Design Inspirations · April 21, 2024

A Former President Lived in This 1799 Building—Now It’s All Plaster and Mirrors

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When yous walk through a historic metropolis similar New Orleans, at that place’s rattling obvious beauty inward the storied architecture. What was once the dwelling house of a long-gone politico may forthwith menage a shop or café filled alongside regulars greeting each other. But at that place’sec also hidden beauty inward these spaces, known solely past the people who painstakingly refresh as well as restore them. 

mirrored staircase in new orleans krewe store

For eyewear brand Krewe, founder Stirling Barrett uncovered the magic inwards its latest New Orleans flagship, the appropriately named Maison de Krewe. “The edifice told its floor throughout the renovation procedure,” he says. “As the go progressed, master copy colors too blueprint details continued to be unveiled.”

Room with alligator tapestry and two blue accent chairs

Exterior of Maison de Krewe in New Orleans

And at that place were many, considering that the belongings dates dorsum to 1799 too was in one case the home of twelfth U.S. President Zachary Taylor. While the outside stayed the exact same—“Within New Orleans, in addition to the French Quarter inwards detail, in that location are institutions inwards home to protect the historical integrity of the surface area,” says Barrett—existing pattern elements (doors, railings, shutters, in addition to windows) got a refresh. 

before photo of doorway between rooms
The doorway between rooms on the minute flooring, before.
After photo of entry between rooms

But the instant that turns a elementary shopping terminate into an experience happens when y’all walk up the master copy spiral staircase, surrounded by mirrored panels, between the first together with instant floors. “The mod-feeling outset floor was intentionally designed to juxtapose the very historic atmosphere of the urban center,” he says. “I wanted people to feel the shift equally they exited the street too stepped into this fresh, mod space.” 

Before photo of old fireplace
The original fireplace as well as mirror before renovation.

Krewe Store in New Orleans with green walls

The shift is certainly palpable, alongside white walls, marble countertops, in addition to constitute-filled nooks. “We sought inspiration from the building’s history together with the ornate nature of that time,” Barrett says. Case inwards indicate: the original greenish-washed walls, which fade to white inward an adjoining room. To continue it modernistic, though, Barrett added a curved bouclé sofa, a checkerboard carpet, as well as a black Kartell Pilastro stool. And in classic New Orleans style, visitors tin can peek out the balconies, both street- in addition to courtyard-facing.

before image of rundown courtyard in new orleans
The courtyard, pre-renovation.
Pristine courtyard in New Orleans

While the uncovering of the master copy plaster walls may have been a highlight, at that place were plenty of obstacles to address in bringing the 200-year-quondam infinite upwards to speed. “The space was in total disrepair when nosotros beginning plant it, but so clearly had amazing bones,” Barrett says. “I was specially drawn to all the natural lite.” And when you lot see, you tin can follow that abundant glow through the showtime floor—it leads to an open courtyard garden inwards the dorsum that serves every bit an idyllic space to have a interruption from the crowded streets together with set your novel shades to the test.