Southern Comfort

story by Peter Mariano photos by Jen Meadows

Shelley and Guy Winstead had lived in Jackson MS for 8 years when they decided to build a dream house for themselves and their son Jack after a chance visit to Mandeville LA, the family found their vision for a home not in Mississippi, but in Louisiana. Mandeville is part of a region north of New Orleans on Lake Pontchartrain, collectively known as “the Northshore”. It is a growing hotspot for families like the Winsteads who want something that is near the action, but still has a small town feel. “Part of the reason we moved here was because it was close to the airport and New Orleans”, said Shelley when being asked what brought them to the Northshore. “We love to visit the city as much as we can, but we chose the Northshore because it was closer to nature and wildlife, which reminded us of Hattiesburg.”

Shelley and Guy met while attending the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) in their hometown of Hattiesburg MS. There, Shelley was a member of the sorority organization Phi Mu, while Guy was a part of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. The couple stayed in Hattiesburg long after graduation. After having their son Jack in 2000, it looked like the official home for the Winsteads, but everything changed in 2006 when the family moved to Jackson MS following Hurricane Katrina. It wasn’t until 2014 that the family found their ideal home in Mandeville.

Built in 2004, the Winstead’s home was originally designed by Andy McDonald, a residential developer who’s unique style has garnered him a lot of praise in the south. Taking inspiration from the classical architecture found in the French Quarter and throughout New Orleans. The Winstead’s house in particular has a very distinctive 18th century French influence, giving the home a sense of both luxury and modesty. However being built 10 years prior to the family’s relocation, the interior was not without some necessary aesthetic updates.

Some of the cosmetic changes were easy. The sand color paint that covered the interior walls of the house, was changed to a more soothing pearl white. A color choice that complements the homes classical influence, while lending towards the chic ambiance that the family wanted. Some changes were more than just cosmetic. “We felt the countertops in the kitchen needed an update” said Shelly, “So we replaced them with Cierra Marble counters, and did the same for the wall tiles as well”. The marble touches courtesy of KMG Marble in Harvey LA, gave the kitchen its calming atmosphere. The kitchen is also one of the rooms to feature Visual Comfort Lights from Griege Home Interiors in Covington. The street lantern style of these light fixtures, again adds to the house’s prevailing French aesthetic.

Griege Interiors was not the only local outlet to supply fixtures for the Winstead’s house. Many homeowners will easily order off of a corporate sales catalog to give their house some personality, but the Winstead’s collection of art and furnishings have all been locally sourced. Perch on Magazine St., founded by local design diva Caroline Robert, supplied a number of the home’s more oriental decorations.

The aptly named “Dragon Dance” wallpaper adorning the half bath, features a number of colorful Chinese Dragons dancing across a deep burgundy background. This feature from Perch, in addition to lighting from Aerin Lauder’s collection, and a circular mirror from Japanese American artist George Nakajima, helps the half bath to stand out from other rooms in the house. Similarly, the Perch brand pillows and curtains in the living room do well to add color to the environment, without becoming too overpowering.

The living room serves as a veritable microcosm for the Winstead’s decorative taste. A Napoleon III Giltwood mirror from William Sonoma sits above the fireplace. The distressed mirror ties together the various antiques and name brand furnishings, in the very open living room.

A great deal of the pieces in the home are also genuine antiques, something the couple is quite fond of collecting. Renaissance Interiors in Metairie was the main outlet from which the couple searched for furnishings. Estate sales held throughout the New Orleans area, were another source for the couple’s antique collections. “I loved having that mix of old and new” said Shelley when asked why antiques were a major part of the decorating process.

The Winsteads also prize many functioning antiques as well. In the upstairs entertainment room sits three retro game consoles. An antique slot machine that takes dimes, a re-manufactured arcade game, and a fully restored Playboy Pinball Machine. These fun pieces with a wall mounted flat screen TV, makes for some great Friday nights at the Winstead house.

The interior of the house was not the only thing transformed after the restorations. The Winsteads also added a 20ft swimming pool in the backyard. While this addition does well to grab one’s attention, it is also made distinct with its lion head fountain pouring into it.

The lion’s head, being a callback to Shelley’s days at Phi Mu, is a motif found throughout the home’s exterior. From a hose rack to the bottle opener beside the barbecue, and even the door knockers on the front entrance, the lion motif adds some subtle character throughout the backyard.

The kitchen and backyard are connected through a walled in patio Shelley calls the Keeping Room, which also happens to be Shelley’s favorite.

“I love all the rooms in the house,But especially the keeping room. There is a lot of nature and wildlife in this neighborhood, and sitting there just gives you a perfect view of it all”, she said. The communion with nature is a major component of what brings families like the Winsteads to the Northshore, but it is not the only thing that makes them stay. Though the Winsteads may lead busy lives, they each hold a deep appreciation for their home.

Guy works as the VP for Security National Life insurance, a job that uses frequent flier miles, but when he’s not working out of state, he has made adjustments close to home that make it easy for him to enjoy where he lives. Even opening a new company office down the street from his family’s subdivision, so as to make the local commute easier.

“We also have a weekend house on St. Charles Ave” Guy added, after being asked what he enjoyed about living close to New Orleans.

“It’s great to have all year round, particularly during festival season when it’s right on the parade route.”

Much like his father, their son Jack also spends most of his time away from home. Jack is currently a senior at St. Stanislaus College in in Bay St. Louis, and a member of their championship sailing team. He is also an artist who has won several awards, including the State Drawing Championship and a Scholastic Gold Key Award for his skills. Skills he is considering making a career out of upon attending LSU in the fall.

Whereas both of the men in her life work out of state most of the time, Shelley not only works solely on the Northshore, but her job is centered around it. Shelley works as the president elect for the Junior League of Greater Covington, and the advisory board for the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany. Two outreach programs aimed at helping children in the community. This, in addition to many other organizations she volunteers for (including their local church) are some of the ways Shelley gives back to the community that has embraced both her and her family.

The Winsteads may not have come from Mandeville, or even Louisiana for that matter, but despite their various relocations, careers, and frequent flier miles, they have found a place that they can come back to everyday. A place on the Northshore, to call home.