine is a delicious way to cultivate festive vibes

Mulled beverage season is upon us. Whether bellying up to the bonfire, perching on the porch or settling in to sip on the sofa, mulled wine is a lovely way to get into the holiday spirit.

This recipe can be made with zero or full proof wine, as well as white or red. I like to make a batch to sip during our annual Christmas tree decorating activ ities. It pairs perfectly with the Squirrel Nut Zippers “Christmas Caravan” album we listen to while trimming and the fra grance of the spices, plus its major flavor factor, helps send the cozy vibes up from zero to 100 in seconds.

— MELANIE WARNER SPENCER

Mulled Wine

1 bottle inexpensive alcohol free or full proof red or white wine

5 cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon cloves

1 apple, sliced whole (remove seeds after slicing) or orange Honey to taste if it’s not already to your preferred sweetness

In a stockpot or large saucepan, combine ingredients. *Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes (or up to three hours). Strain into a mug. Cue up holiday music and enjoy. Cheers!

*Note: You could place cinnamon sticks, cloves and apple slices or orange in a cheesecloth and simply remove it before pouring.

EUGENIA UHL PHOTO

Tickled for Pickles

Tangy, creamy and surprisingly delicious, pickle soup is this winter’s hottest recipe

PRODUCED BY MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX

Pickle Soup

Yields: 1 gallon

10 cups chicken broth

3 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes cut in ¼-inch slices

4 cups diced carrots  2 cups chopped pickles*

1 cup salted butter  2 cups sour cream  1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup water

4 cups pickle juice

1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper

*We recommend using Ponchatoulagrown pickles from “The Pickle Kid” sold year-round at select local art and farmers’ markets.

1. Mix flour, sour cream and water until smooth. Set aside.

2. In a large pot, add chicken broth, sliced potatoes, diced carrots, spices, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cook for 10-15 minutes until vegetables are slightly soft.

3. Add pickle juice and butter to the pot. Slowly add sour cream mixture and whisk until smooth. Note: Allow potatoes to break while whisking to thicken the soup.

4. Add chopped pickles. Serve a with a pickle spear for garnish.

Gorlin and Wallace have been fixtures on the local restaurant scene for the past 30 years. In 2019, the pair opened The Soup Garden, a seasonal pop-up offering specialty soups, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, and massive “cookie monsters” for takeout. Located at 3511 Magazine St., The Soup Garden is open daily from November through February.

Recipe by Allison Gorlin and Tiffiny Wallace

Mustard Greens

Fast-growing mustard greens are a hearty choice for winter vegetable gardens

BY MISTY MILIOTO

1 Appearance

Growing greens is a great way to keep vegetable gardens productive throughout the winter because they tolerate cooler weather and are easy to grow. Mustard greens have broad, wavy leaves with a dark green (or purple) color. They grow upright, supported by coarse longitudinal veins. The Florida Broadleaf variety has large leaves with a sawtooth edge; the Green Wave features bright lime green, ruffled leaves; the Southern Giant Curled features oval, bright green leaves with a fringed edge; the Tendergreen (mustard spinach) features dark green, glossy leaves with lightgreen midribs; and the Garnet Giant has broad purple leaves with slightly serrated edges.

2

Use

According to the LSU AgCenter, greens can be planted from mid-July through early November, and again from late January through early May. Plant greens in an area of the garden where you previously had plants in the nightshade, legume or cucurbita families for disease management purposes. Harvesting can begin five or six weeks after planting.

3 Grow

Space mustard seeds about three inches apart, and plant four to six weeks before the last frost in spring and the first frost in fall. Even better, do several plantings a couple of weeks apart to ensure a continuous supply of these leafy greens. The soil should be between pH 6 and 7; side dress the plants with fertilizer three to four weeks after planting. Harvest by collecting only the large leaves or by cutting the plants to within an inch of the crown to allow for regrowth.

4 Learn

Mustard greens do not tolerate heat well and will therefore bolt (mature and produce a flower stalk) in the spring. Cool weather, adequate water and regular fertilization with nitrogen will allow your mustard greens to produce more leaves instead of flowers.

5

Lagniappe

Other vegetables to plant alongside your mustard greens include rutabagas, radishes, carrots, beets, shallots, onions and garlic, plus herbs like parsley, dill, celery, cilantro, fennel, oregano, thyme, sage, chives, mint and rosemary.

Garden Greens

Follow these professional tips to care for your winter vegetable garden

According to Joe W. Willis, AgCenter horticulture agent in Orleans Parish for the LSU AgCenter, there are certain vegetables that grow better than others during the winter in New Orleans. “They like cool or cold nights and sunny, warm days — nothing hot,” he says. “Vegetables that fit this category are carrots, turnips, rutabagas, kohlrabi, beets, radishes, mustard greens, tur nip greens, collard greens, spinach, lettuce, chard, kale, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, garlic, onion and sugar peas. Also, many of the perennial herbs continue to grow and produce fresh kitchen herbs all winter. Cilantro and parsley are cool-weather-loving herbs that are annuals or biennials. They do great during our cool season.”

All of these vegetables like a lot of light, so they should be planted in an area that receives at least eight hours of sunlight per day. Additionally, all vegetables need supplemental nutrients added to the soil. “Any well-bal anced fertilizer works well for our vegetable gardens,” Willis says. “A soil test will tell you what your soil already contains and will give recommen dations on what you need to add. An example of a well-balanced fertilizer would be one with a label analysis of 8-8-8 or 13-13-13. Do supplemental fer tilization for the vegetables following timing as outlined in the Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide, available from the LSU AgCenter (lsuagcenter. com). You don’t need specialty vegetable fertilizers. They are usually more expensive and don’t really give your plants an added advantage.”

Willis also says that winter vegetables need regular irrigation, especially in cooler weather if there are periods of little rain. However, be sure to plant your garden in an area that has good drainage. “Vegetables hate wet feet,” Willis says. “It’s also a good idea to plant short-cycle crops (such as lettuce, radishes and spinach) together. That way, you can harvest the whole area at once and then come back in with a second crop.”

Meanwhile, the best way to avoid pests is to keep your plants healthy.

“Healthy plants have their own defense systems that work pretty well,” Willis says. “Providing them with the ideal growing conditions (soil, water, nutrients, sunlight) is the best way to keep them healthy. You should also check your garden daily whether you are harvesting or working in it or not. That way, you can see early on if there are insects or diseases showing up. You can then remove diseased plants to stop the spread or handpick pesky insects to slow down their infestation. Also, remove plant debris that falls to the ground, and old leaves as they yellow and die. This plant debris can be a source of disease. Removing it is good hygiene.”

Of course, weeds also need to be removed. Not only are they unsightly, but they compete with vegetables for nutrients and water, and they can often harbor pests and diseases. “Keeping your garden weed-free helps the vege tables you are currently growing do better and keeps down the production of weed seeds that will be a problem in the next growing cycle,” Willis says. Anyone interested in growing new varieties of vegetables should try hy brid varieties offered through seed companies. “Hybrids usually have bet ter production, more disease resistance, and more heat or cold tolerance,” Willis says. “Planting some new varieties along with tried-and-true variet ies is a good way to see if you want to plant the new varieties every year, while making sure you get to harvest something by also including varieties that always perform well for you.”

For those who may not have space to plant a full garden, Willis suggests planting in containers. “Most all of our winter vegetables grow well in con tainers if it is large enough to accommodate a healthy root system, has excellent drainage, gets regular watering, periodic fertilization and eight hours (or more) of sunlight per day,” he says. “Vegetables that offer con tinuous harvest instead of one-time harvesting are great if you can only grow a few containers. Examples include lettuce, kale, mustard and collard greens, Brussels sprouts, spinach and sugar peas.”

— MISTY MILIOTO

JEFFERY JOHNSTON PHOTO

Inexpensive works of art make great gifts

It’s exciting to support an emerg ing artist when buying gifts for people. An artwork is something so special that the receiver can keep forever. Some artists sell edi tioned works or ephemera through their websites. Jane Tardo, a New Orleans textile artist, sells special edition iron-on patches. Kjelshus Collins, a local ceramicist and printmaker, sold one-of-a-kind Gumby figurines for $20 each at his thesis exhibition. I bought so many as they make amazing gifts.

Local artist collectives often put on amazing exhibitions

ART OF COLLECTING

Native New Orleani an Katherine Ainsley recently returned to her hometown after dedicating a decade-long stint to the Art World in New York City. After climbing the ranks at Venus Over Manhattan and Tina Kim Gallery, Ainsley ventured out on her own. Last fall, Ainsley opened her new contemporary gallery, Sibyl, in New Orleans’ Carrollton neighborhood. Resting inside a former carpentry studio at 8630 Zimple St., Sibyl shows contemporary art hand-se lected by Ainsley. “I have immense respect for the enormous machine that is the New York commercial art sphere, but I am excited for the types of deep thoughtful connec tions that a slower pace can bring,” the gallerist said. “New Orleans is the perfect place to sustain a new model of art gallery. It’s so beautiful and spooky. It already has a cultural infrastructure, and a reputation for being charmingly un-snobby.” Here,

Ainsley shares her insider tips for starting an art collection.

Reach out to artists directly to ask for a studio visit

Artists exist everywhere. New Or leans might even have more artists than most places. When I come across a local emerging artist I like, I reach out to them and ask to visit their studio. It’s a great way to learn more about an artist’s practice, and I think they’re excited to have someone looking at their work and asking questions.

Keep tabs on local auction houses

New Orleans Auction Galleries and Neal Auction Company have amaz ing art and design sales. Obviously a lot of these pieces sell for astronom ical prices, but sometimes you can get a deal. They do multiple sales a year and it’s fun to keep tabs. Last Christmas, my partner got me a set of Andrew LaMar Hopkins minia tures for a song. There are also lots

of small auction houses around the country. The LiveAuctioneers app is a slippery slope.

Art doesn’t need to be expensive Art is a very broad category. I have a massive collection of free posters from galleries that I’ve collected over the years. I hoard them. In col lege I decorated my dorm in gallery postcards. A step above that, a lim ited edition print by an established artist or an amazing one-of-a-kind work by an emerging artist can of ten be very reasonably priced. Lots of artists sell their works via social media, or have studio sales where they sell works at a reduced price to make space in their studios. Geor gia-based painter Shelby Little sells amazing miniature custom-framed paintings for around $100. I spend a lot of time scouring Instagram for new artists to follow. It might have fallen out of fashion with TikTok but I think it’s still a great tool for seeing art.

New Orleans has a really exciting arts community in the St. Claude neighborhood that I worry a lot of people overlook. These spac es — Antenna Works, The Front, the Shed, for example — put on thoughtful shows by emerging artists every second Saturday. I’ve been consistently so impressed by the quality of the exhibitions and it’s a wonderful network for meeting new artists. Artists are al ways looking at each other’s work, and behind every artist you like there’s a whole network of other artists that they’re getting their MFA with, or feeling inspired by, or showing alongside in another great small gallery in another city.

Don’t treat buying art like playing the stock market

When people spend money on art they often want reassurance that the work will increase in value so they can eventually resell it. Art is not a typical investment, and it’s statistically unlikely that any artist will blow up to that level. Predict ing such a phenomenon is practi cally impossible, even for someone in the throes of the art world. It’s a very volatile value system. A good rule of thumb is to only collect something you’re happy to live with forever.

Katherine Ainsley, owner of the new contemporary art gallery Sibyl in the Carrollton neighborhood, offers six tips for beginning an art collection

Welcome to the Jungle

Tropical

accessories work year-round to add warmth and depth, particularly during winter’s chilliest months

BY ANDY MYER PHOTOGRAPHY BY EUGENIA UHL

Velvet Sadie Forest Pillow in Moonlight with down insert, bi-level bamboo cocktail table, Mango and Bone Box Set (set of two) inspired by artisans in Syria and Persia, handwoven sisal Swazi basket, zebra pillow with down insert, available at Eclectic Home, eclectichome.net. Llama Black Pillow with feather/down insert, Boheme Pillow with arrow print in flax with down insert, Dream Box by Paul Gruer, avail able at Villa Vici, villavici.com.

100% cotton Fern Blanket, available through We Might Be On Fire, wemight beonfire.net. Bird bust, pillow, alligator, faux plant: Paper Mache Hoopoe Wall Mount in Blue, vibrant dragon pillow in linen, pewter alligator knife rest, faux foliage, available at Perch, perch-home. com. Snake vase: ceramic winding ser pent vase, available at Eclectic Home, eclectichome.net.

New Orleans-inspired, hand tufted, 100% wool Peony and Banana rugs, by We Might Be On Fire, wemightbeonfire.net.

Safari hat, woven straw palm leaf: handwoven hat from Ghana, Kejur Leaf, available at Perch, perch-home.com.

Lidded basket: Ilala Round Tiny Basket hand-stitched in Africa, available at Eclectic Home, eclectichome.net.

The living room features furnishings and white linen drapes from Restoration Hardware, a chandelier by Julie Neill and a painting of Frida Kahlo by Ashley Longshore.

CONTEMPORARY COMFORT

A LOCAL HOMEOWNER DESIGN

BY MISTY MILIOTO PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA ESSEX BRADLEY

Whenhusband and wife Jonathan and Marylyn Rigby purchased their 3,550-square-foot home in 2017, it was because they loved the spacious home’s location in Uptown. The couple, who met in 2010 at an industry conference, love to entertain with friends and family. This five-bedroom, four-bathroom home—complete with an office, art room and playroom for their two kids (Rex, 9, and Juliette, 7)—perfectly fit the family’s needs. “We love the proximity to ev erything, and, more than anything, we have fantastic neighbors down the entire street,” Marylyn says. “They really are like a second family.”

Today, she and Jonathan love to travel, and they spend a lot of time taking their kids to extra-curricular activities. They also enjoy spending time with friends and family, hitting up all the newest restaurants in town.

“We have an open-door policy for our friends and family, so someone is always popping in,” Marylyn says. “That was exactly my intention when we purchased the home, and it makes me happy to know that others truly feel at home here. All the design elements were selected with that goal in mind, so I would definitely say that it was a success.”

Marylyn, the marketing director of the biotech company Revolo, where her husband is CEO, admits she does not have a background in interior design. Nor did she use an interior designer. “I just did what felt right,” she says.

She describes her home’s design as “contemporary comfort,” as expressed through lush fabrics, clean lines and colorful artwork. A neutral color palette support the colors and textures in the family’s furniture and art collection.

“We really wanted to create a home that was artistic, family friendly and easy to entertain in,” Marylyn says. “I live for art. It is an expression of who a person is, much like the design of their home. We have several local artists, such as Ashley Longshore, George Dureau, Emery Clark, Ida Kohlmeyer, Becky Fos and Alex Beard. I am hoping to add a Demond Matsuo piece in the coming months.”

Marylyn also especially loves the kitchen, which features slate flooring, Cristallo quartzite countertops, Viking appliances, an antique architect’s drawing table converted to an island, high ceilings, lots of moulding and a wall of windows. “The kitchen makes entertaining a dream,” she says. “With all the natural light pouring in, and the openness to both the fam ily room and dining room, it’s both accessible but beautiful enough in its own right to be the center of entertaining.”

Overall, Marylyn wanted to design a home that honors the architec ture of the space while also meeting the needs of her family. “We very much wanted a home that was family friendly, but, at the same time, wasn’t overrun by kid things,” she says. “Creating a separate play space for our children, while keeping the overall aesthetic of our home in mind, was actually easier than I thought it was going to be. My kids are very artistic, so they were extremely open to things like the stork wallpaper in their art room.”

She advises others who are thinking about designing their own spaces to take their time. “If you do a house all at once, it looks like you did it all at once,” she says. “Allow your style to evolve as you live in your space. Anchor each room with a timeless piece you’ll own forever. I feel like you can embrace a home design trend as long as it aligns with your personal style. It’s when it doesn’t that it looks out of place.”

Facing page: Top, left: Another striking piece of art in the family den is this painting of Abraham Lincoln by Marylyn Rigby. Top, right: Another view of the living room shows crest artwork by Joel Dyer, an RBG painting by homeowner Marylyn Rigby and a mirror from an antique store on Royal Street that shows a reflection of a zebra painting by Becky Fos. Bottom, left: Walter Anderson alphabet artwork lends a sense of whimsy to the children’s playroom.Bottom, right: Several pieces of art adorn the family den, including this painting of Queen Elizabeth by Becky Fos. This page: The family den features a sofa and coffee table from Restoration Hardware, throw pillows from Fairfax Fabric, white silk curtains, chairs from All Modern, a chandelier from Circle Lighting and an antique French commode with marble top.

Facing page: Top, left: Marylyn and her husband, Jonathan, with their dog, Churchill. Top, right: Julie Neill sconces, and Schumaker white alligator and embossed wallpaper, lend a subtle calm to the master bathroom. Bottom, right: The cozy master bedroom features a bed from Restoration Hardware, linens from Leontine Linens, artwork by Emory Clark and throw pillows from Fairfax Fabric. This page: Top, left: Marylyn and Jonathan’s son’s bedroom includes furnishings from Restoration Hardware. Top, right: Marylyn and Jonathan’s daughter’s bedroom features an armoire from Restoration Hardware and a mural by Rebecca Rebouche. Bottom, left: The drapes and bedding in the RIgby’s son’s room are from Leontine Linens.Bottom, right: The children’s art room comes to life with wallpaper by Gucci.

Stately Design

BY MISTY MILIOTO PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA ESSEX BRADLEY

When local homeowners purchased a vacant lot in the Gar den District, they were excited to build a new home that would fit their family’s needs, while also blending seam lessly with the historic neighborhood. “We like to enter tain friends and larger groups, and we do a fair amount of charitable work,” the homeowner says. “We also have a son still at home, so the home needed to fit all of these needs. And, we asked for the home to fit into the neighborhood without being contrived. We think this was well achieved by the team.”

The team, which consisted of Trapolin-Peer Architects; interior design by Chres tia, Staub + Board; and landscape design by Fransen Mills, first came about when the homeowner chose the interior design firm. “I’ve been a fan of Chrestia, Staub + Board’s designs for many years, long before even considering moving to New Orle ans, so that was the easiest decision of all the ones I had to make for this project,” the homeowner says.

Facing page: Interior design and architectural firm Chrestia, Staub + Board sourced a pair of custom-made Murano glass chandeliers (made in and shipped from Italy) from Valobra Jew elry and Antiques for the dining room. Mean while, local artist Ann Marie Auricchio painted the mural on silk wall covering.

Trapolin-Peer Architects then became involved when John Chrestia asked the firm to help design the house. Finally, Fransen Mills came on board to ensure that the home and gardens blended seam lessly and complemented each other.

In order to achieve the homeowners’ goals, Trapolin-Peer Architects designed the exterior of the house, plus the garage and cabana buildings. “It’s rare to be able to build new in the Garden District, but the house that had formerly occupied this site had burned down several years before our client acquired the property,” says Peter M. Trapolin, president of Trapolin-Peer Architects. “The owners wanted a house that looked historic and felt as if it had been built years ago as part of the Garden Dis trict. I believe we accomplished those goals.”

A new home in the Garden District transitions from a traditional exterior to a casually elegant interior

The collaboration between Trapolin-Peer Architects and Chrestia, Staub + Board included the development of two schemes for the floor plan and exterior concepts. The owner chose the floor plan concept by Chrestia, Staub + Board and exterior concept by Trapolin-Peer Architects. The home features two axis hallways that cross the house, and the exterior features covered porches, columns, dormers, and custom-milled windows and doors.

Exterior materials include Hardie Artisan lap siding, a slate roof, and flagstone and marble. “The design is mindful of the surrounding architectural language, and, like many of its his toric neighbors, its design draws upon classical principles and details that elicit an aesthetic of stately tradition,” Trapolin says.

Top, left: The master bedroom features custom silk draperies fabricated by Katie Koch of Katie Koch Home, a transitional crystal chandelier by Vaughn Lighting and the homeowners’ own furnish ings. Top, right: The view from the foyer to the living room show cases the homeowners’ own furnishings and art. Bottom: Stafford Tile supplied the stone for a custom floor pattern in the center hall. Chrestia, Staub + Board sourced the antique Italian sconces from a local antique store, and local artist Madilynn Neil-Nelson created the Venetian plaster walls. Facing page: The structural kitchen features a custom pattern of stone and wood flooring, cabinets by Nordic Kitchen, a custom hood with copper accents and a chande lier over the island that Chrestia, Staub + Board sourced in Dallas.

The first floor of the nearly 11,000-square-foot home consists of a gener ously sized living and dining room, a primary kitchen and separate cater ing kitchen, a library and a wine cellar that holds 2,000 bottles. It opens to the exterior gardens in several places, allowing easy flow for entertaining. Meanwhile, the second floor consists of four bedrooms, five and one-half bathrooms and a media room. The third floor features a bonus room with a craft area and model train. The home also features a fitness room and a climate-controlled outdoor kitchen and living cabana. There also is ample garden and lawn space, plus a pool and a basketball court.

The homeowners, who moved from Houston, already had existing furniture and art that worked well in the home. Chrestia, Staub + Board selected new furnishings and art to complement the existing pieces, plus interior finishes such as wood floors, marble and tile, wall coverings and cabinetry. The interior design firm also customized several elements throughout the home, including millwork in the library and media room, draperies, marble patterns for the north/south axis hallway and bathrooms, a groin vault ceiling at the intersection of the north/south and east/west axis hallways and a coffered ceiling in the family room. The home also features five fireplaces with cast stone and/or custom wood mantles.

Meanwhile, local artist Ann Marie Auricchio painted a custom mu ral on silk wallpaper in the dining room. It features trees in silhouette in shades of muted blue and gray to complement a piece of contempo rary art. Other custom touches include two contemporary Murano glass chandeliers from Italy that hang over the dining table, and an insulated steel and glass entry door for the wine room.

The interior reflects the homeowners’ love for color in shades of blue, tan and gold as a backdrop for their existing furnishings and artwork. “I’d say the interior is very transitional,” the homeowner says. “I’m all about subtle color and comfortable fabrics everywhere, including tra ditionally formal rooms. I like to use every room and want a sense of immediate welcome to those who come here. Here, blue takes a primary role with lighter walls and darker floors. It fits easily and works for the dinner-party crowd or the football team.”

A focal point of the home is a grand staircase designed by TrapolinPeer Architects. “The main stair in a residence is usually visually prom inent and an important design feature,” Trapolin says. “This stair is an elegant, curved, free-standing stair off the main entrance hall.”

There is access to the side yard under the stair landing, and a large rectangular bay window floods the stair hall with daylight. “We always wanted a feature staircase,” the homeowner says. “The Historic Dis trict Landmarks Commission had several requirements because it is street-facing. It needed to look like it could have been an entrance to the home, but, for us, it wasn’t. And we wanted lots of windows, especially there looking at the lawn and gardens. Peter brought all of this together with an entire wall of windows, a classic floating staircase that doesn’t interrupt the windows and a porch that terminates into the lawn.”

Overall, the home is well proportioned and detailed. “In this case, the owners wanted a very traditional design that would fit in well with the architecture of the Garden District,” Trapolin says. “I believe it’s very suc cessful in that regard.”

Facing page: The soothing library features custom millwork and draper ies all locally fabricated, plus a new upholstered sofa and club chair that Chrestia, Staub + Board sourced in Dallas. Top: The primary bathroom for the lady of the house features custom Venetian plaster walls by Mad ilynn Neil-Nelson, a dome ceiling with cove lighting, a custom vanity, a freestanding tub below a custom oval window and a relaxed roman shade. Bottom: The living room features silk wall covering, a custom mantle made locally in the Creole style, and the homeowners’ own furnishing and art.

Dream Bathrooms

Contractor: Matthew Kohnke, MNK Design/ Build Designer: Kelly Sutton, Kelly Sutton Design Cabinets: Custom Tile Flooring: Floor & Décor Wainscot: Floor & Décor Tub: Repurposed from another bathroom, original to the home Mirror: Restoration Hardware Lighting: Aidan Gray Chandelier Plumbing: Ferguson New Orleans Furniture: Blue & White Garden Stool – Dop Antiques

LAURA STEFFAN PHOTO

Fixtures: Ferguson

Tile: Palatial Stone & Tile

Walls: Marble slab cladding wall

Flooring: Palatial Stone & Tile

Contractor: Palatial Stone & Tile Designer: Vikki Leftwich of Villa Vici

Cabinets: Nordic Kitchens Backsplash: Palatial Stone & Tile Countertops: Palatial Stone & Tile Lighting: Villa Vici Knobs: Nordic Kitchens Accessories, mirrors, lighting from Villa Vici

Towels: Matouk at Villa Vici

Tub: Ferguson

Flooring: Palatial Stone & Tile

Contractor: JLV Construction, General Contractor Designer: Sam Levin, Designer Architect: Mark Schroeder

Fixtures: Handheld Shower, Shower Knob/Diverter – by Luxart Aerro in matte black Body Sprayers – by Delta in matte black Rain Showerhead – by Danze Drench in matte black Toilet – by Gerber Lemora in white

Lighting: Front-lit Mirror – Vertical LED Bars from Mirrors and Marble

Paint: Wall Paint – Sherwin Williams Ice Cube, Door and Trim Paint – Sherwin Williams Majolica Green Doors: #5259

By Woodgrain Bath Accessories: Duval in matte black by Harney Hardware Door Hardware: Dirk Lever in Rustic Cast Iron by Ageless Iron

Fixtures: Sink faucet – by Luxart Aerro in matte black

Cabinets: 36” white vanity with ceramic top and integrated sink from AllModern

Tile: Kenridge Ribbon Maple in matte porcelain tile from tilebar

Flooring: Bathroom floor – Uptown Antracite porcelain tile from Floor & Décor (15 x 30) Shower floor –Uptown Antracite porcelain tile from Floor & Décor (Hex Mosaic)

JEFFERY JOHNSTON PHOTO

Cabinets: Rosewood Custom Cabinetry Flooring: Porcelain MSI International Eden Statuary 12x24 Niche: Porcelain MSI International Eden Statuary Chevron Countertops: Vicostone Pure White Quartz waterfalled edge, installed by APlus Marble & Granite Designs Knobs: Top Knobs Ellis Collection Honey Bronze Shower glass and custom mirrors: M&M Glass Company Tub: American Standard “Cadet”, Coburns Plumbing fixtures and faucets: Delta “Vero” in Champagne Bronze, Ferguson Sconces & Sink light: “Cinema” by Modern Forms, Armstrong Lighting Chandelier: “Castcata” by Uttermost, Coburns

Designer: Legend Interiors; Kitchen and Bath designer, Nicole Ruppel Jones Contractor: Francioni Builders

JEFFERY JOHNSTON PHOTO

HOME IM PROVE MENT

Helpful

BY MISTY MILIOTO

tips for choosing and working with a contractor

It can be overwhelming when it comes to choosing a general contractor at the outset of a construction project. Not only are large sums of mon ey involved, but also big expectations for the contractor to perform at or above your standards. Here, several local contractors provide tips on how to find someone who is capable, competent, trustworthy and hard-working.

“The best way to find the right contractor for building new or reno vating an existing home, as well as older homes or historical properties, is by word of mouth,” says Beth Delaune, who works in marketing and engagement at JLV Construction. “Good contractors are known in the community, and their reputations often precede them. Additionally, online research will show what their speciality area is and let you know if you’re moving in the right direction. This will also provide reviews with insight into past customers’ experiences. Reviews from indepen dent sources will offer the best insight, and companies can’t remove any that are unfavorable.”

According to Chris Kornman, principal at Entablature Design Build, it is important for the contractor to be licensed, therefore providing home owners with assurances about the ability of the contractor, and, perhaps even more importantly, providing homeowners with protections and safeguards—as well as remedies for dealing with projects that have gone awry.

“Get your information together—like what you need and want, your budget, how the project is being paid for and any examples,” says Reneau Londot of Lon dot Design Build.

“A major tip when finding a contractor is to hire an architect and have plans made,” says Ryan D. Mayer of Mayer Building Company. “This will help you to determine the full scope and allow for competitive bidding. It also instills con fidence in the bidding contractor that the bid process will be fair (by comparing apples to apples).”

Londot also says to make sure you’re looking for the right type of contractor, whether a general contractor, or a contractor for a remodel, a new build or a repair.

“Be sure to interview several contractors and ask for references from cus tomers with projects similar to what you are seeking—new home construction, detailed and custom work, major renovation, addition or historical renovation,” Delaune says. “Your contractor should specialize in the work you are seeking. Ask if there are any current projects taking place that you may visit. Verify li censes and insurance.”

“Stick to the plan,” says Devon Sweeney, president at Sweeney Resto ration. “Limit changes to the plan as much as possible. Changes cause delays and price increases.”

“Screen the contractor not for price but for value,” says Machi Medrzycki, gen eral manager at MLM Construction. “Price is deceiving as it may not represent the service. Add-on value would be project management software, having a project manager assigned to your build, the quality of work, and service and customer support.”

According to Londot, it’s also important to choose a contractor in your area. “Availability and proximity are important to getting the project done in a timely manner,” she says.

“Educate yourself on the costs of labor and materials in your area,” Delaune says. “Know the timeline and if the contractor has the ability to start your project within a reasonable timeframe of your preferred start and finish dates. Allow some flexibility for unforeseen events, such as bad weather.”

“Licensed contractors have to maintain $100,000 in general liability insurance, but the reality is that $100,000 in GL coverage is not enough for most contrac tors,” Kornman says. “Coverage of $500,000 or even $1 million per occurrence offers a homeowner much greater protection. It is perfectly acceptable for a homeowner to request that a contractor provide proof of insurance. A reputable contractor will not be offended by this request and will be happy to comply.”

“Work with someone you can communicate with and understand what your agreement is for the work and how it will work,” Londot says.

According to Sweeney, homeowners also should exercise patience. “Labor sup ply and supply chain issues are extending builders’ schedules,” he says. “Also be

According to the Associated General Contractors of Amer ica, Louisiana lost 16.1 percent of its jobs in the construction industry from February 2020 to September 2021—the highest percentage of jobs lost in the industry in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. However, Louisiana added 6,100 jobs between October 2020 and October 2021. The New Orleans area added 200 jobs over that period, while Lake Charles saw its job count rise by 800—the most in the state.

According to data from the Associated General Contrac tors of America, the producer price index for new nonresi dential building construction jumped more than 21 percent from October 2020 through late last year. Prices for steel mill products swelled by 142 percent; aluminum mill shapes increased by 37 percent; and plastic construction products surged by 30 percent during the same time period.

According to Payscale, the average salary for a general contractor is $57,500 in New Orleans.

The Louisiana Homebuilders Association aims to provide Louisiana with quality housing that is safe and affordable. The association represents the homebuilding industry before state and regulatory bodies; serves as the chief advocate of private property rights; educates the general public as to the advantages of utilizing licensed builders; promotes professionalism in the home building industry; and promotes economic development and quality of life in Louisiana.

flexible. Contractors are human. There will be mistakes. They can be corrected.”

“Ask lots of questions,” Delaune says. “Does the contractor provide turnkey ser vices, or will there be items handled by you, such as finish selections? Will you be expected to provide building plans or does the contractor offer design services? Will a deposit be required? How will you receive updates about your project? How will the payment schedule work? If a plan change is required, what is the process? Is there a fee for the estimate?”

Medrzycki echoes Delaune’s advice. “Ask uncomfortable questions when screen ing a contractor,” he says. “Have you been sued before? How many projects have you left unfinished? Gauge not only their answers but their body language. Lots of times, you will know right away whether it will be a good fit or not. Remember, it’s a short-term relationship that can go really good or really bad. Also find out how change orders will be handled. You want to make sure they are documented and priced, and proposed to the client before any additional work is done.”

Mayer says it’s important to move out during the construction. “That way, you can focus on the project rather than the mess that’s being made,” he says.

Mayer says to also be sure you get a schedule of values from the contractor for billing purposes. This will help to avoid over-billing and to understand your own cost to complete the project.

“Find out if the contractor is willing to provide a comprehensive, line-item bud get,” Kornman says. “This ensures that the plans have been properly reviewed and that the estimate is thoughtfully developed.”

“Start looking early—about 10-12 months in advance of your desired construc tion date,” Sweeney says. “Most good contractors are very busy these days. De pending on which jurisdiction you are in, permitting can take a couple of months.”

Medrzycki also says to find out whether sub-contractors are insured separately or if the general contractor’s insurance covers them. “Verify their work, as the gen eral contractor is only as good as the sub-contractors,” he says.

Kornman says to also find out if the the contractor is a member of trade organiza tions, such as the National Association of Home Builders and/or the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans. “Membership in such organizations suggests the contractor is interested in meeting higher standards and advancing the reputa tion of the industry,” he says.

“Share your feelings, goals, small talk, visions and anecdotes with your contrac tor,” Mayer says. “Have progress meetings, and out write meeting minutes. This develops good communication toward the ultimate goal of clarity between the homeowner and the contractor.”

Kornman says to ask the contractor for a documented process that guides the progress of the project, maps the critical path and identifies key deadline dates. Find out if the contractor will engage you in the process by sharing a written or graphical construction schedule with you that includes regularly scheduled onsite owner meetings.

“See if the general contractor is awarded, and how long they have been in busi ness,” Medrzycki says. “Find out about the bandwidth of the company, how many projects they currently have and what is the typical project amount for them. Find out about payment terms. If the contractor will request a 30 percent down payment on a $200,000 job, run away. Find out if they have bonding capability, which will illustrate financial health of the general contractor.”

According to Kornman, all homeowners should find out how the project will be managed. “Technology has vastly improved the project-management field,” he says. “A construction project involves countless details, frequent communication and myriad documents. There are several platforms, such as BuilderTrend and Co-con struct, that have brought a whole new level of efficiency, transparency and effec tiveness to the management of all this data. If a contractor is using one of these platforms to manage projects and keep customers informed and involved in the process, chances are the contractor is dedicated to managing projects professional ly and delivering an exceptional experience to customers.”

“Once you’ve chosen a contractor that meets your needs, sign your contract and plan to stay in touch frequently and just enjoy the experience,” Delaune says. “The journey may take months, even as much as a year or longer, depending on the size of your project, but, when it’s complete, it’s your home. The reward will be worth the effort.”

According to the Home Builders Association of New Orleans, in 2020, the estimated one-year impacts of building 100 single-family homes in a typical local area include: $28.7 million in local income; $3.6 million in taxes and other revenue paid to local governments; and 394 local jobs.

The Louisiana Homebuilders Asso ciation has a special Disaster Relief Fund dedicated to assisting com munities and citizens within disaster areas recover and rebuild. The fund provides disaster relief assistance to home builders in areas declared by the federal government or the State of Louisiana to be disaster areas to allow them to stay in business and begin to rebuild these areas; assists communities and citizens located in these disaster areas in rebuilding efforts; and educates citizens about proper recovery and rebuilding procedures, and the prevention of contractor fraud.

The Louisiana Homebuilders Associ ation recently influenced a legislative measure (SCR 4, effective as of May 17, 2022) that repeals administrative licensing requirements for residential specialty classifications, including: pile driving; foundations; framing; roofing; and masonry/stucco.

A warranty is a promise, either written or implied, that the material and workmanship of a product is defect-free or will meet a specified level of performance over a specified period of time. Written warranties on new homes are either backed by insurance companies or by the builders themselves.

The Homebuilders Association of New Orleans will hold the New Orleans Home and Garden Show March 24-26, 2023, with an Ask the Expert booth, a Lifestyle Appliances Cooking Stage, Bayou Battle of the Build (in which area high schools plan and build a project that is then judged by the building industry), a Bark Park with adoptable dogs, and an Orchid & Tropical Flower Market.

Campbell Cabinet Co.

220 Hord St., Harahan, 504-733-4687; 4040 Highway 59, Mandeville, 985-892-7713, campbellcabinets.com

Palatial Stone & Tile

1526 Religious St., New Orleans, 504-576-9000; 2052 Paxton St., Harvey, 504-340-2229, sales@palatialstone.com, palatialstone.com

Nordic Kitchens and Baths, Inc.

1818 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 504-888-2300, nordickitchens.com

Albert Architecture

2739 Conti St., 504-827-0056 albert-architecture.com

M L M Incorporated

1400 Distributors Row, 504-322-7050, mlm-inc.com, MLM-Commercial.com

KELLY SUTTON \\ DESIGN

3800 Dryades St., New Orleans, 504-302-2547 , kellysuttoninc.com, @kellysuttoninc

Demoran Custom Homes 504-810-5346, 985-788-7857, demorancustomhomes.com

MULLIN

10356 River Road, St. Rose, 504-275-6617, mullinlandscape.com

C3NOLA Construction Services 504-220-2539, info@usec3nola.com, usec3nola.com

Legend Interiors

Kitchen & Bath • Design & Remodeling

432 N. Anthony St., Suite 301, New Orleans, 504-324-8080, @legendinteriorsnola, info@ legendinteriorsinc.com, LegendInteriorsnola.com

Louisiana Custom Closets

13405 Seymour Meyer Suite 24, Covington, 985-871-0810

Stafford Tile & Stone

5234 Magazine St., New Orleans, 504-895-5000, staffordtile.com

Sylvia T Designs 504-435-8081, sylvia@sylviatdesigns.com sylviatdesigns.com

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

JLV Construction 3400 Washington Avenue, New Orleans 504-533-9932, jlvbuilt.com

Triton Stone

6131 River Road, Harahan, 504-914-9328 Info@tritonstone.com, tritonstone.com

Burk Construction

6260 Vicksburg St., Suite A, New Orleans 504-488-8600, Byburk.com

M&M Glass Co.

13429 S Choctaw Dr., Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, 225-272-9143; Lafayette, 337-313-4178; New Orleans, 504-891-7272; Northshore, 985-259-8664, mmglass.net, hello@mmglass.net

Many homeowners are choosing to add on to their houses whether it be for additional space, because their family is expanding or perhaps because they have money to spare and simply want more room. In the past, homeowners who wanted more space were likely to sell their house and buy a bigger one. But Reneau Londot, owner of Londot Design Build, said re cent events have made adding on a more appealing option. With higher interest rates, many home owners are reluctant to buy or build a new home.

“There’s too many unknowns right now,” Londot said.

Chris Kornman, owner of and broker with Entablature, said the most popular type of add-on in the New Orleans area is the camelback. For readers unfamil iar with the term, a camelback is a variation of the classic shot gun house that features a partial second floor over the back of the house. Since so many New Orle ans homes are shotguns, this ad dition is a good fit for homeown ers looking to expand.

“It makes sense because a lot of people (in New Orleans) don’t have the room to expand left or right,” Kornman said.

While projects vary depend ing on the home and the owners’ needs, Kornman said nine to 10 months is a good ballpark esti mate for how long a camelback addition can take. He also warned homeowners that costs have dramatically increased in recent years due to supply chain and la bor issues. He added there is no

Space Craft

Tips from the pros for adding more house to your home

clear indication when prices will drop again.

When asked about pricing, Kornman said again it will vary, but that a simple camelback ad dition is likely to cost in the $400,000 to $500,000 range. However, he said many home owners also choose to renovate existing parts of the house when building their add-ons. Updating kitchens, bathrooms or bedrooms as well can bring the project into the $800,000 to $900,000 range.

“There’s a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done for the camelback addition to work,”

Kornman said. “Don’t think you can just stick a camelback on top of your existing structure.”

Kornman said any contractor will need a highly detailed plan from a licensed architect before they can even offer a realistic quote to homeowners.

Londot cautioned homeowners that they will need approval from the city before they make any addons to their home. There are a lot of variables, like the neighborhood, that can determine whether or not someone gets the green light.

“Just because someone else can do it doesn’t mean you can,”

Londot said. “Things are grand fathered in, there’s zoning and unique site conditions.”

Kornman said anyone doing an addition, especially a camelback, should realize they will not be able to live in their house while the work is going on. He said in order to work safely, the workers will need to shut off both the A/C and the water. So you need to add rent money for an apartment for nine to 12 months to your budget or honestly assess whether or not you could live with in-laws or rel atives for that length of time.

Adding on to your home can in crease the house’s value, but there is no simple formula to determine how much value it will add rela tive to how much you spend. The value add may not necessarily ex ceed the construction cost.

“There are a few variables in how much value is being added,” said Matt Davis, franchise owner and associate broker for 1 Percent Lists Legacy. “The most import ant would be how much square footage is being added, and then the quality of the finishing work makes a huge difference.”

Before making a final decision on an add-on project, Londot recommends interviewing differ ent contractors and architects. Add-ons will take up a lot of time and money, so you want the final product done right. You need to be sure the people you hire under stand your wishes and can clearly explain to you how they will get the work done.

“Make sure it’s someone you can communicate with,” Londot said. FRITZ ESKER

Entablature

The Way to More ‘Wow’

Traditionally, interior design dictates one statement piece in a room so there’s no competition. These pieces evoke an emotion and draw the eye. More recently however, designers are experimenting with multiple “wow” pieces that work together. Use these examples to guide your own experiments.

BY MIRELLA CAMERON

Handcrafted in Rajasthan, India, the geometric design of the Havi Tray recycles ethically salvaged bone. Arhaus, arhaus.com

The handknotted Farida rug combines the patterns of Moroccan rugs with a calming neutral palette. Arhaus, arhaus.com

Ruffle Console Table combines a contemporary look with texture, defined by ruffles and ribbon detailing. Three drawers hide behind the white gold leafing. Eclectic Home, eclectichome.net

Kinna Chandelier uses 13 adjustable spherical glossy shades to illuminate a room with bubbly sophistication. Eclectic Home, eclectichome.net

Striped pillow, ethically and hand embroidered by artisans in Kashmir, India using local, traditional technique. Available from Eclectic Home, eclectichome.net

Colonial Hutch features hand-rubbed black mahogany with a veneer and brass pulls. Custom ordered from Sunday Shop, sundayshop.co

Shake Things Up

Cocktail shakers and mixers that add visual sophistication to the holiday season

BY ASHLEY MCLELLAN

$154

Cocktail Culture

The Birdy cocktail shaker is elegance in form and function, inspired in collaboration with the worldrenowned Erik Lorincz, former head bartender at The Savoy hotel’s American Bar in London. The three-piece Birdy shaker is uniquely designed for an efficient and excellent shake, and micro-polished for a superior tasting cocktail. Available in two sizes, hand wash only. $154 (500 ml., 16.9 oz.), $149 (350 ml., 11.8 oz.), santokunyc.com.

$48

Boss Brass

The Hawkins New York midcenturyinspired brushed brass shaker is giving Old Hollywood glam, and is a great addition to any chic home bar cart. It holds 24 ounces of liquid and has a separate matching ice bucket, tongs and jigger. But beware, this beauty is hand wash only, so shake with care. $48, for cocktail shaker, $184 for complete bar set, food52.com.

$40

Boston Best

The “Crafthouse by Fortessa” design is a classic Bostonstyle two-cup shaker. The pair of professional-grade stainless-steel cups fit together to form a tight seal, and features ribbed sides for easy gripping and measuring of liquids, up to 20 ounces. $40, surlatable.com.

$39.99

With the Grain

Brümate’s 20-ounce insulated cocktail shaker in walnut is perfect in a chic bachelor pad or moody, masculine home bar setting. It’s fashioned with a tight-fitting lid for a leak-proof shake, plus the body doubles as a pint tumbler, making it ideal for boozy tailgating, picnics or any outdoor excursions. Also available in 11 additional colors, including polished chrome, glitter rose gold and metallic dark aura. $39.99, brumate.com.

$30

Locked Up

Rabbit’s “Twist to Lock” shaker will have you twisting and shouting at how easy it is to use. Featuring a “bayonetted” locking lid, it’s almost impossible to spill with shaking. It holds 18 ounces and has a freestanding jigger lid, angled pour spout and an integrated ice strainer. Hand wash only. $30, rabbitwine.com.

$11.99

A Gripping Story

OXO’s home cookfriendly products have gained a wellearned reputation for designing easy to use, multitasking kitchen and bar items. Their “Good Grips” cocktail shaker is no exception. It holds 16 ounces, has double-walled insulation to prevent sweating and includes a marked jigger cap for easy measuring. It’s also nicely priced so you can pick up one for your home bar, to take on beachy vacations or to bring along to holiday parties (along with tasty bar snacks) for a thoughtful, and useful, host gift. $11.99, Oxo.com.

HIGH-TECH DESIGN

Balancing the technology of home tech with savvy visual solutions for a flawless finish

As we outfit our homes with new furnishings, fixtures, and finishes, tech is playing an increased role in both the design and product choices we make. Ingrained in all as pects of our daily lives, “tech” keeps us connected while “technology” furthers convenience. Local design experts frequently factor in clients’ usage of both tech and technology and offer tips on creating a tech-balanced home that offers modern conveniences with out resembling the inside of a computer. All agree — a home should still look and feel like a warm, welcoming place, not a mess of wires, media devices and contraptions.

Perhaps the most ubiquitous of today’s devices is the TV, which be gan altering room designs in the ‘50s. Seventy years later, the devices have changed drastically in size, shape and quantity per household. For today’s interior designers, TVs are a force to be reckoned with. What should the focal point of a room be, and how do you prevent a 60-inch TV from automatically commanding that space?

“If it’s possible to make something else the focal point — like a fire place or architectural detail — then that always helps make the tech nology not a feature in the design,” says Designer Kelly Sutton. “I like using The Frame TV so that it looks like art in the space.”

Growing in popularity — and sure to be a holiday season hit — Sam sung’s The Frame TV has many of us wondering why we didn’t have this option sooner. With a flush-to-the-wall, near-wireless design and a variety of frame options, this non-reflective TV comes with an ability

to display art when you’re not bingeing your favorite shows. Designer Chad Graci of Graci Interiors now recommends this product to clients for ease of aesthetic control. Owners can make their own art choice and frame choice without messy wires to worry about.

“I have gone to great lengths in the past to disguise and hide tech nology,” he says, “but lately I have become more embracing of TVs and the like, as they are such a part of everything.” Even without a framed art display, unmounted TVs can be accommodated without sacrificing style. Graci loves to embed TVs into modern or antique bookcases or case pieces and also loves designing pop-up pieces of furniture — also known as TV lift cabinets — to house a TV at the foot of the bed.

According to Penny Francis, owner and principal designer at Eclectic Home, furniture has evolved to accommodate most technologies.

“Media cabinets are equipped with cut-outs in the back to feed wires and cables, shelves with channels for ventilation and remote-friendly and acoustically transparent handcrafted doors,” she says. “The trend is moving away from having the TV mounted on the wall — where most times people place it too high — to placing it on top of a piece of fur niture.”

To provide some hand-crafted contrast to your media devices, Fran cis recommends retrofitting antiques like a wardrobe, armoire or serv er to accommodate the technology. Just ensure you can conceal equip ment with any necessary modified shelving and hidden access for plugs.

Kelly Sutton also likes to mix styles when tech is involved. In an of

TV lift cabinet

fice, she might recommend a beautiful vintage desk floating in space accompanied by modern shelving that can hide or manage tech com ponents. For handheld devices, charging stations are making their way into furniture pieces, which means your furnishings can now help re duce excess cables and inconvenient or unsightly charger placement.

Beyond antique furniture and art, another way to provide contrast in a high-tech home is to incorporate handcrafted finishes that rely on tradition and create architectural focal points. One such tradition is specialty painting, which adds depth and texture to ornate crown and plaster molding, floors, ceilings and walls.

“Although technology is an important part of our lives today, it will nev er evoke the custom, handcrafted story that specialty painting tells and the emotion it contributes to a space,” says artist and painter Diane Killeen.

According to Killeen, when it comes to painting a pattern on old wooden floors, mixing that perfect shade of plaster for your walls, or water gilding with genuine 23K gold, you not only elevate a space but you install centuries-old techniques that aren’t replicated by machines or wallpaper. Before starting her firm more than two decades ago, Killeen traveled extensively, restoring historic sites. Today, she works with architects, designers, fine art conservators, mural artists and plas ter craftsmen to make sure projects are seen through a complete lens — one that encompasses both the past and present.

Meanwhile, the future is also upon us. Both smart home automation and smarter-designed fixtures and finishes continue to evolve, giving homeowners and designers a variety of choices for increasing conve nience. From motorized window treatments that open and close au tomatically to mood-setting lights, there’s an argument to be made for budgeting for better technology as you consider your furnishings’ and fixtures’ materials and colors.

At MASON·ROS architecture, Design Principal Kristen Mason Klam er sees more clients integrating smart home controlling software and systems into their projects. From light and plumbing fixtures to door and window hardware, towel warmers, appliances, thermostats, fire places and more, nearly all aspects of the home can be controlled via mobile devices or by voice. A benefit of voice control is that it can be used by anyone in the home regardless of age or ability.

According to Klamer, one of the newest and most advanced smart home technologies is Josh ai, a voice-controlled automation system that utilizes artificial intelligence to learn your patterns and preferenc es, making your home more comfortable and energy efficient while pro viding privacy and protection of personal data that “Big Tech” doesn’t necessarily offer. The Josh platform works with a wide variety of smart device and service brands, from major dealers of smart lighting and shades to sound systems, thermostats, media devices, door stations, fans, security systems, pools and more.

“The majority of our clients are installing or preparing for smart controls and equipment, which are the way of the future,” says Klam er. “If a client’s budget doesn’t allow for these systems, equipment or devices, we do recommend running power or fiber-optic cable to ideal locations so that the home is tech-ready for smart products and plat forms at a future date without major construction.”

Whether you go big with tech now or wait for demand to drive down prices of newer gadgets, there’s no putting the cat back in the bag. These technologies and our reliance on them are here to stay — we might as well have fun balancing convenience with design.

KELCY WILBURN

Deck the Halls

Fresh wreaths and garlands not only add a touch of holiday magic to your decor, but they also im bue fresh scents that are reminiscent of frolicking in snowy locales. Kim Starr Wise’s The Flower Shop offers pre-decorated wreaths and garlands as well as custom pieces. Choices include size of wreath or garland, specialized color palettes, traditional design or non-traditional design. For example, a traditional wreath or garland may feature pinecones, dried fruit and berries, while non-traditional options may include colorful ribbon, glittered air plants, eclectic ornaments or silk flowers. Wreaths start at $45, and garland is sold by the foot; additional cost for custom decoration. kimstarrwise.com — MISTY MILIOTO