This 1800s New Orleans Townhouse Has Its Own French Quarter-Inspired Bar
On the list of dream work assignments, the one that New Orleans designer Chad Graci undertook for a recent project in the French Quarter ranks pretty high: The mid-19th-century house had been purchased by a Dallas-based couple as a Big Easy pied-à-terre, a place to entertain while in town. "The husband's one request was that we design a spot where he could make cocktails for his friends, so we decided to turn the old guest house into a fabulous, residential version of a New Orleans bar," recalls Graci.
So, in the name of research, he set out to "study" the city's most storied establishments: "A friend and I had drinks at R’evolution, Brennan’s, Arnaud’s French 75 and then ended up at Galatoire's for dinner—all in one night!" he recalls. "It was a very good time, to say the least."
The resulting space, with its antique mercury mirror wall, Victorian beaded chandelier, and custom iron etageres stacked high with cocktail glasses, is a perfect encapsulation of the house as a whole: "Glamour with a little bit of grit," as Graci puts it.
That patinated flavor imbues every room, with Graci leaving many of the original features untouched. In the salon, where parts of the plaster had peeled from the walls to reveal the brick underneath, Graci simply cleaned up the edges and re-pointed the brick; in a guest room, the old truss system was left exposed, but updated with a coat of paint. A trip to the attic, filled with a mishmash of furnishings left by previous owners, resulted in treasures like the portrait that now hangs over the mantle in the salon, a Victorian cocktail table, and the bar's beaded chandelier.
Even the palette oozes local flair. "Somehow, the dining room color story ended up being a subtle nod to both LSU and Mardi Gras," says Graci in regards to the purple-and-green Chinese Art Deco rug and sumptuous gold taffeta curtains. Luckily, the clients—and Graci himself—were all devoted Tigers fans. "It was unintentional, but it gave us a laugh!"
Entry
Brightening up a long, dark hallway required some light-boosting tricks—namely, painting on high-gloss finishes (the front door was lacquered in Farrow & Ball's Mahogany) and restoring an oversized antique floor mirror. Pendant: Mac Maison, Ltd. Vase: Global Views.
Parlor
The portrait hanging over the fireplace was actually found in the attic of the house. "We have no idea who he is!" laughs Graci. Banquette: Hickory Chair with Samuel & Sons trim, pillows in a Schumacher leopard print. Mirror: Crown and Colony Antiques. Lamp: Fireside Antiques. Sofa: Hickory Chair in Schumacher velvet with pillows in Rose Tarlow (blue) and Scalamandré (tiger-print) fabrics. Coffee table: Uptowner Antiques. Rug: Stark. Chandelier: Karla Katz Antiques.
Multicolored seat cushions aren't just pretty—they camouflage spills from cocktail parties. Chairs: Hickory Chair. Garden stool: Legend of Asia. Picture lights and lamps: Robert Abbey. Paint: Greenbrier Beige by Benjamin Moore. Wallcovering: GSD Japan.
Dining Room
"These people like to have fun, so we didn't want want to make the dining room too stuffy and formal," says Graci, who set a "quirky-glam" tone with Schumacher tiger-upholstered lucite chairs, a sculptural Visual Comfort chandelier, and glimmering gold Cowtan & Tout wallcovering on the ceiling. Cabinet: Kenny Ball Antiques. Table and chairs: clients' own. Paint: Sagebrush by Benjamin Moore.
Bar
The Victorian beaded chandelier—another attic find—sets the stage for the Old New Orleans-style entertaining hub. Bar stools: RH. Paint: Nicholson Red by Benjamin Moore.
Powder Room
A vintage chinoiserie lacquer mirror appears to float on top of the powder room's antique-mirror wall. The secret? "We cut a hole in the wall so we could attach the mirror on top—that way, you can't see any hanging mechanism," says Graci. Hand towel: Leontine Linens. Wallcovering: Twigs. Faucet: Waterworks.
Guest Room
An attic-space-turned-cozy-bedroom still features the house's original cypress wood trusses. "A lot of these old New Orleans houses used cypress as a building material—it resists rot and is impervious to termites," explains Graci. Bed and linens: Serena & Lily. Mirror and bench: Ballard Designs. Nightstands: antique. Lamps: Bungalow 5.
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