Autumn is slowly settling in, as the days grow shorter and we all start to look forward to cooler air, fall festivities and (later in the calendar year) the holiday season nearly on the precipice. It’s a great time to relax before the cacophony of those celebrations; a time to enjoy throwing open your windows and sipping drinks on the porch with friends and family.
This issue we have two great examples of homes that embrace celebration — celebrations of design, color and thoughtful detail.
Our “New Build of the Year” was designed with a growing family in mind. A seamless collaboration between the homeowners, architect, contractor and interior designers sealed the deal on this striking home with plenty of detail and room to flourish for years to come.
A color-filled condo renovation that reflects the owners’ love of art, travel, family gatherings and celebrations explores what is possible when you keep an open mind to design. It’s a space right at home in a city that loves to gather and revel in brightness and boldness of flavor.
This issue we also pay tribute to five Design Masters whose work has helped to define New Orleans style. Each has dedicated years to crafting work that endures trends, embraces tradition and adorns interiors across the city with classic style. We are excited to highlight their work and are excited to see what’s next.
As always, we have plenty of ways to enjoy the season, from jewel-toned color palettes and cozy recipes to share with family and friends.
Breathe deep, readers, and take a moment to enjoy the quiet blessings of fall.
Editorial
Editor Ashley McLellan
Creative Director Tiffani Reding Amedeo
Style Editor Andy Myer
Web Editor Kelly Massicot
Contributing Writers Jenny Adams, Lee Cutrone, Amy Gabriel, Rebecca Friedman, Andy Myer, Margaret Zainey Roux, Melanie Warner Spencer
Copy Editor Liz Clearman
Advertising
Senior Account Executive
Brooke Genusa, Brooke@MyNewOrleans.com
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Kate Henry, Kate@MyNewOrleans.com
Account Director Meggie Schmidt
Senior Account Executive Erin Chiartano
Marketing
Video Media Producer Mallary Wolfe
Sponsored Content Coordinator
Jeremy Marshall
Renaissance Publishing
Production
Manager Rosa Balaguer Arostegui
Senior Designer Ashley Pemberton
Designer Czarlyn Ria Trinidad
Circulation
Distribution John Holzer
Administration
Office Manager Emily Ruiz
Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne
828-1380
Garden District Glow Up
In June, the now-shuttered Prytania Park Hotel reopened as the vastly reimagined Garden District Hotel. With interiors designed by New Orleans-based Jeannine Jacob Interiors, the extensive renovation renders the former Prytania Park unrecognizable apart from sparing spiral staircases found in some of the 47-room hotel’s two-level suites. The project included room updates that swapped unremarkable carpet tile flooring in the rooms for striking herringbone wood floors and redesigning mishmash bathrooms transforming them with marble for days. A swanky heated saltwater pool (day passes are available) with swim-up bar and chic and moody Garden Bar with exposed brick walls and tropical wallcoverings complete the glow-up. Revival New York Egyptian cotton linens and drip coffee are standard room amenities with poolside yoga and movement classes, as well as a fitness center catering to wellnessminded guests. The new hotel, located at 1525 Prytania St., is managed by Dallasbased Dreamscape Hospitality, which counts 24 properties across the United States in its portfolio, including corporate brands Hilton, Hyatt and Extended Stay and the nearby Blackbird Hotel, which opened late in 2024. gdhnola.com
French (Quarter) Connection
Earlier this year, Axios reported Audubon Nature Institute’s plans for a $30 million public green space. The project will extend the riverfront park and the first phase is slated to open by the end of the year. Look for a band shell and, ultimately, a 2.25-mile park for walking and biking that runs from Crescent Park to Spanish Plaza. Event rental options and a food truck area are also (potentially) in the works.
Anxiety-Free Art Buying
While shopping in a market in the small village of Cucuron in Provence, Megan and Michael Manning were inspired to create a company catering to art lovers. The New Orleans-based wife-and-husband team wanted to make it easier for travelers (and homebodies) to support local artists and to make art buying more accessible. Cucuron (pronounced coocoo-ron) features art by Southern American artists (including some in New Orleans), in a variety of styles and mediums. Buyers can take advantage of free consultation services, use augmented reality tools to see what pieces look like in their space and return works that, well, don’t work (within a week). cucuronshop.com
Homegrown Hub
Congregate and Caffeinate
In July, the much-anticipated new location of Congregation Coffee opened in the former CC’s Coffee on the corner of Magazine Street and Jefferson Avenue to help fuel the denizens of Uptown. In 2023, Patrick Brennan bought the Algiers Pointbased café from former owner Eliott Guthrie with plans for growth. The design team Brennan worked with to redesign the lower-level cafe space in the turreted Victorian building included architect Seth Welty of Colectivo; contractor Mayer Building Company; Martin Woodworks for the millwork; decorative painter and muralist Marco St. John; with the interior furniture design by Carleton Young; and tile work by Symmetry Flooring. The café features warm wood floors and green accents and is lined on two sides by tall windows. Dark stained wood chairs with Dutch modern vibes are nestled against blonde wood-topped tables with wood accents along the bar and elegant inset arches warming up the space. At the new Uptown location, look for the always expertly pulled espresso drink, delicious drip coffee and bags of Congregation’s locally roasted, singleorigin beans in various blends and fresh pastries from Ralph Brennan’s Bakery. Later this year, Brennan plans to open a third Congregation location in the French Quarter. congregationcoffee.com
Designers and design aficionados have likely noticed more time spent over the past decade or so shopping and otherwise conducting design-related business in Old Jefferson. The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commision also noticed and earlier this summer announced that a 320-acre area near the Orleans-Jefferson Parish line nestled between River Road and the Earhart Expressway would now be designated as the Design District. The idea was brought to JEDCO leadership by Karin Nelson, owner of Design Center New Orleans, who pointed out how many home industry businesses had sprouted up in the area. “Louisiana has a lengthy and rich design history and we are surrounded by a vibrant design community,” said Nelson in a press release. “With the designation of this design district, the goal is for Old Jefferson to become a design destination, attracting new businesses of all kinds to support and help our talented designers grow their companies.” Tax incentives and a dedicated loan fund are in the works through JEDCO.
“Henrietta” armchair in moss green velvet from daals, daals.com
Going Green
Mossy greens are making a comeback for the 2025 color palette, incorporating a lush, classic neutral that is at home with both deeper, jewel-tone hues as well as softer whites and light colors for a grounded effect.
by Ashley McLellan
“Hermine” suede pumps in olive green from Anonymous Copenhagen, anoncph.com
Mora Ceramics latte art mug in moss green, moraceramics.com
Benjamin Moore wall color in “Ashwood Moss,” benjaminmoore.com
Sherwin Williams wall color in “Artichoke,” sherwinwilliams.com
Wool cashmere crew neck sweater in “Soft Green” from Toast, us.toa.st
The Grand wool rug in “Milano Green,” from Nordic Knots, nordicknots.com
Classic European flax bed linens in forest green, from CB2, cb2.com
“Halsey” teardrop lamp base in green, from World Market, worldmarket.com
Get Organized
Kitchen Sense
Utensils Within Reach
Declutter your drawers with a colorful utensil crock made just for this purpose. $35, available at Le Creuset, 500 Port of New Orleans Place, 504561-6004, lecreuset.com
Boxing Day
These perforated acacia baskets add a touch of class to everyday pantries. $68, available online at Neat Method, neatmethod.com
Retro Tea Container
This antique CzechSlovak ceramic tea container adds a touch of nostalgia to a wellstocked pantry. $30, available at Seasoned (all items are one-ofa-kind), 3828 Dryades St., 504-434-2720, seasonednola.com
Stackable Storage
Keep pantry ingredients organized, or any types of odds and ends for that matter, in glass airtight containers. $590, available online at Caraway, carawayhome.com
Cuppa Joe to Go
This Hold Everything coffee storage station with pull-out drawer is a coffee lover’s dream come true. $349.95, available online at Williams Sonoma, williams-sonoma.com
Spin for the Win
The RSVP International Endurance single turntable is ideal for tool crocks, jars and spices, and it can even be used in the refrigerator. $35, available at Ladle and the Whisk, 2130 Magazine St., 504-910-6199, ladleandthewhisk.com
Tools of the Trade
The Toyo Steel stackable storage box is perfect for organizing snacks or small kitchen tools. $28, available at Coutelier, 8600 Oak St., Ste. 1B, 504-475-5606, couteliernola.com
On a Roll
The Yamazaki tower two-tier hideaway storage cart keeps essentials easily accessible and is made for small spaces. $138, available at West Elm, 2929 Magazine St., 504-895-2469, westelm.com
Steph Reed
by John R.
Like generations before her, New Orleans artist Steph Reed is drawn to that golden hour of sunlight just moments before the evening glow disappears into night. She also loves to capture on canvas those towering summer clouds that rise quickly across the humid landscape. Her paintings of the Mississippi River, bayous and marshes are very much part of Louisiana’s continuing landscape tradition.
“We get really great sunsets here,” Reed says, “but I do love when those dramatic storms roll through. You get this really high contrast with the dark sky in the background, but it might be sunny where you are. I’ve never experienced that kind of lighting anywhere else. I like dramatic lighting, so this is the perfect place to be. All the humidity brings out those warm colors. I get very excited about the skies here.”
Reed, who studied art at Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design and the Maine College of Art & Design, is not a native New Orleanian. She was born in Ohio and grew up on the south coast of Maine, and like so many young artists, she moved to the city after Hurricane Katrina. She now lives and works in her home studio in the city’s Seventh Ward. “I absolutely love it here,” she says.
Like most newcomers, Reed has the advantage of truly seeing the South Louisiana’s environment and landscape with fresh eyes and strong palette as she walks along the levees sketching and photographing industrial
scenes on the river or the natural landscape as she paddles her canoe along the bayous and marshes. These sketches and photos are references for larger oil paintings back in her studio.
As to artistic influences, she mentions the usual classics – da Vinci, Matisse, Renoir — and a few Louisiana artists such as Clarence Millet and the brothers William and Ellsworth Woodward for their colors and brushwork. She also finds George Rodrigue’s early landscapes “beautiful and haunting.” And then there is Walter Anderson. “Though I don’t see much influence in my own work yet,” she says, “I love the looseness of Walter Anderson[‘s sketching style]. I hope I can channel some of that in a series of pen-and-ink drawings that I am starting.”
Reed describes her work as expressionistic and representational. “I like to layer paint to get that expressionist feel when you are close to the canvas,” she says. “And then you back up and it becomes more representational, realistic work. It’s never photorealism, we have photos to do that.”
The challenge for all artists is knowing when a painting is successful. Reed knows it’s working when “part of me feels that I’m being transported” back to that place. She hopes viewers get that same sense of being there.
“Emotionally,” she says. “I want to land somewhere slightly meditative, and I want to give people a calm sense of place. I want to make something beautiful as well something people can aesthetically appreciate.”
For additional information, visit stephreedworks.com.
Capturing the “Golden Hour”
Kemp portrait by Thom Bennett
Just Chillin’
No time for gourmet? Just grab-andgo with Chef Ashwin Vilkhu’s easy weeknight recipe, Refrigerator Noodles.
produced by Margaret Zainey Roux
photo by Eugenia Uhl
About Chef Ashwin Vilkhu
Chef Ashwin Vilkhu serves as the co-executive chef at Saffron and executive chef at its newly opened sister restaurant, The Kingsway. Hospitality is in his DNA as his father enjoyed a long career in the hotel and club industry while his mother was an avid home entertainer and caterer. After earning degrees from UNO, he and his family opened Saffron which was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a semifinalist for “Best New Restaurant” and this year, they opened the doors to The Kingsway. Located on Magazine Street, it offers contemporary Asian cuisine made with thoughtfully sourced and sustainable ingredients and bold flavors.
Refrigerator Noodles Serves 4
Noodles
8 oz Hong Kong-style dried egg
noodles (spaghetti or bucatini)
4 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons oil (grapeseed, avocado, or canola)
1 tablespoon garlic paste
1 tablespoon ginger paste
1⁄2 cup thinly sliced onions
1⁄2 cup julienned carrots
1⁄2 cup julienned red and green bell peppers
1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt, adjust to taste
1⁄4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1⁄4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1⁄2 teaspoon mushroom powder or to taste
Chili Sauce
1 tablespoon oil
1⁄2 small onion, finely diced
1 tablespoon garlic paste
1 tablespoon ginger paste
1⁄2 teaspoon red chili flakes
1 teaspoon soy sauce
Salt to taste
1. In a medium pot, bring chicken stock to a boil. Add dried noodles and cook until tender.
Strain and set noodles aside, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid.
2. Heat wok or sauté pan over high heat until smoking. Add oil, garlic, and ginger. Stir until fragrant. Add onions, carrots, and bell peppers. Stir fry over high heat until tender (about 2 minutes).
3. Add drained noodles to the pan and stir-fry with vegetables. Season with salt, white pepper, black pepper, and mushroom powder. Toss everything together and remove from heat.
4. Spread the noodles on a tray to cool slightly, then refrigerate until cold.
5. In a small pan, warm the oil and sauté the small diced onion until golden brown. Add the garlic, ginger, and red chili flakes. Cook until fragrant. Deglaze with soy sauce and a splash of water if needed.
6. Simmer briefly until the sauce comes together. Taste and adjust the salt.
7. Toss the cold noodles in the sauce.
8. Optional: Garnish with scallions and julienned omelet.
Home Grown
Eat Your Greens
Mustard greens are perfect for fall and beloved by gardeners who like reaping rewards quickly.
by Melanie Warner Spencer
1
Appearance
Fast-growing mustard greens are a hardy crop just as happy planted along walkways or in containers as in dedicated vegetable beds. The leaves range from reddish to dark green and purple with leaves that can be broad or curled.
2
Uses
Peppery and bold, depending on the variety, mustard greens can be used in salads and soups, braised or sautéed. Loaded with minerals, including potassium, calcium and magnesium, as well as antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and K these greens pack a nutritious punch.
3 Grow
According to the LSU Ag Center, mustard greens are a cool season crop that can tolerate frost and light freezes making them ideal for your fall (or spring) veggie garden. Avoid planting seeds in heavy soil and, when planting in the fall, be sure to use sand or light mulch as a cover and for cooling. Plant in moist soil and lightly water at planting time and frequently thereafter. The seeds will sprout and grow quickly, ready for harvest about 40-60 days after planting.
4
Learn The botanical classification for mustard greens is Brassica juncea. You may also have heard them referred to by nicknames including Indian mustard, Chinese mustard and leaf mustard.
5
Lagniappe
To encourage mustard greens to last longer after harvesting, remove thick stems and thoroughly wash the leaves. Gently dry (to avoid bruising) with a salad spinner or towels. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight plastic bag for up to five days or in a ventilated container for up to 14 days.
Bright Ideas
How do we begin planning a cocktail class gathering?
“Know your own strengths,” PattonBragg advises. “If you are a skilled drink maker, you could host the class yourself. But, you also want to enjoy the party. I’d reach out to a favorite bartender in town. Think of the people with the most personality, and ask that person to teach it. Even if your favorite bartender isn’t up to it, they will be able to suggest someone fun.”
The cocktails won’t be very complicated, so any adept bartender can make them. Personality should be top priority, she advises. You want someone who is going to entertain guests, while everyone learns.
Avoid these pitfalls
Get two buckets to serve as large, beautiful vessels. The first is for dumping out fruit or liquid from shakers and mixing tins, and the second is filled with water for rinsing. “Juice is sticky, so you will also want some wet wipes,” she says. “I’d put out a charcuterie board for snacking and then also make recipe cards. People can look down at them in the class and then take them home.
Oh, and ice. Anytime you have a party, you need ice — and then more ice, because there never seems to be enough.”
In the Spirit
Shaking up cocktail education
by Jenny Adams photograph by Eugenia Uhl
In New Orleans, locals love gathering for cocktails, whether it’s a fancydress moment in Arnaud’s French 75 Bar, or something spicy-but-casual at Galaxie Tacos.
Distillation education is fascinating, and this fall, it’s fun to consider ‘tending on the homefront. With these easy tips, we suggest hosting a drink with a lesson, by throwing a cocktail class. It’s easier than you might think, if you set it up properly. We sought the counsel of Kimberly Patton-Bragg. She’s been behind some of the city’s finest establishments, from Latitude 29 to Palm & Pine, and these days, she holds court as the bar director at Pulcinella — a Sicilian restaurant in the South Seventh Ward, with an impressive array of wines, spirits and inventive cocktails.
What should we learn?
“I’d suggest three drinks,” she continues. “A stirred drink. A shaken drink. A muddled drink. Each drink should be three to four ingredients maximum. This way, people are learning three techniques and from those, at home you can continue to build and experiment, but nothing is too complicated.”
Also consider your guest list. If someone is not a drinker, make sure there are non-alcoholic spirits to experiment with or recipes that can remain spirit-free. For this, Patton-Bragg loves the brands Lyre’s NonAlcoholic and Ritual Zero Proof.
Shop for supplies
Every party demands a shopping list, but this is more specific. “Making cocktails demands bar tools,” says PattonBragg. “You’ll need to buy them, but this means you can create a really cool takeaway, giftbasket moment! Send your guests home with a shaker, a mixing tin, a bar spoon and cute mini bottles or even a small bottle of homemade simple syrup. Keep the guest list five to eight people max. If you have a grand dining room or a large patio, you could do more, but I’d keep it intimate. Cocktails are an intimate thing. Caire Hotel and Restaurant Supply is a local restaurant supply shop that’s open to the public. It’s great for purchasing the tools.”
English Countryside
Perfectly imperfect rooms filled with centuries-old antiques, leather, tartans, and a mix of timeless modern pieces make a home feel elevated yet entirely livable.
by
Framed print, lidded baskets, bottle opener: Framed vintage book cover, “Dariel: A Romance of Surrey” by R.D. Blackmore, published in the late 19th century; cane nesting baskets with glass lids; handcrafted antique brass deer head bottle opener (also in pewter), available at Eclectic Home, eclectichome.net. Flasks, decanter, silver bottle ticket, leather beaker case with strap, pewter pint cup: Glass flask encased in armadillo skin with silverplate cap and collapsing shot cup, mark of Charles Westwood & Sons, Birmingham, presentation date 1888-1913; unusual early 20th century rattan-wrapped glass flask with chrome cap and goatskin base; early 19th century sweet wine decanter with cut band of diamonds; Edwardian sterling silver bottle ticket for sherry, mark of Atkin Bros., Sheffield 1905; set of art deco plated silver nesting beakers in leather case engraved with greyhound, motto and monogram; early 19th century William IV period pewter tankard with spout, circa 1830; (all English) available through Lucullus Antiques, lucullusantiques.com. Tartan fabrics: 100% wool tweed fabrics in a range of lovely plaids from Holland & Sherry, available through Decorations Lucullus, decorationslucullus.com Cheese board, match striker, ice scoop, cheese knife, pepper grinder, jigger: Rustic wooden cheese board, ceramic match striker, silverplate ice scoop with wooden and brass handle, cheese knife with wooden handle, Alexander Handcrafted MIlls chef’s mill brass pepper grinder, solid copper and brass jigger; available at Jade, jadenola.com.
Andy Myer photography by Eugenia Uhl
Tea caddy, gong: Early 19th century satin mahogony tea caddy, circa 1800; Edwardian wood and brass table gong, (both English) available at Lucullus Antiques, lucullusantiques.com
Candlesticks, card case, bottle opener: Georgian-inspired brass candlesticks (in small, medium and large); leather playing card box with card set and gold embossed spade; antique brass puppy bottle opener; available at Eclectic Home, eclectichome. net. Moss balls: Decorative faux moss balls available at Jade, jadenola.com
A modern New Orleans home brings dreams to life in the Irish Channel.
LuckyCharm
By Misty Milioto / Photographed by Jacqueline Marque
Previous page: To imbue the charm of a historic center hall, Morgan Cattaneo of Cattaneo Studios opted for tall moldings that are emphasized by Farrow & Ball’s "Inchyra Blue." This page: In the living room, coved ceilings, a picture rail and custom built-ins with fluted molding lend a sense of heritage and formality. Formal pleated custom drapery in an unexpected but soft butter yellow linen add to the overall elegance. Meanwhile, a reclaimed, vintage newel post and brass light fixtures add warmth and character upon entering the home.
In the heart of the Irish Channel, a remarkable transformation has taken place on what was once an empty lot. The stunning new home — a perfect collaboration between homeowners Audrey Reed and Michael Yusko, architect Alec Adamick of Adamick Architecture and contractor José Villeda of JLV Construction — seamlessly blends the timeless charm of historic New Orleans architecture with modern comfort. In 2021, Reed and Yusko, who already lived in the Irish Channel, discovered an unusual opportunity just blocks from their existing home. “We were living in a double a block and a half away,” Reed says. “We were expecting our second child and thought a new house might better fit our needs. We noticed this lot down the street and realized that it was almost a double lot, which we thought would give us the ability to check off most of the items on our wish list.”
Yet this wish list was ambitious. The couple wanted a better layout, parking and, ideally, a pool, all while remaining close to family, work and their children’s school. Rather than searching the market for an existing home that might meet their needs, they chose the more challenging path of new construction.
That’s when they turned to Adamick Architecture. “We liked that Alec lived nearby in a new build that was designed to look old,” Reed says. The architect’s firm has built a reputation for camelback additions and historic-inspired new construction in the Irish Channel, making them ideal partners for this unique undertaking.
The design process proved more complex than initially anticipated. What began as a single-story center hall concept in May 2021 evolved significantly when the clients decided to substantially increase the square footage. This decision triggered a lengthy review process with the Historic District Landmarks Commission.
“The HDLC really made us dial back the Italianate design of the house to make it more simple on the outside,” Adamick says. “I overcame this with sheer will and fighting for this design with the city.” The final design emerged as what he describes as a double gallery five-bay house with two bays set back to reduce massing — a compromise that ultimately enhanced the home’s character.
Construction began when JLV Construction joined the team. José Villeda, the company’s founder, was immediately drawn to the project. “The moment I reviewed the plans, I knew this was going to be one of the most beautiful homes we had the opportunity to build,” he says.
One of the project’s most impressive achievements is how much functionality was packed into the 6,000-square-foot lot. The resulting 4,372-square-foot home includes four bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, formal and informal living spaces, a mudroom, playroom, small office and a striking outdoor area with pool and cabana. “Fitting [the] home, along with a carport, pool, pool house and multiple patio areas was no small feat,” Villeda says. “It required a highly intentional and efficient design, and the result is truly remarkable. The thoughtful layout, creative use of space and architectural harmony are what make this home truly special.”
A key innovation was the semi-raised pool concept, which Adamick considers the project’s pièce de résistance. By elevating the pool to the same level as the house, the design creates a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
“Most visitors are surprised when we tell them it’s new construction unless they happened to access Google Street View in getting to our house because it still has an image of an empty lot,” Reed says. This authenticity was achieved through careful attention to
The powder room (top left) features a sweet console sink, and an eclectic mix of pattern and color, while the daughter’s bath (bottom left) features recycled glass mosaic flooring from Mineral Surface. Other spaces, like the laundry room and playroom, have plenty of storage and fun color palettes.
The kitchen features custom cabinetry by Daniel LeDocte and a custom designed hood by Cattaneo Studios. A mix of materials in sage green, white oak and marble complement the stainless-steel appliances by GE Café. The large seated island pulls in Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue trim color from the main hall. The flush mounts and pendant lights are from Schoolhouse.
historic details such as high ceilings, coved ceilings, crown and picture-rail molding, a fireplace, operable transoms and floor-to-ceiling windows. The family incorporated reclaimed elements, including three pairs of pocket doors from Bank Architectural Antiques and a newel post from a Maine lighthouse.
The interior design, led by Morgan Cattaneo of Cattaneo Studios, employed a sophisticated color palette anchored by Farrow and Ball’s “Wimborne White,” with dramatic accents in blue and green. “The trim of the entry hallway and the drawing room are in ‘Inchyra Blue’ and the dining room
is drenched in that color, which created a very dramatic effect,” Reed says. “The kitchen is ‘Card Room Green,’ which I think is the perfect green for a kitchen.”
Beyond its aesthetics, the home works as a functional family space. As is often the case, the kitchen serves as the heart of the home. “It looks out over the pool and sits right between the dining room and the family room, making it a central spot for both everyday life and get-togethers,” Villeda says.
Practical considerations also were incorporated, including a large laundry room (which Reed
says is one of the prettiest in the city), en-suite bathrooms for all bedrooms, a curbless shower for accessibility and performance fabrics chosen with children in mind.
The project’s success stemmed from exceptional collaboration between all parties. “Any construction project requires an incredible level of coordination,” Villeda says.
For Adamick, the project represents broader prospects. "It is possible to respect New Orleans vernacular architecture while still creating new construction that really functions well for entertaining and for modern living,” he says.
The very day that Lori Cates floated the idea of moving from the Lakefront to Uptown, she and her husband Kevin Cates found a listing for a condo in an elegant St. Charles Avenue building where properties seldom come up for sale. The Cateses, who are widely traveled and divide their time between New Orleans and Texas, found that the grand Avenue address was rich in Old-World European ambience, as well as New Orleans history. Built in 1912, it features art nouveau influences, a three-bedroom, three-bath apartment on each of its five floors, the original elevator and the distinction of being the city’s first cooperative apartment building. There also was a serendipitous Texas connection. Houston preservationist, J.P. Bryan, redeveloped the property in the 1990s.
“Several people we knew referred to [the building] as the Texas Embassy,” laughs Kevin, who was raised in Fort Worth.
The couple wasted no time viewing the condo and putting in an offer. Once approved, they turned to Tina Lagasse of Jade Interiors, with whom they’d worked on previous houses (including their Lakefront condo) and developed an easy “synergistic” relationship.
“With Tina, it’s collaborative throughout the project,” said Kevin. “Lori and I both have really strong opinions, but we still rely on Tina to pull it all together.”
Lagasse knew the Cateses’ individual tastes (he goes for more-is-more layering, she prefers “a little more curated”), their personalities and the furnishings and art they’d collected through the years. Color, pattern and a sense of playfulness that speaks to their love of life would factor into the design, as would items the Cateses already had in other houses and cherished items from their frequent travels to all seven continents.
“We love to be surrounded by things we’ve culled from our travels,” said Lori. “Tina takes all of that and distributes it through a home in a beautiful manner. I think the final touches are one of her biggest strengths.”
But first, designer and clients decided to gut and reconfigure the kitchen to work for the couple's lifestyle. Kevin is a gourmet cook and the Cateses are passionate about food culture and the community it engenders. Though
AN HISTORIC CONDOMINIUM, DRENCHED IN COLOR, BECOMES AN EXPRESSION OF ONE COUPLE'S JOIE DE VIVRE
By Lee Cutrone
Facing page: Lively color in the condo reflects the owners’ lifestyle. A diptych of Koi fish by Joseph Bradley from Gallery Orange hangs above the living room sofa.
Photography by Sara Essex Bradley
retired from their respective careers, they recently added “restaurateurs” in both New Orleans and Fort Worth to their résumés.
As the chef of the house, Kevin weighed in on the flow of the kitchen and chose the top-notch kitchen appliances, while Lori insisted upon a round dining table which is more conducive to conversation when entertaining.
“Eating is a communal experience,” she said.
Lagasse designed the floorplan for each of the rooms, with the goal of working with the refined architecture and still offering the cozy comfort that has been a common thread throughout the Cateses’ other more casual homes.
“We tried to keep a lot of the original character but make it a little more their style,” said Lagasse.
the interior with a succession of muted blues, rusts and greens from the collection. In every room, the chosen color is spread over walls, crown molding and ceiling in what Lori calls a “color drench.”
Blue is the dominant color in the living room, but accent colors connect it to the dining room and kitchen.
Curved window casings, wood floors, a stately fireplace and each of the small bathrooms, which made the most of their limited footprints and are clad in timeless marble, were left as is, but the formality of the former owner’s French décor was replaced by a more eclectic aesthetic. As the place where the couple enjoys Mardi Gras gatherings with family and friends and weekly visits with their 2 1/2 year-old grandson, livability was key.
When Lori, who loves color and design, suggested Benjamin Moore’s French Quarter palette as a starting point for the decor, Lagasse enveloped
Sometimes, a piece of art provided inspiration — as in the case of the living room’s painting of koi fish by Joseph Bradley, one of many art acquisitions from one the Cateses’ favorite local galleries — Gallery Orange. Wallpaper appears in several areas — in the entrance foyer where leafy columns strategically introduce the medley of color and pattern used throughout (“It’s hint of what is to come,” said Lagasse), and in a hall where a serpentine print connects the colors of the office and the kitchen. A Lee Jofa fabric with an Italian marbleized motif bridges the coloration between the blue of the living room where it’s used on a wing chair, the rust of the adjoining dining room, and the green of the kitchen where it’s repeated as a window treatment.
Lagasse further freshened the interior with all new lighting from Visual Comfort — some that relate to the early 20th-century origins of the building, others more contemporary — and designs from local sources including Kathy Slater Designs, Julie Neill Designs (through Visual Comfort) and Interior Solutions. Touches of animal print — on the floor, on a bench, on a wall — are also part of the mix.
“There’s a trick to mixing patterns; usually it has to do with scale,” said Lagasse, for whom the sleight of hand is second nature.
The color and conviviality that reign in the condo are reflections of the Cateses’ life.
“There had to be whimsy because they are fun,” said Lagasse of the couple who also hired her to make updates to their most recent venture, The Italian Barrel, an award-winning white tableclothed destination for Northern Italian cuisine in the French Quarter. In addition to the Cateses being avowed foodies and inveterate travelers, Kevin has Northern Italian heritage and spent summers in Italy growing up.
The Cateses’ Fort Worth restaurant, Teddy Wong’s Dumplings & Wine, opened to fanfare in 2023 and a second location is in the works.
The couple credits their success to making passion, commitment to excellence, building relationships and going the extra mile their watchwords at work and at home.
“You want your house to be an expression of what makes you comfortable in your life,” said Kevin.
Facing page: The glass-front cabinet is original to the kitchen which was otherwise renovated and improved. Top: A small den surrounded by views of trees is for watching TV. Bottom: The living room’s wing chairs are upholstered with a marbleized motif.
Bleached floors lighten the intensity of the “color drench” that covers walls, moldings and ceilings.
d s ig E N Masters
BY JENNY ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHY
JESS
KEARNEY
Nationally recognized, often-imitated, coveted and traveled for –– the design scene in New Orleans marries enviable antiquity and modern panache like nowhere else in America. ¶ Design here seeps into every facet of life, and this is a city built on recognizing, protecting and perpetuating beauty. There are the storied green spaces, with stone fountains and lace-iron balconies, architectural marvels, including one the world’s largest historic home collections in a single city, and outstanding, awarded modern fabrications that boggle the mind. ¶ Everywhere you look, art meets function in New Orleans. Cheers, to the Design Masters we’ve found most inspiring this year.
FABRICS
BRITTANY ELLIS, THE PATTERN COLLECTIVE
“Istarted The Pattern Collective once I realized there wasn’t really an outlet for independent designers to showcase their work. The only collections you ever see in showrooms are the standard big-name designer brands. The smaller brands didn’t really have a platform,” says Brittany Ellis, founder. Her company, established in 2015, as a platform for boutique, global textile and wallpaper producers around the globe.
“The very first brand that I was able to convince of my crazy idea was Barneby Gates,” Ellis laughs, recalling. Barneby Gates wasn’t local. Far from it. This Great Britian-based studio focuses on hand-drawn patterns in wallcoverings and fabrics, traditionally printed and sustainably produced. Ellis was able to convince the founders that they needed to be featured via Pattern Collective, just a tiny idea, really, at that point.
“At the time, I didn’t have a website, branding, or any sort of marketing or business plan yet, so I have no idea how I was able to persuade these wonderful businesswomen and pattern designers to join forces with me, but it was the biggest blessing to partner with them and sell their gorgeous designs,” she admits.
Her company sprouted in Los Angeles, but after a few years, she relocated to New Orleans; a perfect perch for an out-of-the-box design business idea, with eager, creative clients and ample inspiration in design.
“Many people don’t realize that The Pattern Collective was just me for the first seven years. I pulled samples, answered emails, made post office runs,
and crafted all of the website design, while toting my newborn around with me. I started out with four large file cabinets in a 600-square-foot apartment.”
After running Pattern Collective from her living room for years, she found a “teeny tiny storefront in 2021,” Ellis says. “I was able to hire my very first part time employee.”
Today, The Pattern Collective is a household name for designers and design enthusiasts, featured in major magazines, and on several television renovation shows. “We’ve provided paper for ‘Sulphur Springs’ on Disney+, ‘Harlem’ on Amazon Prime, the ‘Charmed’ reboot on the CW, ‘Mean Girls: The Musical,’ and the ‘Matlock’ reboot on Paramount+,” she offers. More than 5,000 clients per year keeps her site and her brick-and-mortar showroom, by appointment only in Metairie, very busy. Her stocks are ever changing and always artisan, from Minna — a digitally printed textile line out of Hudson, NY, with chic, cottage-core aesthetics — to Siouxsie, a dark, dreamy, lightweight velvet, with an art deco-inspired design, by Anna Hayman of Sussex, England.
While she continues to source globally, New Orleans is home. “It’s a city that lives and breathes creativity,” she says. “There’s a rich, layered history here that shows up not just in music and food, but in design, architecture, fashion, and personal style. People here love color and individuality — it’s in everything, from what they wear to how they decorate their homes. The Pattern Collective fits right into that.”
ARCHITECTURE
CORBETT SCOTT, CORBETT SCOTT ARCHITECT
“Iwasn’t sure I wanted to be an architect as a young kid, but I was always interested in houses and structures and history. My mother grew up in Eutaw, Alabama, and I remember going back there to visit, loving all the old structures. During the Civil War, Eutaw wasn’t burned. There’s so much visual history there, still. It was definitely an early inspiration,” says Corbett Scott, who founded his namesake firm in New Orleans in 2014. The Birmingham native graduated from Tulane, initially working for several years under Michael Carbine of Mac Maison.
“Today, I’m primarily residential, but I also enjoy working on smaller projects for hospitality.”
A night imbibing on North Rampart will quickly acquaint one with Scott’s work, as he helped design Bijou (now closed), the Rampart Treehouse and the Champagne-focused venue, Effervescence.
“Ale on Oak was my first restaurant,” he laughs, “and it was definitely trial by fire. The project went off without any challenges, and it’s now a great little bar. I think in New Orleans overall, the challenges keep it interesting, You have to see a space, possibly made several centuries ago, and to figure out how people will enjoy it, move through it and experience it in modern times.”
As a Mid-City resident who is currently working on his own house in his spare time, he draws inspiration in the challenges of strange structures, city regulations and a fickle, sometimes brutal, climate. “The climate,” he says, “is something you have to work with, not against. Our environment
dictates so much. It’s very humid. It’s very moist. It’s all about taking a challenge and making it an opportunity.”
A keen eye for trends, for what works and what does not, Scott says he enjoys most clients who have a sense of creativity and who can put their trust in smart design. Many want a double cottage turned into a singlefamily home, or to add a camelback onto an existing place, and every inch counts. Two-hundred years ago, closets were not an architectural requirement and staircases were often exterior, for example.
“I had one project on St. Charles,” he recalls. “It was a two-condo unit, but not side by side. Each floor was a condo, and it was a corner lot with a side and front entrance. We had to turn it into a single residence, which we did by punching a hole through all three floors, crafting an appropriate staircase.”
Utilizing negative space beneath staircases is another favorite trick to take an 1800s home into this century, with beautiful, seamless doors that allow one to quietly tuck away sports equipment, luggage or even create a dog crate.
“Right now, I’m noticing a trend in attic space being utilized,” he continues. “Given that we can’t build down, we must look up.”
Looking up, looking forward, Scott is staying busy, hopeful that 2026 will bring him into a hotel job, as well. “We have these historic spaces, and I love that as an architect, here in New Orleans specifically, we are helping our town evolve. It’s incredible to give old structures the care they deserve and a chance to carry on for future generations.”
INTERIOR DESIGN
GRACE KAYNOR, GRACE KAYNOR DESIGNS
Grace Kaynor splits her time between New Orleans and New York City, gathering creative fuel from both, inspired by the buzz of a metropolis as much as the watery, wild spaces of a coastal, small city. Her university education is split between art history and political science; she earned not only a law degree, but also a master’s in the history of decorative arts. She’s worked at the Freer Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the Brooklyn Museum of Art before taking a publishing editorial role at “Magazine Antiques.”
A life-long learner, Kaynor decided, just prior to her 40th birthday, to enroll at the illustrious Parsons School of Design, graduating and then training under Cullman and Kravis mentee, Jennifer Flanders.
With all this education, when pressed, it’s not a professor or a design luminary that made this bold, brassy, New Orleanian such a powerhouse in interiors. It’s being raised on Third Street, Uptown.
“Honestly,” she exclaims, “my mom and dad had great taste. I grew up with their antiques. I was surrounded at a very early age with parents and friends’ parents who just had gorgeous taste. After spending 18 years in the New York design world, I like to meld those two aspects.”
She opened Sotre on Magazine Street, showcasing her dynamic style and offering luxury, bespoke textiles like Matouk and Sferra, that aren’t available anywhere in the city. At Sotre, bedding is really the anchor,
but visitors will find moments to elevate any home, from fragrances to pajamas to soft robes.
“The shop is really a passion project; a collection of what I love. People often come in and are exhausted or overwhelmed by bedding choices, and we can create a whole fresh look and combination for them. We also have gifts, towels and I can source things,” she says. “I’m designing all the time, and Sotre allows me to do that for people outside of my clients.”
Clients looking for full interior design services have sought Kaynor out for nearly two decades. She’s helped with the styling of the James Beard-awarded Dakar Restaurant on Magazine Street, but trends mostly residential. One of her favorites? A bachelor who challenged Kaynor to create a masculine, interesting abode on General Pershing. She’s worked farther afield too, with projects in Florida, Maine and even an upcoming pad in Bordeaux, France.
No matter where she is or what she’s working on, for Kaynor, New Orleans is an eternal spring of inspiration, born of landscape and of ancestry.
“I think especially here, in New Orleans, people have inherited collections from families. We preserve the legacy of furniture here, where they might not in other places. People have a reverence for architecture here that is above other places. That informs how we all live in these spaces, alongside the climate, the humidity, the light and the heat. It informs my work, too.”
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
RENÉ FRANSEN, FRANSEN MILLS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
In New Orleans, we live as much outside as in. From a bird’s eye view, swimming pools, tropical gardens and iron work as ornate as lace decorate our neighborhoods, from the Bywater to the Black Pearl.
Fransen Mills is the top name in creating custom outdoor design in the city. The firm was founded in 1980 by René Fransen, a master of the art of landscape design, an expert horticulturist and a member of multiple city boards, including being president of Save Our Cemeteries and also the Longue Vue House and Gardens at one time.
While he sold the company to his business partner of 15 years, John Mills, in 2020 — René carries on a legacy he’s created, focused around a motto of, “It can be done.”
“It’s funny,” offers Fransen, “I noticed early in my career, that no one is happy with what they have. People in Mobile, Alabama want to look out and see New Orleans. People in the south of France might want Belgium. We have clients ask for all sorts of things, and I feel it’s our job to do the research and the work make those fantasies come true.”
The firm he began more than four decades prior has become synonymous with luxury outdoor visions, from custom swimming pools to water features, exotic foliage and visually striking flora. Fransen Mills employs five people, including two architects, and it takes only a handful of jobs annually, ensuring they can work to realize even the most challenging
aims of their clients.
The diversity of their portfolio is admirable, with no project too petite. Fransen Mills has worked on pocket-sized French Quarter courtyards as often as the sprawling grounds of grand hotels. The portfolio includes a 2,000-acre estate in Mississippi, a working ranch in the Hill Country of Texas, and expansion plans for the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat in SaintJean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera. HGTV once featured Fransen’s work in an episode staring a historic Gothic Revival, and his own courtyard was photographed for the book, “The Secret Gardens of the Vieux Carré.” Crafting interpersonal relationships is essential, as landscape architecture demands intense attention to detail, structural plans and inventive thinking. “We truly specialize in high-end design,” he continues, “but before we get to the visuals of plants and planting, our work is taken from a technical, architectural standpoint. We look at drainage and gradient. I need to see a landscape completely built before I can even think about the plants.”
For those looking to see his landscape architecture in action, make your way to the Four Seasons which showcases projects, from the lobby plants inside the Chandelier Bar, to the river-facing swimming deck. “We also created the pool deck at The Windsor Court,” he says, “and just received an award for our work at the Board of Trade.”
FABRICATION
ERIKDAVID AND ALYSSA KRAEMER, E. KRAEMER, FINE METAL & WOODWORK
If you’ve ever wandered into a hotel lobby and wondered how a 400-pound chandelier is supported from the ceiling, or ducked into a sexy cocktail bar, stopping to admire the towering racks of glass and steel, beautifully backlit and structurally able to balance hundreds of bottles, you’ve found yourself admiring the art of fabrication. If you’re in New Orleans, you’ve likely witnessed the prowess of Erikdavid and Alyssa Kraemer, co-owners of E. Kraemer, one of the lauded, bespoke companies for high-end fabrication, in both residential and commercial realms.
“For us, fabrication means taking a design from concept to reality,” offers Alyssa Kraemer. “Our focus is metal as the primary medium, but in order to control quality, we frequently work with other materials in-house. We specialize in architectural metals, furniture, lighting, and custom fixtures. We don’t do structural steel, HVAC or anything mass-produced. If it’s hands-on, detail-driven, and built to last, it’s in our wheelhouse.”
With an extensive network of skilled craftspeople, in various specialties, this duo pulls off not only beautiful, but crazy-elaborate projects.
For example, the Central Business District’s Virgin Hotel. “We fabricated a large portion of the Commons Club, including multiple bars, custom elevator interiors, a 20-plus-foot range hood, multiple shelving units, and brass handrails,” she says. “It was a collaborative effort with our friends at Mathes Brierre and Logan Killen Interiors, and a great example of what
can happen when design, architecture, and fabrication all come together.”
The hotel has gone on to be recognized for interiors by Condé Nast Traveler magazine, who specifically highlighted the restaurant’s striking visuals.
The duo also partnered with Trahan Architects and MAPP Group on an enormous cross for the Chapel of St. Ignatius at the Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center, located on Loyola University New Orleans’ historic quad.
The resulting religious icon is 30 feet tall, 12 feet wide, and 4 feet deep. It’s made of knife-edge brass and mounted on a glass curtain wall. “It’s set into stepped brick corbelling and a tapered opening on a round building,” she says. “The build of this piece was challenging due to the scale and fact that it is just heavy and awkward to move and reposition. We designed and built numerous jigs and fixtures just to be able to move the pieces around the shop. The installation was just as tricky, since using a crane was not an option, due to the location.”
For so many creations and installations, being a master in fabrication requires being evolutionary and creative. That enormous cross is a symbolic example for the team.
“It came down to careful planning, a lot of skill,” she says, “and, maybe some blood, sweat, and tears. It’s one of those projects that pushed us technically and creatively, and we’re proud to see it standing tall.”
WINNERS
Each year our readers vote by online ballot for their favorite home design industry professionals in New Orleans. The businesses cover the scope of everything homeowners need to make and maintain a beautiful house and home. Your votes have been tallied and we present The 2025 Best of Home winners.
Best Antiques
Winner: Renaissance Interiors
Finalists: Bargeboard, Dop Antiques
Best Appliances
Winner: Campo Appliances
Finalists: Classic Cupboards, Ferguson Home
Best Architect
Winner: Albert Architecture
+ Urban Design
Finalists: Adamick Architecture, Studio
BKA
Best Art
Winner: Eclectic Home
Finalist: Becky Fos
Best Bank
Winner: Gulf Coast Bank & Trust
Finalists: Hancock Whitney, Home Bank
Best Bathroom Remodeling
Winner: Spitale Home Improvement
Finalists: DiGiovanni Construction, Jim Owens Flooring, Legend Interiors
Best Bedding
Winner: Decorating Den Interiors
Finalist: Leontine Linens
Best Cabinets
Winner: Classic Cupboards
Finalists: Campbell Cabinets, Jim Owens Flooring
Best Closet Design/Installation
Winner: Louisiana Custom Closets
Finalists: Pomar Gutierrez Renovation
Best Construction Company
Winner: MLM Construction
Finalists: DiGiovanni Construction, JLV Construction
Best Contractor
Winner: MLR Builders
Finalists: JLV Construction, MLM Construction, Spitale Home Improvement
Best Demolition
Winner: Demo Diva
Finalist: Demo-911
Best Doors
Winner: Jefferson Door Company
Finalist: Doors of Elegance
Best Fencing
Winner: Amko Fence Company
Finalist: Pomar Gutierrez Renovation
Best Flooring
Winner: Jim Owens Flooring
Finalists: Palatial Stone & Tile, Prestige Flooring
Best Gardening Supplies
Winner: Perino’s Home & Garden Center
Finalists: Jefferson Feed
Best Gas Lighting
Winner: Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights
Finalist: Flambeaux Lighting
Best Gutters
Winner: Audubon Gutters
Best Home Audio/ Video Automation
Winner: Dynamic Audio Video
Finalists: Maximum Security & Sound
Best Home Builder
Winner: Precision Builders
Finalists: JLV Construction, MLM Construction
Best Home Décor
Winner: Eclectic Home
Finalist: Decorating Den Interiors
Best Home Hurricane Preparation
Winner: LAS Shutters + Windows
Finalists: Southern Air
Best Interior Designer
Winner: Eclectic Home
Finalists: Legend Interiors, Oak + Arrow Interiors,
Finalists: Stafford Tile & Stone, Triton Stone Group
Best Tree Cutting
Winner: Risk Tree Service
Finalist: Bayou Tree Service
Best Vintage or Antique Furniture
Winner: Bargeboard
Finalist: Merchant House
Best Window Treatments
Winner: Wren’s Tontine Shade & Design
Finalists: Decorating Den Interiors
Best Windows
Winner: LAS Shutters + Windows
Best Woodwork
Winner: Moulding & Millwork Supply
Young at Heart
Up-and-coming interior designer Carleton Young uses color, pattern, and quirk to create classically inspired rooms that feel youthful and sophisticated.
Produced by Margaret Zainey Roux
1
A-head of the Game
These Italian vessels from Sud are smart but unexpected. For me, they rethink the ancient Roman busts in a way that feels whimsical and approachable. sudneworleans.com.
2
Tile Tales
Tilework with texture, veining, or movement can give a space more depth and heighten its sophistication. Try it in a small space like on a backsplash or powder room floor for big impact. staffordtile.com.
3
Goldens Rule
A little gold goes a long way. I particularly like antique giltwood mirrors with chippy frames and murky glass that fill rooms with warmth and light as the days get cooler and darker. balzacantiques.com
4
Think Outside the Box
Antique wooden boxes will always have a place in my heart and home, but I have a soft spot for modern, lacquered boxes, too. Available in different shapes, sizes, and energizing hues like aqua and orange, they wake up tired tabletops while corralling keys, remotes, or tech chargers. darnellandcompany. com.
5
A Marbled Movement
An age-old art form, marbleized papers bring waves of classicism into contemporary interiors and unite multiple colors in one room. Plop a shade on a lamp, a tray on a coffee table, or wrap an entire room in a wallcovering for major wow factor. carletonyoung.com
Carleton Young 504-291-6056 carletonyoung.com
Inspiration Board
A divine detail, a fringed Columns room keychain makes for a vintageinspired conversation piece. thecolumns.com.
Twice the light, a double Loa sconce makes a retro statement with its duet of globe-shaped shades and black cherry enamel colorway. sazeracstitches.com.
A refined wallpaper print like Grass, Burgundy from designer Sian Zeng allows for a floating pattern against a rich hue. thepatterncollective.com.
Give your walls a deep gulp of Classic Burgundy paint from Benjamin Moore, a full-bodied tint with an elegant edge. benjaminmoore.com.
Add a plush touch with a custom Cordovan Slub cotton velvet pillow made full with a down and feather fill. sundayshop.co.
Color Drenching
Floor to Ceiling Color
by Amy Gabriel
Have a stylish tête-à-tête upon a luxe Colt settee wrapped in a merlot-colored faux mohair velvet with mocha-finished legs. potterybarn.com.
For the scent seekers, a box of Montroi Oud Monsoon incense sticks, aromatic with notes of oud, musk and patchouli thecolumns. com.
Safe at Home
Home Security
by Kelcy Wilburn
Home security is a feature homeowners know they need but don’t often fully understand. With so many possible components and ever-evolving technological capabilities, it’s hard to know what’s available, what’s useful, and what’s absolutely necessary. Ask a person if they have a security system, and they may say yes; ask them how it works, and you may get a blank stare. This season, we’re asking experts to break down the basics of home security and help us feel more confident in our — and our property’s — safety.
“When starting from scratch, you need to evaluate a few different things to determine where to start,” says James Vu, co-CEO of HiTech Smart Homes and Security with Tony Vu. “One should look at their property layout, what’s important to them, lifestyle, routine, and budget.”
Russell DiMaggio, owner of DiMaggio Electronic Systems, finds customers often check one of two boxes: people who want to feel safe when at home and people who want to feel their property is safe when they’re away. Depending on your motivation, you may opt for peace of mind from differing security components.
According to both experts, your most cost-effective method of achieving both goals is a monitored security system.
“Not only is the initial startup cost affordable, it can potentially lower your homeowner’s insurance as well,” says Vu. “Having a basic security system is a great starting point and is easily expandable at any time.”
A basic system covers your points of entry with door sensors. Ways to expand your system, according to DiMaggio, include adding window sensors (good for when you’re at home) and motion sensors (good for when you’re not at home).
“An ‘all-in-one’ alarm is hard to beat,” says DiMaggio. All-in-one systems include a touch screen, battery, siren, wireless receiver, and sensors, which make for a quick and easy installation that delivers 24/7 monitoring. Once reliant on phone lines, these systems now use cellular technology to communicate via SIM card to a monitoring station. In the event of an alarm, the monitoring company alerts first responders — police for a security breach, fire and EMTs for smoke or carbon monoxide detection.
“In Greater New Orleans, people don’t think about fire as much as they should,” says DiMaggio. He emphasizes that stolen property is a shame, but the devastation and loss of life that can result from a fire is far worse. DiMaggio recommends tying in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors to your monitored system.
Beyond an alarm system, what components offer the best peace of mind and which deter crime most effectively? Elements that seem to offer customers the most peace of mind are cameras (or video doorbells)
and smart locks.
“A video doorbell will send you alerts directly to your phone when someone is detected and will stop many porch pirates,” says Vu. “A smart lock is not only good looking but can also give you remote access to a lock for those times you’re rushing out the door and forget to lock it.”
Camera technology is improving over time, but DiMaggio warns against relying too heavily on video. Excessive notifications and false triggers can be annoying and problematic. He says it’s important to remember that police aren’t responding to your camera feed, so an alarm system offers more immediate security.
Still, both experts agree that visible cameras or video doorbells are good deterrents. If it’s possible to use cameras in combination with your security system, do, says Vu. Authentic security system yard signs and window stickers are also a helpful deterrent, but the biggest deterrent is light. Motion lights and flood lights are must-haves. Some cameras now come with motion-activated flashing lights, which can also help ward off an ill-intended visitor.
The bells and whistles of high-tech systems can take you down a rabbit hole, so Vu and DiMaggio offered some basic advice to keep things simple. Don’t just use a camera; do use a cellular-connected monitored alarm. Don’t rely on Wi-Fi technology; do use hardwired components when and where possible. Don’t ignore maintenance; do check and change your batteries, and do check your system for software updates. Lastly, don’t hesitate to call a local company for help.
“Even if you’re tech savvy, that doesn’t mean you should be climbing in a 100-plus-degree attic trying to install your own cameras,” says Vu. A good company will save you time and the headache of trying to piece together random, incompatible products.
The Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of the Publisher and Editor: Todd Matherne and Ashley McLellan, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005.
New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles is owned by Renaissance Publishing, LLC, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005.
The Average Number of Copies of Each Issue During the Preceding 12 Months: (A) Total Number of Copies: 9,750 (C) Paid Distribution: 5,536 (E) Total Free Distribution: 4,215 (F) Total Distribution: 9,750 (I) Percent Paid: 57% The Number of Copies of a Single Issue Published Nearest to the Filing Date: (A) Total Number of Copies: 10,000 (C) Paid Distribution: 7,636 (E) Total Free Distribution: 2,364 (F) Total Distribution: 10,000 (I) Percent Paid: 76% Signed, Todd Matherne
STATEMENT REQUIRED BY TITLE 39 U.S.C. 3685 SHOWING OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION OF NEW ORLEANS HOMES & LIFESTYLES, Publication #24958, Published Quarterly at 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. The business office of the publisher is 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005.
Last Indulgence
Dreamy Design
Chic and sustainable indoor and outdoor options. by
Melanie Warner Spencer
In late spring, Doorman, helmed by designer and Slidell-native Alex Geriner, launched its first collection since 2020. The new offerings include various indoor and outdoor pieces designed with Doorman’s signature modern sensibility. The Marengo walnut canopy bed with its midcentury Dutch modern vibes
caught our eye. The bed is made in Doorman’s Algiers Point workshop. In keeping with the company’s sustainability ethos, the piece is crafted using scrap pieces of American walnut. The sleek design features a geometric patchwork headboard, low-slung platform frame and steel hardware. Choose from queen, king and California king sizes. doormandesigns.com
