WINTER 2015
editor’s note
On the Cover
Winter Wonders
H
ere we are in the anticipated holiday season. Some people get stressed about the idea of hosting a party around the holidays (or in general), but we’re going to show you it doesn’t have to be a source of anxiety, and you, the host or hostess, can have as good of a time as your guests. In our Winter Entertaining feature (pg. 60), Valorie Hart teamed up with Kristen Essig of Meauxbar and Coquette’s Michael Stoltzfus to create a memorable evening at the waterfront home of Mitchell and Erica Larkin Gaudet near Arabi. In this story, you’ll find creative, crowd-pleasing recipes (including cold fried chicken and oysters!) and quick tips on how to spruce up your space so that it looks warm and welcoming for a low-key but elegant evening. Complementing this feature, Lisa Tudor found cozy-chic items for Trendwatch, pg. 29: Blankets, throws and pillows can do wonders by adding some plush textures to your home, while keeping you warm and comfortable. On pg. 36 in “Well-Played,” Lee Cutrone explores the home of New Orleans Saints’ executive vice president /general manager Mickey Loomis and his wife, Melanie, who have a fabulous chateau-inspired house that fashionably reflects their family’s varied interests and passions, thanks to the talent of local designer Shaun Smith. We also have a story on a couple who relocated from Uptown into a French Quarter townhouse and sought the help of renowned designer Penny Francis of Eclectic Home to sort through their belongings, reupholster furniture and breathe new life into their new home. We are also excited to show you three kitchens and three bathrooms (pg. 54) that exemplify good design in varying styles. If you’re looking to support local artists and vendors this holiday season (and you should!) Lauren LaBorde interviewed Ingrid Butler, who has created her own lipstick company, Lipscapes, featuring all kinds of fun, bold colors in Masters of Their Craft, pg. 26. Lee Cutrone interviewed Martin L. Benson, pg. 18, who incorporates spirituality and geometry into his works of art. We hope you enjoy the issue and find it helpful for your holiday season! — Sarah Ravits, Editor
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marianna massey photo
Designer Shaun Smith, whose shop is located on Magazine Street, worked with Mickey and Melanie Loomis to create a French-inspired home that is welcoming and elegant. The living room features panels of Lilly Pulitzer linen drapes with large furnishings for comfortable seating. p. 36 Photographed by Sara Essex Bradley
Editor’s Pick
Fluff piece
This gorgeous Hungarian goose down pillow from Beth Claybourn Interiors is the ultimate year-round luxury that makes a great holiday gift. Information, 401 Tchoupitoulas St., bethclaybourninteriors.com
gatherings
Chilling Out A zesty take on an icebox pie that’s perfect for our temperate winters Produced By Margaret Zainey Roux
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Eugenia Uhl Photograph
recipe
Satsuma & Meyer Lemon Icebox Pie 2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/2 + 1/8 cup sugar 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed satsuma juice (tangerine, Clementine or mandarin orange juice may be substituted) 1/2 cup freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice Zest of 1 orange Zest of 1/2 lemon Two 14-ounce cans sweetened condensed milk 2 large egg yolks Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a bowl and stir in melted butter with a fork until evenly combined. Transfer to a 9-inch Springform pan and press into the bottom and halfway up the sides; set aside. Combine juice, condensed milk, and yolks in a bowl; beat on medium-high speed of a hand mixer for 5 minutes. Pour into prepared crust and place Springform pan on a baking sheet. Bake until crust is browned and filling is only slightly set, about 20-25 minutes. Let pie cool, then freeze until set, at least 2 hours or overnight. Transfer to the refrigerator – remove 15 minutes before serving. Top with whipped cream, if desired.
Original recipe by Suzonne Stirling For Uptown blogger, baker and crafter Suzonne Stirling, nothing cleanses the palate like a citrusy dessert – especially after a hearty winter meal. Check out her blog, Urban Comfort, at urbancomfort. typepad.com or visit her on Instagram @suzonnestirling for more culinary and crafty inspirations.
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for the garden
Holiday Plants How to take care of 4 seasonal favorites By Pamela Marquis
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(Fahrenheit). That said, my dear friend Kathleen pretty much ignores her gigantic 10-year-old Christmas cactus and every December it blooms riotously on a sunny shelf in her Gentilly kitchen.
Christmas Cactus
Poinsettia
Especially when in full bloom, a Christmas cactus is great gift idea to bring to a holiday party. Native to Brazil, this cactus will adapt to low-light conditions but produces more blooms if exposed to brighter light. Placing a tray of pebbles filled with water beneath the cactus’ container, or any of your plants’ containers, is a good way to add more humidity to your home. When you want to force a Christmas cactus to bloom, begin by limiting the amount of water the plant receives. Cut down on watering just enough to allow the soil to remain slightly moist. This will enable the plant to enter dormancy. Next move the plant to a place where it will receive about 12-14 hours of darkness. The plant will also need cool temperatures about 50-55 degrees
A native of southern Mexico, the poinsettia blooms in December and has been used in that country to decorate churches for centuries. This plant is one of the most important floricultural crops in the country, according to the 2013 USDA Floriculture Statistics report, poinsettias accounted for about one-quarter of sales of all flowering potted plants. In economic terms, that’s $144 million. Hint: Always remove the plant from those shiny aluminum wrappers before watering, and allow the water to drain completely. Also, don’t place plants near cold drafts or excessive heat.
h, the holidays: the parties and presents, the carols and cocktails, and all the beautiful plants that decorate our homes. Here are a few fun facts and hints about caring for some of the season’s favorites.
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Amaryllis These spectacular blooms herald in the holidays with style
tips Caring for your Christmas Tree: More than half of the weight of a freshly cut Christmas tree’s weight is water. When you bring your tree home, saw a couple inches off the bottom of the trunk before setting it in water, or ask the people you buy the tree from to do it. When trees are cut, pitch oozes out and seals the pores. By re-sawing off the base, you will open up those pores again, and the tree will be able to absorb water. Then, place your tree in water immediately. Use a traditional reservoir type stand. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Don’t whittle the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed. Keep trees away from major sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, and direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.
and panache. In Greek mythology, Amaryllis was a beautiful maiden who longed for the strong handsome shepherd, Alteo. However, her love was unrequited because Alteo loved only flowers. He said he would give his heart to the lady who brought him a brand-new kind of flower. So, Amaryllis dressed in maiden’s white and appeared at his door for 30 nights, each time piercing her heart with a
golden arrow. When Alteo eventually opened his door, he discovered a crimson flower, sprung from the blood of Amaryllis’ heart. After amaryllis bulbs have bloomed don’t throw them out. Snip off the flower stems about 1/2 an inch from the bulb, but don’t cut off the leaves. Then, place your plants in a sunny window. In the spring, move the plant outdoors to leaf out. In mid-autumn, bring your amaryllis back inside, cut off all the foliage about 1 or 2 inches from the top of the bulbs, and place the bulbs in a dry, dark place. Let your amaryllis sleep for 10 to 12 weeks. Then, start the growing cycle over. With good care most amaryllis bulbs will bloom seasonally for years.
Christmas Trees The first use of Christmas trees as they’re known today dates back to the 1500s. Some claim the tree originated in Germany, others claim it was Latvia. But here’s what we do know, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, there are approximately 25-30 million trees sold in the U.S. every year. There are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas trees in the U.S. Additionally, if you want to fill your home with the smell of Christmas, many experts say the Fraser Fir is your best choice. And, remember real Christmas trees keep giving even after the decorations are removed and packed away. They can be recycled at the end of the season for use in wetland protection. n New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.com
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L I V ING W ITH ANTI Q U ES
Olive & Oil Jars Years ago, they served as precursors to air-conditioners. Now, they make for great home accents. By Laura Claverie
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pen any high-end decorator or gardening magazine and you are likely to find a room or garden punctuated with a large weatherbeaten olive jar. These vintage to antique vessels, some dating back more than 300 years, have myriad uses in almost any setting. “Olive (or oil) jars can date back hundreds of years. Those from Greece – called pitharis – were used mainly to store the family olive oil,” says antiques dealer Tara Shaw, whose eponymous warehouse on Religious Street showcases many of these vessels in her large pea gravel yard. “In the earlier Minoan culture, the large jars
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stored liquids, wine and grains. Some believe the jars held water, and when the water evaporated, a home was cooled down. They might have been forerunners of modern-day air conditioners.” Often, these jars were used to transport goods throughout the Mediterranean countries, and thus, were early shipping containers. The earthen jars made in France were called biots and served similar functions. They can be distinguished from those made in Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey by their rolled lip and a creamy mustard or green glaze that was applied around and just under the lip.
eugenia uhl photograph
TIPS Line a garden path with olive jars. Place a large olive jar in a garden or next to pool and plant a citrus tree in it. Use a smaller olive jar to hold umbrellas next to your front door. Add drama to a foyer with one large olive jar and light from behind.
Smaller jars were used to store olives, pickles, cheese or salt, says Shaw. But it is the large, sinuous jars – some measuring more than 3 feet tall – that have captured the interest of antique collectors and decorators. And as with any one-of-a-kind artifact, they are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Shaw recommends the larger jars be used indoors in foyers and other large spaces. “Think of scale, when placing these indoors. The taller the ceiling height, the taller your jar can be,” she says. She often places one on either side of a fireplace mantel. Some deocrators use the large jars as bases for dining room tables, and smaller jars as bases for end tables. Outdoors, Shaw recommends grouping different sizes in par terre gardens or making them into fountains, adding a cooling water source to the setting. These containers also make elegant planters for small citrus trees or colorful annuals, herbs or
succulents. “If you place your antique olive jar outdoors, make sure to drill holes in the bottom for drainage, whether you plant in them or not, “says Shaw. “If you don’t, the water that collects in the bottom will be a breeding ground for mosquitos.” No two antique olive jars are alike. Each was made hundreds of years ago by artisans, thrown by hand, a perfect blend of earth, water and fire. Over the years, many were painted, and the crackled remnants found today add to the aged look and elegant patina. Some jars bear rough-hewn markings along the lips that once identified the owner. When searching for your perfect antique olive jar, look closely at the patina. There should be no gloss. Look for residue on the interior, borne from decades or even centuries of use. Those chunks of layered paints should be uneven and crackled. Some pots may have a natural algae growing on the exterior. There even may be a chip, crack or both. All of these imperfections tell the story of a vessel that has lived a long, productive life. “Each jar has its own unique personality and is a work of art. It is truly a one-of-a-kind item that sets the stage in a room or garden,” says Shaw. “These ancient jars are something to add to your collection of treasures and live with forever. I tell my clients: buy the one you fall in love with and use it any way you want.” n New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.com
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M ASTERS O F THEIR C RAFT
Bold Ambition Ingrid Butler crafts wild and wearable lip wear for Lipscape. By Lauren LaBorde
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ngrid Butler is coming back to life after her first sinus infection. Being sick is inconvenient for most busy people, but especially so for Butler, who is running a burgeoning cosmetics brand almost singlehandedly out of her small studio apartment. “I do everything (for the company) unfortunately,” she says, laughing. “The marketing, social media, customer service … I like to give the impression that it’s more than one of us, but it’s just me.” Although her ambitious nature can lead her to overworking, Butler is determined to create lip wear for every kind of mood and woman with her company, Lipscape. The Franklin, Louisiana native’s ambition was clear when she was a student at Syracuse University “for a very long time,” earning an undergraduate degree in psychology and African American studies and a master’s in pan-African studies. She is still working on a doctorate in geography – she moved to New Orleans initially to do field research for
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her dissertation but got a bit sidetracked. “I fell in love with the city,” she says. “Something about New Orleans encourages people to be creative, I find. A lot of people who move here kind of catch that bug.” She started working as a makeup artist to earn extra money and realized keeping lipstick in her kit was eating up her budget. Her clients, most of who hired her for formal events, wanted to take the lipstick to reapply throughout the night. So she decided to make her own. Her best friend and parents got on board to help, even if sometimes they didn’t know what they were getting into. “I ordered (all the ingredients) and took over my parents’ kitchen for a few months,” she said. “My mom was not super happy.” After lots of trial, error, tears and late-night crises, she came up with a formula she liked (which she still continues to tweak, two years later) after researching other natural beauty brands and their ingredients. She wanted to find Marianna Massey photographs
natural ingredients that are very moisturizing. “Being in Syracuse, my lips were chronically dry. Winters were not forgiving on my lips,” she says. “I’m a doctoral student; research is my thing, clearly. I researched all the ingredients one by one.” Drawing from her experience as a consciouslyminded geographer and her “loud” personality, her first collection included bold, highly pigmented colors – think teal, purple and gold – with titles like “Unrest” and “Sea Level,” named after the effects of climate change. And because she’s ambitious, those colors would change slightly when they hit the light. “I was doing the most right out the gate,” she says. She said at first her wild colors struggled to find a market (“I’m loud, but the average woman doesn’t want green lips,” she says) but she met a group of drag performers in Lafayette that loved her colors, but they wanted them in glosses. That inspired her to learn how to make lip glosses and expand her line to include those, too. Currently the line includes traditional lipsticks, glosses and a liquid-tomatte lipstick. Those liquid lipsticks are very on-trend right now, but many of them are drying. Packed with ingredients like carrot root extract, Butler’s lipsticks aim to not sacrifice moisture for staying power. She is also reviving her lip conditioner for her next collection, set to debut this month. Her colors range from the wild, from a Caribbean
blue to a true black, to the more every-day; during our interview she sports a bold plum tone that stands out but isn’t too crazy for a coffee meeting. Colors are meant to suit a wide variety of skin tones, too. “I like to have something for every woman. I want to cover a range of skin tones and want something for every sort of event, or for that woman who might be conservative but maybe she’s feeling jazzy tonight,” she says. “I just want her to have options. Also I get bored making the same thing, because it’s just me by myself.” Butler hopes to expand her line beyond lips to include other products, so perhaps by this time next year the name of her brand may no longer be Lipscape. “Eventually I would like for someone to be able to do their entire face with my products,” she says. Though she’s busy, she’s passionate about what she does, even when big companies like Sephora make it easier for women to get makeup that’s lower in cost and more convenient. When stacked up against the big brands, she says her biggest selling point is that her products are hand-crafted with love, using natural ingredients sourced in the U.S. that you can actually pronounce. “That’s really important because the things we put on our mouths, we consume throughout the day,” she says. “You kinda want to know what you’re putting in your mouth.” For more information: yourlipscape.com n New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.com
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TREND W AT C H
Gold Sphere painting by Logan Ledford and Gretchen Everett polished brass and acrylic occasional table at Katie Koch Home
Parlor Pouf Add plush posh to your loft, lounge or living room with the softest throws and pillows. By Lisa Tudor Photographed by Eugenia Uhl
Sheared faux fox and velvet pillow at Eclectic Home
Mongolian lamb pillow in pebble at West Elm
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French felted mirror, Mid-Century porcelain vase, Gretchen Everett acrylic occasional table and antique French settee upholstered in fabric by Pierre Frey at Katie Koch Home
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Rectangular Mongolian lamb and velvet pillow at Sotre New Orleans
Silky white Tibetan Mongolian Lamb fur pelt at Eclectic Home
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Pudgy fine fiber hand-knit throw by Manuosh at Peony New Orleans
Alicia Adams alpaca reversible pom pom throw at Sotre New Orleans
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Ombre fringed Throw and Faux Fur Foxy Throw, both sampled in rosette at West Elm
Mongolian lamb and acrylic stool at Sotre New Orleans
The Best of winter
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Well-Played
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An Inspired Blend
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Kitchens & Baths
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Homespun Elegance
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Well-Played Melanie and Mickey Loomis turned to designer Shaun Smith for their chateau-inspired house. By Lee Cutrone Photographed by Sara Essex Bradley Styled by Valorie Hart
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Top: Homeowner Melanie Loomis and designer Shaun Smith in the Loomises’ family room. Facing page: Panels of Lilly Pulitzer’s Rip Roaring White linen drape the bay window in the Loomis living room. Large furnishings, roomy enough for professional athletes, provide comfortable seating. Shaun lightened the dark paneling with neutral walls, white upholstery and a patchwork animal hide rug. Vintage brass coffee table from Malachite paneling was painted gray.
elanie and Mickey Loomis had just completed a full renovation and redecoration of their Old Metairie home when another house – this one an elegant, chateau-inspired structure four blocks away – captured their attention. Mickey, executive vice president and general manager of the New Orleans Saints, had long admired the French architecture, meticulous craftsmanship and manicured grounds of the second house. “When the house came on the market unexpectedly, curiosity took over, but then we realized it was even a better fit for the family because it provided the opportunity to have a large yard for the children, as well as a home office for Mickey, and a very spacious guesthouse for out-of-town family and friends who frequently visit,” says Melanie. The Loomises purchased the house and embarked upon their second design project in two years. The goal for the new house was two-fold. First, the Loomises wanted the house to be family-friendly. The couple has 5-year-old twins and often entertains guests, especially during football season. “Ninety percent of the time, we’re entertaining 5-year-olds,” says Melanie. “They play soccer and football in the main hall, and the dining room is part of the scooter route.” The Loomises also wanted to utilize as many of the furnishings purchased for their first renovation as possible. Melanie worried that the new house would require larger pieces to stand up to its grand proportions, but she didn’t want to start from scratch. To that end, she called in designer Shaun Smith, one of House Beautiful’s 2015 Next Wave Designers. In Smith, she found a designer who listened to the family’s needs and adeptly worked with their existing furnishings and art. “Shaun brought together the perfect mix; he combined our love of traditional furnishings with New
Orleans-style, masculine things for my husband and kidfriendly things for a family with children,” says Melanie. “I also like that the houses he’s done are different. He doesn’t do the exact same thing in every house.” This time around, the Loomises were not undertaking a structural renovation. They liked the footprint of the house and its spacious outdoor areas. Inside, the house includes formal living and dining rooms, a family room, kitchen, powder room, four bedrooms, four baths, a playroom and
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bath for children, and a poker room with its own access. Outside areas include lawn space, a pool, wide stretches of a porch framed by classical colonnades and a pavilion. Most of the intended changes were merely cosmetic. Respecting the home’s architectural integrity, while making it suitable for family life would take some finessing, however. A decade and a half ago, the previous owners (both are avowed Francophiles) spent two years building the house. Using pictures from their annual trips to France,
Facing page: The family room’s palette of blue and gold is accented with notes of red and orange. Weighty furnishings, indoor/outdoor grade fabrics and break-proof items such as the bowl on the table make the room kid friendly. Right: Large charcoal portraits of the Loomises’ children, Lucy and Sam, by Lafayette Artist Clay Judice are paired with contemporary white chests and reproduction chairs on either side of the casement opening to the family room.
they paid close attention to every detail and had many of the home’s architectural elements, including roof, awnings, ironwork, doors, windows, columns and cabinetry copied by local artisans. Several parts of the house were inspired by iconic French landmarks: the colonnade at the rear of the home by Les Invalides and the pavilion by the pavilion in the Marie Antoinette Estate in Versailles. The Loomises did not want to detract from the timeless quality of the home’s thoughtful design. Because the house is 2,000 square feet larger than the family’s last home, furnishing the additional space also was a necessity. One of Smith’s first projects was to create a playroom on the third floor, which doubles as a children’s guest room. He used an orange zebra wallpaper to give the room a sense of youthful energy and fun that will grow with the kids, chose twin beds that function as both sofa seating and sleep areas, and accented the space with splashes of aqua. Other projects during the five-month process included turning a home-gym into a poker room for Mickey and reworking the guesthouse (complete with kitchen, bedroom, bath, sauna, and work area) to include both an office for Mickey and a place for his collection of sports memorabilia. In a nod to the Saints, Smith papered the poker room with a black grass cloth and used black diamond-patterned drapery. At the same time, he modified the palette that Melanie initially settled on, coaxing her gently into accepting richer shades with high gloss finishes for the more formal areas (a taupe-gray for the living room and a blue-gray for the dining room) and making sure that connected rooms “live together well.” “I felt like when I saw the previous home, the neutral colors did not match the person that Melanie is,” says Smith. “It needed some color. The biggest thing was to amp it up.” The reverse was done in the French Country style kitchen, which was made lighter. Dark, French Country cabinets with chicken wire fronts and toile fabric were replaced with new cabinets and a new backsplash. Because the family spends most of their time in the kitchen, Smith chose durable surfaces and enlarged the island. As in most of the house, he brought in on-trend pieces, such as Lucite counter Top: In a nod to the Saints, Shaun Smith papered Mickey’s poker room with black grass cloth by Scalamandré and chose a Tom Filicia for Kravet diamond patterned fabric shot with gold for the drapery. The fixture above the table is black and brass. Bottom: The main entertaining area in the guesthouse is home to Mickey’s collection of sports memorabilia. Facing page: An oak tree photograph by photographer Michael Smith was part of the impetus for the living room’s gray walls. Smith chose the lantern fixture as a fresh take on a traditional French fixture.
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Facing page, top: The third-floor playroom features orange, zebrapatterned wallpaper by Scalamandré and splashes of aqua. Trundle beds from Ballard Designs double as sofas and beds. Beanbag chairs from Pottery Barn Kids. Facing page, left: Smith chose a pink velvet to meet Lucy’s request for a pink headboard and designed the room to grow with her. Facing page, right: Son Sam’s room combines red, white and blue against a kaki backdrop. “Denim looks so great with kaki,” says Smith. This page: The wall color – also used in the Loomises’ previous master bedroom – provided the jumpingoff point for the master bedroom. Lee Industries bed. Painting over the bed is by Melanie’s friend, artist Jennifer Ansardi.
stools, as a means of punctuating the traditional underpinnings of the house with a contemporary edge. The designer, who is known for fashioning polished interiors comprised of multiple layers, also added sumptuous drapery and new lighting throughout the home. “Shaun’s young and he knows what’s cool and fresh and new,” says
Melanie. “He brought in just enough of what’s current.” The family room was furnished with weighty furnishings, indoor/outdoor grade fabrics and break-proof materials chosen to resist the wear and tear of active kids. Upstairs, on the second floor, Smith worked with the same goals of incorporating the Loomises’ belongings and adding to them where necessary – for instance, the new master suite, unlike the Loomises’ last master bedroom, includes a sitting area. Where furnishings did not translate, Smith shifted them in unexpected ways. The family room’s former coffee table now resides in the guesthouse; while a pair of Moroccan tables taken from the master bath are used to flank the sofa in the formal sitting room downstairs. He also added to the couple’s art collection by sourcing new works from local artists and revived pieces they already owned by reframing them. “Almost everything in this house was sourced locally,” he notes. New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.com
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The end result is an interior that’s been modernized and made comfortable for today’s lifestyle without diminishing the historic character and French provenance of the house itself. According to Melanie, a recent group of weekend guests underscored the comfort factor at the Loomis home by nicknaming it Hotel Loomis. “At the end of the day, we are so happy that the house has become our home with the help of Shaun Smith,” says Melanie. “It now has our stamp, reflects our personalities and lifestyle and has provided the perfect setting for us to do what we enjoy best: spend time with friends and family.” n Top, left: An abstract painting by Austin James, a work by Jamie Meeks (from Bremermann Designs) and a bench from Jade compose a vignette in the family room. Bottom, left: A painting by Jamie Meeks hangs over a 19th-century French chest from Shaun Smith Home in the dining room. Top, right: A colonnade off the family room leads to Mickey’s poker room, which previously housed a home-gym. Lanterns by Bevolo. Facing page: The dining room walls are colored robin’s egg blue with a high-gloss finish. Shaun chose the custom console and acrylic lamps as a contemporary contrast for the antique chandelier. The drapery is trimmed with fabric by local artist Becky Vizard.
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Top: Vintage 1920s print; vintage French Deco black lacquer dining chairs with new upholstery; antique sideboard with a collection of vintage cut crystal and decanters. Facing page: Custom Art Deco dining table by Century; vintage dining chairs upholstered in Beacon Hill Silk velvet in Topaz; antique sideboard.
An Inspired Blend
Old World, vintage and modern influences shine in a French Quarter townhouse. Written and styled by Valorie Hart Photographed by Sara Essex Bradley
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ecorating in the French style brings to mind an image of elegance, romance and beauty. As in France, houses in the New Orleans have high ceilings with great architectural details. Balconies with a wrought-iron railings overlook quaint streets. Windows are tall. Pedestrians bustle by on the streets outside.
Typically, New Orleanians love to furnish their homes using French antiques from the 18th or 19th centuries, or reproductions from the 20th and 21st century. This Parisian style ranges through many decorating periods, including Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical. Contemporary Parisian interior design incorporates Art Deco and Mediterranean, combining Old World, vintage and modern influences. The French Art Deco look incorporates rich
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jewel-tone colors: amber, topaz, citrine, amethyst and smoky quartz are accented with black, white and gold. Burnished gilt touches accent architectural details. Furniture and accessories have timeworn elegance and a vintage look. Chairs, tables and armoires painted in black or cream bear golden accents that are used to blend beautifully. Rich, shimmering silks and luxurious brocades and velvets complete this upscale look. Accessories include vintage French posters. Black is the accent color as well as a unifying element. Bringing black in without making things look dark is accomplished by using painted and wood furniture, gilt and black picture frames, wallpapers, fabrics, lamps and accessories. When Adrienne Colella and Angelo DeNisi, clients of interior designer Penny Francis called her telling her that they were moving from their larger Uptown home to a townhouse in the French Quarter, she had a challenging task at hand. Francis says, “The couple had a great deal of vintage Art Deco and Mid-Century furnishings. We reupholstered many of the pieces. The color palette was inspired by their love of a Cole and Son large-scale floral paper. The tones in the flowers, including the amber, were paired beautifully with the Art Deco dining chairs we had previously covered in topaz silk velvet. There were collection Asian artifacts, Asian prints and 1920s art. The challenge was to use what we could and not have competing elements. The goal was to have a cohesive design, so that the pieces could be appreciated now that they were being shown in a smaller more intimate environment.” The idea of mixing in elements of French Art Deco and Paris apartment style instantly came to Francis’ mind. She did a gentle and deft renovation, updating and redoing a master bathroom; repainting kitchen cabinets and adding a new tile backsplash; relocating built-ins; refinishing floors, and adding fresh wall color and wallpapers. The townhouse had good bones that had been previously
Top: Vintage French farm table is paired with a gilt Bergere chair covered in Schumacher Fabric. Bottom: In the breakfast room a vintage farm table; Italian modern acrylic and chrome bistro chairs; vintage Camille Bouchet 1920 Poster; Bevelo Iron chandelier. Facing page: In the kitchen, vintage Chambers Stove and Hood; Cabinets were repainted and a backsplash of beveled Carrera marble subway tile was installed.
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The entry hall sets the tone for the entire home with Cole and Son wallpaper and a carved Asian console table paired with an antique Eglomise Mirror. Top, right: Cole and Son Fornasetti Malachite wallpaper compliments the original vintage fixtures and vintage glazed ceramic wall tiles. Bottom: Custom brass and Carrera marble oval cocktail table. Facing page: In the living room a pair of Jean Michel Frank sofas reupholstered in Clarke and Clarke striped velvet; rug by Calvin Klein; custom Dorothy Draper cabinets by Kindel; contemporary brass teardrop lamps mix perfectly with vintage marble sculpture on pedestal; antique Asian prints and an Art Deco painting by August Garufi over black marble fireplace.
Top: The master bedroom has a seating area using the couple’s Mid-Century Modern furnishings, including a vintage Eames lounge chair; Francis paired a Mid-Century vintage sofa with a custom glass cocktail table to complete the look. Facing page: The den features a black suede sectional sofa with a vintage Noguchi coffee table and an antique crystal chandelier.
renovated. Francis saw no reason to do a gut job. In fact, the downstairs bathroom has Art Deco style fixtures and tile from the 1940s that remain, updated by the use of witty black-and-white wallpaper. The same approach was used in regards to the couple’s furniture. A pair of sofas was recovered in rich striped velvet. The entry hall features dramatic black and metallic
wallpaper. New lamps and lighting fixtures that resemble Art Deco design were liberally used throughout the space, along with antique crystal chandeliers. The spectacular dining room table from the former home was moved to the French Quarter, and the coordinating chairs refreshed and reupholstered with luxe silk velvet fabric. The breakfast room features a large vintage French poster along with a farmhouse-style table, juxtaposed with modern acrylic and chrome chairs. Black built-in cabinetry custom installed in the den adds glamour, while the couple’s art collection was lovingly curated with an expert eye. Windows have rich flowing drapery, and there is an elegant and exuberant mix of old and new: traditional design offset by Art Deco and modern elements that are tres chic. n
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kitchens Homeowners: Nuria and Ron Rowley Contractor: Nordic Kitchens and Baths Designer: Nordic Kitchens and Baths Cabinets: Poggen Pohl  (Nordic Kitchens and Baths) Flooring: Thassos White Marble Backsplash: Marble/ Shadow Storm Lighting: Sonneman Lightning (drop LED Pendants) Furniture: Bar Stools By Elite Manufacturing Notable Art: Murano Glass Lamp (handmade in Italy), Jester Monkeys brass and bronze paper towel holder from The Philipines acquired from Beth Claybourn Interiors. Appliances: Miele espresso system; Wolf stove, oven, microwave, warming drawer, wine cooler; Wolf/Sub-Zero refrigerator
& baths ph o to graphed b y J effer y J ohnst o n
Homeowners: Josh and Natalie Harvey Contractor: Tyson Construction Designer: Patricia and Zach Tyson at Tyson Construction Cabinets: Kemper Cabinets Flooring: Octagon and Dot ceramic tile. Brand: Daltile; Jim Owens Flooring and Cabinets Backsplash: Tilework: (Master Shower and Tub Deck Tile). Daltile brand Matte Gray ceramic subway tile, ceramic. Jim Owens Flooring and Cabinets. Fixtures: Plumbing Fixtures: Delta Faucets Lighting: Quorom and Murray Feiss brands. St. Charles Lighting Door knobs: Schlage Frameless glass shower enclosure: Reliable Glass Countertops: Carrara Marble from Jim Owens Flooring and Cabinets Paint: Sherwin Williams: A and M Painting Doors and Millwork: Jefferson Door
Homeowners: Doug and Tanya Koppel Architect: Steve Quarls and George Hopkins of the Hopkins Company Designer: Tanya Koppel Art and Design Cabinets: Classic Kitchens (Tara Weinstein) Flooring: High-gloss white floor is Artic Blanco Polished porcelain by Pieri Tile and Marble Company Backsplash: Counters, backsplash and tub surround are Calacatta Gold Marble from Triton Stone, installed by Pieri Fixtures: Kohler Finial collection in polished chrome, Ferguson Lighting: Robert Abbey and Jonathan Adler wall sconces, Ma Sherie Amour, New Orleans Door knobs: Baldwin Cabinet hardware: Glass/polished chrome. Furniture: The two large custom silver leaf mirrors designed by the homeowner; multi-mirrored double vanity in Calacatta Gold marble Art: Original portrait by artist Tanya Koppel Appliances: Kohler sinks and Kohler cast-iron tub Custom draperies: Wren’s Tontine Paint on walls: Light gray custom color by Benjamin Moore.
Homeowners: Bobby and Holly Hawkins Contractor: Tyson Construction Designer: Anders Oding and Chad Brown Cabinets: Showplace Cabinets, White Savannah Inset cabinets from Jim Owens Flooring and Cabinets Flooring: Inverness Black Isle Hickory “Autumn” hardwood floors from Jim Owens Flooring and Cabinets Backsplash: Beveled white subway tile from Jim Owens Flooring and Cabinets Fixtures: All from Coburn’s Lighting: 10-inch dome pendent lights above island; Yorktown pendant light above sink, all from St. Charles Light House Appliances: All appliances are Thermador from Coburn’s. 36-inch Porcher double bowl farmhouse apron sink from Coburn’s. Other: 6-centimeter White Ice countertop on island from Stone Gallery. Reclaimed pantry door repurposed by Tyson Construction
Homeowner: Alys Alper Contractor: Tyson Construction Cabinets: Jim Owens Flooring: Reclaimed Heart Pine Backsplash: Beveled subway tile by Jim Owens Fixtures:Kohler/Delta Lighting: St. Charles Lighting Door knobs: Reclaimed glass knobs from house that was on lot previously Furniture: Eclectic Home Appliances: Bosch
Homeowner: Marc Bonifacic Contractor: Nelson Clayton Home Designer: Marc Bonifacic Bathroom Designer/Decorator: Chris Judge, owner of Adda Carpets & Flooring and Huey Brown Kitchens Cabinets: Shaker Style in Aspen White Flooring: 12-by-24 white polished marble Backsplash: White glass mosaic Fixtures and appliances: Rectangular soaking tub with chrome “artifacts” fixtures; shower is white polished marble and honed black tile as an accent wall. All fixtures are chrome “artifacts”. Counter tops are polished white marble with Kohler Memoir sinks under mounted Lighting: Armstong LED can lights were used throughout the bath, specifically placed to accent the artwork Door knobs: chrome levers Cabinet hardware: Lucite & chrome purchased from Adda Carpets & Huey Brown Kitchens Notable art: Nissan Engel from Elliot Gallery
Chef Kristen Essig serves cold fried chicken with grilled collard stems and sliced pickled banana peppers.
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homespun elegance A festive outdoor gathering Written and Styled by Valorie Hart
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t was a winter day unique to New Orleans: sunny and warm enough to be outdoors, with just a hint of coolness in the air. Erica Larkin Gaudet and Mitchell Gaudet decided to have a late lunch al fresco at home and invite a few friends along to enjoy the day. Though their address is technically in New Orleans, their home is located close to Arabi on Bayou Sauvage. The couple rescued what was left of the house that was severely damaged and flooded by Hurricane Katrina. It had been lifted off its 12-foot high pilings. The interior was flooded with over three feet of water. Mitchell and his father undertook the backbreaking work of restoring the house over the course of the next year and a half, and as the house neared completion, the couple loved it so much that they decided to move from their longtime Bywater home to the waterfront house they called “The Camp.” In reality, it’s just a quick 25-minute ride from the center of the city, but it feels like another world. For the afternoon lunch party, they constructed a makeshift table on the deck by placing old cypress boards on top of two metal bases that came from furniture designer Erica’s studio. Homespun linens became the tablecloth. They pulled benches from the dining room inside the house and set the table with both rustic and refined elements. Twinkling lights were strung overhead, complementing the candlelight on the table as dusk fell. Cozy warm throws were
photography by Sara Essex Bradley
placed on the back of each person’s seat, to be at hand when the air cooled as the sun went down. A fire pit was improvised from a discarded crucible Mitchell uses for the art he creates from glass making at his newly relocated Studio Inferno. The couple served cocktails on an adjacent deck made comfy with furry pillows and throws tossed on the outdoor sectional couch. The menu was engineered, designed, delivered and prepared by restaurateurs and friends Michael Stoltzfus, chef/ owner of Coquette; and Kristen Essig, executive chef at Meauxbar and soon-to-be opened Cavan. They created everything from cocktails and nibbles, to oysters on the grill, to the main course to dessert, and hot toddies by the fire pit. The chef couple brought everything to the party; the chicken had been already cooked, and the specialty cocktails, crudités and oysters and dessert were easily assembled and prepared in situ. Since the main course was already cooked, making cocktails and starters turned the kitchen into another party area before everyone made their way outdoors for cocktails and starters, and the late afternoon lunch. After sunset and toddies by the fire pit, guests meandered back to the dinner table for dessert. The guys threw fishing lines off the deck. A tray of bottles for after dinner drinks was brought out, and the party continued on as the candles burned low and a sprinkling of stars and a perfect crescent moon decorated the winter night sky.
Furry throws and pillows from West Elm
Persimmon Mustard
Negroni Sbagliato 2 ounces Cocchi Americano sweet vermouth 2 ounces Campari 2 ounces prosecco 1 orange zest twist In a rocks glass, combine the sweet vermouth with the Campari over ice. Stir to combine. Top with the prosecco, stir gently and garnish with an orange twist. Serves 1. Courtesy of Ashley Danella, bar manager at Coquette
2 tablespoons yellow mustard seeds 2 tablespoons brown mustard seeds 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 1/3 cup white wine 1 tablespoon sugar ½ teaspoon ground turmeric ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup persimmon puree: (from 2 persimmons; persimmons should be very ripe, so ripe you can crush them in your hand. Gently peel and remove stem and seed. Place in blender and puree till smooth) In a large mason jar with a screw top lid, combine all of the ingredients, excluding the persimmon puree. Place lid on jar and allow the seeds to sit at room temperature for 3 days. Place the soaked mustard seeds, the soaking liquid and the persimmon puree into a blender. Puree till the consistency is almost smooth. Refrigerate to store, can be safely stored for 1 month under refrigeration. Serve room temperature so the persimmon flavor is more forward. Yields 1 cup
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Table bases by Erica Larkin Gaudet; throws from West Elm; wooden spheres on table from West Elm
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Cold Fried Chicken 2 chickens, each cut into 8 pieces (you can have your butcher do this for you) 1 cup salt ½ cup sugar 2 tablespoons crushed red pepper 4 quarts cold water 2 cups buttemilk In a large mixing bowl make your brine by combing the salt, sugar, crushed red pepper and cold water. Whisk till the salt and sugar are dissolved. Add the chicken and brine for 30 minutes and up to four hours. Remove chicken from brine, discard brine and transfer chicken to a mixing bowl. Toss the brined chicken with the buttermilk and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Prepare dredge, per instructions below: Chicken Dredge 6 cups all purpose flour 2 tablespoons kosher salt 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper Combine all ingredients and mix well. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour and transfer to a sheet pan fitted with a wire rack. Allow to sit for a minimum of 30 minutes.
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5 tips for winter entertaining outdoors Be spontaneous! Let the good weather inspire the day. Keep the menu home-style: Fried chicken prepared ahead of time and served room-temperature is ideal. Provide throws and shawls in case guests get chilly. Light up the fire pit and serve hot toddies. Bring the inside outside with chairs, dishes and candles.
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To fry Canola Oil, as needed, depending on pot size Preheat oil to 350 degrees, using a thermometer to monitor the temperature. Add dredged chicken, working in batches if necessary, and cook for 10-12 minutes. Times will vary, depending on the size of your chicken. Be sure to use a thermometer, internal temperature of chicken should be at least 165 degrees. Transfer cooked chicken to a sheet pan fitted with a wire rack, season well with salt and pepper. The chicken can be prepared up to two hours in advance and left at room temperature before serving, if preparing more than two hours in advance refrigerate once the chicken is cool. Pull the chicken to room temperature 1 hour before serving. Serves 8-10
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Honey and bay leaf mousse with bourbon, raisins, apple butter and brown butter oats served in vintage rocks glasses
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Honey Mousse ¾ cup wildflower honey, preferably wild, preferably raw 6 eggs, separated 2 cups heavy cream 1 teaspoon powdered gelatin 2 teaspoons water In a small bowl dissolve the gelatin in the water, set to the side to bloom. Fill a medium-sized saucepot with 2-3 inches of water and bring to a simmer. Select a mixing bowl that will fit on top. In the mixing bowl whisk together the honey and egg yolks. Place the bowl over the simmering water. Whisking constantly, so as not to scramble the eggs, cook the yolks and honey until warm to the touch. If needed, reduce the heat on the pot, if the water begins to boil, you want the water to just simmer. Place ¾ of the hot honey/egg yolk mix in the work bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment. Turn the mixer on medium speed. Carefully pour the remaining hot honey/egg yolk mix over the bloomed gelatin, mixing well to dissolve the gelatin. Once the gelatin is dissolved, slowly add to the honey/egg yolk mix in the stand mixer. Whisk on medium speed till room temperature, then transfer to a large mixing bowl. Whip the egg whites, using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, until medium peaks form. Gently fold the whipped whites into the cool honey/yolk mix. Whip the heavy cream, using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, until medium peaks form. Gently fold into the honey/yolk/white mix. Transfer the honey mousse to an airtight container and allow to set for 2 hours. To serve, place a dollop of mousse in a small serving dish. Serves 8-10
Satsuma, Dill and Horseradish Grilled Oysters 24-30 oysters, shucked ½ pound soft butter 12 Satsumas, zested then juiced, keep separate 1 tablespoon kosher salt (Kristen prefers Diamond Crystal, Michael prefers Morton’s) 1 bunch fresh dill 2 inch piece of fresh horseradish, peeled 1 large bunch of parsley, cilantro or shiso (whatever you prefer) In a small saucepot, reduce the Satsuma juice by ¾. Once the juice is reduced, add the Satsuma zest and then chill the zest/juice mix till cold. Once cold, gently fold the zest/juice mix into the softened butter with the salt. Preheat your grill to 400-500 degrees, let her rip. When ready to grill, place 1-1 ½ teaspoons of the Satsuma butter on top of the raw, shucked oyster. Place the oyster, in its shell on the smoking hot grill and cook till butter is melted and bubbling and the lips on the oyster just begin to curl. Using tongs, carefully transfer the hot oysters to your herb covered platter. The herbs will act as a stabilizer for the shells, you don’t want to loose all that delicious butter, as well as release their fragrance when the hot shells hit them. Working quickly, using a microplane grater, grate the horseradish onto the hot oysters and finish with fresh dill sprigs. Serve immediately. Yields enough for 24-30 oysters
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Hot Toddy Amari
Top, left: The party continued as candles burned low and a sprinkling of stars and a perfect crescent moon decorated the winter night sky. Top, right: Amari hot toddy in copper mugs from West Elm. Bottom, left: The guys threw fishing lines off the deck as night fell.
2 ounces Cynar 1/2 ounce lemon-demerara 1:1 simple syrup 4 ounces boiling water Orange zest Cinnamon stick or mint sprig. Pour 2 ounces of Cynar and 1/2 ounce lemon simple syrup in Irish coffee glass or copper mug. Slowly pour 4 ounces boiling water into mixture, stirring to incorporate all ingredients. Zest orange on top of the cocktail and garnish with cinnamon stick or mint sprig For lemon-demerara syrup: Using a Y-peeler, peel 2 large lemons, being careful to get as little pith as possible. In a non-reactive container, add 1 cup demerara sugar and lemon peels. Gently muddle lemon peels releasing the lemon oils into the sugar. Cover and let sit for 6 hours in a cool dark place. Remove lid and pour 1 cup of boiling water into the sugar oleo-sachurum and whisk till sugar is completely dissolved. Remove lemon peels and store simple syrup in cool, dark place for up to one week. Serves 1
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shop
a d ver tisin g
Stafford Tile & Stone 5234 Magazine St. 504/895-5000 4273 Perkins Rd Baton Rouge 225/925-1233 staffordtile.com
Abode 2114 Veterans Blvd Metairie 504/266-2135 shopatabode.com
Hunter Douglas PowerView™ Motorization 800/274-2985 hunterdouglas.com
Benge Landscape, LLC 1720 Mayan Ln. Metairie 504/309-2574 bengelandscape.com
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shop California Closets® 3211 N. Causeway Blvd. Metairie 504/828-5705 californiaclosets.com
Eclectic Home 8211 Oak St. New Orleans 504/866-6654 eclectichome.net
MS Rau 630 Royal St. New Orleans 504/523-5660 rauantiques.com
Pieri Tile and Marble Co., Inc. 3622 Toulouse St. New Orleans 504/488-1509 pieritile.com
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shop
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Campbell Cabinet Co. 220 Hord St. Harahan 504/733-4687 4040 Highway 59 Mandeville 985/892-7713 campbellcabinets.com
Fireside Antiques 14007 Perkins Road Baton Rouge 225/752-9565 firesideantiques.com
The Historic New Orleans Collection 533 Royal St. New Orleans 504/598-7170 hnoc.org
Fine Paints of Europe PO Box 419 Woodstock, VT 05091 800/332-1556 finepaintsofeurope.com
Garrett Haab Sculpture Artistry 504/430-1975 garretthaab.com
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shop Tyson Construction 504/905-1042 504/236-3838 504/905-1042 tyson-construction.com
Palatial Stone 2052 Paxton St. Harvey 504/340-2229 2033 N. Hwy 190, Ste. 9 Covington 985/249-6868 palatialstone.com
Katie Koch home By appointment 1117 Josphine New Orleans 504/410-1450 katiekochhome.com
Adda Carpet & Flooring 5480 Mounes St. Harahan 504/736-9001 addacarpetsandflooring.com
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shop MLM Incorporated 3500 N. Causeway Blvd, Ste 160 Metairie 504/322-7050 mlm-inc.com
Mattix Cabinet Works 415 N. Solomon St. New Orleans 504/486-7218 mattixcabinet.com
Sotre 3933 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/304-9475 sotrenola.com
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Floor and Decor 2801 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-3005 4 Westside Shopping Center Gretna 504/361-0501Â flooranddecorneworleans.com
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Mullin Landscape Associates 621 Distributors Row, Ste. F Harahan 504/275-6617 mullinlandscape.com
Nordic Kitchen and Baths Inc. 1818 Veterans Blvd. Metairie 504/888-2300 nordickitchens.com
Marchand Creative Kitchens 3517 Division St. Metairie 504/888-0695 2180 N Causeway Blvd. Mandeville 985/892-2572 mckitchens.com
Ruffino Custom Closets 110 Campbell Ave. Mandeville 985/809-7623 ruffinocustomclosets.com
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Louisiana Custom Closets 13405 Seymour Meyer Suite 24 Covington 985/871-0810 louisianacustomclosets.com
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HOME RENEWAL
To DIY or not to DIY That is the question By Peter Reichard
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ever again. I said “never again,” and I meant it. I had bought my fifth house in a little more than a decade, and for once I had a house that didn’t need a lick of work. I could just ride out the next several decades there without ever doing any more renovations. One day the coroner would come and load me into his van. As my soul drifted upward, it would look down upon my house with satisfaction that I had never done another renovation. Well, I made it three years. And now, once again, I’m staring down the barrel of significant home improvements. This time will be the last, though. I really mean it. This one last project just makes so much sense. How can something that feels so right … be wrong?
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Anyway, since I’m in this place again, I’ve begun to take stock of all the lessons I learned in grueling, frustrating past renovations. One lesson I will never forget: Consider carefully the cost-benefit of being a do-it-yourselfer. I understand the appeal of do-it-yourself renovations. It saves you the rigmarole of scheduling help. More importantly, it saves you money. It generally makes perfect sense to do work yourself if you’re proficient at it. Why pay somebody to change out a bunch of light fixtures when you can spend a couple of hours doing it yourself? So I get it. I have spent countless hours doing renovations myself (and, as a kid, doing them for my do-it-yourselfer dad). Countless hours. And there’s the rub.
Jason Raish illustration
tip Professional carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other experts do what they do for a living. They have developed some level of expertise. They can size up a situation, construct a solution in their mind and bring it to reality. The do-it-yourselfer must learn the ropes on an ad hoc basis. He may spend a lot of time sizing up the situation. He may be riddled with doubt as he agonizes over possible solutions. It may take him far longer to bring it to reality. And he may have to spend money on tools.
Time is money. Everybody knows that. But tools are money, too. I shudder to think how much I’ve spent on tools that I used once, bought but never used, lost, lent to someone and forgot about, or discovered had been stolen from my shed. And, despite the expense, my tools have generally been inferior to what a professional would use. One thing I will never touch again is plumbing. I’ll never forget the entire weekend I blew with a friend on a plumbing project. Few home projects are more maddening than sitting in a tub trying unsuccessfully to get a good seal on a tangle of copper pipes. After we decided these water pipes were our Waterloo that Sunday evening, I called a plumber. He came out and did what we had been trying to do – in less than an hour. So unless you’re some kind of plumbing savant, I
say leave it to the plumbers. For the record, the friend that helped me on that project is an inveterate do-it-yourselfer. He now claims that if we had to do it all over again, we could pull it off today. “I will have you know, I am now a total expert on sweating copper,” he said. “You know what made the difference? I watched somebody do it on YouTube.” He offered to spend the time to teach me how to do it. I told him not to waste his time. As expected, he gave a doleful groan when I told him I had recently called a plumber to replace the shutoff on my low-flow toilet. Ordinarily, I would have just popped by the hardware store and knocked out the project quickly. But in this case I took one look inside the toilet tank and decided the shutoff just looked too weird for me to replace in a reasonable amount of time. I felt guilty about it, but I called a professional. As it turned out, I made the right call. The shutoff part threw the gray-haired plumber himself for a loop. He told me the toilet was an unfamiliar brand, and he spent half the afternoon in the supply store trying to track down the rare type of shutoff that goes with this toilet. Better him finding the part in a pro store than me installing the wrong part from Home Depot and ruining my weekend wondering why it didn’t fit. I’ve been down that road. n New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.com
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in the S P O t L I G H T
Louisiana Custom Closets Don Wise By Pamela Marquis
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hese days, closets are far more than tiny spaces filled with wire hangers. Even if it’s only a place to store clothes, a contemporary closet is designed to bring maximum organization into one’s life. And, it is increasingly the case that a closet does double-duty as a dressing room or sitting room. Louisiana Custom Closets can help create these functional spaces and fit them to anyone’s taste or style. The company also excels at creating storage systems that help clients become organized. Don Wise, owner of Louisiana Custom Closets, has been in the business for more than 20 years and knows the best ways to design and install custom shelving for such things as closets, garages and utility rooms. He works with a team of professional designers who knows exactly how to create storage systems that work. “Our philosophy is simple: We go above and beyond the customers’ expectations by using the best materials and workmanship available and doing it at a very competitive price,” says Wise. Wise consults with his clients to see what their unique needs are, and then tackles the cluttered storage spaces with a variety of shelving solutions to fit all requirements. “Getting your house organized will go a long way to maximizing efficiency,” Wise says. “There is no single right way to do it: The trick lies in finding the way that works best for you.”
13405 Seymour Meyer | Suite 24 | Covington | (985) 871-0810
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in the S P O t L I G H T
MLM, Inc. Machi Medrzycki By Pamela Marquis
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hether you’re tired of the way your home looks, you need to fix, oh, so many things, or you want to increase the value of your nest – remodeling most likely will be in your future. Local company, MLM Inc., can come to you aid. After Hurricane Katrina, MLM Inc. rebuilt numerous homes and businesses throughout the area without any major recalls, earning the company a top rating for businesses that offer home renovation services. In 2012, MLM won a Sonata Award for best bath design and remodeling and Medrzycki was one of the “40 Under 40 Remodeler 2015” featured in Professional Remodeler Magazine. “New Orleans is a unique city with lots of character and although most new houses adapt easily to remodeling projects, older homes require particular care and attention,” says Machi Medrzycki, owner of MLM. “Our team is experienced in handling any type of projects. Whether it is a new house or a historical renovation.” MLM also works on commercial projects, such as Red Wing Shoe stores, Stirling Properties, Register Real Estate and others. Medrzycki enjoys using natural stone and glass combinations in bathrooms; large mirrors; open spaces; and simple, elegant designs. He can even build an outdoor kitchen or deck of your dreams. “I want clients to experience that great design ideas can be performed without breaking the bank,” he says. “I have personally been doing custom design bathrooms and kitchens for many years. The key to our success is in creating spaces that look high-end and stay on the budget all at the same time.” 3500 N. Causeway Blvd. | Ste. 160 | Metairie | (985) 788-1541 mlm-inc.com jeff strout photo
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in the S P O t L I G H T
Southern Refinishing Lesley and Misty Dickerson By Pamela Marquis
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hen it comes to bathroom remodeling, claw-foot tubs are one of the most popular decor items available today. These tubs add charm, appeal and sense of luxury. But what if you found an old and rusted one, what would you do? Who would contact? The people at Southern Refinishing are experts in these iconic tubs and so many others things that will enhance you home décor. Southern Refinishing has more than 40 years experience offering residential and commercial work. They refinish materials such as marble, cast iron, plastic and fiberglass and can update floors, countertops and pedestal sinks. “Refinishing is taking something that is old, dingy or out dated and giving it the breath of life again,” says Lesley Dickerson, president of Southern Refinishing. “It’s taking something that still has many good years left and making it look as good as it did the day it was made. It’s saving homeowners the time and cost of replacement.” Their residential work can be found all throughout the region with many satisfied clients. Their commercial work is prestigious, too – the company has done work at the Bourbon-Orleans Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton, as well as the naval bases in Belle Chasse and Mississippi. The most unique thing they have refinished is the pelican sign that’s on the Crescent City Connection bridge, which you can see if you’re driving to the West Bank from New Orleans. “We did it back when Governor Blanco was in office, very proud moment for us,” says Dickerson. ”It’s always nice to see it when we are on our way home from a long day. It reminds us why we do what we do.” 708 Barataria Blvd. | Marrero | 348-1770 | (800) 340-5581
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in the S P O t L I G H T
Cabinets by Design Monique Poché Bennett By Sarah Ravits
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abinets by Design opened in Gretna in 1988. Fifteen years later, it relocated to its current location on Tchoupitoulas Street in a renovated corner store that now serves as a kitchen and bath showroom. It is owned by Monique Poché Bennett, a Certified Kitchen Designer who works with clients on a daily basis. Bennett says her business offers design services for the entire home, including kitchens, butler pantries, wet bars, bathrooms, libraries and closets. “Our designers work with clients through all aspects of a project, assisting with space-planning, design decisions and finish selections,” she says. “Cabinets by Design proudly carries four lines of cabinetry: Wood-Mode; Brookhaven; Executive Cabinetry and MidContinent Cabinetry.” The company also carries Sub-Zero, Wolf, Dacor and Asko brand appliances, along with a range of plumbing fixtures, decorative tile and cabinet hardware. These days, customers are wanting white kitchens. “The versatile color really lends itself to all types of designs,” Bennett explains. “A white kitchen can be classically elegant or sleek and modern, depending on the style of cabinetry and accessories added to the space.” Bennett says the longstanding history of excellence in design and customer service speaks for itself. “Our staff is committed to helping our customers create spaces that will be loved for years to come.”
5201 Tchoupitoulas St. | 899-2300 | cabinetsbydesign.com jeff strout photo
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EXPERT ADVICE
Katie Koch
Buying Antiques A beginner’s guide to collecting By Lee Cutrone
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here comes a point in many people’s lives where décor from one’s college years and sofas from chain stores found in every corner of suburbia are no longer fitting the bill. Achieving a look that expresses who you are doesn’t require that every piece you own be museum worthy. But mixing in art and antiques is often part of the equation. Luckily New Orleans is home to world-class antiques and a thriving arts community. Here, local experts in the fields of art and antiques offer advice on how to start collecting. Limited knowledge and a beginner’s budget need not stand in your way. There are plenty of ways to sharpen your own expertise and invest in things you’ll love for years to come.
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Where To Start Laura Roland of Fireside Antiques in Baton Rouge recommends tearing pictures from design magazines, then studying them to see if there’s a pattern to what you like. Erin Jacobs of Abode also advises reading the article that accompanies the photo spread for pertinent information like the origin of a piece or the place it was purchased. “No matter what your budget is, you want the best your money will buy, so do your homework and find a resource you trust in,” says Katie Koch, owner of Katie Koch Drapery and Katie Koch Home. Artist, designer and gallery owner Kevin Gillentine adds that nothing compares with hands-on experience gained through shopping brick and mortar
EUGENIA UHL photographs
stores. “The main thing is to get into the shops and see what is actually available,” says Gillentine. “Go to reputable places where people know what they’re talking about.” Adds Koch, “Shop where you know the owner has a good eye.”
Explore The Marketplace Gaining exposure can mean shopping locally, exploring when you travel or searching online. Learning about periods, styles, furniture makers or artists, will not only help you appreciate genres, but will help you make informed decisions about condition, quality, cost and more. “You have to develop your eye,” says Bill Rau, owner of M.S. Rau Antiques, now in its 103rd year. Rau suggests visiting museums, auctions and galleries and “asking yourself what speaks to you.” Artist Garrett Haab recommends looking locally (especially in smaller, lesser known galleries), as well as out of state and internationally. (Locally, Haab is represented by Hyphen Gallery and Studio M, but this year, the list of venues exhibiting the sculptures he welds with repurposed metals also includes New York; Venice, Italy; and Miami). Once you’ve looked around, the next step is making a purchase. “You can’t really understand a piece until you’ve lived with it a while,” says Rau.
Consider Your Living Space “You have to address width, height, scale and factor that into the shopping process,”
says Jacobs. “If it doesn’t fit or function somewhere, it’s of no use.” Says Rau,“You can’t fit a 13-foot table in a 12-foot room.” Nevertheless, Rau believes in purchasing a piece you love and finding a place for it. “The greatest homes I’ve been in are the ones where the people bought what they loved and made it work.” If there is some doubt or you change your mind over time, he notes that many dealers will work a trade for another piece. To be sure, ask about the dealer’s policy.
Talk to Dealers and Artists “All good dealers are willing to share their knowledge,” says Rau. Seasoned dealers also can help collectors decipher why they like something or what is missing from a piece, adds Koch. The most important thing, according to Jacobs, is knowing which questions to ask. “Whether you’re searching on Craigslist or at events such as Round Top, have a list that includes things like era made and country of origin,” she says. When shopping for antiques, Gillentine suggests adding finishes to your list of questions. A new painted finish could devalue an old piece for example. Another caveat Gillentine offers beginners: “Be careful to look at words like ‘antique-style’ versus antique.” As for art collectors, gallery openings provide an opportunity to speak directly with artists as do art fairs where artists are on site. “You can find some great deals on up and coming
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artists,” says Haab. “My biggest advice is that art is not just for the elite. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The old adage that there are no dumb questions really applies.”
Seek Out Works by Emerging Artists Dealers and designers often recommend that fledgling collectors of contemporary art look at artists just beginning to be noticed. “They’re new and affordable,” says Francis. At the same time, she points out that those interested in acquiring works by well-known artists should consider doing it sooner than later as the price of such works often increases over time. Works by living artists who no longer produce original pieces and works by recognized artists who’ve died are limited to what already exists so they may come at a premium. Koch cautions beginner collectors to opt for those works that they really like rather than artists or themes that are trendy. She also seeks out works by emerging artisans, citing an example of a local ironworker who made an impressive reinterpretation of a brutalist banister. If you’re unsure about a new artist, Gillentine suggests emerging artists represented by galleries. “A good gallery will stand behind a piece,” he says.
Cover a Variety of Venues While galleries are a wonderful resource for art, they’re not
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the only game in town. Penny Francis advises beginners to get creative in their hunt. Among her favorite places to seek out bargains are art fairs, student exhibits at art schools, consignment shops, auctions, and estate sales. Online sources abound as well, with sites like Craigslist, Etsy and eBay offering bargains, and sites like 1st dibs providing a world-class roster of dealers. Francis also recommends social media and city searches for databases of local artists. “A lot of artists today do self promotion through social media,” she says. Abode’s Jacobs suggests following several artists you like on Etsy, then expanding your online research of those artists. “It’s free to look and you can do it from the comfort of your home,” she says. Thanks to sites like 501auctions. com and mobile apps, notes Francis, anyone (including novices who may be intimidated by live or silent auctions) interested in auction items can also shop from home – or wherever they may be. Billed as the premier charity auction website, 501 lists artist bios, information about each work, and more. It also allows you to preview lots, track what is happening and bid in real time.
Start with Limited Series Works Works such as giclées, numbered prints, and lithographs are generally more affordable than original works, notes Francis. “When a room needs a big piece and you don’t
EUGENIA UHL photographs
tip One of the best ways to create a canvas worthy of carefully curated pieces is by using high-quality paint. Fine Paints of Europe, made in Holland, offers such a superior product that museums such as Mount Vernon use it. (Closer to home, Antoine’s Restaurant chose the brand for its famed Rex Room). “The first thing you want to do is set the tone for your art and antiques,” says the Vermont-based company’s Staff Colorist Emmett Fiore. “The right paint enhances art and antiques.” What makes the line so unique is the fact that it’s finely ground. Fine consistency equals a higher concentration of pigment, which in turn yields better coverage and luminosity. Though the paint is more expensive than most, Fiore says it makes financial sense over the long run. “There’s economic value to better paint,” he says. “It lasts longer.” In addition to being an excellent way to frame the things you love, Fine Paints offers historic colors (The Mount Vernon Estate of Colours collection includes 110 colors). If you’re a purist, you can pick the appropriate color to go with your 18thcentury American finds. The line also is used by artists. Its artist quality and commercial sizing are especially suited to large works and installations. Fine Paints of Europe is available at Helm Paint.
have the budget, giclées are a great way to go,” agrees Jacobs. “I could see going for a striking lithograph in a limited series; something you don’t see everywhere,” says Koch.
As a dealer of antiques for more than 30 years, Rau underscores the important distinction between works in a series and rare, hardto-find antiques and art. He considers the former a design decision if you’re going for a certain look and the latter a valuable commodity for years to come. “If it looked good 100 years ago, it will probably still look good 100 years from now,” he says.
Buy What You Love Go with your gut, follow you instinct, buy what you love are mantras shared by our experts. Art, especially, should evoke emotion in the buyer. Otherwise, it’s being purchased strictly as a monetary investment, rather than an object to be enjoyed. For Jacobs, buying a piece she loves may even extend to the story or history behind it. “Something interesting about a piece may provoke me as much as the piece itself,” she says. Because antiques and original art are often one-of-a-kind, Gillentine recommends buying something when you see it rather than waiting. Unlike newly mass produced merchandise, antiques are not subject to deep discounts and can’t be duplicated or reordered. “Antiques are valued because of their rarity,” he says. “If you find something you really love, chances are you won’t find it again.”
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Mix Periods Mixing periods and styles doesn’t mean putting together an incongruous assortment of finds just New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.com
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so there’s variation. It’s really about creating a collected look, a living space that illustrates your own aesthetic, and a design scheme in step with today’s interiors. If you’re drawn to clean lines, Roland suggests staying with a clean-lined style of antiques (such as Louis Philip) for large pieces likes buffets and armoires, then stepping outside of your comfort zone, to something more ornate and curvilinear perhaps, for smaller pieces like chairs and accessories. “Unequivocally, do mix things,” advises Rau. “Your grandmother may not have done it, but definitely do. It looks better. If you have a room full of brown Georgian furniture or a room full of gilded Louis XV pieces, nothing stands out. When you mix periods, they do.” Antiques also work well with vintage, quality reproduction pieces, contemporary designs, and custom furnishings. Vintage furnishings (20 to 100 years old) are usually more affordable than antiques, though not always. Certain designers, well-known company names and select eras can garner very high prices. In keeping with today’s tastes for mixing antique, vintage and new, many dealers offer multiple categories of furniture. Fireside sells antiques, custom furnishings and fine reproductions. Koch, who personally prefers using “a broad spectrum” of styles with a healthy dose of vintage, suggests using an extra discerning eye when evaluating a reproduction.
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“I’m tough on a reproduction,” she says. “It has to be really well made and I like a little age or patina.”
Think Of Collecting as a Long-term Proposition “Start collecting as soon as you can,” says Gillentine. “A collection takes a lifetime to build. It’s a question of things that are thoughtfully collected versus things that collect dust.” In addition to being surrounded by things you love to look at, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve invested in items that are esteemed for their authenticity and have good resale value, and you will have been financially wise, spacing out purchases rather than buying everything at once. “Everything is expensive now, new and old,” say Koch. “But new pieces don’t always have the integrity of old. If you take an old piece, like a sofa with good bones, and refurbish it, I think you’re making a better investment. Buy one with good clean lines that can transition well into any room.” To get even more bang for your bunk, Koch suggests going with pieces that are a little edgy instead of “safe” and moving things around periodically so you don’t tire of them. When possible, Roland also advises clients to go for old over new. “Who wants to live in a house where everything is a copy?” she says. “Why not live with the real deal?” Adds Rau, “Buy the best you can afford when you can afford it. If you have to buy it on time, do it. Buy for the long term.” n
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Advertising Resource Directory
building materials Adda Carpets and Flooring 5480 Mounes St. Harahan 504/736-9001 addacarpetsandflooring.com Palatial Stone 2052 Paxton St. Harvey 504/340-2229 2033 N. Highway 190, Suite 9 Covington 985/249-6868 palatialstone.com Pieri Tile & Marble Co. Inc. 3622 Toulouse St. New Orleans 504/488-1509 pieritile.com financial Gulf Coast Bank & Trust 3221 Behrman Place New Orleans 504/599-5747 sarafernandez@gulfbank.com 1825 Veterans Blvd. Metairie 504/556-4232 marcialeone@gulfbank.com
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Whitney Bank 228 St Charles Ave. New Orleans 800/813-7346 whitneybank.com/mortgage
Tyson Construction 504-905-1042 zach@tyson-construction.com tyson-construction.com
gardening/landscape Benge Landscape 1720 Mayan Ln. Metairie 504/309-2574 bengelandscape.com
home furnishings & accessories Abode 2114 Veterans Blvd. Metairie 504/266-2135 shopatabode.com
Exterior Designs, Inc 2903 Octavia St. New Orleans 504/866-0276 exteriordesignsbev.com
Doerr Furniture 914 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans 504/947-0606 doerrfurniture.com
Mullin Landscape Associates LLC 621 Distributors Row Ste F Harahan 504/275-6617 mullinlandscape.com
Eclectic Home 8211 Oak St. New Orleans 504/866-6654 eclectichome.net
Home Builder M L M Incorporated 3500 N.Causeway Blvd.,Ste.160 Metairie 504/322-7050 mlm-inc.com
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Fireside Antiques 14007 Perkins Road Baton Rouge 225/752-9565 firesideantiques.com
Greg Arceneaux Cabinetmakers, Inc. 17319 Norwell Dr. Covington 985-893-8782 gregarceneaux.com Katie Koch Home By appointment 1117 Josphine St. New Orleans 504/410-1450 katiekochhome.com Kevin Gillentine Gallery 3917 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-0509 kevingillentine.com Mignon Faget 3801 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-2005 The Shops at Canal Place New Orleans 504/524-2973 Lakeside Shopping Center Metairie 504/835-2244 mignonfaget.com
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M.S. Rau Antiques 630 Royal St. New Orleans 504/593-8308 rauantiques.com
SolaTube 11451 Cedar Park Ave. Baton Rouge 225/771-8654 acola.requests@gmail.com
Renaissance Interiors 2727 Edenborn Ave. Metairie 504/454-3320 yourrenaissance.com
Southern Refinishing, LLC 708 Barataria Blvd Marrero 504-348-1770 southernrefinishing.com
Shades of Blue 3530 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-1575 shadesofblueinc.com
Insurance LCI Workers’ Comp 1123 N. Causeway Blvd. Mandeville 985/612-1230 lciwc.com
Sotre 3933 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/304-9475 sotrenola.com The Historic New Orleans Collection 533 Royal St. New Orleans 504/523-4662 hnoc.org Wilkerson Row 3137 Magazine St. New Orleans 504-899-3311 shaunwilkerson.com Wren’s Tontine Shade & Design 1533 Prytania St. New Orleans 504/525-7409 wrenstontine.com HOME IMPROVEMENT Fine Paints of Europe PO Box 419 Woodstock, VT 05091 800/332-1556 finepaintsofeurope.com Hunter Douglas Window Fashions 800/937-STYLE hunterdouglas.com
kitchen & bath Cameron Kitchen & Bath Designs Inc. 8019 Palm St. New Orleans 504/486-3759 cameronkitchens.com Campbell Cabinet Co. 220 Hord St. Harahan 504/733-4687 4040 Hwy. 59 Mandeville 985/892-7713 campbellcabinets.com
Marchand Creative Kitchens 3517 Division St. Metairie 504/888-0695 2180 N. Causeway Blvd Mandeville 985/892-2572 mckitchens.com Mattix Cabinet Works 415 N. Solomon St. New Orleans 504/486-7218 68425 Hwy 59 Suite 1 Just North of I-12 in the Alamosa Business Park Mandeville 985/893-2355 mattixcabinet.com
California Closets 3211 N. Causeway Blvd. Metairie 504/828-5705 californiaclosets.com/metairie Floor & Décor Design Gallery 2801 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-3005 4 Westside Shopping Center Gretna 504/361-0501 flooranddecorneworleans.com Garrett Haab- Sculpture Artistry 504/430-1975 garretthaab.com
Nordic Kitchens & Baths Inc. 1818 Veterans Blvd. Metairie 504/888-2300 nordickitchens.com
Louisiana Custom Closets 13405 Seymour Meyer Blvd. #24 Covington 985/871-0810 louisianacustomclosets.com
Stafford Tile & Stone 5234 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/895-5000 4273 Perkins Road Baton Rouge 225/925-1233 staffordtile.com
NOLA Home Show January 15-17, 2016 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center 504/733-0088 nolahomeshow.com
Ferguson 901 S Labarre Rd Metairie 504/849-3060 ferguson.com/showrooms
retirement living Lambeth House 150 Broadway New Orleans 504/865-1960 lambethhouse.com
Home Décor 10920 E. I-10 Service Road New Orleans 504/245-8288 hd-kitchenandbath.com
Poydras Home 5354 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/897-0535 poydrashome.com
Kings Marble and Granite 11 5th St. Gretna 504/366-6680 kingmarbleandgranite.com
specialists Bayou Closets 2537 North Rampart St. New Orleans 504/944-8388 Rob@BayouClosets.com
Ruffino Custom Closets 110 Campbell Ave. Mandeville 985/809-7623 ruffinocustomclosets.com Russell’s Cleaning Services 3401 Tulane Ave. New Orleans 504-482-3153 3704 Robertson St. Metairie 504-832-1546 russellcleaning.org •
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RESOURCES The area code is 504, unless otherwise noted.
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Artist Profile, pg. 18 Martin L Benson martinlbenson.com Living With Antiques, pg. 24 “Olive & Oil Jars” Tara Shaw, 1526 Religious St., 525-1131, tarashawmaison.com Masters Of Their Craft, pg. 26 “Bold Ambition” Lipscapes, yourlipscape.com Trendwatch, pg. 29 “Parlor Pouf” Eclectic Home, 8211 Oak St., 866-6654; eclectichome.net; Katie Koch Home, 1117 Josephine St., 410-11450, katiekochhome.com; Sotre, 3933 Magazine St., 304-9475; Peony, 2240 Magazine St., 300-7908, peonynola.com; West Elm, 2929 Magazine St., 895-2469, westelm.com. “Well-Played,” pg. 36 Shaun Smith, Shaun Smith, 3947 Magazine St., 896-1020, shaunsmithhome.com; Lily Pulitzer, lilypulitzer.com; Clay Judice, Clay Judice, clayjudicejr.com; Ballard Designs, ballarddesigns.com; Pottery Barn Kids, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Suite 30, Metairie,833-1248, potterybarnkids.com; Jennifer Ansardi, jenniferansardi.com; Austin James, artsy. net/artist/austin-james; Bremermann Designs, 3943 Magazine St., 891-7763, bremermanndesigns.com; Becky Vizard, 195 Locustland Rd, St Joseph, (318) 766-4950. “An Inspired Blend.” Pg. 46 Bevolo Gas & Electric Lighting, 318 Royal St., 552-4311; bevolo.com; Schumacher Fabric, fschumacher.com; Eclectic Home, 8211 Oak St., 866-6654, eclectichome.net; Clarke and Clarke, clark-clarke.co.uk; Kindel, kindelfurniture.com. “Kitchens and Baths,” pg. 54 Nordic Kitchens & Baths, 1818 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 888-2300, nordickitchens.com; Elite Home Products, 5630 Salmen St., 495-2125, elitehomeproducts.com.; Beth Claybourn Interiors, 401 Tchoupitoulas
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St., 342-2630, bethclaybourneinteriors.com; The Hopkins Company, 3045 Ridgelake Dr., Metairie, 838-8700, hopkinsco.com; Sherwin Williams, St. Charles Ave., N. Peters and Magazine, Sherwin-williams. com; Jefferson Door Company, 1227 1st Ave., Harvey, 340-2471, jeffersondoor.com; Classic Kitchens, 4306 Waverly St., Metairie, 456-1000, classickitchensetc.com; Pieri Tile & Marble, 3622 Toulouse St., 488-1509, pieritile.com; Triton Stone, 6161 River Rd., Harahan, 738-2228, tritonstone.com/new-orleans-granite. Robert Abbey, robertabbey.biz; Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com; Ma Sherie Amour, 517 St. Ann St., 598-1998, facebook.com/masherieamour; Wren’s Tontine, 1533 Prytania St., 525-7409, wrenstontine.com; Tyson Construction, 1974 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan, 905-1042, tyson-construction.com; Showplace Cabinets, showplacewood.com; Jim Owens Flooring & Cabinets, 4400 Airline Dr., Metairie, 835-6969, jimowensflooring.com; Coburn’s, Harvey, Metairie and Plantation Rd., coburns.com; St. Charles Lighting, 15223 Hwy. 90, Paradis, (985)-758-2020, stcharleslighting.com; Nelson Clayton, Belle Chasse, 433-5659, nelsonclaytonhomes.com; ADDA Carpets & Flooring/Huey Brown’s Kitchens, 5480 Mounes St., Harahan, 736-9001, addacarpetsandflooring.com. Armstrong’s Supply, 3600 Orleans Ave., 486-0094, armstrongsupply.com; Nissan Engel, (Elliot Gallery) 540 Royal St.,523-3554, elliotgallery.com. “Homespun Elegance: A Festive Outdoor Gathering,” pg. 60 Coquette, 2800 Magazine St., 265-0421; Meauxbar, 942 N. Rampart Street, New Orleans, 569-9979; Studio Inferno, 6601 St. Claude Ave., 945-1878; Erica Larkin-Gaudet Studio, larkingaudet.com; West Elm, 2929 Magazine St., 895-2469 Expert Advice, pg. 94 “Buying Antiques” Fireside Antiques, Perkins Rd., Baton Rouge, 225-752-9565, firesideantiques.com; Abode, 2114 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 266-2135, shopabode.com; Katie Koch Home, 1117 Josephine St., 410-11450, katiekochhome.com; Kevin Gillentine, 3917 Magazine St., 891-0509, kevingillentine.com; MS Rau Antiques, 630 Royal St., 523-5660, rauantiques.com; Garrett Haab (Hyphen Gallery), 1901 Royal St., 264-6863, garretthaab.com; Penny Francis (Eclectic Home), 8211 Oak St., 866-6654, eclectichome.net; Helm Paint, helmpaint.com; Shaun Smith, 3947 Magazine St., 896-1020, shaunsmithhome.com. n
LAST INDULGENCE
A Sweet Combination No matter your age or the season, a s’more is always a welcome treat with a hint of nostalgia. By Sarah Ravits
S
ome might associate a s’more with childhood, summertime or camping, but this simple, sweet treat can – and should be – be enjoyed year-round. Whether you’re using a fire pit, fireplace or just a microwave, the gooey combination of a toasted marshmallow and melted chocolate, sandwiched between crunchy graham crackers, is irresistibly divine and soul-warming on a cold night. n
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