My Houzz: Eye Candy Colors Fill an 1800s New Orleans Victorian
Take your fill of teal and pink patent leather, shots of chartreuse and vibrant artwork spanning the rainbow
Vibrant color and playful personality shine throughout this 1800s New Orleans Victorian. Over the past five years, Kim and Ray Martin have filled their gorgeous three-story home with colorful local artwork, eclectic furniture and timeless heirlooms to suit their family of five.
With help from architect and designer Marie Palumbo, the couple renovated the kitchen, repurposed some rooms and revamped their backyard into an outdoor retreat, all without losing the home's original charm.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ray and Kim Martin and their 3 kids, dog Elvis, bird Crystal and cat Hemme
Location: Uptown New Orleans
Size: About 6,000 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, 2 half baths, plus a one-bedroom pool house
With help from architect and designer Marie Palumbo, the couple renovated the kitchen, repurposed some rooms and revamped their backyard into an outdoor retreat, all without losing the home's original charm.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ray and Kim Martin and their 3 kids, dog Elvis, bird Crystal and cat Hemme
Location: Uptown New Orleans
Size: About 6,000 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, 2 half baths, plus a one-bedroom pool house
Kim and Ray made sure the kitchen would have enough space for storage, entertaining and dining.
Chairs: Series 7 Barstool, Design Within Reach; artwork on back wall, center: Jennifer Hankings, Midnite Pottery
Chairs: Series 7 Barstool, Design Within Reach; artwork on back wall, center: Jennifer Hankings, Midnite Pottery
For extra storage, Palumbo designed a full pullout pantry with baskets — visible behind Crystal, the family's bird.
Palumbo also designed inset custom cabinets with exposed hinges and touch-close hardware. Kim rearranged a few appliances, moved the sink under a window, added a stainless steel laminate desk where the bar once was and moved the bar to the dining area. Milk glass tile and honed Carrara marble countertops now create a crisp, bright room.
Wall paint: Swiss Coffee OC-45, Benjamin Moore; chandelier: Ingrid Wide, Julie Neill; refrigerator, freezer: Sub-Zero and Wolf
Palumbo also designed inset custom cabinets with exposed hinges and touch-close hardware. Kim rearranged a few appliances, moved the sink under a window, added a stainless steel laminate desk where the bar once was and moved the bar to the dining area. Milk glass tile and honed Carrara marble countertops now create a crisp, bright room.
Wall paint: Swiss Coffee OC-45, Benjamin Moore; chandelier: Ingrid Wide, Julie Neill; refrigerator, freezer: Sub-Zero and Wolf
The kitchen leads into a colorful living room, connected to a sunroom through original French doors. The family considers their sunroom a bonus room, where built-ins and a plush sofa allow for reading and relaxing. Kim commissioned the playful children's portraits from local artist Sarah Ashley Longshore.
Colorful pillows from West Elm spruce up a solid white sectional in front of a third custom portrait. Traditional pocket doors on the right open up into the family's formal dining room.
The dining room is enclosed by original pocket doors and dressed in more traditional furniture and artwork. Mardi Gras beads hang loosely around an abstract painting of the French Quarter by James Michalopoulos.
Chandelier: Scarlett, Julie Neill
Chandelier: Scarlett, Julie Neill
This second living room, between the dining room and foyer, has bold art and furniture that's mostly from local artists and designers.
The Krewe of Muses, an all-female group in the annual Mardi Gras parade, traditionally throws personalized high heels into the crowds of onlookers. A few of these colorful keepsakes jazz up the mantel on one of the home's three fireplaces.
Artwork above mantel: David Harouni
The Krewe of Muses, an all-female group in the annual Mardi Gras parade, traditionally throws personalized high heels into the crowds of onlookers. A few of these colorful keepsakes jazz up the mantel on one of the home's three fireplaces.
Artwork above mantel: David Harouni
Artwork, creative accessories and large Victorian-style windows all face the foyer, giving the more formal living room a warm and inviting feel. Re-covered pink patent leather armchairs and an oversize candy painting, both from Sarah Ashley Longshore, brighten the room.
The first-floor guest bathroom off the foyer displays elegant wallpaper by designer Angèle Parlange. Part of the designer's Calling Card Collection, the wallpaper is inspired from calling cards passed down through generations of her family.
Accessories by Jonathan Adler and Tori Burch — and the family's Dalmation mix, Elvis — decorate the inviting foyer. All of the home's walls and trims were spruced up with a new paint color chosen by local colorist Louie Aubert.
Wall paint: Natural Wicker, Benjamin Moore; console table: Jonathan Adler; lamp: Eclectic Home; lucite “M” (on console): Tory Burch; portrait: Marion and Silber
Wall paint: Natural Wicker, Benjamin Moore; console table: Jonathan Adler; lamp: Eclectic Home; lucite “M” (on console): Tory Burch; portrait: Marion and Silber
Longshore's vibrant furniture and artwork fill many of the rooms, including this teal patent leather loveseat in the foyer. The original staircase, accessorized with two traditional portraits, leads to the second-floor bedrooms.
Portraits: Marion and Silber; artwork above sofa: “An Invisible Thread” and “Your Day Will Go,” by Sugarboo Designs
Portraits: Marion and Silber; artwork above sofa: “An Invisible Thread” and “Your Day Will Go,” by Sugarboo Designs
The original master bedroom and study were repurposed into two bedrooms for the kids.
Wall paint: Green Wave, Benjamin Moore; desk, bedding, nightstand: PBTeen; butterfly artwork: Sugarboo Designs
Wall paint: Green Wave, Benjamin Moore; desk, bedding, nightstand: PBTeen; butterfly artwork: Sugarboo Designs
Palumbo designed this custom built-in closet and dresser in one room, and then drew up a bathroom plan for the space where the original master closet was.
Once the study, this room now corrals cowboy-print fabrics, a vintage rocking horse and timeworn furniture for the youngest Martin.
Wall paint: Indian White, Benjamin Moore; twin beds: Red Door Antiques
Wall paint: Indian White, Benjamin Moore; twin beds: Red Door Antiques
Timeless heirlooms, like Ray’s mother’s desk, add subtle charm to the son's room. “I’m still sentimental to quite a few things, so I keep it and freshen it up with more contemporary things if it’s traditional,” says Kim. She uses a lot of bright colors and has a little more eclectic style.
Bunk bed: Camp-Twin-Over-Full Bunk Bed, Pottery Barn Kids; wall paint: Lady Finger, Benjamin Moore
Bunk bed: Camp-Twin-Over-Full Bunk Bed, Pottery Barn Kids; wall paint: Lady Finger, Benjamin Moore
The beige penny tile in the guest bathroom adds warmth to the bathroom's clean lines. The console table, originally from Mexico, was purchased in Mississippi. The vintage red chair traveled with the family from Minnesota.
Sink: Duravit; penny tile, floor tile: Stafford Tile and Stone; lights: Chandler sconce, Restoration Hardware; medicine cabinets: framed lit right- and left-opening, Restoration Hardware; wall paint: Lighthouse Landing, Benjamin Moore
Sink: Duravit; penny tile, floor tile: Stafford Tile and Stone; lights: Chandler sconce, Restoration Hardware; medicine cabinets: framed lit right- and left-opening, Restoration Hardware; wall paint: Lighthouse Landing, Benjamin Moore
Down the hall from the kids' rooms, the master bedroom showcases Kim's eclectic style. As in other parts of the house, the white linens and calming paint color create a platform for the artwork and bright pillows to stand out against.
Artwork at right: William Heard; bed: Drexel Heritage; wall paint: Old Prairie, Benjamin Moore; nightstand, lamps: World’s Away; chandelier: Julie Neill; drapes: custom
Artwork at right: William Heard; bed: Drexel Heritage; wall paint: Old Prairie, Benjamin Moore; nightstand, lamps: World’s Away; chandelier: Julie Neill; drapes: custom
Palumbo reconfigured the entire layout of the new master bath to make it seem like a natural extension of the bedroom.
Traditional art, a new layout and modern hardware gave the master bathroom an update while preserving the traditional details. Vertical marble walls enclose the shower. A custom vanity was made to look like a piece of furniture.
Tile: Stafford Tile and Stone
Tile: Stafford Tile and Stone
A wrought iron gate, with the look of a French balcony, protects the original bathroom windows.
Bathtub: Kohler; tile: Stafford Tile and Stone
Bathtub: Kohler; tile: Stafford Tile and Stone
The third story’s built-in twin beds, bookshelves and finished bathroom sealed the deal for both Kim and Ray. They added a drum set, a small puppet stand, colorful bedding, a television and a video game setup to create the perfect entertainment area for their family and guests.
Bedding: Orla Kiely; wall paint: Natural Wicker, Benjamin Moore
Bedding: Orla Kiely; wall paint: Natural Wicker, Benjamin Moore
Clean lines and modern hardware give this small bathroom a fresh look. A narrow staircase in the back of the house connects all three floors.
The guesthouse connects to the main house; it has an outdoor living space and dining area.
Pool design and build: Sedona Stone (now closed)
Pool design and build: Sedona Stone (now closed)
The Martins completely renovated the backyard, gutting everything but the palm tree. Palumbo reconstructed a once-outdoor kitchen into a one-bedroom suite with a bathroom.
Outdoor furniture: Restoration Hardware
Outdoor furniture: Restoration Hardware
A large front porch on the main house overlooks the neighborhood’s serene, tree-lined street.
Swing: The Mustard Seed Antique Emporium, Oxford, Mississippi
Swing: The Mustard Seed Antique Emporium, Oxford, Mississippi
The porch has a small circular tower and wraps around the front of the home. Large floor-to-ceiling windows face the neighborhood.
Exterior paint: Spring in Aspen; shutter paint: Brandon Beige, both by Benjamin Moore
Exterior paint: Spring in Aspen; shutter paint: Brandon Beige, both by Benjamin Moore
Much like the city of New Orleans itself, this 1800s Victorian home has a historic and traditional exterior, but a vibrant charm radiates behind the doors.
What's next for the Martins? Kim, shown here, would like to work one last time on her daughter's room. "I will probably redo it one more time for her [before] she gets into high school," she says.
See more photos of this house | Share your colorful home with us
See more photos of this house | Share your colorful home with us
Palumbo designed a ladder rail system for this custom floor-to-ceiling storage unit. The ladder can easily move to any section of the kitchen.
Chairs, table: Madeleine and Pedestal, Restoration Hardware; tile: Stafford Tile and Stone; art above fireplace: Michael Banks; ladder, rail: Alaco