Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
City View: New Orleans Style Mixes It Up
Always ready for a party and a parade, this Louisiana city also counts history, varied cultures and a resilient spirit among its influences
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
We are continuing our cross-country city exploration, this week learning all about the very rich history of design in New Orleans. Personally I can say this is the only U.S. city I've visited that made me feel like I was in a different country because of its unique style, culture and attitudes. I've asked New Orleans design professionals to share:
This is true not only historically but also today, writes Brook Malec of CAIN Construction and Design: "New Orleans has been, and continues to be, a cultural crossroads. This is becoming more and more relevant on the design front as people bring with them a wealth of knowledge and ideas from all over the world. There is a huge demand for locally sourced materials and design resources. We also have resources such as The Green Project for sourcing materials. As designers, we now have the opportunity to combine the best of both trends by utilizing local talent to create new and imaginative spaces."
A mix of historic and modern-day influences, along with resilient residents who love to celebrate, continue to shape the city of New Orleans. "To me the beauty of New Orleans is the mix of different styles driven by location and use that make a great cityscape. It has been wonderfully preserved and has withstood hurricanes, fires and Mardi Gras," says Jones. Check out a range of New Orleans styles.
- Something that makes a design distinctly New Orleans
- A trend that is on the rise in New Orleans
- A misconception about design in New Orleans
This is true not only historically but also today, writes Brook Malec of CAIN Construction and Design: "New Orleans has been, and continues to be, a cultural crossroads. This is becoming more and more relevant on the design front as people bring with them a wealth of knowledge and ideas from all over the world. There is a huge demand for locally sourced materials and design resources. We also have resources such as The Green Project for sourcing materials. As designers, we now have the opportunity to combine the best of both trends by utilizing local talent to create new and imaginative spaces."
A mix of historic and modern-day influences, along with resilient residents who love to celebrate, continue to shape the city of New Orleans. "To me the beauty of New Orleans is the mix of different styles driven by location and use that make a great cityscape. It has been wonderfully preserved and has withstood hurricanes, fires and Mardi Gras," says Jones. Check out a range of New Orleans styles.
| For those of you who are lucky enough to have visited the Garden District in New Orleans, the first kind of house that may come to mind may be an Italianate Victorian like this one. Because of all of the ornate detailing, houses like this one are often referred to as wedding-cake houses. |
|
by Valorie Hart
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| In addition to the wealth of historic homes, one thing that makes New Orleans style unique is that "women in New Orleans spend more money on their houses than on their wardrobes," says Valorie Hart interior decorator, blogger and soon-to-be author (look for her book on interior design in 2013). A trend on the rise in New Orleans: "adding color and modern and vintage pieces to the mix of antiques and swamp palazzo," Hart says. |
|
by Valorie Hart
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The biggest misconception about New Orleans, Hart says, is "that it is all antebellum style or the Mardi Gras and jazz and bordello look. Design is very sophisticated in New Orleans, even more so in the continuing rebuilding process after Hurricane Katrina." That said, homes certainly transform dramatically during the weeks before Fat Tuesday. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
One of the styles most closely associated with New Orleans is the shotgun house. The unique footprint of the shotgun house grew out of an old New Orleans property tax structure that was based on a lot's street frontage. The long, narrow homes minimized street frontage, squeezing in the most house for the least amount of taxation.
Elizabeth Calogero and Marion Cage McCollam renovated this two-bay shotgun house in the Faubourg Bouligny section of uptown. It's a great example of mixing styles, reconfiguring old architecture for modern-day life and reusing material in New Orleans.
Elizabeth Calogero and Marion Cage McCollam renovated this two-bay shotgun house in the Faubourg Bouligny section of uptown. It's a great example of mixing styles, reconfiguring old architecture for modern-day life and reusing material in New Orleans.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
"We reconfigured the railroad-like floor plan by splitting the bedrooms and opening up the center of the house with a kitchen and living area," says Calogero. They moved the entrance from the front to the side of the house to improve the layout and flow.
The pair also gave old materials a new life in a way that mixed architectural styles. "To flood the living area with light, we installed double-hung cypress windows recycled from a St. Charles Avenue mansion," she says. "All of the doors inside and out were also recycled cypress, though they are not original to the house — vandals had stripped the house of those before we bought it," she says.
The pair also gave old materials a new life in a way that mixed architectural styles. "To flood the living area with light, we installed double-hung cypress windows recycled from a St. Charles Avenue mansion," she says. "All of the doors inside and out were also recycled cypress, though they are not original to the house — vandals had stripped the house of those before we bought it," she says.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| "As a New Orleans architect and interior designer, I do not consider my style typical of New Orleans," says Stephanie Adler of Adler Design Build. "But in the past many of my clients have motivated me to step out of my comfort zone and provide them with a design that is distinctly New Orleans," she says. "In this cabana I designed, the weathered wood combined with traditional elements in an outdoor setting is typical of this city. In this subtropical region, New Orleanians like to enjoy the outdoors with a cocktail and friends. We don't need an excuse to celebrate!" |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| "Old-world elements mingled with unexpected flair is distinctly New Orleans," says Adler. "Lanterns, chandeliers and wood paneling combined with antiqued paint finishes are typical of New Orleans. As in the Victorian era, it is not unusual to mix many different styles in one room of a New Orleans home." |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
"A trend that is on the rise is taking traditional elements and paring them down with modern finishes and less accessories," says Adler. "Recycling traditional details and using them in new ways is also a trend. Many folks lost all of their worldly possessions in Katrina, and it taught us all to live with less and to appreciate and celebrate life even more."
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
"The fabulous interior architectural elements of our many beautiful, grand old homes is distinctly New Orleans," says interior designer Karin Nelson of Nelson Wilson Interiors. "Nothing sets the stage for design quite like soaring 14-foot ceilings, intricate century-old plaster medallions and moldings, and beautiful marble mantels."
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| "New Orleans residential architecture is distinctive and unique in that it is a collection of various early styles that make up a wonderful cityscape," says architect Al Jones. "Different areas have different blends of styles with different features. The way the early founding fathers divided up and planned the city determined how the houses developed. Also, much of the urban design came out of necessity for the various trades in the city." |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
"The New Orleans courtyard house is all over the French Quarter," says Jones. "It appears to be a front sidewalk facade with entry doors off the sidewalk but explodes into magnificent gardens when you enter the house and its walled courtyards."
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| "New Orleans is blessed with a large stock of historic structures characterized by tall ceilings, exterior living spaces and detailed millwork, but what separates us from other historic Southern cities is the way in which we use our surroundings," says Brook Malec. "Here, design must be thought of in terms of social experiences. A porch is not just for chatting with the neighbors, it’s also for watching parades. Courtyards must easily transform from quiet retreats to lively settings for crawfish boils." |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| "In terms of interiors, it is about generations of New Orleanians creating comfortable environments that are both functional and beautiful, where homes reflect a certain level of eclectic sentimentality," says Malec. "It is not uncommon to proudly display your grandmother’s silver tea service alongside your collection of glitter-laden shoes from years of Muses parades. " |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
"Visitors who see only a small portion of the city may think that New Orleans design is antiquated. This couldn’t be further from the truth," states Malec. "In the last decade sustainable design has made huge strides, and designers have embraced that theory. Luckily, for the greater part of its existence, New Orleans has been incorporating several sustainable philosophies such as passive ventilation, locally sourced materials and walkability. Upon further exploration, one can find great examples of contemporary design throughout the city. When done well, the scale and design attributes of these buildings reflect a seamless integration with their historic setting."
|
by Workshop/apd
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Of course, a whole new architectural approach has happened post-Katrina, with so much of the housing stock ruined. Workshop/apd won the Global Green Sustainable Design Competition for New Orleans in 2006 with the team's plans for an entire block of the Holy Cross neighborhood in the Ninth Ward. Brad Pitt's Make It Right foundation's efforts to rebuild the community continue. Keep your eye on this historic city to see some of the most cutting-edge sustainable technology rising in the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. More: City View: Dallas Get the Look: Products With New Orleans Style Browse More New Orleans Homes |
Ideabook updated on July 1, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
Marie