New Orleans Homes and Lifestyles Spring 2017

SPRING 2017

new orleans

homes & lifestyles

spring 2017 / Volume 20 / Issue 2 Editor Melanie Warner Spencer Creative Director Tiffani Reding Amedeo Web Editor Kelly Massicot Contributing Writers Laura Claverie, Lee Cutrone, Jessica DeBold, Valorie Hart, Pamela Marquis, Peter Reichard, Lisa Tudor, Margaret Zainey Roux Contributing Photographers Thom Bennett, Sara Essex Bradley, Theresa Cassagne, Cheryl Gerber, Jeffery Johnston, Craig Mulcahy, Eugenia Uhl Copy Editor Amanda Orr

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c o n t en t s

24 features 42. The Old Grocery

2017 Renovation of the Year

By Valorie Hart

52. Middle Ground

Transforming a double shotgun into a high-functioning live and work space

By Valorie Hart

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58. kitchens

6 stylish kitchens that inspire

64. Timing is everything

What to plant in spring and how to keep it healthy

By Pamela Marquis

in every issue 14. Editor’s Note 16. Style 20. Artist Profile

Scott Andresen

24. Gatherings

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Sportsman’s Paradise Chef Evan Benson serves up little plate of heaven with sweet and savory smoked duck salad

32. TrendWatch

82. Home Renewal

New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

Prevention, Procrastination & Woe Learning the hard way about keeping up with routine home maintenance

26. For the Garden

84. in the Spotlight

Natural Environment Using permaculture to create sustainable landscaping

Haven Custom Furnishing (p. 84) MLM Incorporated (p. 85) Tyson Construction (p. 87)

28. Living with Antiques

88. Expert Advice

Renewed Beauty Reclaimed wood provides perfectly imperfect warmth and style

Décor Fresh for Spring Create impact with accessories, smart edits, layers and light

30. Masters of Their Craft

102. Resources

104. Last Indulgence

Instyle Textiles Kate Beck’s Marigny textile fabrics studio

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Fountain Fancy A fountain adds beautiful movement and the sound of flowing water to your home’s outdoor environment while providing the landscape with a unique visual focal point.

Flower Power Fresh blooms brighten your rooms and your mood

editor’s note On the Cover

Spring Fling Celebrate the season with fresh décor, new recipes and artful events

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pring in New Orleans is my favorite time of year. The lightness in the air prompts long walks in our Uptown neighborhood, spring cleaning around the house and — while we don’t have a garden — new plants and flowers on the porch. This season, I’m hoping to introduce a potted fruit tree into the mix (lemon, perhaps) and additional fragrant blooms to take over after the Confederate jasmine comes and goes.

In this issue, we are celebrating all things spring with a comprehensive gardening feature detailing what’s best to plant right now and how to keep it all beautiful and blooming. Peter Reichard’s Home Renewal column offers up a comical reminder that routine maintenance saves a lot of headaches, heartaches and wallet aches down the line. In Gatherings, Chef Evan Benson, an avid fowl and fish hunter and fisherman who helms the kitchens for Joel Catering and Special Events, shared his recipe for smoked duck with spiced pecans, strawberries, celery leaves, mint and strawberry vinaigrette. I have a feeling this will become a seasonal staple at our house.

For decorating and renovating inspiration, look no further than our 2017 Renovation of the Year. The Old Grocery, as the owners call it, is a circa 1860s gem in the Lower Garden District. It has lived many lives, but surely none as chic as the new one given to it by its owners Tom Levandoski and Tracy Gielbert. Texture, style and sophistication reign supreme in this airy space, which invites the season’s balmy temperatures in through its many welcoming windows.

Finally, outside of the home the Ogden Museum of Southern Art’s Sippin’ in Seersucker on April 21 is one of my favorite events of the year and proceeds support the museums programming. (Disclosure: I’m on the committee.) Nothing says spring like breaking out this Southern wardrobe staple. Also, the New Orleans Museum of Art’s “A Life of Seduction: Venice in the 1700s,” featuring furnishings, paintings, glass and costumes of the era, runs until May 21. The glass objects, papier-mâché wig cabinet and gilt Rococo desk are exquisite. I’m planning to visit at least once more before the closing date.

We hope this issue provides all of the inspiration you need to kick off the season in style. Doing it while wearing seersucker is suggested, but not required.

— Melanie Warner Spencer, Editor

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

The circa-1860 home of Tom Levandoski and Tracy Gielbert was once a grocery store. Pops of color add interest and whimsy to the sophisticated neutral grays, blacks and whites in the bedroom. The pattern, layers and texture create a sense of calm and warmth. p. 42 Photographed by Sara Essex Bradley

Editor’s Pick

Artful architect

On March 4, 6 to 9 p.m., The Center for Architecture and Design, home of AIA New Orleans and the New Orleans Architecture Foundation, launches its first art exhibit for 2017. View the work of New Orleans-based architect and painter, Malak Morgan, AIA. Malak’s says her work is based on “the timeless elements of sea, sky, earth and human life.” The show runs until April 14.

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STYLE Produced by Margaret Zainey Roux

1. “How They Decorated: Inspiration from Great Women of the Twentieth Century” (Rizzoli, $55) Gloria Vanderbilt cleverly noted, “Decorating is autobiography.” Reflecting that truism, the exquisite interiors featured in “How They Decorated” capture the individual approaches of such 20-century style icons as Bunny Mellon, Hélène Rochas, Vanessa Bell and Georgia O’Keeffe.

Author P. Gaye Tapp analyzes each of her subjects’ refined way of living, how she embellished her residences and the longlasting effects on today’s generation of designers and connoisseurs of beauty.

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2. Orient Expressed

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Say hello to spring with colorful stationery.

Grove Street Press’ new Ginger Jar collection includes letterpress greeting cards, thank-you cards, monogrammed notes and envelope liners featuring the perennially-chic Chinoiserie vessel patterns in a classic color combo of sapphire and white. Grove Street Press, 521 Saint Joseph St., 281-4575, grovestreetpress.com.

3. Encore Presentation Combining geodes, oyster shells, iron and brass with salvaged gilt wood fragments recovered from centuries-old French and Italian antiques, Jackson-based artist Abby Price is piecing together history by repurposing remnants of the past into chic, contemporary art for the home. Her tabletop sculpture mounted on reclaimed marble leans toward the rustic side while her collages framed in Lucite are streamlined and sleek. Kathy Slater Interiors & Design Collection, 3901 Magazine St., 400-9032 or nancypriceinteriors.com.

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

4. Sinfully Stylish The cool, contemporary design and classic comfort of the “Lust” chaise lounge makes it simply irresistible. One of four new releases from Lisbon-based couture furniture company Memoir, Lust’s clean-lined frame and brass finish taunt the pure white velvet upholstery tightly woven to resemble traditional white wicker.

Memoir, memoir.pt.

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STYLE

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5 All Fired Up The holidays may be long gone, but ‘tis still the season for pretty packages. The Four Seasons match box collection brings candle lighting to a whole new level.

Colorful and whimsical, each box depicts artful images evocative of spring, summer, winter and fall and contains 60 color-coordinated matches. Rosy Rings, rosyrings.com.

6. Roman Clay Maybe Rome wasn’t built in a day, but an Old World patina can be with Portola’s Roman Clay. This decorative, low-VOC, gypsum-based plaster lends walls and other flat surfaces the color and depth of rustic stone or aged stucco. Its modeling marble-like effect is comparable to Venetian plasters but with a more subtle, organic appeal. portolapaints.com.

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7. Carpet Bagger Look your best at the fest with a colorful, durable carryall. Made from bold ikats and exotic embroidered Suzanis woven on special looms, the 100 percent silk totes and shoulder bags are artisan-made in Central Asia exclusively for NOLA Rugs. NOLA Rugs, 3944 Magazine St., 891-3304 or nolarugs.com.

8. Rich History Though it’s pronounced the way New Orleanians say “praline,” this French handmade “prasline” is nothing at all like it’s Creole cousin. Created by Chef Clement Jaluzot in 1636 under Louis XIII, the Prasline de Montargis is a sweet treat consisting of toasted almond in a rich caramelized candy shell. The secret recipe has remained the same for centuries and is still made in the chef’s native town of Montargis today. La Riviere Confiserie, 3719 Magazine St., 891-1026, lariviereconfiserie.com.

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A RTIST P ROFIL E

Scott Andresen

By Lee Cutrone

A

s a child, Scott Andresen drew constantly and was introduced to quilting by his mother. As an adult, he has explored another dimension of those early beginnings. After being seriously injured in a bike accident and going through a lengthy recovery, repairing and joining broken or worn items became an overarching theme in his work.

“When you repair something, you actively engage in trying to make something better,” says Andresen, an assistant professor at the LSU School of Art, where he oversees the Foundations program. “But you never really know what the result will be. Thematically, to me, that gray area is an interesting idea.”

Raised in Seattle, Washington, Andresen received his BA from Hunter College and his MFA from Yale University, where he was able to study with artist Robert Farris Thompson. He and his wife moved to New Orleans five years ago. Fittingly, they renovated a house in the Holy Cross area where repair is an ongoing process. As an artist whose work is shown at Good Children Gallery on St. Claude Avenue, he also has been part of the repair and renewal of the Ninth Ward.

Andresen’s sources of inspiration are numerous and diverse. A native of the Pacific Rim, he is fond of Japanese, Chinese and Native American art forms. Kintsugi, the art of

Japanese ceramic repair, in which a natural root-derived resin is used to mend breaks, then dusted with gold to aesthetically enhance the break, has been a major influence. Andresen employs a similar technique with his collages and mixed media works. He makes them by applying gold or silver leaf to the pleats and holes in pieces of used sandpaper. Some collages have a grid-like layout. (He credits the structural nature to the influence of his math-teacher father as well as his own experience with computer drafting). Other pieces have organic movement.

“I used to grid things out, but I’ve found that when I alter the way I use the sandpaper and distress it, natural patterns emerge,” he says.

Andresen also paints and sculpts. He’s working on a series of sculptures to be shown later this year. A show of his two-dimensional sandpaper works opens late January at the UNO Lakefront Gallery.

“It’s more sandpaper works, but the composition continues to get more ambitious,” he says.

Andresen has received multiple prestigious grants and counts more than 50 exhibits to his name. Additionally, the New Orleans Museum of Art has acquired a piece for its collection, which will be included in the “New Acquisitions” show this spring. n

view more of andresen’s work scott-andresen.com

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

THOM BENNETT PHOTOGRAPH

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gatherings

Sportsman’s Paradise Chef Evan Benson serves up little plate of heaven with sweet and savory smoked duck salad Produced By Margaret Zainey Roux

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

Eugenia Uhl Photograph

recipe Smoked Duck with Spiced Pecans, Louisiana Strawberries, Celery Leaves, Mint and Strawberry Vinaigrette Smoked Duck Salad

Strawberry Vinaigrette

one whole large duck (preferably mallard)

8 ounces Louisiana strawberries

2 cups pecan halves

2 tablespoons Steen’s 100% Pure Cane Syrup

8-ounces Louisiana strawberries 1 bunch celery

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 large shallots

3 large shallots

1 cup Steen’s Pure Louisiana Cane Vinegar

2 cups mint

2 teaspoons black pepper

1 pound baby arugula

2 cups canola oil

2 tablespoons canola oil

salt to taste

Creole seasonings to taste (such as Tony Chachere’s)

Combine all ingredients except the oil in a blender and puree until smooth. While the blender is running on high, pour in the oil until emulsified. This will make approximately 1 quart of dressing. Any left over dressing can be saved in refrigerator for up to one week.

salt to taste black pepper to taste Preheat smoker or grill with soaked wood chips to 250 F. Pat the duck and season inside and out with salt and pepper. Place duck in smoker or on grill and cook until internal temperature reaches 160 F, approximately 2-2 ½ hours. Remove duck and let cool on a cookie sheet for at least 20 minutes.

Once cool, remove and discard skin and pull meat from the breasts and legs.

Thinly slice. * If you are unable to smoke the duck, simply roast it for 2-2 ½ hours at 250 F.

Salad Set aside ½ cup of pecans for garnishing salad and toss remaining pecans in canola oil, salt and Creole seasoning. Roast at 350 F for eight minutes. Cut the bottom off the bunch of celery and seperate the stalks. Pick and keep all the central leaves and any other light-colored, mid-sized leaves. Dice the inner stalks. Cut tops off of the strawberries and slice to a medium thickness.

Halve and thinly slice the shallots.

Soak them in cold water until ready to assemble the salad. Combine duck, celery, celery leaves, mint, strawberries, shallots and pecans in a large mixing bowl. Dress salad with strawberry vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper. Thoroughly toss salad. Lightly dress arugula with strawberry vinaigrette. Place arugula on plate or platter and top with a generous amount of duck salad. Top with spiced pecans. Serves 4-6

Chef Evan Benson serves as executive chef for Joel Catering & Special Events. When he’s not in the kitchen, he is outdoors hunting duck or dove or fishing for redfish and trout. He and his wife, Chef Cara Benson, reside in Algiers Point with their two children.

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for the garden

Natural Environment Using permaculture to create sustainable landscaping

By Pamela Marquis

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garden that takes care of itself sounds like a dream come true. Many experts believe it can easily be yours by simply following the lifestyle and precepts of permaculture.

“Permaculture is a practice that mimics natural systems and relationships to create sustainable, productive landscapes from small urban-scale gardens to entire ecosystems,” says Demetria Christo, an ecologist and co-owner of EcoUrban Landscaping.

She and her partner, Travis Cleaver, a landscape architect, were inspired by a Permaculture Design Certificate course they took together to start EcoUrban, a company that specializes in eco-friendly landscaping. They saw a need and wanted to help make the New Orleans environment healthier.

Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren created permaculture in the 1970s. The crux of the system is a do-it-

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

yourself approach to making households energy efficient, food producing and resource conserving environments.

It uses organic gardening and other farming practices to integrate garden with home. Along the way it hopes to create a lifestyle that improves the environment and the world.

“Sitting at our back doorsteps, all we need to live a good life lies about us,” wrote Mollison in his book, “Introduction to Permaculture.” “Sun, wind, people, buildings, stones, sea, birds and plants surround us. Cooperation with all these things brings harmony, opposition to them brings disaster and chaos.”

Permaculture stresses the use of methods that have a minimal negative impact on Earth’s natural environment.

This involves such things as making the effort to buy local produce and eating foods that are in season, and planting plants that thrive in your locality, composting and Jason Raish illustration

resource “Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture”

by Toby Hemenway Hemenway demonstrates that it’s fun and easy to create a “backyard ecosystem” by assembling communities of plants that can work cooperatively and perform a variety of functions.

abstinence from the use of pesticides and commercial fertilizers.

“I think it’s also important to take the time to observe your space,” says Jordan Bantuelle, an environmental activist and director of The Urban Farmstead. “You need to see what your garden wants to be. For example, if you have a low spot, perhaps it’s best to turn that space into a rain garden.

Permaculture is about working with nature rather than against it.”

Bantuelle and Ian Willson of Southbound Gardens work in partnership to offer naturally grown indigenous starter plants and veggies, consultations and garden builds. They also manage two school gardens at Sci Tech and Edgar P. Harney Spirit of Excellence academies. Additionally, they offer ongoing workshops on everything from raising backyard chickens to the basics of permaculture.

For permaculture newbies, Bantuelle suggests using sheet mulching to build up

one’s soil. It’s also known as lasagna gardening. Rather than tilling up the soil, a weed barrier is created.

“You use such things as cardboard or wet newspaper to cover an area,” he says. “These will eventually breakdown and help enrich the soil.”

Christo says it’s also important to choose elements that stack the most functions. “For example a winterberry holly is a lovely winter accent plant that offers native shelter to wildlife, nectar for bees and butterflies, and berries for birds.”

Many permaculture gardens also implement recycling practices for watering. For instance, rain barrels are often used to catch rainwater coming from the gutter downspout. This not only conserves water but rainwater is loaded with nutrients. So it’s very beneficial to your plants.

“Storm water management systems also recharge the city’s water table and reduce pollution in Lake Ponchartrain,” Christo says.

In 1981, Mollison received international recognition with a Right Livelihood Award, sometimes called the “alternative Nobel Prize.” In his acceptance speech, he said: ”All my life we’ve been at war with nature. I just pray that we lose that war.”

Permaculture is easy to do, it gives you a meaningful sense of purpose and puts yummy fruits vegetables on your plate. It’s a gardener’s dream come true. n New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.com

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L I V ING W ITH ANTI Q UES

Renewed Beauty Reclaimed wood provides perfectly imperfect warmth and style

By Laura Claverie

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ne of the great rules of living with antiques is: rules are made to be broken. Antiques have had many lives and, thus, are not perfect. Often, even the finest antique will have a ding here or there, a crack or some chipped paint. Antiques are like life in that they teach us to embrace imperfection and accept differences.

So it stands to reason that one popular trend in antiques is the use of reclaimed wood, that is, wood that is salvaged from an old home, barn or warehouse that is being torn down or renovated. Those old, weathered boards can be planed and buffed to reveal gorgeous grains, colors and yes, imperfections.

Reclaimed wood is now an architectural feature in many homes across America. Applied to a wall, it becomes an inviting focal point. Large reclaimed beams serve as a

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

support for a vaulted ceiling. Strips of reclaimed wood can punctuate a kitchen island. Its uses are limitless.

Interior decorator Meg Bradley incorporates reclaimed wood frequently in homes she decorates.

“A wall of reclaimed wood is an invitation to come in and make yourself comfortable,” says Bradley. “It adds warmth, texture and interest to a setting. “ Bradley often covers a feature wall in a room with salvaged boards and furnishes the room with edgy, midcentury modern pieces. The juxtaposition of the rustic and the sleek sophisticated pieces makes the room come alive.

Reclaimed wood isn’t limited to wall covering. Bradley recommends using it on vaulted ceilings, as open shelving and as fashionable sliding barn doors for homes. She eugenia uhl photograph courtesy of tyson construction

advice Get a plan for your room before you decide how and where to use reclaimed wood.

Buy from a reliable source.

Make sure the craftsman knows your plan and how to apply this wood.

Embrace the imperfections.

Allow for surprises.

You never know what you will find.

often uses it for flooring, kitchen cabinets and entertainment units. She has also used reclaimed boards to make coffee and end tables and frames for artwork and photos.

New Orleanians are fortunate to have a lot of sources where reclaimed boards can be found, at least for now. If you know where an old home is being renovated or worse, demolished, contact the owner about buying some of the wood. Visit salvage places like The Bank, Ricca’s, the Green Project, Habitat’s Re-Store, Strip Ease and Wildewoods in Ponchatoula.

One caveat: it’s hard for a novice to know what is good wood and what isn’t.

“If the wood is crumbling, you don’t want that,” says Terry Wilde of Wildewoods.

“Wood needs integrity, which can be lost over the years, if it is to last.”

A master craftsman with 40 years of experience, Wilde recommends that the

consumer take a few pieces of wood to a craftsman to plane and condition to determine if it is good.

Locally, antique heartof-pine, Tidewater and sinker cypress (the rarest) are available. Wilde says old-growth cypress is the best product for exterior use as it is moisture and termite resistant. New cypress is not as good because it lacks cyprosene, the property that makes it durable.

When purchasing reclaimed wood for a project, count the growth rings in the pattern to determine its age. The more rings per inch, the older and denser the tree. Look at the beauty and pattern of the grain and look for square nail marks that will validate the age. If it meets these criteria, have an experienced craftsman plane and condition a few pieces to reveal the final look.

“Reclaimed wood is a non-renewable resource,” Wilde says. “It should be used wisely and respected.”

Bradley thinks using reclaimed wood is more than a trend, it is a style that will stand the test of time.

“People today crave reality,” Bradley says.

“Reclaimed wood is reality, in some ways a reaction to the glitz and glam we see in magazines and on television. Reclaimed wood had a life for hundreds of years as a tree, then as foundations and walls of an old home. It is now living as a decorative feature or piece of furniture in a 21st century home. Oh, if these boards could talk.” n New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.com

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M ASTERS OF THEIR CRAFT

Instyle Textiles Kate Beck’s Marigny textile and design studio

By Jessica DeBold

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hen Kate Beck first traveled to the city to sell her work at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, she didn’t know eventually this would be where she set up shop and explore her textiles and printmaking designs for 15 years (and counting).

A native of Portland, Oregon, Beck fell in love with printmaking at an early age and earned her Master of Arts in textile design from the University of Washington. She began her career working small art markets in Seattle, collaborating with a fashion designer and working with fabrics and garment-dyed T-shirts for the printmaking industry.

“When I first started, my main focus was shibori, this was back in the ‘80s before it became very popular, and then mass produced,” said Beck. Shibori is an ancient Japanese-influenced technique of using ropes to dye patterns onto fabrics.

In the early ‘90s, her fashion designing partner fell ill from AIDS and died, leaving Beck with much of the tools and knowledge she needed to continue their work and develop it beyond the northwest U.S. market.

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“He pulled me into the whole clothing aspect of textiles, I had the art degree, and he graduated with a fashion degree,” Beck said. “I still have — and use — his dress form from 1989.”

Having gained nearly 30 years of experience in printmaking, today Beck’s textile pieces take various forms, and she is constantly looking to innovate her creations and gallery’s offerings. While occasionally still incorporating shibori into her designs, she has since taken to more woodblock printing and silk screening.

“I’ve supported myself doing arts and crafts fairs for 30 years, basically,” said Beck. “I’ve sustained myself as a single mother, and I’ve worked really hard to get to this stage and compete in this market.

Beck’s pieces are hand-dyed, printed and sewn in the same building. Serving as Beck’s home, gallery, workshop and inspiration, the four-story brick Creole townhouse on a corner of Chartres Street in the Marigny is just as classic inside as it is outside. Green arching doors, floor-to-ceiling windows and a wrap-around porch on the second floor are just a few of the architectural highlights of the building. eugenia uhl photographs

Most of Beck’s pieces are inspired by nature including patterns of bees, cotton plants and flowers. She will often follow a theme with each of her seasonal print designs and occasionally receive custom requests.

“Our aim is to create wearable pieces that can also be a canvas for our fabric,” said Beck of her fashion pieces, which include scarves, dresses, shirts and elegant shoulder shawls.

In addition to creating wearable pieces, Beck has recently worked with her neighbor, Chip Martinson, the owner of a custom furniture workshop and gallery in the Marigny called Monkey Wid-A-Fez, on textile home furnishings.

Colorful feather pillows, silk, satin and cashmere throws, antiqued wooden benches and foot stools are comfortably displayed as a part of the gallery showroom. The challenge, she says, is getting the home pieces to traveling art shows, and thus spreading more awareness of the versatility of her craft.

Just past a delicate silk curtain hanging toward the back of the gallery is the rear patio, a roofless open space with multi-colored buckets of dye arranged on a table and materials hanging to dry naturally.

Next to the patio is a flight of stairs leading up to the printing studio on the next floor. The French-style studio room is filled with large yards of different fabrics varying in color and material.

“We are working on starting to sell the patterned fabrics by

yardage, so people can make their own pieces or bring them to their tailor to make them into something,” Beck said.

Beck is working on several collaborations, including launching a new website with several other local artists (because these are still being determined she did not want to reveal who) to create textile fabrics for wholesale.

Beck is also in conversations with Airbnb, Inc., hoping to include her studio as a cultural arts destination by holding textile-making workshops in the spacious upstairs studio.

“They can all help print and have the fabric to take home with them for whatever projects they may have,” said Beck.

“We are working on connecting with groups around the world that may be interested in taking a textile tour around here.”

Kate Beck’s studio is at 2701 Chartres St., and she has her gallery doors open to the public Fridays and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Her wares are available online at katebeckneworleans.com.

Beck has a booth every year at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and her work is also at the Dutch Alley Artist’s Co-op in the French Quarter.

“What makes New Orleans so special is that there are these little boutiques that have items you cannot find anywhere else, and this is the heart of this city’s strength,” said Beck. “I am very pleased to know that my studio is a part of that.” n New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.com

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TREND W ATCH

Fountain Fancy

A fountain adds beautiful movement and the sound of flowing water to your home’s outdoor environment while providing the landscape with a unique visual focal point.

By Lisa Tudor Photographed by Eugenia Uhl

Canine playtime in the back garden of Elaine Bergeron’s Old Metairie home forced Jesse Edmundson, lead landscape architect at The Garden Gates, to rethink the use of genuine grass turf surrounding the newly-installed pavers and refurbished three-tier fountain. The installation of anti-microbial synthetic turf, or “Pet Grass” was the ideal design solution, providing excellent drainage and minimal maintenance.

The 19th century Greek key fountain with shell bowl was acquired in France and installed following the renovation of Dr. Richard Sherman’s Bywater home. Placement of the water feature is on axis to the brick courtyard providing an additional garden vignette.

Landscape architect Marianne Mumford of Landscape Images Ltd. created an intimate terrace suitable for drinks or dining al fresco at the Garden District home of Dr. and Mrs. Rand Voorhees by scoring and staining the existing backyard basketball court. Following through on the designer’s suggestion that a fountain would create the perfect focal point, homeowner Terry Voorhees acquired this early 20th century English fountain at New Orleans Auction.

The 19th century French trumeau-style stone fountain with Bacchus water feature was centered on the long axis of the center hall of Dr. Richard Sherman’s 1836 Creole cottage. Installed after the home’s renovation, in conjunction with the parterre garden, its placement is visible from the main entrance of the straight through the entire house.

Kenneth Rabalais, Jr., founder of The Plant Gallery, suggests that a successful installation protocol includes avoiding shifting soil by using a layer of crushed limestone to create a sturdy ground base if the fountain will not be placed on concrete or tile. Tying into an existing irrigation system allows automatic refill to protect the pump from evaporation and adding underwater lights keeps the fountain from disappearing after dark. The Plant Gallery installed the three-tier Fonthill Fountain that serves as the landscape design cornerstone of Chip Forstall’s newly completed home at the top of Lake Vista.

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T h e B e s t o f Sp r i n g

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The Old Grocery

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Middle Ground

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Kitchens

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Timing is Everything

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Facing page: An original fireplace remains in the upstairs room used as an office.

Deer head is from Restoration Hardware.

The homeowner collects glass cloches.

Cloches and curiosities from AKA Stella Gray.

White linen drapes from Shading Places.

Right: The entryway as seen from the dining room. Photograph by Dutch artist Suzanne Jongmans (Jongmans Gallery Wilms Netherlands) is a playful nod to Tracy Gielbert’s heritage. Mirror was custom made by Uptown Frames.

The Old Grocery

2017 Renovation of the Year Written and styled by Valorie Hart Photographed by Sara Essex Bradley

T

here are dozens, perhaps hundreds of old corner stores in New Orleans. Some are still in operation, but most are not. Defunct corner stores are a home renovators dream.

Transforming a once-commercial space with an unusual floor plan into a viable rresidence, is a challenge, but can become the stuff of which dreams are made.

Tom Levandoski and Tracy Gielbert (with their dogs Queenie and Scruffy) call their Lower Garden District home The Old Grocery. Originally a grocery store in 1860, it has been used as a home for battered women and later as a shelter for men battling alcoholism. The couple purchased the 3,600-square-foot property at the end of 2013. It took one and a half years to renovate and they are still making tweaks and finishing touches. The house was already a residence when they acquired it and had achieved historic landmark recognition. The floor plan and dĂŠcor was decidedly 1990s, which was not to the taste of the new homeowners.

The layout of a corner store is on two blocks of each of two streets. In the days when the Gielbert and Levandoski home was the old grocery, it was a place where the neighborhood was observed. From both vantage points there was a spatial and visual knitting together of the surroundings. Today The Old Grocery continues and creates a more personal knitting together of the old with the modern, providing a most welcoming space visually and personally.

The downstairs was gutted and reconfigured against all odds that mainly had to do with massive plumbing issues.

The house is not the typically raised cottage, but built on a slab making it a difficult renovation when moving pipes.

The shotgun-style floor plan divided the downstairs of the two-story house down length of the middle. The couple moved the kitchen from one side of the house to the other creating an enormous central hub geared to how they Top: Detail of a reclaimed wood wall behind the buffet. The wood was salvaged from the Port of New Orleans. Dishes are Michael Aram; handmade pottery cups by Tara Underwood; artwork by Jill Ricci (Gallery Orange); lamp is vintage; buffet Mr. Brown from Villa Vici.

Bottom: A new powder room on the ground floor features a sleek, space saving sink and mirror by Matthew Holdren. Tiles are from Floor and Decor on Magazine Street. Artwork reflected in mirror is

by Joseph Bradley (Gallery Orange). Facing page:The living room features a 12-foot-long couch, Venetian plaster walls, simple window treatments, and one of the original fireplaces that the homeowners re-tiled. The reclaimed oak floors are laid on a diagonal to integrate sight lines. Mitchell Gold couch from Villa Vici; Kilm pillows from Etsy; Plaster walls by Randy Verduyn; coffee table Julian Chicherster from Villa Vici; Mitchell Gold wing chair from Villa Vici; Tribal head from AKA Stella Gray; Mitchell Gold poufs from Villa Vici; Curry and Company chandelier from AKA Stella Gray; fireplace tile from Stafford Tile; artwork over fireplace by Aron Belke form AKA Stella Gray.

entertain. They also wanted to keep the fireplaces, which meant dealing with all the support walls, while developing an open floor plan on one side of the house. The center wall was moved back to accommodate the refrigerator in the new kitchen. There are no upper cabinets and a pantry was carved out of the center wall.

Many experts were involved, especially to add the extra structural support needed, and moving plumbing in the remastered kitchen Gielbert came to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and opened Gallery Orange on Royal Street in the French Quarter in 2011. Her fine-art training at the Royal Academy Art, The Hague and Win (Willem) de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam, along with a stint with the Clinton Foundation working on the green rebuild of New Orleans led her to start working part time in a gallery. She realized that working in a gallery was her passion.

“After all the years in Holland selling my own art, I now realized that this was what I was supposed to do...sell art, not make it,” says Gielbert.

Another fortuitous moment came when Levandoski wandered into that first art gallery where Gielbert was working. The rest is history, as the saying goes. The couple purchased The Old Grocery as a joint project. Gielbert had a couple of renovation projects already under her belt, but this was Levandoski’s first and he immersed himself in the process. He is enchanted with the architectural mix in New Orleans, particularly the high ceilings found in old houses. He coveted 14-foot tall ceilings, but had to settle for the ceiling height in The Old Grocery being just shy of 13 feet tall.

The previous renovation of the old corner store was designed as a more formal space.

“We were not needing two formal parlors so we brought the kitchen bang into the middle of the largest space as the heart of the house and that’s how we live,” says Gielbert. “It seems to attract many people. Even at the inspections I think we had 30 people in the house: Four realtors, two inspectors, contractors, designers and friends all turned up. It was quite the party. We have a lot of guests all the time whether it’s out of town Gallery Orange artists doing a residence in the house studio or Tom’s fly fishing buddies sprawled on air beds in every room. The house still seems to have a commercial feel about it”.

The old formal dining room was transformed by taking down a wall, thus allowing room to make a space for another one of Levandoski’s passions: wine collecting. A handsome floor-toceiling wine cooler and wine room, with modern glass doors faces the dining area. Comfortable chairs are set in front of the wine room, perfect for conversation and wine tasting. The Top: The wine room was designed by the Zangara and Partners, in collaboration with the homeowners. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams chairs, table and ottomans (all from Villa Vicci) provide cozy seating for wine tasting and conversation. Bottom: The original staircase in the house has a sweeping curved handrail. Artwork is local (artist unknown). Homeowner picked it up from a pop-up art gallery during Art for Arts Sake on Magazine Street. Sconce is from Arterios. Facing page: The seating area in front of the wine room is a mix of vintage and modern furnishings.

Vintage Le Corbusier chairs pair well with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams seating (from Villa Vici). Artwork is by Tracy Gielbert from her early days of making art instead of selling it. Silk drapes by Shading Places.

The dining room is a mix of textures and furnishings including the Julian Chichester table from Villa Vici; luxe silk drapes by Shading Places; sideboard buffet Mr. Brown from Villi Vici; upholstered bench from Villa Vici; custom black walnut threelegged chairs by Warren Winsted (through decorator Tanga Winstead); chandelier is Arteriors; artwork over buffet by Jill Ricci (from Gallery Orange); artwork over upholstered bench by Gigi Mills (from Gallery Orange); artwork viewed through door to entry hall is a photograph by Dutch artist Suzanne Jongmans (Jongmans Gallery Wilms Netherlands) a playful nod to Tracy Gilebert’s heritage

The new kitchen is the heart of the renovated Old Grocery. An 11-footlong Carrara marble island provides plenty of room for food prep and dining. Custom bar stools by local sculptor Erica Larkin; striking overhead light fixtures by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders; range is a generous 48 inches by Viking. Reclaimed oak floors are installed on the diagonal. There are no upper cabinets, with everything stored in deep drawers and cabinets below. The cypress wood ceiling adds drama and warmth to the European design scheme.

former kitchen is now an airy sunroom facing a pretty brick courtyard at the back of the house. The one original thing remaining downstairs is a beautiful staircase with a magnificent curved-wood handrail. The original plaster molding that remains intact on the second floor was copied in wood for the downstairs entry hall and downstairs rooms. Any new walls that were added were made thicker to add proper scale. All wood was locally sourced for the new floors (replacing Mexican tiles). It was installed on the diagonal because of sight lines being open to each other, and seen from different directions. The “new” oak floors are old re-milled wood from the 1800s. Cypress was used on the kitchen ceiling to a dramatic, yet warm effect.

The second floor did not require much structural work. Dark green paint and wallpaper was removed and replaced by freshly painted white walls. The doors got a fresh coat of black paint adding a modern, yet traditional accent. Two bathrooms were renovated. Striking modern light fixtures are a playful mix, and call attention to the high ceilings. Tailored white-linen drapes add to the light and airy feeling.

The couple describes their style as having a European feel in the kitchen, with a boutique hotel edge in the other rooms downstairs, and a mix of art with modern and vintage furnishings upstairs.

They sought out a lot of local design help from friends and craftsmen. Zangara and Partners project managed and oversaw the architecture and Chevalier was the contractor. Matthew Holdren did custom woodwork. Nick Conner of Conner Millwork handled the antique re-milled wood used throughout the house.

Stafford Tile provided the tile for the fireplaces, wine room, dining room and entry hall.

Both are big supporters of local sources and used furnishings acquired from Eclectic Home, AKA Stella Gray and Villa Vici.

The bar stools in the kitchen were custom made by local sculptor Erica Larkin.

“The style is really a mix of both of us,” says Gielbert. “Tom wanted to make sure it was masculine enough, and I wanted an open, non-fussy look but still with a lot of texture rather than color.

I collect Dutch art and emerging artists and have a few custom pieces made especially for the space by Gallery Orange artists.” n

Top: A pantry in the kitchen was created by taking down the existing wall and moving it back when it was reconstructed. Painting by Carlos Lopez (Gallery Orange). Bottom: The guest bathroom on the second floor got a soft renovation. Bathtub, windows and floors are original. Tile was added (from Floor and Decor on Magazine Street).

Inlay console table from Discoveries; Rug is Jonathan Adler; new sink and toilet and fixtures from Faucets Direct; shower curtains from Bed, Bath, and Beyond; sconces over sink from Arteriors; artwork by Tracy Gielbert. Facing page: The upstairs master bedroom is light and airy. Walls were painted white, and original floors cleaned up. White linen drapes by Shading Places. Upholstered bed from Restoration Hardware; toss pillows from Eclectic Home; sheepskin throw and zebra print rug from AKA Stella Gray; antique pearl inlay Syrian nightstands, vintage lamps and vintage canopy chair are treasures found by the homeowners; Kurt Pio did the painting over the bed (from Galley Orange); chandelier from Studio Mulders in the Netherlands.

Facing page: The living room is defined by the area rug and two high-back custommade armchairs; a pair of oversize French chandeliers hang, one in the living room, and one in the library.

All furnishings from Eclectic Home.

Middle Ground Transforming a double shotgun into a high-functioning live-and-work space Written and styled by Valorie Hart Photographed by Sara Essex Bradley

I

n New Orleans a classic shotgun house is often the much-maligned double shotgun: one house split down the middle into two residences. Most renovations call for turning a double into a single. Designer Penny Francis was asked to keep a double shotgun house intact for a client, making one side for living, and the other side the professional office for the homeowner — the New Orleans version of living above the store.

The main problem was figuring out how to create plentiful stylish storage on the residential side of the house. Serious editing of the homeowner’s possessions was the first thing on the list. Special

family pieces remained, as well as a beloved art collection. New pieces were designed for function and flexibility without sacrificing beauty.

When the house was purchased the original heart pine floors were painted black. They were immediately stripped and refinished with a warm walnut stain.

Millwork and built-in cabinetry was painted bright white against soft gray walls. The same color runs throughout the entire house. Art and accessories enliven the neutral palette. Sleek, simple and natural bamboo shades are hung on every window in lieu of drapery that would take up physical and visual space.

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Top, left: Art and accessories are used to enliven the neutral palette used throughout the house. Painting over antique commode by Jere Allen, lacquered box, lamp and French style chair from Eclectic Home. Top, right: Custom storage was created down the long hallway. Distressed antique mirrors were installed on the doors. The original heart pine floors were refinished with a warm walnut stain. Facing page: Kitchen and furniture on a perpendicular grid to break up the linear footprint of the shoutgun house. Settee, trestle dining table and French cane back chairs from Eclectic Home. Painting by Jere Allen.

Plantation shutters are also used on the windows at the front of the house and in the master bedroom for the same reason.

Essentially, the house is one long space that needed to provide four functions: a library for the homeowner’s collection of books; a living room; a dining area and kitchen; and a bedroom. There are also two bathrooms. To tie the four functions together,

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Francis designed a hallway of custom made storage that features the exterior of the doors fitted with distressed antiqued mirrors.

When possible, Francis arranged furnishings on a perpendicular grid to break up the lengthy footprint of the house. The galley-style kitchen has a huge amount of storage, including an island that butts up against the dining area. Instead of doing a built-in banquette, a French-style settee with a back the same height as the island was nestled in front of it, on one side of the dining table. This allows for the settee, the dining chairs and the table to be reconfigured for various styles of entertaining, whether it’s a sit-down dinner or a cocktail party.

High ceilings are the trade-off in a shotgun house, expanding the feeling and sight lines of the space and affording an opportunity to use oversized chandeliers.

Two are used, one in the library at the front of the house and another in the living room. The library is at

Facing page: An antique desk is placed at an angle in front of the windows in the library at the front of the house. Top, left: The master bedroom with an iron bed and an antique table stacked with books. Top right: The large exterior deck at the back of the house affords extra space for entertaining.

the front of the house, and clever furniture placement also creates the feeling of an entry “hall.� Custom bookcases were built into the entire common wall that has an original fireplace. The wall separates the house down the middle. An antique mirror is used over the mantle reflecting the chandelier and the window on the opposite wall. A large antique desk is placed at an angle in front of the bookcases. There is also room for an additional comfortable chair and side table, creating a reading nook.

The library segues into the living room, joined by the color of the walls and defined by a neutral-colored area

rug. A curved, custom button-tufted linen sofa breaks up the linear feeling of the space, and two custom armchairs are on swivels. Their tall backs reinforce the defining aspects of the space. Two small tables are placed in front of the sofa instead of a large coffee table. The trestle dining table is very much a part of the living room, and is placed at the same angle, and in front of the kitchen island. The flow of kitchen cabinetry spills into the long hallway, all made cohesive by using the same millwork.

The master bedroom is at the back of the house.

French doors open to a very large deck spanning the double width of the house, creating a large space for entertaining and an outdoor sitting room. A small guesthouse is at the back of the property, a perfect second bedroom with a bathroom and kitchenette.

Both designer and client appreciate the results of making a half of a house into a wholly functional home with a very short commute to work. n

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Kitchens 6 stylish kitchens that inspire p h o t o g r a p h e d b y je f f e r y jo h ns t o n Homeowners: Michael & Robynn Beck Contractor: Gary Willis Homes Architect: Joey Flynn, Flynn Designs Designer: Kristine Flynn, Flynn Designs Cabinets: Darren Bourgeois, Bourgeois Contractors Flooring: Toca Flooring, Floor Brand – Anderson Casitablanca Random Width Backsplash: Stafford Tile, Stellar Field Tile, installed by Toca Flooring Fixtures: Countertops – Stone Gallery, White Macaubas Lighting: Aidan Grey, Bretenoux Chandelier Door knobs: Davis Sales, Emtek Hardware Furniture: Restoration Hardware Appliances: Jenn Air Appliances

Homeowner: Suzette Toledano Contractor: kitchen by Nordic, home by Paddison Builders Designers: Randy Shaw and Melissa Eschete, kitchen design by Nordic Kitchens & Baths, interior design by Susan Bishop Interiors, interior architecture by Michael Toups Cabinets: Holiday Kitchens – Champagne Acrylic, Nordic Kitchens & Baths Flooring: Italian limestone, Susan Bishop Interiors Backsplash: back-painted glass, Nordic Kitchens & Baths. Black Galaxy granite slab, Triton Fixtures: galley sink, Brizo Artesso Faucet, Insinkerator Indulge Modern hot and cold dispenser, LCR/The Plumbing Warehouse Lighting: tech lighting pendants, Susan Bishop Interiors Door knobs: cabinet hardware – Richelieu, Nordic Kitchens & Baths Furniture: counter stools Horshow Collection Dining: homeowner’s own furniture and custom upholstery through Susan Bishop Interiors Paint: Benjamin Moore products as specified by Susan Bishop Interiors Appliances: Nordic Kitchens & Baths, Refrigerator, Freezer – Sub-Zero, convection steam oven, single oven, gas-range top, micro drawer-Wolf, chimney hood – Best, dishwasher – Asko, ice machine – Scotsman, under counter wine unit – Perlick Art: reclining woman sculpture by artist Nomi Faran

Homeowners: Kristina and Zachary Tyson Contractor: Tyson Construction Designer: Zach Tyson Cabinets: Showplace Cabinets, Jim Owens Flooring and Cabinets Countertops: Carrara marble, Crescent City Countertops Island Countertop: reclaimed antique pine, Southern Arch Flooring: stained concrete Light Fixtures: Pottery Barn Farm Sink: Kohler, LCR The Plumbing Warehouse Plumbing Fixtures: Delta- Brizo, LCR The Plumbing Warehouse Appliances- KitchenAid - Ideal Appliances

Homeowners: David and Nancy Hollings Architect: Zangara + Partners Cabinets: Conner Millworks Flooring: Rosa Flooring Countertops: Cambria quartz (Pieri Tile and Marble) Backsplash: Pieri Tile and Marble Lighting: Hudson Valley Lighting/ Urban Objects, Pensacola, Florica. Door knobs: Davis Hardware Appliances: cooktop, ovens and dishwasher-Thermador; refrigeratorFigidaire Professional; microwave-Bosch (all appliances from Comeaux Appliances)/ sinks, faucets-Kohler (Southland Plumbing)

Homeowner: Deborah Augustine Elam Contractor: Bill Finley Designer: Penny Francis of Eclectic Home Cabinets: High-gloss finish in Decorators White by Benjamin Moore. Glass door fronts by Standard Glass and Mirror Flooring: Pine Backsplash: Stainless tiles from Eclectic Home Fixtures: Southland Plumbing Supply Lighting: Eclectic Home Door knobs: Top Knobs Furniture: Eclectic Home Appliances: GE Monogram Series Appliances, Sink by Kohler Wallcoverings: Eykon Wallcoverings

Contractor: Mike Martin, DMM Builders Designer: Maria Barcelona and Paul Dodson, Maria Barcelona Interiors Cabinets: Milltown Cabinets Flooring: Toca Flooring Backsplash: Suite Glass, Toca Flooring Fixtures: Ferguson Lighting: Currey Giltspur Pendants, Maria Barcelona Interiors Furniture: Custom table by Donnie Smith Appliances: Thermadore appliances Sink: Kohler

P e n t as

Timing is Everything

What to plant in spring and how to keep it all healthy

By Pamela Marquis

In the spring, avid and beginner gardeners alike get their hands dirty as they plant favorite shrubs, flowers, vegetables and herbs. Chase Mullin with Mullin Landscape Associates shares some of the shrubs and flowers he uses to brighten his clients’ landscapes and offers a few hints on the care of these sturdy and beautiful plants.

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While certainly not new, pentas were once considered primarily a greenhouse plant until the past few years when growers started offering them as a summer annual. They are a fabulous choice if you want bold color that survives even the hottest summer day.

Tiny flowers form showy clusters above the bright green leaves and pentas bloom abundantly. The nectar-rich flowers grow over a long blooming season in red, pink and purple.

“Pentas are very hardy and tend to be drought tolerant,” says Mullin. “They can be used in the garden in mass plantings or as spots of color in the garden. As an added bonus, these plants will attract butterflies to your garden.”

Pentas also thrive in containers or tubs, and they look cheerful in the ground.

You can plant pentas alongside other butterfly annuals, such as cornflowers, zinnias and marigolds. Once established, they have good heat and drought tolerance

Louisianan Robert “Buddy” Lee developed Encore azaleas in Louisiana in the 1980s. They are the most sun tolerant azaleas around and should receive four to six hours of direct sun daily with some afternoon shade.

They prefer acidic soil with plenty of organic matter.

Mullin suggests for optimum results that it is important to clean up azalea beds in the spring, apply a specific azalea fertilizer and then make sure to mulch.

“Encore azaleas are bred to bloom,” says Mullin. “They are a proven winner and provide almost year-round color. And, the foliage is attractive too. There are a lot to choose from, as there are more than 30 varieties.

The Encores can be divided into three groups: small, medium and large. The small variety’s mature size is approximately three feet wide and three feet high.

These azaleas are suitable for foundation plantings and containers. The medium-sized Encores are in the four-foot size range. They can be used as low hedges and low backdrops for smaller plants. The large five-foot Encores are suitable for accent plants and background shrubs in large beds.

sunlight full sun

flower color

red, pink, purple

E n c o r e A z al e as

sunlight

PARTIAL SUN

flower color pink

sunlight

PARTIAL SUN

flower color

cherry red, white

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Ca la dium s

sunlight

PARTIAL SUN

flower color

salmon pink, ruby red

Hardy Caladiums provide vibrant colors all season long and need only good soil, occasional watering and fertilizer to thrive. While they don’t present glorious blooms, their colorful leaves provide color and texture all summer long.

“We use caladiums a lot because they come in a plethora of colors,” says Mullin. “I especially like to use one called Carolyn Wharton. They can range from light salmon-pink to dark ruby-red. Caladiums appeal to the garden artist in all of us.”

Many caladiums love shady areas and some caladiums will tolerate full sun. If planted in full sun they will require more watering. The bulbs should be planted in the landscape in the spring after the last frost. Caladium bulbs have a rather smooth bottom side and knobby top. Though they will grow no matter which way you orient them, planting with the topside up will provide you with the shortest sprouting time.

Camellia Sasanqua has been cultivated in its native Japan since the 14th century and in the American South for nearly 200 years. It may not have the large blooms of the Camellia Japonica, but it’s a functional plant for your garden because it is so manageable.

“They are a great plant even when not in bloom,” says Mullin.

“Their leaves are a beautiful green. We use a lot of them because of their consistency and they do really well in our climate.”

Sasanquas are versatile.

Dwarf types can be used as foundation plantings and low borders. They can be clipped into hedges, used for tall screens, or pruned into tree form. They are especially enchanting when used as an espaliered plant, a technique used to train plants to grow flat against a vertical surface.

Some exude a pleasant tea scent. Colors range from cherry red to fairest white. Individual flowers live a short time but new flowers quickly replace them.

Ca m elli a S a s a n q u aÂ

drift r o s es

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A cross between full-size groundcover roses and miniature roses, drift roses are repeatbloomers, disease resistant and virtually maintenance-free.

“Drift roses are a relatively new category of roses called landscape roses,” Mullin says. “We tend to use them as a groundcover as well as a permanent display of color. They need very little maintenance and have a persistent bloom that lasts almost all year-round.

Also, they were selected as a Louisiana Super Plant.”

These roses are fast growers and benefit from fertilization. The recommended feeding is right after the late winter pruning and then every six weeks or so during the growing season with a rose food or an organic plant food.

One interesting variety, and there are lots to choose from, is the Popcorn Drift Rose. It has a pastel bloom and a sweet fragrance. It produces tight creamy yellow buds that open light yellow color and then gently fade into a creamy white with faint yellow accents.

Fruit trees make a welcome addition to many landscapes. Being aware of your soil type is key to a bountiful harvest. Most fruit trees need well-drained soil and a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight.

“We often plant fruit trees in containers,” says Mullin.

“They work well in the small yards that we have in New Orleans and can be used in planters around swimming pools and on patios. They tend to thrive in the right container and can be very ornamental.”

You can pot most any dwarf or semi-dwarf fruit tree, so long as you keep moving it up to larger pots as it grows.

In the case of your container, it’s best to go with a quality pot. Remember, drain holes are critical to the tree’s health. Also, some fruit trees need two different varieties of trees planted relatively close together in order to ensure pollination. So be sure to do your research or ask the nursery to make sure you have fruit to pick in the fall.

sunlight full sun

flower color

yellow, creamy white

Fruit Trees

sunlight

PARTIAL SUN

fruit

lemon

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

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HOME RENEWAL

Prevention, Procrastination & Woe Learning the hard way about keeping up with routine home maintenance

By Peter Reichard

E

very now and then, when passing through the little-used side yard at my house, I would look up and notice a couple of over-sized openings where the utilities feed into the soffit. “Boy,” I’d say to myself, “I need to spray some foam sealant up there to keep the squirrels out,” but there always seemed to be a higher priority, so I’d vow to get around to it soon.

I wouldn’t. I would forget about it until the next time I noticed it.

Finally, the gods decided to punish me for my procrastination and carelessness. One wintery night, my wife and I were awakened by the sounds of movement in the ceiling above our bed: scratch. Bu-dump, bu-dump, bu-dump. The sound of acorns rolling.

The dog started barking. The invasion had begun.

Chatting about the situation with a friend, he informed me that squirrels had recently taken up residence in his attic and were now chewing through the fascia. Whipped into a frenzy of concern, we went to the internet: “how to get rid of

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squirrels.” The results came back: “squirrels hate mothballs.”

Suddenly a man of action after failing to administer an ounce of prevention for months, I rushed right out to buy a pound of cure: a squirrel trap, critter repellent and mothballs.

Without any further research on the matter, I stuffed a pouch of mothballs in each soffit opening to smoke the squirrels out for a while. Thus a problem became a fiasco.

A couple of hours later, my wife went to our bedroom, which is just inside from the soffit openings. She could smell the mothballs, and was less than delighted. The vapor must have seeped inside the house through the wood and sheetrock.

Realizing my error, I rushed out to remove the pouches. One of them ripped. Mothballs rolled around inside the soffit. My wife slept on the sofa for the next couple of nights.

The squirrels were gone, but I spent the next two weeks trying to get rid of the smell. I scoured the inside of the soffit for the remaining mothballs. I spent hours scrubbing the walls and ceiling of the bedroom with vinegar, then bleach.

I bought activated charcoal, lava rocks, lavender and some Jason Raish illustration

Preventive Seal any holes or openings that can provide access to squirrels, rodents, possums or other critters.

Wrap pipes that may burst in cold weather.

Water-seal decks and fencing.

Keep gutters clean.

Cut back any tree branches that pose a risk to your roof.

Trim any plants that are too close to the house or other structures.

Don’t allow pine needles, leaves or other debris to build up in the yard.

To cut down on mosquitos, remove any receptacles where standing water can accumulate.

Address any pipe or roof leak immediately.

Regularly service HVAC system and change filters.

If you have a chimney, keep it clean.

Repair deteriorated grout lines in tiled areas.

Repair deteriorated caulking around tubs and sinks.

mystery powder off the internet. I burned candles.

I sprayed sprays. I opened fragrance cans. I plugged in a deodorizer. I put out coffee grounds. I made my own proprietary blend of alcohol and essential oils and put it in a spray bottle.

It culminated in borrowing a box fan to blow in fresh air, and a friend suggested

ripping out sections of soffit to let it air out. He did that, and I pulled out the insulation as well. My father in law, an old shipping merchant, told us that in Colombia containers are deodorized by burning coffee beans inside them. The combination of fresh air and coffee-bean-smoke worked best.

Even when my wife couldn’t smell mothballs anymore, I could. It was as though a tell-tale smell were wafting through my unhinged mind. “You have a mental problem,” my wife told me. “You’re obsessed.”

Since then, I’ve been administering pounds of prevention around the house.

A gardener trimmed up the holly bush, which had grown directly against the house, posing a potential moisture hazard. While he was at it, he trimmed the ginger way back; my mother-in-law once told me ginger attracts rodents. Check.

After the trimming, I got a good view of the exposed water pipe on the exterior of my house. In a good freeze, it could burst, if not wrapped. Check.

One project I had been procrastinating over for years was the removal of an oak tree that had grown from a neighbor’s yard to hang almost entirely over my roof.

This not only posed the risk of roof damage in a storm, it also provided a highway for squirrels, raccoons and possums, all of which I’ve seen in my yard. Today, that tree is gone. Check.

Now to repair the deconstructed soffit and seal it off, once and for all. I’ll get around to it soon. n New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.com

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i n t he S P O t L I G H T

Haven Custom Furnishing Terri McCormack and Jennifer Uddo

By Pamela Marquis

T

erri McCormack and Jennifer Uddo met through McCormack’s former business on Magazine Street.

The two found they had many things in common.

“We bring different things to table, but we both have a sense of humor, we are both pretty laid back and easy to get along with, at least we think so, and we both love design,” says McCormack.

Three years ago Haven Custom Furnishing was born.

It is a to-the-trade showroom and a resource for the designers, decorators, architects and builders in southeast Louisiana. It offers more than 50 lines of furniture, accessories and lighting.

“Our showroom is a beautiful and comfortable setting where a trade professional can bring their clients,” she says. “We are here to work with designers not to compete with them. What we love about our job is that we get to meet so many wonderful people. We get involved with the designer and their clients as much or as little as they want us to.”

The showroom is on Jefferson Highway between New Orleans and Metairie, which McCormack states has become a small design hub with other businesses such as DOP Antiques, Brown & Damare, and Delk and Morrison.

“We have a space that’s convenient with lots of parking,” says McCormack. “And we didn’t need a beautiful building because we knew we could make any space look great. Plus, our overhead is so reasonable.“

300 Jefferson Hwy. | 304-2144 | havencustomfurnishings.com

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

james shaw photograph

i n t he S P O t L I G H T

MLM Incorporated Machi Medrzycki

By Pamela Marquis

M

achi Medrzycki, director of sales and marketing for MLM Incorporated, a company that offers historic, residential and commercial renovation projects throughout the New Orleans area, believes when he moved to New Orleans, the people he met and the construction projects he worked on made him who he is today.

“I’m fortunate enough to live in the historic city of New Orleans,” he says. “Working on old buildings only makes it that much better!”

When he was a young child he wanted to be a policeman, fireman or businessman, but never thought about being a contractor. Eventually he began listening to a gut feeling.

“I always had a drive for construction starting with LEGO creations as a kid,” he says. “Now I get to work with people, manage them and see things come together.

It’s not easy, but the final destination of construction is the best part of my work.”

He believes the main strengths he brings to his job are his management skills, his ability to see the big picture and negotiating.

When asked what he would do if he ruled the world, he answered thoughtfully.

“I believe in people,” he says. “I’d be terrible at ruling the world. I’d give people too much of freedom and decision making.”

MLM’s mission seems to reflect those sentiments: “We believe we are partners in your business.”

4006 Canal St. | 322-7050 | mlm-inc.com james shaw photograph

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i n t he S P O t L I G H T

Tyson Construction Zachary Tyson

By Pamela Marquis

Z

achary Tyson’s first job was cutting grass for his mother’s construction company, Tyson Construction.

“I was always around the business,” says Zachary, who along with his parents oversees the 24-year old family business.

Patricia and Larry Tyson built their success by paying faithful attention to details. Zachary also brings many assets to the Tyson team.

“I think my focus and preparation are my greatest strengths,” he says. “I got that from playing four years of college basketball at Loyola.”

Living in New Orleans he loves food but believes experiencing a good meal is more important. His best meal was in the mountains outside Telluride.

“My wife and I hiked about six miles up to an alpine lake,” he says. “It was the most beautiful turquoiseblue water I’d ever seen. We sat in a snowfield looking down at the lake and up at the mountains, waterfalls and the gorgeous scenery beyond. We ate simple turkey sandwiches and chips, but the view was priceless.”

Tyson is the 2017 Parade of Homes Chairman and serves on the 2017 Home Builders Association Board of Directors, but he is most proud of the company’s collaboration with Operation Finally Home, and Southern Living magazine.

“We coordinated the design and construction of a mortgage-free home for a wounded veteran. The home was designed with the wounded veteran’s physical and physiological needs in mind.”

1974 Ormond Boulevard | Destrehan | 905-1042 | tyson-construction.com

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

james shaw photograph

E X P E R T A D VI C E

Modern Market

Maria Barcelona Interiors

Décor Fresh for Spring Create impact this season with accessories, smart edts, layers and light

By Kelcy Wilburn

W

ith its tropical climate, New Orleans marks springtime with a growth of greenery and pops of color not only from its vibrant homes but also from flowerbeds, gardens and budding trees. As the great outdoors transforms with a burst of perennials and newly planted annuals, many homeowners want to mirror Earth’s yearly makeover within the home.

There are a variety of ways to freshen décor, and whether you’re looking to make a big impact or a subtle one, a well-executed change takes planning and

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

forethought. This season, we’ve checked in with local design experts and craftsmen on how to make design adjustments that will bring long-term enjoyment.

With over 20 years experience in interior design, Maria Barcelona of Maria Barcelona Interiors recommends a couple different approaches. For a big change, hire a designer immediately, she says, as it will save you from making costly mistakes.

For a subtle change, she and other designers often recommend swapping out pillows or replacing a rug or bedding.

theresa cassagne photographs

“We also like to move accessories around,” says Barcelona.

“Clients get used to certain accessories being in certain places and it’s hard to picture them somewhere else.

Clients will often hire us to come in for the day and do a room re-do, where we move current pieces around and then purchase new items to freshen up the space.”

Susan Currie of Susan Currie Design likes to make a big impact by focusing on the public areas of the home, which include the kitchen and living room. If a kitchen refresh is too big a project, adjoining living areas are approachable even for the

do-it-yourselfer.

“When thinking about how to refresh these areas, begin by setting priorities for the project,” says Currie. “Take an inventory of your furniture and determine what pieces you want to keep and which you will replace.

Where a sofa may get new throw pillows, a tired coffee table could be ripe for painting and adding a pop of color that ties in with the pillows. With a list of priorities in mind, you can create a budget and timeline and avoid a common mistake: biting off more than you can chew.

“Small projects easily become big projects, so take it one step at a

time and prioritize,” says Currie.

Penny Francis, principal designer and owner of Eclectic Home, also emphasizes budgeting and doing your homework.

You can do a lot with a little, according to Francis.

“I recently restyled a book case for a client, and it totally transformed the space,” says Francis.

“Editing spaces does not cost money — just your time — and the end result can be amazing.”

Another inexpensive way to freshen up a room is to play with its lighting.

“Layered light creates mood and ambiance,” says Francis. “Lamps, candlelight, wall sconces and ceiling fixtures can

all create different moods, so explore layering your lighting.”

When it comes to fixtures, Francis is used to seeing customers fret over whether to do brass or stainless and chrome finishes. Fret no more, she says, as mixed metals in décor is a rising trend, as is retro lighting and midcentury furnishings.

Experts at Magazine Street’s Modern Market like to look at freshening up the rooms in which you spend the most time, often the living room and bedroom, where we seek solace and comfort.

Fresh fabrics can make a big difference in the look of the room, and reupholstering is a great way

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The French Mix by Jennifer DiCerbo Interiors

to work with pieces you already own that could use an update. Picking new textiles can open up endless possibilities for color and give a person a chance to explore their curiosities. If however, you’re ready to toss that old chair in favor of something new, the Modern Market crew is enthusiastic about their current offering of limited lounge pieces — modern sofas and chairs — they call “fresh, approachable and attainable.”

There are a lot of places across Greater New Orleans to find new furnishings, and one hot spot on the North Shore is the The French Mix by Jennifer DiCerbo Interiors. With a 4,000-squarefoot store and showroom, The French Mix offers full-service interior design, handknotted rugs, custom furnishings, custom draperies, original artwork and more.

DiCerbo warns against buying a new item without having a space in mind for it, a mistake that can lead to uncomfortable spaces with mismatched proportions. She recommends working with a designer to ensure the scale will work for the space.

So what’s a good initial piece to purchase when freshening a space?

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

Greige Home

“I always say to start with the rug — it covers the most square footage and has the most visual impact,” says DiCerbo. “The rug can transform a room and make it amazing.”

Rugs are also a go-to statement piece for Beth Assaf, Owner of Rug Chic. Also located on the North Shore, Rug Chic offers a vast selection of hand-knotted rugs either personally designed or selected by Assaf in addition to accessories and furniture. Assaf notes that Rug Chic rugs and furniture are all customizable, and she’s excited to see more people incorporating bright splashes of color and getting away from such subdued tones. A common mistake for rug shoppers, though, can be misjudging the color or the size of the rugs they need.

“To prevent that, we offer free in-home consultations,” says Assaf. “We bring as many rugs as a client needs to their home so that they can actually see what it looks like in their space for a few days.”

On custom jobs, they create color samples so clients can see exactly how the colors will look.

If you’re not sure where exactly you want to start, or what kind of look you want to achieve, you can

theresa cassagne photographs

always find tons of ideas online and in magazines.

Terri McCormack and Jennifer Uddo, Co-owners of Haven Custom Furnishings suggest starting with design websites and apps such as Houzz and Pinterest. You can easily save the room images of designs that appeal to your aesthetic and then go back and review your compilation for specific colors and textures. Of course, translating the look to your own home is easier said than done, and, like our other experts, they recommend hiring a professional to guide you.

While searching online is one thing, buying online is another. There are a

number of benefits to shopping locally, and two of the biggest are knowing firsthand a product’s quality and size.

“Of course you should buy what you can afford, but not buying quality upholstery or significant pieces can cost more in the long run,” says McCormack.

“Buy once and buy right.

Your chairs and sofa will probably be around longer than your car.”

The staff at Greige Home also like to use magazines and apps to identify desired color schemes and ways to freshen them up.

“When working with neutral walls and furniture, this is easy to

do,” says Kirsten Agnelly, designer. “Do you prefer warm or cool colors? Are you wanting an analogous color scheme or a complementary one? Remove the old décor and add the new pops of color with the help of colorful throws, pillows and other accessories for bookshelves and tables.”

Agnelly and Manager Ryan Jordan also stress flexibility throughout the project. Achieving your desired look may require further editing or additions. They recommend keeping an open mind and talking with your friends and family whose design style you admire to further expand your ideas.

The rising reintroduction of color into design schemes pleases Alex Geriner, founder and CEO of Doorman Designs. As a designer and builder of home furnishings, Geriner loves cultivating a look that is colorful, eccentric and artsy in his own home. At Doorman Designs, he fashions furniture that can adapt to a number of settings and that tells a story through its materials, which are largely locally sourced and consist of reclaimed wood, architectural salvage, metals and glass.

A trick that Geriner loves when freshening up décor is simply to rearrange. Aside from rearranging rugs and

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bookcases, another trick is to change out your art — move a painting from your bedroom to the living room or make a previously under-emphasized work the new centerpiece of a room.

Even if your furniture stays in place, the introduction of different art can significantly alter the feel.

When adding or replacing furnishings, it’s important to note your inclinations. Do you prefer something rustic or something polished?

A new piece handmade in New Orleans or an antique crafted centuries ago in Europe?

“Most people think

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antiques fit into just one niche or style but that is categorically untrue,” says Laura Roland, co-owner of Fireside Antiques. “We have such vastly differing styles within the antique realm, from primitive to empire. If you’re looking to make a big change, Roland suggests donating or selling anything you don’t love and starting with your treasured pieces.

Some of Roland’s favorites include the armoire, essential for housing unsightly technologies or serving as extra cabinetry, as well as the enfilade or commode, which “can serve as a gorgeous anchor for your artwork or lighting.”

New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

“I think a beautiful desk or secretary is required for the modern home and you don’t have to banish them to the study either,” she says.

One thing we haven’t discussed freshening up is window treatments and the incorporation of natural light into a room. At Wren’s Tontine Shade & Design, owner Blythe Wren offers a wealth of knowledge and materials for updating drapery or shades. For a different look, Wren recommends adding solidcolor, linen-blend drapery panels, which can dress up a room without the limitations of a pattern.

For a smaller room,

she recommends shades in place of drapery, and shade varieties are abundant — from roller to Roman to woven wood or grass. If your décor re-fresh calls for a touch of luxury and modernization, Wren offers a number of high-tech solutions for adjusting or controlling shades from anywhere via your mobile device or at home via an Amazon Echo.

With advice from our design experts, it should be easy to justify a little spring sprucing — and for the penny pinchers pining for a few more household goods, we’ll just call it spring cleaning with a wink. n

a d ver tisin g

advertising resource directory Architect ZANGARA+PARTNERS 3615 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/264-7711 zangarapartners.com Bank Home Bank 1600 Veterans Blvd.

Metairie 504/834-1190 building materials Adda Carpets and Flooring 5480 Mounes St. Harahan 504/736-9001 addacarpetsandflooring.com Palatial Stone and Tile 2052 Paxton St. Harvey 504/304-2229 2033 N. Highway 190, Suite 9 Covington 985/249-6868 palatialstone.com gardening/landscape Exterior Designs, Inc 2903 Octavia St. New Orleans 504/866-0276 exteriordesignsbev.com Gomez Pine Straw 2025 Spartan Drive Mandeville 985/264-3567 gomezpinestrawllc.com Mullin Landscape Associates LLC 621 Distributors Row Ste F Harahan 504/275-6617 mullinlandscape.com Home Builder Chevalier Contractors Co., Inc. 24 Bronco Lane St. Rose 504/464-0080 M L M Incorporated 3500 N.Causeway Blvd.,Ste.160, Metairie 504/322-7050 mlm-inc.com TAG Homes, Inc. 4405 N I-10 Service Road W. Suite 100, Metairie 504/888-3897 builtbytag.com

Tyson Construction 504/905-1042 tyson-construction.com zach@tyson-construction.com home furnishings & accessories AMA Entertainment 1525 Airline Drive Metairie 504/835-3232 amaentertainment.com

Haven Custom Furnishings 300 Jefferson Hwy #102 New Orleans 504/304-2144 havencustomfurnishings.com JADE 324 Metairie Road Metairie 504/875-4420 jadenola.com

Appartique 3822 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/345-4554 Instagram.appartique

Maria Barcelona Interiors 9501 Jefferson Hwy River Ridge 504/305-5095 maria@mariabinteriors.com mariabinteriors.com

Arhaus Furniture 939 Girod St. New Orleans 504/581/6684 arhaus.com

Renaissance Interiors 2727 Edenborn Ave. Metairie 504/454-3320 yourrenaissance.com

Beth Claybourn Interiors 401 Tchoupitoulas St. New Orleans 504/342-2630 bethclaybourninteriors.com

Rug Chic Home Décor 4240 Hwy 22, Suite 6 Mandeville 985/674-1070 rugchic.com

Brian’s Furniture 515 Court St. Port Allen 225/346-0896 briansfurniture.com

Sofas & Chairs 123 Metairie Road Metairie 504/486-9622 sofasandchairsnola.com

Doorman Designs 504/408-1616 hello@doormandesigns.com doormandesigns.com

The Historic New Orleans Collection 533 Royal St. New Orleans 504/523-4662 hnoc.org

Eclectic Home 8211 Oak St., New Orleans 504/866-6654 eclectichome.net Fireside Antiques 14007 Perkins Road Baton Rouge 225/752-9565 firesideantiques.com Flynn Designs 8903 Jefferson Hwy River Ridge 504/667.3837 flynndesignsnola.com Greige Home Interiors 2033 N. Hwy. 190 Covington 985/875-7576 greigehome.com

Villa Vici 2930 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/899-2931 villavici-furniture.com Virginia Dunn, LLC 4023 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/899-8604 virginiadunn.com Wren’s Tontine Shade & Design 1533 Prytania St. New Orleans 504/525-7409 wrenstontine.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT Dial-A-Maid 4111 Williams Blvd.

Kenner 504/464-6243 dialamaidnola.com Helm Paint 8180 Earhart Blvd.

New Orleans 504/861-8179 5331 Canal Blvd.

New Orleans 504/485-6569 2801 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-7333 6820 Veterans Blvd.

Metairie 504/888-4684 3659 Hwy 190 Mandeville 985/626-0166 2108 W. Thomas Hammond 985/542-4356 helmpaint.com Leonel’s Fine Upholstery 2843 Piedmont St. Kenner 504/469-0889 leonels.com Southern Refinishing, LLC 708 Barataria Blvd.

Marrero 504/348-1770 southernrefinishing.com Insurance LCI Workers’ Comp 1123 N. Causeway Blvd.

Mandeville 985/612-1230 lciwc.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

a d v e r t is in g

Classic Cupboards 5809 River Oaks Road South Harahan 504/734-9088 classiccupboards.com Kings Marble and Granite 11 5th St. Gretna 504/366-6680 kingmarbleandgranite.com Mattix Cabinet Works 415 N. Solomon St. New Orleans 504/486-7218 mattixcabinet.com Nordic Kitchens & Baths Inc. 1818 Veterans Blvd.

Metairie 504/888-2300 nordickitchens.com Stafford Tile & Stone 5234 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/895-5000 4273 Perkins Road Baton Rouge 225/925-1233 staffordtile.com retirement living Lambeth House 150 Broadway New Orleans 504/865-1960 lambethhouse.com Poydras Home 5354 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/897-0535 poydrashome.com specialists 731 St Charles Avenue 504/517-4731 sales@731stcharles.com 731stchales.com Bayou Closets 2537 North Rampart St New Orleans 504/944-8388 Rob@BayouClosets.com Doors of Elegance 3100 Kingman St. Metairie 504/887-5440 doorsofelegance.com

Floor & Décor Design Gallery 2801 Magazine St. New Orleans 504/891-3005 4 Westside Shopping Center Gretna 504/361-0501 flooranddecorneworleans.com Louisiana Custom Closets 13405 Seymour Meyer Blvd. #24 Covington 985/871-0810 louisianacustomclosets.com Paradise Pools & Spas, Inc. 4221 Division St. Metairie 504/888-0505 Renaissance Doors 1000 Edwards Ave. Harahan 504/344-6994 renaissancedoors@gmail.com renaissancedoorsllc.com Ruffino Custom Closets 111 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 StudioWTA 1119 Tchoupitoulas St. New Orleans 504/593-9074 studiowta.com The Linen Registry 200 Metairie Road #102 Metairie 504/831-8228 thelinenregistry.com Toca Flooring 2809 Jefferson Hwy Jefferson 504/464-7878 11811 Industriplex Blvd, Ste 3 Baton Rouge 225/406-7676 tocaflooring.com•

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RESOURCES The area code is 504, unless otherwise noted.

For the Garden, PG. 26 Natural Environment

Place Dr., #D, Covington, 985-373-4134, shadingplaces.

The Urban Farmstead, 1730 Clio St.; Southbound

914-9618, larkingaudet.com; Paul Gruer, 1000 Bourbon

Gardens Nursery, 4221 S. Robertson St., southbound-

St., Unit 254, 722-6258, paulgruerdesigns.com; Randy

gardens.com; Eco Urban Landscaping, 4433 Ulloa St.,

Verduyn, Venetian Plaster, 225-413-9342; Uptown

322-7025, ecourbanllc.com

Frames, 237 Broadway St., 866-1576, uptownframes.com;

com; Erica Larkin, Larkin Gaudet, 281 Mehle St., Arabi,

Matthew Holdren, matthewholdren.com; Stafford Tile Living with Antiques, PG. 28

& Stone, 5234 Magazine St., 895-5000, staffordtile.com;

Renewed Beauty

Floor and Décor, 2801 Magazine S., Suite A, 891-3005,

The Bank Architectural Antiques, 1824 Felicity St.,

flooranddecor.com; Arteriors, arteriorshome.com; Faucets

523-2702, thebankantiques.com; Ricca’s Architectural

Direct, faucetdirect.com; Zangara and Partners, 3615

Sales, 511 North Solomon St., 488–5524, riccasarchitec-

Magazine St., 264-7711, zangarapartners.com; Chevalier

tural.com; The Green Project, 2831 Marais St., 945-0240,

Contractors, 464-0080; Connor Millwork, 324-9610,

thegreenproject.org; Habitat’s Re-Store, 2900 Elysian

connermillworks.com; Tanga Winstead, decorator,

Fields Ave., 861-2077, habitat-nola.org/restore; Strip Ease,

329-1929, tangawinstead.com

3301 Lafitte Ave., 484-3040; PRC Salvage Store, 2801 Marais St., 947-0038, prcono.org/programs/salvage-store;

Middle Ground, PG. 52

Wildewoods, 1108 Hwy 51 North, Ponchatoula, 985-386-

Eclectic Home, 8211 Oak St., 866-6654, eclectichome.net

4243, wildewoods.com Timing is Everything, PG. 64 Masters of Their Craft, PG. 30

Mullin Landscape Associates, 621 Distributors Row, Suite

Instyle Textiles

F, Harahan, 275-6617, mullinlandscape.com

Kate Beck Textile Design, 2701 Chartres St., katebeckneworleans.com; Monkey Wid-a-Fez, 622 Saint Ferdinand

Expert advice, PG. 88

St., 202-6465

Décor Fresh for Spring

Maria Barcelona Interiors, 9501 Jefferson Highway, Trendwatch, PG. 33

305-5095, mariabinteriors.com; Susan Currie Design, 233

Fountain Fancy

Walnut St., 862-5800, susancurriedesign.com; Eclectic

The Plant Gallery, 9401 Airline Hwy., 488-8887, theplant-

Home, 8211 Oak St., 866-6654, eclectichome.net; Modern

gallery.com; Landscape Images Ltd., 655 Central Ave.,

Market, 3138c Magazine St., 896-2206, modernmarketlife-

734-8380, landscapeimagesltd.com; New Orleans

style.com; The French Mix by Jennifer DiCerbo Interiors,

Auction, 333 Saint Joseph St., 566-1849, neworleansauc-

228 Lee Lane, Covington, 985-809-3152, frenchmix-

tion.com; The Garden Gates, 4304 Firestone Rd., Metairie,

interiors.com; Rug Chic, 4240 Highway 22, Suite 6,

877-780-6699, thegardengates.com

Mandeville, 985-674-1070, rugchic.com; Haven Custom Furnishings, 300 Jefferson Hwy. #102, 304-2144, haven-

102

The Old Grocery: Renovation of the

customfurnishings.com; Greige Home, 2033 N Highway

Year, PG. 42

190, Suite 10, Covington, 985-875-7576, greigehome.

Gallery Orange, 819 Royal St., 875-4006, gallery-orange.

com; Doorman Designs, 401 Short St., 408-1616, door-

com; Villa Vici, 2930, Magazine St., 899-2931, villavici-

mandesigns.com; Fireside Antiques, 14007 Perkins

furniture.com; AKA Stella Gray, 4422 Magazine St.,

Road, Baton Rouge, 1-800-259-9565, firesideantiques.

208-2300, akastellagray.com; Eclectic Home, 8211 Oak

com; Wren’s Tontine Shade & Design, 1533 Prytania St.,

St., 866-6654, eclectichome.net; Shading Places, 61 Park

509-4470, wrenstontine.com n

New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

LAST INDULGENCE

Flower Power Fresh blooms brighten your rooms and your mood

By Melanie Warner Spencer

F

or many years, fresh flowers seemed like such an indulgence, so I only had them in the house on special occasions or when they were a gift. Thankfully I’ve gotten over that mindset and now incorporate vases, jars and other containers of flowers, greenery or sometimes branches into my everyday décor. Whether a $4 bouquet from the grocery store or a professional arrangement, bringing a little of the outside into my rooms is a

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New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Spring 2017

priority. Aesthetic beauty is enough of a reason for me, but if it makes you a convert, flowers are also good for your health. A 2008 study by Park and Mattson showed patients with plants and flowers in their rooms had “positive physiological responses,” including lower blood pressure, lower pain ratings, lower anxiety and less fatigue. Peonies are a favorite of mine, but I’m also a lover of gerbera daisies and hydrangeas. Find your favorite and enjoy this simple, healthful luxury. n