winter 2012 myneworleans.com
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Volume 16 Issue 1 Editor Eve Kidd Crawford Art Director Tiffani Reding associate Editors Haley Adams, Sarah Ravits contributing Editors Laura Claverie, Lee Cutrone, Valorie Hart, Pamela Marquis, Ian McNulty, Peter Reichard, Lisa Tudor, Margaret Zainey Roux Contributing Photographers Thom Bennett, Theresa Cassagne, Sara Essex Bradley, Cheryl Gerber, Jeffery Johnston, Eugenia Uhl intern Johanna Gretschel
senior Account Executive Katie Palazzo sales assistant Erin Maher Azar
production/web manager Staci McCarty production designer Sarah George
Chief Executive officer Todd Matherne President Alan Campell Executive vice President/Editor in Chief Errol Laborde Executive assistant Kristi Ferrante distribution manager Christian Coombs
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 www.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 2012 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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contents
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in every issue 6. Editor’s Note 10. Style Produced by Margaret Zainey Roux
14. Artist Profile Anita Cooke By Ian McNulty
16. Gatherings ‘Tis the Season for Salad Savory and sweet, this hearty winter salad is something to celebrate. By Margaret Zainey Roux
18. For the Garden Going Native When starting from scratch with your garden, native plants are usually a fail-safe option. By Pamela Marquis
20. Living with Antiques Waste Not, Want Not Adaptive reuse is not just good for the environment; it’s also good for your wallet and your décor. By Laura Claverie
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22. Masters of Their Craft Creative Community Mallory Whitfield, aka Miss Malaprop, works with artists around the city while also generating unique, popular and award-winning work of her own. By Sarah Ravits
features
25. TrendWatch
32. Home Away From Home
Combining fashion and whimsy, these children’s rooms are proof that having kids doesn’t mean sacrificing style.
Kidding Around
Lisa Donofrio and Brian Valzania split their time between New York and New Orleans, but their Creole cottage in the French Quarter is second to none.
By lisa tudor
76. Home Renewal
By valorie hart
Spiffing Up
40. 2012 design masters
De-cluttering your home on an everyday basis can make it so much more comfortable and livable.
Our fifth annual class of the very best of the best in New Orleans design
By Peter Reichard
By lee cutrone
78. Resources
48. Give and learn Here’s a quick primer on appropriate hostess gifts for every occasion you might encounter during the busy holiday season. By valorie hart
57. PRC Holiday Home Tour 4 | New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Winter 2012
80. Last Indulgence All That Sparkles
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From champagne to fireworks to the glittery pageantry of Carnival, ‘tis the season to sparkle! By Eve Kidd Crawford
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editor’s note
time flies Sometimes it seems impossible to me that I’ve been doing this for almost five years. I mean, I can do the math. I can look at my daughter Ruby, who was 13 months old, barely walking, when I started here and is now staring down the Big 0-6 and taking gymnastics classes. I have done this job long enough that I know without Googling how to spell the names of renowned New Orleans designer Gerrie Bremermann and fabulous decorative painter Bekye Fargason. I know Julie Neill’s name has two L’s and that Monique Poché Bennett has an accent on her middle name. I know, by heart, the addresses of Leontine Linens, Stafford Tile & Stone, Hazelnut, perch., Pied Nu and M.S. Rau. The latter is the only one not on Magazine Street; when I moved back here in January 2008, I had only the foggiest idea where Magazine Street even was. So yeah, I guess it really has been five years. It must be – because we are honoring our fifth class of Design Masters, some of the very best and biggest names in the city in architecture, green design, furniture design, lighting, landscape design and interior decorating. It must be – because we’re showcasing the PRC Holiday Home Tour for the fifth time, offering a sneak peek at these lovely, elegant homes before they get all
dressed up for Christmas. In addition to these annual touchstones of the magazine, we are featuring a classic and classy Creole cottage in the French Quarter. Designed by Evelyne Clinton of Source., it serves as a second home to Lisa Donofrio and Brian Valzania, who also live in New York. Now is the true beginning of party season in New Orleans – cocktail parties, holiday soirees, charity balls, New Year’s bashes and various other fêtes, all culminating in Carnival. We are all Southerners here, by birth or by choice, and so we know better than to show up empty-handed to any kind of special event. But both as a guest and as a host, bottles of wine and bouquets of flowers get a little boring after awhile. Luckily, we live in New Orleans, a hotbed of creativity, and so we can choose from things as varied as vintage coasters, a gold ceramic rhinoceros and molds that allow you to freeze herb-infused water into an icy shot glass. We suggest some unique but sophisticated hostess gifts in our feature “Give and Learn” on page 48, along with outlining the etiquette protocol on when and what to give for various occasions. An added bonus of this story is that it introduced me – and will introduce you – to some great new stores to complement the old standbys. Even though I don’t yet know the addresses of A.K.A. Stella Gray or Modern Market or all of the shops at The Shops at 2011
On the Cover: Evelyne Clinton of Source. did a masterful job on Lisa Donofrio and Brian Valzania’s Creole cottage in the French Quarter.
without looking them up, I am thrilled to welcome them to the home décor scene. Rounding everything out, we have articles on cooking, gardening with native plants, repurposing little-used antiques and de-cluttering. In TrendWatch, we showcase some incredible children’s rooms. White bedding in Ruby’s room is out of the question for me – I’m pretty sure that even in my room, it would be covered in red wine and red pen ink in a matter of minutes – but Angelique Palumbo Short of Angelique Stores and Caroline Robert of perch. have really made it work, creating tranquil yet trendy spaces for their kids to rest and play. Even though I’ve learned so much in the past five years, I am constantly surprised and awed by this city. That might not be something you can wrap up in a pretty bow and bring to a party, but for me, it’s just about the greatest gift there is. n CLARIFICATION: On page 41 of our Autumn 2012 issue, there was a picture of the room of Jack Finger, son of homeowners Simon and Rebecca Finger. We correctly credited the wall mural to DesignYourWall.com; however, we failed to notice that there was a portrait of Jack that overlapped the mural. The portrait should have been credited to Victoria Snell. More of her work can be seen at victoriaannesnell.blogspot.com. We regret the confusion.
Photographed by Sara Essex Bradley
— Eve Kidd Crawford, Editor theresa cassagne Photograph
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on the web NewOrleansHomesAndLifestyles.com
MyNewOrleans.com check it out! MyNewOrleans.com is your portal to articles and images from New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, as well as articles from other magazines and exclusive online content. Blogs, event calendars and other content are updated daily.
award-winning blogs: n Haute Plates: Our very own gastronome, Robert Peyton, offers the real dish on local dining.
Happy Hour: The yang to Mr. Peyton’s yin, Tim McNally, acclaimed wine judge and food writer, expounds on wine, cocktails and other draughts. n
After Hours: Nightlife savant and New Orleans Press Club award-winner Ian McNulty gives us the scoop on what to do when the sun goes down. You know, when he can get out of bed to write about it. n
n The Editor’s Room: Editor-In-Chief Errol Laborde’s take on the Big Easy, named “best local blog” by the Press Club of New Orleans
Joie d’Eve: Editor Eve Kidd Crawford, who has won awards from the Press Club of New Orleans and the Society of Professional Journalists, writes about what it means to be a family in New Orleans. n
keep up-to-date!
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what are you thinking? Send feedback about this issue to Editor Eve Kidd Crawford at Eve@MyNewOrleans.com.
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style
Produced by Margaret Zainey Roux
Curve Appeal Beatriz Ball’s new SOHO Carafe has been busy turning heads. Gentle curves and gracious proportions make it the quintessential vessel for flowers or cold beverages and complement both modern and traditional tablescapes. Judy at the Rink, 2727 Prytania St., 891-7018, or go to beatrizball.com.
Raising the Bar Designer Kathy Slater is on a roll – literally – with her locally made Orleans bar cart. Available in aged gold leaf and aged silver leaf finishes, it’s the newest addition to her namesake table collection. With three antiqued mirrored trays, the Orleans bar cart is refined with just a hint of retro and offers storage galore for your favorite spirits. Kathy Slater Interiors & Table Collection, 3954 Magazine St., 400-9032, kathyslater.com.
In the Bag
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Plush, fringy tassels have been a key accessory in fabric decoration for centuries. Now the über-organized folks at russell+hazel are transforming the ancient adornment into a hip leather key chain with gold-toned hardware that clips right to your bag. russell+hazel, russellandhazel.com.
Pouf, There It Is! Luxurious faux fur updates this 1970s iconic seat for comfy, cozy sink-in comfort. Also available in a two-seater double size, the pouf is the perfect perch for nights in front of the fire. Restoration Hardware, 3301 Veterans Blvd., Suite 36, Metairie, 828-0203, restorationhardware.com.
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select photos by sara essex bradley
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style Rainy Day Surprise Surprisingly lightweight and easy to store, this hooded RAINRAP makes the perfect accessory for holiday travel. Its reversible design pairs two classic hues, so you’ll look stylish in the storm no matter what color you’re wearing. RAINRAPS, rainraps.com.
Packaged to Perfection
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An homage to Mariano Fortuny and the artisans of Venice, L’Objet’s exquisite new candle is luxe from the inside out. Encased in a delicately textured Limoges porcelain body reminiscent of the distinguishable Fortuny pleats, the candle, in the Bittersweet scent, is presented in a stunning fabric upholstered box available in multiple patterns and colorways. Friend & Co., 7713 Maple St., 866-5433, or go to l-objet.com.
Impressions of Interiors: Gilded Age Paintings by Walter Gay (D. Giles Ltd., $55) Presenting 70 works from public and private collections, Impressions of Interiors: Gilded Age Paintings by Walter Gay showcases the acclaimed American artist’s paintings of 19th- and early-20th-century interiors. These rooms, with their elegant silk wall hangings, 18th-century French furniture, tapestries and sculptures, were often taken from the legendary residences of friends or from his own wellappointed Parisian home. The newly released book also explores Gay’s career, his place in the history of American collecting and the importance of interior decoration and the decorative arts along with the influences of such contemporaries as Edith Wharton and Elsie de Wolfe.
Well-Dressed Desk We may be living in the iPhone era, but pretty paper remains in style year after year. Karen Adams’ 2013 12-month desk calendar features whimsical hand-drawn images on heavy card stock atop a delicate gold easel to bring fun and function to the old-school desktop. The Stationer, 3632 Magazine St., 895-4868, or go to karenadamsdesigns.com.
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artist profile
anita cooke By Ian McNulty
New Orleans artist Anita Cooke says there’s no narrative to her works, which are large collages of paint and reconfigured canvas. But these “sewn constructions,” as she calls them, are not purely abstract either. Once you get behind her process, it’s easy to find the thread, and for New Orleanians in touch with their city’s recent history, their revelations can be especially powerful. “The whole meaning of my work is in the process,” says Cooke. “The process is the story. I make this thing, then tear it all up, then re-create it and make something new from the pieces. That happens everywhere – in nature, in cities – but usually over a long period of time. With Katrina, it happened to New Orleans all at once.” Cooke calls her process
“dimensional patterning.” She starts by smearing an immense amount of paint at random across dropcloths. These kaleidoscopic canvases are then cut, pierced, folded, sewn and glued into long, unruly bands of paint-heavy fabric compressed together and mounted to backing. Only a small fraction of the paint used in this process is actually visible at the end, but it all contributes to a laden, intricate feel of the finished piece. Density, the title of Cooke’s latest exhibition, is in fact the operative word for the energy behind her work. “Think about a big field, at Woodstock or Jazz Fest, and then how it changes when it’s filled,” Cooke says. “There’s energy there – that power, it transforms the space, and it gives it a history, too.” Originally from Ohio,
Cooke grew up in a suburb she remembers today as feeling new, clean and highly functional. She came to New Orleans in the early 1980s for what was supposed to be a brief stop on a cross-country trip, but she became entranced with how different the city felt from her hometown. She never left. Today, her dimensional patterning produces undulating surfaces, jumbles
of grids, mazes, bundles and stacks that look erratic but still feel soothingly organic. They invite you to peer in and study their knotty currents. Some pieces appear weathered, rusty and crumbling while others are bright and festive, reflecting two sides of her experience with New Orleans. “There’s a certain dialogue even without making a picture of it,” she says. n
g See Density at the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery from Nov. 1-30.
THOM BENNETT PHOTOGRAPH
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gatherings
‘tis the season for salad Savory and sweet, this hearty winter salad is something to celebrate. By Margaret Zainey Roux
Eugenia Uhl Photograph
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Sprinkled with cinnamon or blended for bisque, butternut squash has long been a favored ingredient in many wintertime sides. But roasted and tossed with crisp arugula, toasted walnuts and dried cranberries and then topped with a warm cider dressing, the seasonal squash and its fabulous fixings step up to the plate to turn a simple salad into a filling meal that’s bound to become a new classic on the holiday menu.
recipe Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette For salad: 1 1 1/2-pound butternut squash, peeled and 3/4-inch diced 2 tablespoons good olive oil 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons dried cranberries 4 ounces baby arugula, washed and spun dry 1/2 cup walnut halves, toasted 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan For dressing: 3/4 cup apple cider 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 2 tablespoons minced shallots 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1/2 cup good olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
R Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the butternut squash on a sheet pan. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and toss. Roast the squash for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until tender. Add the cranberries to the pan for the last 5 minutes. R While the squash is roasting, combine the apple cider, cider vinegar and shallots in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the cider is reduced to about 1/4 cup. Off the heat, whisk in the mustard, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. R Place the arugula in a large salad bowl, and add the roasted squash mixture, the walnuts and the grated Parmesan. Spoon just enough vinaigrette over the salad to moisten, and toss well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve immediately. Serves 4. Recipe by Ina Garten
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for the garden
going native When starting from scratch with your garden, native plants are usually a fail-safe option. By Pamela Marquis
A friend recently purchased a cute house in the Carrollton area, but her yard is a challenging eyesore. Most of the backyard was concrete, a slab that at one time must have been the base for an above-ground swimming pool. She blasted out the ugly obstruction and now is left with a big muddy mess.
Although she’s a true whiz with renovation and interior decorating, she was at a loss as to what to do with her yard and asked my advice. I had no quick answers. I am so much better at sprucing things up than starting with a blank canvas. So when in doubt, I guess it’s best to begin at the beginning.
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The most important element to make sure your lawn and garden are robust is good soil. The condition and type of your soil has a profound effect on the health and growth of your plants. Around Louisiana, soil types vary greatly, from light sands to heavy clays. A knowledge of the characteristics of your soil will help you make the best decisions about your gardening projects. The LSU AgCenter performs routine soil-testing. A convenient box with instructions and a postagepaid label is available at the Orleans and Jefferson Parish Extension offices and can also be picked up at Perino’s Garden Center and Jefferson Feed Pet & Garden Center. The kit is free, but there is a $15 processing fee, which includes the postage. After you send in your soil, you’ll receive a detailed analysis of your sample that will cite the levels of the main nutrients in the soil, as well as its pH, and offer recommendations for making it ideal. The next thing to consider is your landscape plan. You want to choose a landscape design that complements your home’s aesthetic and your activity needs. There are a wide variety of Web sites that can guide you through this process. “The most important thing is to use the same taste and style you use on your
house,” says Kurt LeBlanc, landscape contractor with Harold’s Indoor-Outdoor Plants. “I suggest you start by planting trees for shade and then work beds around the tree. Trees are the bones of your yards; the rest is just makeup.” He also suggests using trees native to Louisiana such as bald cypress and Southern magnolia. “You can plant those and not worry because they just do well here,” says LeBlanc. Having the opportunity to start from scratch also gives you the opportunity to choose other native plants. “Native plants are specifically adapted to environmental factors such as, in our case, high water table and extreme heat and drought,” says Amy Graham, head gardener with Longue Vue House & Gardens. “Indigenous plants also strengthen the local ecology by providing specific food for wildlife. There is also little to no need for pest control when using natives, which reduces maintenance time and use of toxic chemicals.” She says finding native plants can be a challenge but suggests trying the Crescent City Farmers Market. Asking your local plant shop for specific plants is another way to encourage availability. If you have an experimental streak, you might
want to try some of her favorite native plants. “I adore Callicarpa americana, the American beautyberry,” she says. “It produces glossy, showy clusters of indigo berries, which are gorgeous in the garden and great for flower-arranging. It is also a food plant for fallmigrating songbirds and the funky, rustic sphinx moth caterpillar.” She also suggests coming to view the diverse collection contained in Longue Vue’s Wild Garden, a 1-acre garden dedicated to native plant species of Louisiana. “A good starter plant is the Rudbeckia hirta, or black-eyed Susan,” she
says. “It blooms prolifically from July through August, is not water-reliant, self- propagates readily – and if that isn’t enough, is a wasp-, bee- and butterfly- attractant.” You can also join naturalist and Wild Garden steward Tyrone Foreman as he leads Wild Walks every fourth Saturday of the month. It’s an informal guided tour focusing on plant identification, seasonal interests and wildlife habitat. There’s no doubt my friend has some hard work ahead of her, but by next summer, I feel certain she’ll be enjoying a cool beverage as she relaxes in her beautifully landscaped yard. n www.neworleanshomesandlifestyles.com New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles | 19
living with antiques
waste not, want not Adaptive reuse is not just good for the environment; it’s also good for your wallet and your décor. | By Laura Claverie When renovating our Garden District cottage three years ago, Philip and I carved out space for a small powder room just off our den. It was a perfect spot but posed a problem: Its long, narrow dimensions (3.5 feet by 7.5 feet) left little room for a vanity. Then I remembered a console that we had in storage, an ornate Italian piece that once graced my mother-in-law’s foyer. At 12 inches by 44 inches, it fit perfectly. The creamcolored marble top was the ideal surface to hold a small custom-made vessel sink, created by potter Charlie Bohn of Shadyside Pottery. Its slim geometric legs took up no visual space in the room, and the gilded trim added a patina and unexpected bounce. Voilà! A long-forgotten antique table solved the problem and made a stunning addition to the powder room.
Sure, I worried about “corrupting” the console. After all, a plumber had to drill holes through the marble to accommodate the sink and faucet. I even stressed over what my precious mother-in-law would say if she knew her console was in a bathroom. But in the end, I went for the reuse of the antique and felt it did more good in our powder room than it would in storage. Repurposing an antique is a good thing. Garden District resident Sally Carpenter bought a robust English buffet and made it a vanity in her new
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ABOVE: The 19th-century French Louis XV buffet à deux corps can be converted into a wet bar with a sink. BELOW: This early-18th-century Tuscan painted credenza is the perfect height for a plasma TV and can be used as a pantry. FACING PAGE: The 18th-century Louis XVI walnut buffet can be used as a wet bar or as a bathroom vanity.
powder room. A bevelededge slab of marble became the counter. Uptown resident Pam Ryan took an antique elephant seat, and by adding a wooden top, it became an end table. Jeff Elizardi, a Mid-City resident, is the fourth generation of his family to house a Victrola, originally used by his greatgrandfather. The Victrola was lovingly refinished decades ago by his grandfather, who made it into a modern stereo
system. Later, Jeff’s father, David Elizardi, converted the piece into a bar that his son uses today. Smaller antiques also adapt well. Santos figures, ancient statues of the saints, have become artful lamps in Bee Fitzpatrick’s Garden District home. Uptown resident Cathy Burka uses an antique wrought-iron bread rack as a book shelf. The adaptations of antiques are endless. “We do this all the time,” says Gay Wirth, owner of Wirthmore Antiques on cheryl gerber photographs
Magazine Street. She’s fearless in her transformations and once used a French enfilade, a long four-door buffet, as her kitchen cabinet. She replaced the wooden top with ochercolored poured concrete to give the chic piece an indestructible work surface. Wirth says the new uses of antiques brings “the then to the now.” By changing a piece of furniture from something to just look at to something with a real function, a homeowner can add a sense of whimsy to a room. “I once took a buffet à deux corps, a tall French cabinet
a purpose, it’s OK. It might even increase the value.” Before changing your antique, do your homework. Read magazines, journals and books about the piece. Go to a museum and look at 18th- or 19th-century art – located in these elegant vignettes just might be your antique, used in a different way. Go online to find how others might adapt a piece. “Don’t try too hard to make this change,” Wirth says. “Take your time, and let all of this evolve. Live with the antique for a while, and eventually, it will tell you what it needs.”
with four doors, generally used to display china, and added a sink and ice-maker to it,” she says. “The back was covered with mirrored glass, and the storage piece became a gorgeous bar.” Despite what purists taught a generation ago, making such dramatic change does not corrupt an antique or lessen its value. “If you have a piece that is museum-worthy, you wouldn’t want to adapt it,” Wirth says. “But for a good-looking, well-made piece that can serve
She also recommends that an owner not be intimidated: “There was a time when it was thought that any alteration to an antique would lessen its value. But antique collectors today want their pieces to have function as well as design. Using antiques in these very creative and personal ways gives a home a real heartbeat, but it has to be your heartbeat.” Today, that long, narrow Italian vanity serves a purpose and gives a small powder room personality and even a sense of fun. I think my late motherin-law would be proud. n www.neworleanshomesandlifestyles.com New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles | 21
masters of their craft
creative community
Mallory Whitfield, aka Miss Malaprop, works with artists around the city while also generating unique, popular and awardwinning work of her own. By Sarah Ravits Mallory Whitfield, better known as Miss Malaprop, is highly innovative, and her artistic wingspan stretches across the city, reaching various shops and markets. As an entrepreneur, artist and designer, she works with about 30 artists, designers and independent brands. “My brain is always working a million miles a minute, and I’ve always got a ton of ideas,” she explains. “I try to keep a notebook of some kind with me at all times because I’m always jotting down notes to myself so I don’t forget when inspiration strikes.”
She makes all kinds of wearable items, ranging from clothing to accessories. “When I started out, I worked primarily with textiles, transforming old jeans into ‘upcycled’ denim skirts and using the scraps to make cute accessories like flower barrettes and neck warmers,” she says. “Lately I’ve been making more fun, colorful jewelry, using vintage materials, as well as some molded components made by other artists.” She enjoys breathing new life into materials that might otherwise be cast off. In fact, in 2007, she won third place in a nationwide Etsy contest
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for making an outfit out of a FEMA tarp. “I try to seek out pretty vintage baubles to turn into something new,” she says. Lately, she’s incorporated vintage typewriter keys and old Scrabble tiles into her
various designs. As a high school student, she was involved in community theater, where she learned how to sew costumes. With help from her mother, she taught herself a lot by “taking things cheryl gerber photographs
apart and figuring out how to put them back together again.” Her style evolved, and after a few years, she was encouraged to start selling her creations. “I’ve always been creative,” she says. Whitfield, who was raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, says she came to New Orleans often as a kid and was always enamored of the city. After graduating from high school, she attended Loyola University, and like so many other artists, she’s been down here ever since. “In spite of the inefficient bureaucracy often thrown our way, artists and creative types living in New Orleans have so many opportunities that they wouldn’t have elsewhere,” she says. “There are so many places to sell your work, and this is a place where both locals and tourists alike really appreciate artists and want to financially support them as much as possible.” In addition to her potent creative side, she also has a great deal of businesssavvy. She praises her parents and grandparents for their inspiration and
work ethic: “I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, with both parents and grandparents who owned their own businesses. At some point, I realized I’m just not cut out to work for most other people. I had dreams when I was a kid of owning my own boutique, and around 2006 I started planning and working toward making that dream a reality.” Although she hasn’t yet opened up a boutique, she gets closer every day. For now, she sells items from her Web site, missmalaprop.com. She also recently started selling some of her skirt collection at Fee & Art’s Revival Studios in the French Quarter, and she’s been participating in the Frenchmen Art Market frequently. “Since I work with other artists, as well, and I sell their work alongside mine at local markets and festivals, I try to make the whole vibe of my booth cohesive,” she says. “There are a lot of different styles there, but I try to make sure that it all speaks to me – colorful, fun and playful – a little out of the ordinary.” n www.neworleanshomesandlifestyles.com New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles | 23
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trendwatch
kidding around
Combining fashion and whimsy, these children’s rooms are proof that having kids doesn’t mean sacrificing style. By Lisa Tudor / Photographed by Cheryl Gerber
Leave it to local shop girls Angelique Palumbo Short of Angelique Stores and Caroline Robert of perch. to raise the bar in children’s décor. With a keen eye for design detail and expertise in scoping the market, they’ve created rooms that showcase a mix of heirloom accessories and functional furnishings that their kids can enjoy now and even take along when they leave the nest.
Upstairs in 3-year-old Eli Robert’s room, an antique religious altar relic found at Bush Antiques hangs above the custom headboard covered in Brunschwig & Fils fabric. The chrome asteroid chandelier, along with the custom drapery, sea-grass maze rug and Two’s Co. porcelain owl lamps are available at perch., Mom’s Magazine Street design store. The monogrammed pillow is from The Baby’s Room. www.neworleanshomesandlifestyles.com New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles | 25
Top left: Local craft artist Kaki Foley of Tattered gave the dresser mirror of 8-year-old Ella Short a makeover, and the pink piano is from Angelique Kids, Ella’s mom’s Magazine Street shop. Top right: The formerly pink interior of the Eero Aarnio-designed Ball Chair, given to Caroline Robert by a friend, got a cozy dark-blue redo for Eli. The plush swinging monkey is from Pottery Barn Kids. The giant framed insect print, the powder-coated indoor-outdoor orange side table, the Flokati wool rug and the asteroid floor lamp are all available at perch. Right: A giant chick lights the way to Eli’s separate play area in the adjacent sunroom. The custom Roman shades, Kartell Tip Top Table, vintage red tole lamp, and chick with light kit are all available at perch. The Vespa scooter rocker is from Modern Market on Magazine Street, and the rug is from Pottery Barn Kids. Facing Page: Echoing the geometric print of the curtains by designer Melissa Rufty of MMR Interiors, New Orleans artist Gretchen Weller Howard custom-painted the feature wall of Ella’s spacious room. Dressed in bedding from Leontine Linens, Ella’s bed is flanked by a pair of oversize bubble lamps, also from MMR Interiors, that the talented young equestrienne uses to show off her collection of winning ribbons.
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Kaki Foley crafted the tree branches climbing the back wall from floor to ceiling that are reflected in 3-year-old Noah Short’s dresser mirror. The Stray Dog Designs tree trunk lamp and bird are courtesy of MMR Interiors.
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the best of winter
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Home Away From Home (p.32) 2012 Design Masters (p.40) Give and Learn (p.48) PRC Holiday Home Tour (p.57)
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home away from home Lisa Donofrio and Brian Valzania split their time between New York and New Orleans, but their Creole cottage in the French Quarter is second to none. By Valorie Hart / Photographed by Sara Essex Bradley
FACING PAGE: The 19th-century daybed was reupholstered in purple velvet. The gilded side table is from Source. BELOW: Evelyne Clinton reupholstered the French-style chairs in a fabric by Robert Allen. Clinton, who is also an artist, did the painting above the table.
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nterior decorator Evelyne Clinton met her potential clients Lisa Donofrio and Brian Valzania when they strolled into her chic home furnishings store, Source., on Magazine Street. The couple met in New York. Donofrio went to medical school at Tulane, and shortly after she was married, she brought Valzania to visit New Orleans. She loved New Orleans on her own, and now he loved it, too. They decided to purchase a home in the French Quarter, and Donofrio simultaneously opened a branch of her dermatology practice in New Orleans. Once the house was purchased, Clinton was signed on to decorate and design. The 1830 two-story Creole cottage has a generous 2,800-square-foot floor plan. Clinton had every wall repainted, changing dark-green walls to white – with pale blue ceilings in most rooms and a spectacular metallic blue ceiling in the dining room. Floors were refinished, and a new stamped concrete floor was added to a completely renovated kitchen. She also selected luxurious silk drapes, sea-grass and Oriental rugs and unique chandeliers and lighting fixtures. Clinton curated an eclectic, unique and personal collection of furniture and artwork for the couple. Some furnishings were custom-made, such as the living room couch, and all of the furniture was custom-upholstered with beautiful designer fabrics. A 19thcentury daybed that Donofrio purchased in her student days was reupholstered in purple velvet. It makes a striking stand-alone piece in the foyer, which has old stone floors and a fireplace. This grand entry hall was once a part of an open-air courtyard that was eventually enclosed.
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The dining room features a table custom-made to resemble an antique, with mismatched French 18th-century chairs with a distressed finish. A Swedish-style wood-turned chandelier hovers overhead. Clinton used a painted bibliothèque for china and an additional piece, an 1840 Louis Philippe buffet, for linens. A modern gold leaf bar cart adds a touch of glamour. Adjoining the dining room is the living room with another fireplace. A gilded Louis Philippe mirror hangs over the mantel, with a modern painting juxtaposed. This mix of vintage, antique and contemporary furnishings gives the room a fresh, updated feeling while honoring the historical bones of the house. There is a striking pair of mid-centurymodern thrones upholstered in white silk cut velvet, and two stools upholstered in glamorous pink zebra are tucked under a distressed mirrored coffee table with waterfall sides. The icy blue silk drapes and a gilded iron chandelier with a slightly chinoiserie feeling add more elegance. The wingback bergère-style chairs are fabricated in a lovely soft green that complements the gray-washed wood frames. Painting the railings white and refinishing the floorboards in a deep espresso color refurbished the curving staircase leading to the second floor. A pair of life-size knights is mounted on the wall to stand guard. They are fabricated from horsehair and plaster, made in Belgium in the 19th century for a church. An Italian-style gold tole lantern from the 1920s lights the way overhead in the stairwell.
TOP: The 19th-century knights mounted on the wall are from Belgium and made of horsehair and plaster, and the lantern is from the 1920s. This kind of juxtaposition is seen throughout the home. RIGHT: The owners brought the cowhide chair from their New York home, and Clinton painted the frame white. FACING PAGE: The sofa is custommade. All of the furnishings come from Source.
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TOP LEFT: The pair of throne chairs are vintage, lacquered white and recovered in white velvet. The painting is by Sonya Edwards. TOP RIGHT: The master bedroom, nestled under the eaves, features a custom-made hand-painted headboard. The chandelier is from Source. The demi-lune bench is from wisteria.com and was recovered with fabric in the pattern Josephine by Grove Brothers. RIGHT: The pair of chairs are from the estate of Leonard Bernstein. The iron console and antique mirror are from Source. FACING PAGE: The stone-paved courtyard with a marble-topped table and French-style cafÊ chairs is a perfect place for the couple to relax when they’re in New Orleans.
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The den is open to the stairway, and the original-to-the-house beams have been lightened. A vivid Oriental rug anchors the expansive room. There is a deep oversize linen-covered sofa perfect for lounging and watching television. A pair of chairs from the estate of Leonard Bernstein is upholstered in vivid teal velvet and nestles under a window in a seating area adjacent to the den. The snug master bedroom is down the hall in a cabinet-style room just big enough for a queen-size bed with a custom-made hand-painted headboard and a romantic grand chandelier. The master suite also comprises a separate walk-in closet with plenty of storage and a large master bathroom, all cleverly fitted under the beams and dormer windows that are part of the vernacular of the classic Creole cottage. Of course there is the customary French Quarter courtyard, with a stone-paved patio, lush tropical plantings, gas-lit lanterns and a trickling fountain. French-style café chairs are pulled up to a marble-topped table with an iron base. A dependency is close by and is used as a guesthouse. The corner Creole cottage has many things beloved in a French Quarter home: shutters, fan-shaped windows over French doors and a walled-in courtyard – not to mention proximity to restaurants, music venues and shopping. Donofrio and Valzania are in New Orleans once a month, every month, spending a minimum of a week at a time in their elegant pied-à-terre. The home Evelyne Clinton created for them gives them so much joy. Says Donofrio, “Making a decision to choose Evie reconfirmed the decision to move back to New Orleans. It’s the best thing we ever did.”
TOP: The gilded bar cart in the dining room is from Source. BOTTOM: A painted bibliothèque from Source. is used in the dining room to store and display china. Icy blue silk drapes are custom via Source. FACING PAGE: The Swedish-style chandelier, custom-made dining table and Louis Philippe buffet are from Source. The 18th-century French chairs are from Piranesi Antiques.
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Our fifth annual class of the very best of the best in New Orleans design BY LEE CUTRONE
PHOTOGRAPHED BY GREG MILES
This year, Design Masters celebrates its fifth anniversary by adding six new honorees to a list of past recipients that includes more than 30 people. As always, these are people who are actively using their talents to make New Orleans a beautiful, livable, sustainable and economically vibrant place. This year’s group is also noteworthy for the connection they make between the great design of the past and the great design of the present. Marcel Wisznia is helping to ensure the future of New Orleans’ landmark buildings by infusing them with modern-day relevance; The Make It Right Foundation is creating new 21st-century homes that have become landmarks in their own right; Kathy Slater and Fifi Laughlin, whom you will find at the same Magazine Street gallery, create furniture and lighting (respectively) that add a light-handed sophistication to old and new; landscaper Robin Tanner’s studies in the age-old art of Japanese garden-making bring a freshness to contemporary landscaping; and interior decorator Melissa Rufty’s finesse with blending a variety of periods and influences has garnered coverage in magazines and books. Congratulations, Design Masters! Thanks to you, our architecture, our green space, our homes and even our shopping make this city like no other. Ed. note: Some answers have been edited. Complete answers can be seen at MyNewOrleans.com.
Tell us about your background. I spent 15 years in advertising, working on branding and strategic marketing for all sorts of businesses. I have always loved being surrounded by creative people. I think the combination of image and problem-solving in advertising has served me well in design. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how good I make a house look if it doesn’t function for the people who live there. Who are the principals of your firm/business? Me and a staff of four talented designers and administrators. I jokingly call them my “sister wives.” How does New Orleans affect your profession? What are the benefits and challenges? The essence of New Orleans is at the heart of what I do no matter what city I’m working in. New Orleans is such a unique dichotomy of grandeur and decay, so I want my projects to have that same balance of style and soul. My office is located on Magazine Street amidst all the antique stores, art galleries and a myriad of local specialty shops – frankly, it’s hard to miss. Tell us about your current projects. I have a great balance of local jobs right now that are keeping me rooted, as well as some out-of-town projects that are keeping my eye fresh to new architecture/design styles. I’ve also just partnered in a new vintage home furnishings and accessories store, Malachite, on Magazine Street. It’s been great to buy with my current jobs in mind and complement all of the great antique stores around us. What else would you be doing if you weren’t doing this? Hoarding
Melissa Rufty
Tell us about your background. I am an architect and real estate developer. I am the second generation of a family practice that was founded in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1947. After graduating from Tulane University’s School of Architecture in 1973, I opened my own practice here in New Orleans. In the early 1980s I merged my firm with my father’s in Texas, and we practiced together as two profit centers of the same company until my father’s death in 2004. My father was quite unique in that he was not afraid to combine the creative side of his brain with the logical side. And in my case, the acorn did not fall far from the tree, as I have those same skills. This has allowed us to pursue real estate development not only from a business perspective but from a creative design approach, also. We have coined the phrase “designdriven development” to describe our firm.
Who are the principals of your firm/business? I am the principal and president of Wisznia Co. Inc. How does New Orleans affect your profession? What are the benefits and challenges? As a modern architect, it has always been a challenge to find clients that understand that modern solutions fit well into the urban or neighborhood “fabric.” Most clients feel that the only design solution is to mimic the past. It is funny how European architects and their clients are not afraid to design contemporary buildings in historic areas – or design modern interiors in historic buildings. And European cities are far older than most in the U.S. Tell us about your current projects. Since Hurricane Katrina, we have developed three mixed-use projects in downtown New Orleans, totaling almost $100 million: the Union Lofts, the Maritime and the Saratoga. In 2011, we opened a café on the ground floor of the Maritime called Merchant, and in the spring of 2012, we designed and opened BETA, a shared work space on the second floor of the same building. In 2013 we will begin construction on the renovation of the Stephens Garage. It is the conversion of a historic parking garage and car dealership into a mixed-use development consisting of 65 apartments, 15,000 square feet of ground floor retail and parking for both of the uses. What else would you be doing if you weren’t doing this? Nothing! This is who I am. I live, eat and sleep architecture and real estate development. I was born to do this and nothing else.
marcel wisznia
kathy slater experienced team of fabricators and a talented decorative painter who will work with me until we get each piece just right.
Tell us about your background. Since graduating from the University of Georgia in interior design, I have always worked in areas related to it. I have worked for and with other interior designers and have shared an antiques business with other partners. Although I feel that there is nothing better than a fine antique in a room, I have always loved the idea of creating a new piece of furniture and manipulating its look with a variety of finishes and materials. Who are the principals of your firm/business? I am the principal of the company and responsible for all aspects of the business from the design and fabrication to the delivery of the furniture to the client. I am fortunate to have a wonderful,
How does New Orleans affect your profession? What are the benefits and challenges? You can’t help but feel the creative spirit that surrounds us. It is such an asset to be surrounded by the interesting shops and galleries on Magazine Street and the French Quarter. Incorporated in the unique architecture of New Orleans is some of the most beautiful and intricate ironwork in the country. As a result I have skilled iron craftsmen available to help develop and execute the designs. In contrast, although we have a couple of nice showrooms here, New Orleans does not have the abundance of large designer showrooms that other cities have, making choices for samples and materials limited without traveling. Tell us about your current projects. The latest addition to the line is the Orleans bar cart. (See Style, p. 10.) There is a renewed interest in the drinks cart and what a great functional piece it is. What else would you be doing if you weren’t doing this? Before I decided to go the design route in school, I had planned to major in French or psychology. Aside from frequently traveling to France, where I would be forced to speak French all day while perusing the markets and fairs (as well as eating and drinking the local fare), I would spend more time at home and with my family.
Tell us about your background. I graduated from Tulane with a B.A. in English. I was fortunate to have spent my junior year in Paris where I spent much of the time studying art history at the museums and living amongst such beautiful architecture, sculpture and surroundings. My family and I had a gallery with Mario Villa in Chicago before I moved back to New Orleans and started my own line, so I had been selling other artists’ work for many years and fine-tuning my own eye during that time. Who are the principals of your firm/business? I am the owner and designer and rely on an array of talented artists and craftsmen. How does New Orleans affect your profession? What are the benefits and challenges? I do not think I could have done this anywhere but New Orleans. First of all, if you have an idea, there is no doubt that you can find someone to help you to create it – in any medium. Also, the people of New Orleans totally support their local talent. One of the challenges is that we have a lot of distractions: Mardi Gras; Jazz Fest; countless neighborhood festivals all over town; there is always someone in town to entertain; and this year, the Super Bowl. These make our quality of life so wonderful, but they do tend to slow us down.
Tell us about your current projects. I am currently finishing up a custom chandelier and a lantern for local designer Grace Kaynor. I am also working on a new group of lamps for Gallery 3954 on Magazine Street. I recently shipped some work to a new design studio, which has just opened in Louisville, Ky. What would you be doing if you weren’t doing this? I would like to get back to fine art – ceramic sculpture and painting. I have taken a lot of classes and dabbled over the years but find myself really craving more of this type of hands-on expression. I think it is just a matter of time before I dive back in.
fifi laughlin
Tell us about your background. In 2008, Make It Right began building homes in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward. We started the organization to build safe, sustainable, well-designed homes for families who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. Who are the principals of your firm/business? Brad Pitt founded Make It Right, with guidance from Cradle to Cradle pioneer Bill McDonough and architecture firm Graft. He brought architects from New Orleans and around the world to New Orleans to design our homes. Twenty-one firms designed single-family and duplex homes for Make It Right. The single-family home designers are Adjaye Associates, Billes Architecture, BNIM, Concordia, Constructs LLC, Eskew+Dumez+Ripple, Graft, Kieran Timberlake Architects, Morphosis, MVRDV, Pugh+Scarpa Architects, Trahan Architects, Shigeru Ban Architects. The duplex home designers are Atelier Hitoshi Abe, Bild Design, Buildingstudio, Elemental, Gehry Partners, Waggoner and Ball Architects, William McDonough and Partners. How does New Orleans affect your profession? What are the benefits and challenges? Though Make It Right is now working in other parts of the country, New Orleans is the reason we exist. We set out to join the rebuilding effort in the Lower 9th Ward; today we’re using what we’ve learned building sustainable, affordable houses in New Orleans to help disabled veterans in Newark, N.J., and a blighted neighborhood in Kansas City, Mo. New Orleans, like other cities, did not have many contractors trained in the green building methods we use, like pervious concrete, solar installation and advanced framing. We’ve trained local laborers in green building practices – so they can work on our homes and share their expertise on other projects around New Orleans.
make it right foundation Answers by Tim Duggan, landscape architect, and Taylor Royle, communications director
Tell us about your current projects. Make It Right is building 150 homes in the Lower 9th Ward. We’ve built 86 homes so far and are breaking ground on new homes every month. This year we completed our first home by worldrenowned architect Frank Gehry. This home is the only Gehry design in Louisiana and one of only 33 Gehry homes in the world. What else would you be doing if you weren’t doing this? We can’t think of anything we’d rather do than help make sustainable, welldesigned homes affordable for everyone! We would like to change the way all buildings are designed and built so that everyone lives in a home that is healthy for the homeowners and the environment.
Tell us about your background. After high school and a disastrous first go-round at college, I took a job at a nursery and fell in love with working outside in the landscape of trees and flowers. A few years later, I returned to school, where I earned a degree in landscape architecture. While in school, I spent two successive summers in Japan, studying and working in the gardens of Kyoto. The great appeal to me of Japanese gardens is that they have evolved through the centuries as an art form in their own right and not merely as ornamentation to architecture. During the past few decades, I have designed and installed many gardens in the region and have worked to be mindful of the possibility of the garden as an artwork. In a way, it is the inverse of sculpture. Whereas sculpture is the fashioning of an object inserted in space, a garden is an environment that shapes space itself.
Who are the principals of your firm/business? I am the sole principal of the firm Robin Tanner Landscape Architect. How does New Orleans affect your business? What are the benefits and challenges? There are ways in which the city of New Orleans affects the profession of landscape architecture. The climate of the city, being much like that of a greenhouse, allows a lush diversity of vegetation. This provides a rich palette of material for landscape design efforts. The mild weather coaxes people outdoors to enjoy their outside space. Moreover, the gregarious nature of New Orleans people encourages the use of the landscape for social activities. Tell about your current projects. Currently, I am working on the ongoing improvement of the Japanese garden in City Park, as well as several private residential projects in the city, as well as one in Boulder, Colo. What else would you be doing if you weren’t doing this? If I were not working at my first love of landscape design and installation, I would be riding a bicycle across the United States and Europe.
robin tanner
give & learn Here’s a quick primer on appropriate hostess gifts for every occasion you might encounter during the busy holiday season. By Valorie Hart / Photographed by Eugenia Uhl
THIS PAGE: Everything gold is the hottest design trend in home dĂŠcor. These gold ceramic animals would be much-appreciated by the savvy home-decorating hostess. Shown here are an elephant, rhino and horse, all from Eclectic Home. FACING PAGE: Think about giving vintage or vintage-inspired items as hostess gifts. The large square acrylic dish would make a great breadbasket or catchall. The set of cute vintage coasters and a stack of maple leaf nesting dishes are both one-of-a-kind; all three are from Caravan. The vintage-inspired matches from The Porch are fun. A lovely set of eight vintage luncheon napkins are from Medium Rare. All three stores are located in The Shops at 2011.
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n this age of texting and e-mails, old gracious customs seem to be going by the wayside. Many people do not RSVP or do not send handwritten notes or invitations anymore. Even a phone call is getting to be a rarity. This is not the case in New Orleans. Even in these modern high-tech times, the customs of gentility and consideration prevail. All kinds of parties are given: cocktail, dinner, luncheons, housewarming, showers and Carnival. There are plenty of opportunities to exercise the art of giving a hostess gift. A hostess gift does not have to be costly, but it should always be thoughtful. A bottle of wine or a bouquet from the supermarket will always be good options, but perhaps something more creative could be offered. Here in New Orleans one would never think to turn up empty-handed to a soiree. Still, Emily Post says there are guidelines of when to bring a hostess gift. Casual dinner party: Dinner party guests usually bring a hostess gift unless they are close friends who dine together frequently. Formal dinner party: Gifts aren’t usually taken to large, formal dinners. When there’s a guest of honor: If it’s a birthday, anniversary, graduation or shower, bring a gift for the honoree. When you’re the guest of honor: Bring a gift for your host or hostess, or send flowers before the party. After the party, send a thank you note. Housewarming: It’s customary to bring a gift to a housewarming. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be something lasting for the house. Weekend visit: Either bring or send a gift. Your gift of choice will depend on the length of your stay and how elaborately you’re entertained. There are so many fun shops in New Orleans in which to look for the perfect hostess gift. While you don’t have to break the bank, your gift should be sincere, thoughtful and personal.
TOP: These embellished champagne glasses are elegant, unique and festive. They come in silver or gold from Eclectic Home. This rocks glass is from a set of four designed by Mignon Faget for the Preservation Resource Center Store. The whiskey stones are from Modern Market and are made of soapstone. Chill them, and they will never melt or dilute your favorite libation. BOTTOM: Practical gifts are always good to give and get. These black-and-white fancy paper napkins would come in handy, and so would a graphic-print oversize tea towel, both from Modern Market. The one-handed bottle opener from Belladonna is a nifty gadget that any hostess would welcome on her bar cart. FACING PAGE: The large “100 Gathered Thoughts” notepad, knot-handle magnifying glass and Eiffel Tower magnifier are all from The Porch in The Shops at 2011. Give a tandem gift of the Buddha pen and “Ideas” notebook from Modern Market. The beautiful, delicate handcrafted bone scissors from A.K.A. Stella Gray can take up to one week for an artisan to carve, and they really cut!
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A good rule of thumb is to give something you yourself would like to receive. New Orleanians are originals and always appreciate something a little different. If you must bring a plain old bouquet of flowers, then look for a cute container to deliver it in. Anything with an initial or monogram will be a hit. Consider the interests and collections of your host or hostess. A small item catering to what he or she loves is a gift that goes the extra mile. Any locally made product is looked upon with favor. People in New Orleans prefer to support their own. A gift for your host or hostess is a classic and gracious way to thank them for their hospitality and is always appreciated. In some parts of the country, a hostess gift is considered obligatory, while in other places a gift is brought only on special occasions. If it’s the first time you’re visiting someone’s home, then it’s a very nice gesture to bring a small gift. If you have a few extra minutes, wrap it up; even if you only use tissue paper and a gift bag, it adds polish to the gesture.
TOP RIGHT: You can never go wrong with giving fancy soaps to a hostess. Here are some in the shape of fried green tomatoes and an architectural fragment. Others include scented soaps in NOLA Blue, Basil, Orange Blossom and L’Oiseau, all from Cricket Studios in The Shops at 2011. Also shown are locally made soaps, named Uptown and Mid City, from Belladonna. BELOW: A scented candle is always a welcome hostess gift, but these large, long-burning candles from Tommy’s Flowers come in elegant pottery urns that can be reused when the candle is finished. Add a box of pretty matches from The Porch in The Shops at 2011.
Shown here are scented candles in Treme, in a geometric print tin, and Garden District, in a bird motif tin, both locally made and sold at Belladonna. A simple bouquet makes an extra-special gift when given with this container with three bottles in a tin holder from Tommy’s Flowers.
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A long-lasting “forever” topiary made of preserved boxwood is a nice alternative to a plant. This pair of shellencrusted busts has a Carnival twist. These “artichokes” are candles, a clever take on bringing a hostess gift of food. The topiary and busts are from Tommy’s Flowers, who create beautiful flower arrangements and have a wonderful gift selection in their shop. The fun fauxartichoke candles are from Source.
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LEFT: Initials and monograms are always popular. These metal letters come from Discoveries: Furniture and Finds. The initial mug is from Anthropologie – give it with a bouquet of roses from the supermarket. BOTTOM LEFT: Be quirky if your host or hostess is quirky. The terrarium in a repurposed wine bottle is another way to bring the usual “flowers and wine” in an unusual way. The oversize neoprene key with a key ring is cool and would be a great housewarming gift. And the ice tray shown actually makes frozen shot glasses that you can infuse with edible flowers or herbs. All are from Modern Market. BOTTOM RIGHT: Pretty boxes are a nice gift. The set of tin boxes in the shape of books from The Porch in the Shops at 2011 are extracute. The handmade woven raffia boxes from A.K.A. Stella Gray would be great for pens and pencils. The doorstop in the shape of a mouse from Discoveries: Furniture and Finds would be welcome in many a tilting New Orleans home where doors seldom stay open on their own. FACING PAGE: What hostess or host doesn’t love silver? Add to their collection with a set of charming salad servers with feather handles, a set of spreaders with rope-twist handles or a handsome nutcracker, all from Source. For a touch of whimsy, give a bouquet of glittered calla lilies that will never die from The Porch at The Shops at 2011 or a silver wishbone from A.K.A. Stella Gray. The engraved silver dish is from Discoveries: Furniture and Finds.
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P RE S E RV AT ION R E SOU R C E C EN TE R OF N E W OR LE A N S P R OMOTION A L S E C TION
P r e s e rvat i o n R e s o u r c e C e n t e r
New Orleans
37th Annual Holiday Home Tour of
life of low-income elderly and disabled homeowners through home repair and neighborhood revitalization • Advocacy: bringing together homeowners, neighborhood associations, and governmental agencies to protect significant structures and neighborhoods and to provide incentives for preservation • Education & Outreach: broadening awareness of New Orleans’ unique architecture, neighborhoods, history and culture • Preservation Easements: protecting historic properties in perpetuity from inappropriate alterations, deterioration and demolition • Preservation in Print: publishing the only magazine in the state dedicated to news of neighborhood revitalization and historic preservation in New Orleans and Louisiana
Now in its 39th year, Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans is one of the top historic preservation organizations in the country. Since August of 2005, PRC has: • Restored 400 homes, with dozens more in the works • Generated and managed volunteer labor valued at $4 million • Completed restoration projects exceeding $10 million in value • Reached thousands of homeowners through preservation grants, counseling, workshops and outreach events • Focused its programs on long-term sustainability and green practices The funds raised from the Holiday Home Tour guarantee that PRC will continue protecting New Orleans’ historic charm and assisting more homeowners in renovating and revitalizing their homes and neighborhoods.
PRC has achieved the highest rating for fiscal responsibility – four stars – from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, for five years in a row. Of every dollar donated to PRC, 90 cents goes directly back into the mission.
Holiday Home Tour proceeds give life to PRC’s programs: • Operation Comeback: purchasing and renovating vacant and blighted properties for resale to homeowners • Rebuilding Together New Orleans: improving the quality of
PRC is committed to preserving the architecture and historic neighborhoods that reflect New Orleans’ authentic culture and character.
Patron Party: Friday, Dec. 7 At the home of Betsy & Gary Laborde 4730 St. Charles Ave. Sparkling Silver Bells Reception 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Silver Bell patrons will be invited to an intimate reception to toast the tour and preview the patron party home. Hors d’oeuvres by St. James Cheese Co.
Patron Party 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. PRC patrons will celebrate the Holiday Home Tour weekend with cocktails in an elegant home on the Avenue. Menu by Ralph Brennan Catering & Events Patron Packages Jingle Bells ($150) - 1 Patron Party ticket / 2 tour tickets Sleigh Bells ($375) - 2 Patron Party tickets / 4 tour tickets Silver Bells ($650) - 4 Sparkling Silver Bells Reception tickets / 4 Patron Party tickets / 8 tour tickets
Reserve tickets by calling 581.7032 or visiting www.prcno.org.
37th annual PRC holiday home tour The annual Holiday Home Tour takes visitors through stunning historic homes in the Garden District, a cherished national destination. At the tour headquarters, a catered café offers regional cuisine, and a holiday boutique features more than 40 local artists, craftsmen and retailers. At each destination on the tour, attendees are immersed in the fascinating history and incredible architecture of a charming neighborhood and regaled with the tunes of talented New Orleans musicians. who:
Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans
what:
37th Annual Holiday Home Tour Self-guided tour of Garden District homes. Courtesy shuttle provided by Limousine Livery LTD
when:
Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 8 & 9 Boutique: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Home Tour: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Café: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Café by Palate New Orleans Catering & Special Events
sponsors: Media Sponsor New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles new orleans
homes & lifestyles
Gold Sponsors Burk-Kleinpeter Inc. LATTER & BLUM Inc Realtors Ralph Brennan Catering & Events
Raised Centerhall Cottage East Jefferson General Hospital *Nordic Kitchens and Baths Inc.
where: Tour headquarters at Trinity Episcopal Church
in Bishop Polk Hall, 1329 Jackson Ave. In the Garden District
how:
For advance tickets or more information, please call 581-7032 or visit www.prcno.org.
tickets: In advance:
$30 for PRC members and groups of 10 or more $35 for nonmembers
On the days of the tour: All tickets are $40 and available at Trinity Episcopal Church. Tickets are valid for both days of the tour.
homes: Michael Murphy & Brent Becnel: 2912 Prytania St.
Sara Ruffin Costello & Paul Costello: 1213 Third St. Jim Simpson & Ross McWilliams: 1305 Josephine St. Lynne Stern: 1223 Philip St. Dr. & Mrs. Rand Voorhies: 1139 Third St. Jennifer & Doug Walner: 2701 St. Charles Ave.
bonus house: Canon Turner Hall at Trinity Episcopal School: 1441 Jackson Ave. Trinity Mansion by Peter Briant
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Victorian Shotgun *Cabinets by Design Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles French Market Coffee GARDNER, REALTORS *Guaranty Sheet Metal Works Inc. Limousine Livery LTD Ted Nusenow / Iberia Bank Mortgage Randy & Kathy Opotowsky Mrs. Harold Stream Waters Parkerson & Co. LLC Katie Witry & Todd Riché Creole Cottage Adams and Reese LLP *Bremermann Designs Kay & Tim Favrot The Friends of Our Lady of Good Counsel Lila Heymann *Julie Neill Designs Keller Williams Realty New Orleans Mr. & Mrs. James H. Lee Jr. Drs. William Paul & Anne Long *M. Carbine Restorations Ltd. M.S. Rau Antiques St. James Cheese Co. *Contributed to the beauty and integrity of one or more of the tour homes.
37th annual PRC holiday home tour
michael murphy & brent becnel 2912 Prytania St.
Sara ruffin costello & paul costello 1213 Third St.
37th annual PRC holiday home tour
jim simpson & ross mcwilliams 1305 Josephine St.
lynne stern 1223 Philip St.
37th annual PRC holiday home tour
dr. & mrs. rand voorhies 1139 Third St.
jennifer & Doug walner 2701 St. Charles Ave.
37th annual PRC holiday home tour
committee members: Event Chairs Lori Elliott Paige Katherine Kleinpeter Raymond Boutique Committee Kelley Abbott, Chair Lisa Yarborough, Chair Tristan Dupepe Tara Monistere Kristin Moore Catherine Wise Historical Committee Enid Fahrenholt, Chair Leigh Thorpe, Chair Elizabeth Burger Mary Lane Carleton Ann Conger Brooke Malec Michelle McLennan Rachel Robinson Kaylee Smith Music Committee Hallie Boh, Chair Erin Bolles, Chair
Helen Smith, Chair Joy Allen Linda Bordenave Karen Boudreaux Jennifer Couvillon Sarah Ehrensing Leila Gamard Kendall Genre Lyn Hallaron Katie Hardin Patricia Murret Jennifer Rareshide Gigi Roth Nini Scriber Katherine Whann Lilla Wright Patron Party Committee Jeanne Harang Boughton, Chair Annie Sarpy Phillips, Chair Danielle Moreton Sutton, Chair Virginia Barba Jenny Charpentier Michelle Cox Laurel Franklin Harlin Wendy Joseph
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Holly Nieset Michele Prokop Kathleen Ramsey Ann Sinnott Mollie Williamson Katie Witry Sponsorship Committee Sarah Martzolf, Chair Dana Parks, Chair Christine Albert Shon Cowan Baker Melissa Beaugh Alice Glenn Amy Mixon Elizabeth Brugge Neilson Kristen Nelson Casey Neilson Spaulding Staffing Committee Tricia Aucoin, Chair Jill Pipes, Chair Quincy Crawford Suzanne Dumez Jessica Friedlander Jessie Haynes
Mimi Hess Courtney Lane Meg Leche Heather Passler Cate Reymond Ticket Sales Committee Katie Couvillion, Chair Jessica Inman, Chair Charlotte Sapir, Chair Mary Frances Craig Jennifer Dragna Laura Glazer Hayden Gunn Shelley Harris Averill Lacour Tara Micelle Blair Schmidt Lara White
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Shop Marchand Creative Kitchens Metairie 3517 Division St. 504/888-0695 2180 N. Causeway Blvd. Mandeville 985/892-2572 www.mckitchens.com
California Closets 3211 N. Causeway Blvd. Metairie 504/828-5705 www.californiaclosets.com/metairie
Rivers Spencer Interiors 4610 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/609-2436 www.riversspencer.com
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Nordic Kitchens and Baths inc. 1818 Veterans Blvd. Metairie 504/888-2300 www.nordickitchens.com
Nancy Robbins 816 Asbury Drive, Suite A Mandeville 985/727-4565 985/789-5770 www.nancyrobbinsinteriors.com
The French Mix 228 Lee Lane Covington 985/809-3152 www.shopthefrenchmix.com
Tuscan Stone Imports 720 S. Galvez St. New Orleans 504/837-1511 www.tuscanstoneimports.com www.neworleanshomesandlifestyles.com New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles | 65
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Shop Floor & DĂŠcor 2801 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-3005 4 Westside Shopping Center Gretna 504/361-0501 www.flooranddecoroutlets.com
Eclectic Home 8211 Oak St. New Orleans 504/866-6654 www.eclectichome.net
Wren’s Tontine Shade and Design 1533 Prytania St. New Orleans 504/525-7409 www.wrenstontine.com Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group 504/539-5520 www.ralphbrennnacookbook.com
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For Sale 920 Louisiana Ave ........................................................... $1,135,000 8019 Jeannette Place ......................................................... $659,000 201 Friedrichs .................................................................... $549,000 Recently Sold 6045 Perrier St ................................................................ $1,250,000 3723 Carondelet St ............................................................ $780,000 43 Versailles Bl .................................................................. $599,000 5304 Camp St .................................................................... $595,000 4208 Vendome Pl ............................................................... $565,000 3369 State Street Dr........................................................... $429,000 6039 Tchoupitoulas St........................................................ $408,000 1900 Audubon St................................................................ $399,000 7738 Green St .................................................................... $375,000 5947 Constance St ............................................................. $360,000 2226 Pine ........................................................................... $255,000 935 Seventh St ................................................................... $230,000 2312 Calhoun St Low A ...................................................... $194,000 Call for a free market analysis of your home or investment property.
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Shop Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom 139 Plantation Road Harahan 504/733-6300 1821 Commercial Drive Harvey 504/348-2042 www.coburns.com
Stairway Shop 5717 Salmen St. Harahan 504/734-1315 www.stairwayshop.com
A Plus Marble & Granite Designs 355 Iris Ave, Suite A New Orleans 504/304-6562 504/298-5005 www.aplusmarblegranitedesigns.com 68 | New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Winter 2012
www.neworleanshomesandlifestyles.com New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles | 69
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Shop Artisan Kitchens 5243 Tchoupitoulas St. New Orleans 504/891-8884 www.artisannola.com
Palatial Stone 2052 Paxton St. Harvey 504/340-2229 2033 N. Highway 190, Suite 9 Covington 985/249-6868 www.palatialstone.com
M.S. Rau Antiques 630 Royal St. New Orleans 504/523-5660 www.rauantiques.com 70 | New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Winter 2012
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advertising resource
directory building materials A Plus Marble & Granite Designs 355 Iris Ave, Suite A New Orleans 504/304-6562 504/298-5005 www.aplusmarblegranitedesigns. com All custom fabrication and installation. We are committed to delivering the highest quality of craftsmanship in the countertop industry. Ten-plus years of a family-owned and -operated company!
windows, moldings, columns, cabinets, shutters, hardware and other custom products.
Diniz Design Inc. 11962 Lakeland Park Blvd. Baton Rouge 225/755-0114 www.dinizdesign.com Diniz Design is a full-service natural stone and design company offering the highest-quality materials and superior craftsmanship for every job. Whether you need granite, quartz, marble or travertine, we have it all.
Pieri Tile & Marble Co. 3622 Toulouse St. New Orleans 504/488-1509 www.pieritile.com Sells porcelain; ceramic; glass; and all types of natural stone, including granite, marble, travertine, limestone, flagstone, soapstone, slate – all in tiles and in slabs. Provides the materials and the installation for floors, walls, countertops, fireplaces – interior and exterior in all areas of the home. Pieri’s goal is to maintain its current reputation of being the best in the industry.
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery 901 S. Labarre Road, Suite 205 Metairie 504/849-3060 www.ferguson.com At Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery you’ll find an unparalleled selection of high-quality choices from today’s most-recognized manufacturers. Jefferson Door 1227 First Ave. Harvey 504/340-2471 Jefferson Door supplies a full range of millwork products including interior and exterior door units,
Palatial Stone 2052 Paxton St. Harvey 504/340-2229 2033 N. Highway 190, Suite 9 Covington 985/249-6868 www.palatialstone.com Specializes in designing kitchens, baths and interiors with natural stone of all sizes, shapes, patterns and textures.
Stairway Shop 5717 Salmen St. Harahan 504/734-1315 www.stairwayshop.com Providers of stair parts, spiral stairways and stairway kits. Tuscan Stone Imports 720 S. Galvez St. New Orleans 504/837-1511 www.tuscanstoneimports.com Tuscan Stone Imports has become
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one of the Gulf South’s largest importers of natural stone products (slabs and tiles). Whether you are building a new home, renovating an existing home or simply want a new look, our sales team is here to help. Let Tuscan Stone Imports bring your dream to reality.
Tyson Construction P.O. Box 741 Luling 504/236-3838 504/905-1042 www.tyson-construction.com Tyson Construction is a proud member of Southern Living’s Custom Builder Program. We strive for excellence in every aspect of the building process, whether new construction or renovations. culinary Audubon Clubhouse Cafe 504/212-5282 AudubonInstitute.org/ events/private AudubonInstitute.org/ visit/clubhouse-cafe Audubon Clubhouse Café is open to the public and located in Audubon Park. This casual and comfortable atmosphere offers delicious fare of salads, sandwiches and specialties. Serving Tuesday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ralph Brennan Catering & Events 504/539-5511 www.ralphbrennanevents.com For events from 12-1200, we offer full-service holiday catering; pick-up and drop-off party platters. We work. You play! financial Fidelity Homestead Savings Bank 800/220-2497 www.fidelityhomestead.com Founded in 1908, Fidelity Homestead Savings Bank provides a full array of banking services, including commercial, consumer and residential loans, with high integrity and personalized service to communities throughout Southeast Louisiana. For more information, please visit www.fidelityhomestead. com, call Fidelity’s 24-hour Fast line at 800/220-2497 or visit your nearest Fidelity branch. home furnishings & Accessories Dunleith Design and Antiques 1537 Metairie Road Metairie 504/272-0879 www.dunleithdesigns.com Offering 3,000 square feet of English, French and American antiques from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Come in and also find decorative accessories, fine home furnishings and interior design services.
Eclectic Home Gott Gourmet Café 3100 Magazine St. at Eighth Street 504/373-6579 www.gottgourmetcafe.com Fresh and innovative, Gott Gourmet Café offers a unique menu of signature dishes with house-made dressings, sauces and meat.
8211 Oak St. New Orleans 504/866-6654 www.eclectichome.net Unique home furnishings store offers lighting, accessories, gifts, bedding, upholstery and much more. Design consulting services available.
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Ecru Antique & Interiors
M.S. Rau Antiques
3933 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/304-9475 www.ecruantiques.com Open for almost two years, Ecru is a mother-and-daughter attempt to re-create the rustic French countryside. Specializing in pale-washed antiques, linen slipcovered furniture and one-of-akind finds.
630 Royal St. New Orleans 504/523-5660 www.rauantiques.com A New Orleans landmark for 100 years, M.S. Rau Antiques caters to discerning collectors and specializes in rare antiques, important jewelry and fine art.
The French Mix 228 Lee Lane Covington 985/809-3152 www.shopthefrenchmix.com Owner and designer Jennifer Dicerbo of The French Mix in historic downtown Covington will create the home of your dreams. Please visit The French Mix to see its fabulously chic, modern-meets-traditional home furnishings, lighting and fine art.
Guy Lyman Fine Art 3645 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/899-4687 www.guylymanfineart.com Guy Lyman Fine Art features paintings and drawings ranging from the 1800s to modern/ contemporary, chosen for offering fine value.
Hall Piano Co. 901 David Drive Metairie 504/733-8863 www.hallpiano.com Louisiana’s premier Steinway dealer! Since 1958, your resource for new and used pianos – buy, sell, rent, repair, move and adult lessons.
Jon Vaccari 1912 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans 504/899-7632 In addition to a carefully edited selection of fine European and American antiques, Jon Vaccari Design is the exclusive New Orleans source for both Baker and McGuire furniture.
Nancy Robbins 816 Asbury Drive, Suite A Mandeville 985/727-4565 985/789-5770 www.nancyrobbinsinteriors.com Design studio that carries furniture, art, accessories, Oriental rugs and lighting in stock and by custom order. Also designs renovations, lighting plans and furniture floor plans. NOLA Rugs 3944 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-3304 www.nolarugs.com The South’s most exquisite collection of hand-woven carpets including antique Oushaks and traditional Persians and an exclusive line of Tibetan and Afghan refugee rugs. Orient Expressed 3905 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/899-3060 www.orientexpressed.com Eclectic gift shop that specializes in unique and enticing gifts for the home, individual and bride. Collection includes antiques to accessories.
Rivers Spencer interiors 504/609-2436 4610 Magazine St. New Orleans www.riversspencer.com Rivers Spencer Interiors is a carefully curated collection of fine home furnishings, including name brand antique reproductions, private-label upholstery, gifts,
original art and design services.
Shades of Blue 3530 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-1575 www.shadesofblueinc.com Interior designer Mary Lou Fewell heads up this design firm with a focus on window coverings, furniture, art and accessories.
The Shops at 2011 2011 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/407-0499 www.theshopsat2011.com The Shops at 2011 is a collection of artists and designers offering a varied and unique selection of goods in a marketplace setting. Always expect the unexpected. Wren’s Tontine Shade & Design 1533 Prytania St. New Orleans 504/525-7409 www.wrenstontine.com Third-generation decorating shop that specializes in window treatments. Well-known for the highquality shutters, roller shades and bamboo shades. inspiration The Historic New Orleans Collection 533 Royal St. New Orleans 504/598-7147 www.hnoc.org Discover the history of French Quarter property with THNOC’s Vieux Carré Digital Survey, which offers maps, site plans, property records and photographs for every block.
New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park 504/658-4100 www.noma.org The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden provide inspiration and
relaxation with a vast and varied permanent collection that includes painting, glass, decorative arts and much more. kitchen & bath Artisan Kitchen & Bath 5243 Tchoupitoulas St. New Orleans 504/891-8884 www.artisannola.com Where cutting-edge design meets the explosive flavor of New Orleans! Features SieMatic cabinetry; CornuFe ranges; and an elegant selection of countertops, hardware and appliances. Cabinets by Design 5201 Tchoupitoulas St. New Orleans 504/899-2300 www.cabinetsbydesign.com Specializing in custom kitchen and bath designs featuring Wood-Mode and Brookhaven cabinetry. A wide selection of appliances, countertops, plumbing fixtures, decorative tile and hardware is also available. Cameron Kitchen and Bath Designs 8019 Palm St. New Orleans 504/486-3759 www.cameronkitchens.com Gerald Johnson, certified kitchen and bath designer, is your experienced specialist, designing kitchens, baths and more since 1970. Quality custom cabinets and professional installation complete the full-service package.
Classic Cupboards 5809 River Oaks Road S. New Orleans 504/734-9088 www.classiccupboards.com Classic Cupboards is a family-owned business specializing in kitchen design and offering quality cabinetry and appliances. We have been creating distinctive kitchens for more than 30 years and have become New Orleans’ premier kitchen design
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advertising resource
directory center. Our goal is to make each client’s vision a reality by creating a kitchen that reflects his or her personal style. Please visit our Web site to browse our portfolio and view our work. Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom 139 Plantation Road Harahan 504/733-6300 1821 Commercial Drive Harvey 504/348-2042 www.coburns.com Planning to build a new house or remodel your home? You’ll find everything you need at Coburn’s fullservice Kitchen & Bath Showrooms. Marchand Creative Kitchens 3517 Division St. Metairie 504/888-0695 2180 N. Causeway Blvd. Mandeville 985/892-2572 www.mckitchens.com Marchand Creative Kitchens is a thirdgeneration kitchen dealer specializing in cabinets, appliances, countertops and kitchen design. We have been in our current location on Division Street in Metairie since 1961. Nordic Kitchens and Baths Inc. 1818 Veterans Blvd. Metairie 504/888-2300 www.nordickitchens.com Appliances, cabinets, countertops, faucets and fixtures to add a touch of elegance to your kitchen or bathroom. Luxury-brand appliances: Sub-Zero, Wolf, Gaggenau, Siemens, Viking, Miele, Heritage and more.
Stafford Tile & Stone 5234 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/895-5000 www.staffordtile.com Sells and designs with custom stone products and handmade tiles from all over the world. Maintains exclusive lines of tile that are unique to this area.
specialists California Closets 3211 N. Causeway Blvd. Metairie 504/828-5705 www.californiaclosets.com/ Metairie California Closets has been serving South Louisiana since 1984, providing custom storage systems for all areas of the house including closets, home offices, garages and utility areas.
Connie Kittok real estate Charlotte Hailey Dorion, Realtor Gardner Realtors 7934 Maple St. New Orleans Charrealty@nocoxmail.com 504/237-8615 With more than 18 years experience as a Realtor with Gardner Realtors, Charlotte’s focus is to provide her clients with the most positive real estate experience possible.
Money Hill 985/892-3300 www.moneyhill.com Money Hill Golf and Country Club in St. Tammany offers 18-hole championship golf, 4.2-mile nature/hiking trail, swim/tennis club, 150-acre lake and more. retirement living Lambeth House 150 Broadway New Orleans 504/865-1960 www.LambethHouse.com Beautifully situated next to Audubon Park and the River, Lambeth House offers active, carefree retirement living, plus the security of on-site care, if ever needed.
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985/981-2400 www.ckittokart.net I am a native of New Orleans who relocated to Ponchatoula about 30 years ago, born with a strong desire to be an artist. I graduated from Delgado Community College with a degree in commercial art and continued my art education at Southeastern Louisiana. I have what you might call a freestyle, wide-stroke technique in my painting. I like to use recycled materials as my canvas. A few of my favorite subjects I enjoy painting are musicians, historical sites and the colorful people that make New Orleans what it is.
Floor & Décor 2801 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-3005 4 Westside Shopping Center Gretna 504/361-0501 www.flooranddecoroutlets.com Floor & Décor has the largest in-stock selection of tile, wood and stone in New Orleans, all at the lowest prices every day. Louisiana Custom Closets 13405 Seymour Meyer Blvd., Suite 24 Covington 985/871-0810 504/885-3188 www.louisianacustomclosets.com Louisiana Custom Closets designs and installs custom shelving for closets, garages and utility rooms. The company’s No. 1 priority is customer service and customer satisfaction, provided by professional and experienced designers, installation crews and office staff. Louisiana Custom Closets offers free in-home consultations, with designs on state-of-the-art computer programs. This service is offered at a most competitive price.
Davie Shoring 504/779-7000 www.davieshoring.com Davie Shoring Inc. is the most trusted name in the home elevation business. Specializing in house-shoring and leveling, foundation repair, elevation and moving. It can lift and size homes to any height required. With thousands of homes lifted, Davie Shoring is nationally recognized for its superior PermaLock technology.
Pontchartrain Construction Services 310 Huey P. Long Ave. Gretna 504/366-8325 www.pontchartraincs.com Pontchartrain Construction Services is your place for renovations, restorations, design and build. They have been servicing the Orleans and Jefferson parish areas since 2001.
Exterior Designs
Ruffino Custom Closets 110 Campbell Ave., Suite 1B Mandeville 985/809-7623 www.ruffinocustomclosets.com Ruffino Custom Closets is a custom closet and storage solution company, specializing in organization and design and complete closet and garage systems. •
2903 Octavia St. New Orleans 504/866-0276 ww.exteriordesignsbev.com Landscape designs, consultations, property evaluation and problem resolution with experienced crews in construction and landscaping.
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home renewal
spiffing up De-cluttering your home on an everyday basis can make it so much more comfortable and livable. By Peter Reichard
Recently, my wife and I put our house on the market. Getting a house ready for sale is serious work. It takes a lot of cleaning; a lot of de-cluttering; a little rearranging; and, here and there, some staging. By the time you do what it takes, the house looks so good, you don’t want to sell it anymore. In fact, it occurred to me: Why don’t we do this more often? A clean, clutterfree house creates a sense of order and space that transfers from your outward surroundings to your psyche. After I staged a little-used but comfortable chair with a
book on the side table next to it, I found myself gravitating to the chair to do some reading for real. The point is, when you prepare a house for sale, you pick up a few basics for making your home more livable. It begins with de-cluttering. For years, I had been treating the utility room like a junk pile. When the time came to clean it, I realized most of the clutter was worthless. I filled garbage bag after garbage bag with stuff I realized I just didn’t use anymore. You know the three-second rule kids
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have about a piece of food that touches the ground? Well, there ought to be a three-year rule about your belongings. If three years have passed and you haven’t used it, I say throw it away unless it’s a tool you might need later or something of extraordinary sentimental value. But remember this: Sentimentality and nostalgia are the enemies of an orderly home. That old baseball mitt? If it no longer fits, you must pitch it. The pitch-it list includes the ugly vase your aunt gave you as a gift that you’ve kept
around out of a sense of guilt. It includes souvenirs that jumble on your shelves. It even includes certain books, like how-to books that you’ll never use again. (But to be clear: I’m not advocating tossing Thoreau’s collected works into the fireplace.) Anything you think might be worth something to someone you can give away or sell in a garage sale – in other words, account for the trash-treasure dichotomy. This might make you feel better about parting ways with such items. Some things just need to be put away. Look at the
refrigerator: Clear off the reminders, children’s art projects and personal injury lawyer magnets. And do you really need all those appliances and cooking supplies out on your counter? Basic maintenance habits help, too. Take the daily mail. Most of it can go straight into the recycling bin right after you walk in the door. Put the rest in a briefcase or a folder on your desk. De-cluttering will open the way for you to properly organize. Closets are rife with possibilities for improvement. Ideally, all your hangers should be the same and all your clothes should face in the same direction. Pants go with pants, shirts with shirts, dresses with dresses and so on. Shoes should be paired and stowed. Another high priority is the exterior. Clean up the yard, and mulch the garden. Trim the hedges, and clear off the porch. Spend a couple hundred bucks on pressure-washing. Your deck and fence will look newly built. Your sidewalks and patio will look crisp. Your house will look freshly painted. Your windows will be halfway clean. Driving up to your sparkling new home each evening will be a pleasure. Back inside, you’ll have to finish cleaning the other half of your windows. You’ll have to clean the thousand-andone splatters and smudges that have built up on your doors and walls over the years. You’ll have to paint what you can’t clean. And you’ll have to spackle or seal the inevitable dings and cracks in your walls. You
ignore these things while they’re there but somehow notice when they’re gone. The recent hurricane provided us with an unexpected opportunity to clean out our refrigerator. More than just about any storage space, a clean and organized refrigerator pays dividends. If you actually know the contents, you’re more likely to eat food before it goes bad and has to be thrown out – more money in the bank. A similar point can be made in general for keeping a clean, organized, clutterfree house. When the pots and pans pile up or the house looks like a tornado swept through, I feel less inclined to spend time at home. I’m more likely to eat out, to find entertainment out in the capitalistic world. That costs a lot more money than spending a quiet evening at home, listening to classical music, sitting in that comfortable chair and reading a book by lamplight. A clean house is a transcendent house. When was the last time you saw a dusty, cluttered church or temple? Outward space allows for inward space. Zen Buddhists may have taken this insight to the extreme. Their temples and monasteries, indoors and out, are renowned models of order and spaciousness. Rows of meditation cushions may be the only furniture indoors. Neatly combed rock gardens and tightly trimmed foliage make for serenity outdoors. So clean, de-clutter and organize. It’s the first step on the path to enlightenment. n www.neworleanshomesandlifestyles.com New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles | 77
resources The area code is 504, unless otherwise noted.
Artist Profile, p. 14 Anita Cooke, anitadc@aol.com, anitacooke.com; Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, 400A Julia St., 522-5471, jonathanferraragallery.com
For the Garden, p. 18 “Going Native” LSU AgCenter Jefferson Parish Extension, 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Suite 300, Jefferson, 736-6519; LSU AgCenter Orleans Parish Extension, 1300 Perdido St., City Hall Room BW15, 658-2900, lsuagcenter. com; Perino’s Garden Center, 3100 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 834-7888, perinos.com; Jefferson Feed Pet & Garden Center, 4421 Jefferson Highway, Jefferson, 733-8572, jefffeed.com; Harold’s Indoor-Outdoor Plants, 1135 Press St., 947-7554; Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Road, 488-5488, longuevue.com
Living With Antiques, p. 20 “Waste Not, Want Not” Wirthmore Antiques, 3727 Magazine St., 269-0660, wirthmoreantiques.com; Shadyside Pottery, 3823 Magazine St., 897-1710, shadysidepottery.com
Masters of Their Craft, p. 22 “Creative Community” Fee & Art’s Revival Studios, 834 Chartres St.; shopmissmalaprop. com; missmalaprop.com
TrendWatch, p. 25 “Kidding Around” Bush Antiques, 2109 Magazine St., 581-3518, bushantiques. com; perch., 2844 Magazine St., 899-2122, perch-home. com; The Baby’s Room, 1217 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, 834-8990, thebabysroominc.com; Kaki Foley, tattereddesign.net;
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Angelique Kids, 5519 Magazine St., 899-8992, angeliquekids. com; Pottery Barn Kids, Lakeside Mall, 3301 Veterans Blvd., Suite 30, Metairie, 833-1248, potterybarnkids.com; Modern Market, 3138C Magazine St., 896-2206, modernmarketlifestyle.com; MMR Interiors, 3806 Magazine St., Suite 1, 899-7020, mmrinteriors.com; Leontine Linens, 3806 Magazine St., 899-7833, leontinelinens.com “Home Away From Home,” p. 32 Source., 2103 Magazine St., 561-7558, sourcenola.com; Piranesi Antiques, 2104 Magazine St., 523-2000, piranesiantiques.com “2012 Design Masters,” p. 40 Marcel Wisznia, 800 Common St., Suite 200, 581-1948, wisznia. com; Fifi Laughlin, 3954 Magazine St., 452-5212, fifiblaughlin.com; Robin Tanner, 4623 S. Derbigny, 756-1515, shibumilandscapes. com; Make It Right Foundation, 912 Magazine St., 620-3200, makeitrightnola.org; Kathy Slater, 3954 Magazine St., 400-9032, kathyslater.com; Melissa Rufty,
3806 Magazine St., Suite 1, 899-7020, mmrinteriors.com “Give and Learn,” p. 48 Tommy’s Flowers, 533 St. Louis St., 522-6563; Source., 2103 Magazine St., 561-7558, sourcenola.com; The Porch, Caravan, Medium Rare and Cricket Studios, all in The Shops at 2011, 2011 Magazine St., 407-0499, TheShopsat2011.com; Discoveries: Furniture and Finds, 318 N. Rampart St., 569-0310, discoverieswholesalewarehouse. com; Anthropologie, The Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., Suite 127, 592-9972, anthropologie. com; Belladonna Day Spa, 2900 Magazine St., 891-4393, belladonnadayspa.wix.com/home; A.K.A. Stella Gray, 2105 Magazine St., 208-2300, facebook.com/ akastellagray; Eclectic Home, 8211 Oak St., 866-6654, eclectichome.net; Preservation Resource Center Store, 923 Tchoupitoulas St., 581-7032, prcno.org; Modern Market, 3138C Magazine St., 896-2206, modernmarketlifestyle.com n
last indulgence
all that sparkles From champagne to fireworks to the glittery pageantry of Carnival, ‘tis the season to sparkle! By Eve Kidd Crawford
Dorothy Parker said a lot of quotable things, but one of my favorites is this: “Four be the things I’d been better without: Love, curiosity, freckles and doubt. Three be the things I shall never attain: Envy, content and sufficient champagne.” I am actually quite fond of freckles (on other people; I don’t have any of my own), but I am with her 100 percent on the “sufficient champagne” part. In fact, I am not entirely sure there is such a thing, although I’ve had a few headaches that can attest to the fact that there is definitely such a thing as “too much.” Whether or not we ever have “sufficient” champagne, we in New Orleans certainly have ample opportunities to drink it. From holiday parties to New Year’s Eve to kicking off Carnival on Epiphany, it’s always a good time to raise a toast. And although I’m not holding out too much hope for this football season, I will always remember popping a bottle of Veuve Clicquot in my living room as the Saints won the Super Bowl. In the ensuing tears, hugs and general madness, two of my best champagne glasses got broken, and I didn’t even care. In other parts of the country, they only drink champagne at New Year’s and at weddings. Here, we drink it year-round. And why not? Nothing says “celebration” quite like champagne, and nowhere knows how to celebrate quite like New Orleans. That might not make us the envy of everyone, everywhere, but it sure does make me content. n