New Orleans Dream House

Continuing my obsession with all things New Orleans, (it never really subsides but has been kicked into high gear after my trip this weekend) I had to share a dreamy little shotgun that is so adorable.

Built inside a South Carolina factory and shipped to its home in one of New Orleans’ historical neighborhoods, this shotgun cottage is the most popular building style in the Big Easy. Most shotgun houses are one room wide, and three to five rooms deep. Rarely do shotgun cottages have formal entries. This monochromatic parlor acts as a space for welcoming and entertaining guests. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases add a sense of history and accentuate the room’s 10-foot ceilings. A wall-mounted faucet pours onto a modern flat-surface sink, where the water spills into a surrounding channel. Tongue-and-groove paneling reinforces the casual nature of this open living space. Gas lanterns are a Big Easy icon. Square-back dining chairs combined with an antique bench around the dining table feel less formal than a complete set of matching chairs. An apron-front sink, bin pull hardware, and a beaded-board island are all iconic cottage elements. This unique pantry portal was a vintage door from an old New Orleans bank safe and is installed on a sliding track. Built-in cabinetry and convenient open shelving store bills and household paperwork. Designers Ann and Jane Dupuy used marine rope and grommets to attach a tailored canopy to the four-poster iron bed. A basic walk-in closet is transformed into a boudoir with patterned wallpaper on the walls and ceiling, a crystal chandelier, and an upholstered ottoman. Trimmed-out open shelves provide handy built-in storage in the laundry room. An ironing board cabinet is hidden behind a door, conveniently located when needed, and out of site when not in use. The multipurpose guest room and study is filled with rich accents such as a leather armchair, a pair of lacquered nesting tables, and ribbon trim on the pillows. A simple chest was transformed with a few coats of shiny black paint and a decoupage treatment. The lyrics to Johnny Cash’s “Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart” gives this bathroom a sense of humor. Head-to-toe pink walls, ceiling, and trim create a sweet space in this little girl’s bedroom. A little bit of formal architecture is introduced into this children’s room with a hand-painted medallion glued directly to the ceiling. The back wall of doors extends the living area to the porch. The substantial trim work above the doors adds height for a seamless transition to the tall ceilings inside. Enclosing the courtyard in a backdrop of deep shades of green sets a peaceful atmosphere. The furnishings pop against the soothing palette.