My husband Ben, aka Mr. Slippersocksman, a history buff, gets links from “For Love of Old Houses” on Facebook. He is constantly showing me their latest house and most of the times, I say – “Wow, how nice!” just to appease him. But yesterday he warned me that I was “really going to love” this one. Seriously. And for once he was right.
Oh my.
It’s one of the older houses in New Orleans, built in the 1830s by Frank Masson, and located right in the heart of the French Quarter. The house is for sale and it includes all the original mantels, doors, and woodwork. The garconniere (only in a New Orleans’ real estate listing would they say garconniere – I LOVE NOLA!) is attached. In case you are wondering what it is - a garconniere is a “bachelor’s apartment” and it is a term used on a Louisiana plantation where it was custom to build a separate house for teenaged and single sons. Besides the bachelor’s apartment, there is the original servants’ quarters, now used as a party room. Surprisingly, there is also now an elevator! Outside, there are two gardens in the courtyard. On the real estate listing, it says there are two other properties up for discussion, but no mention is made of them.
I have been working on writing the Aidan Gray #AGwithanedge Contest blog – which is taking longer than I thought it would, so I thought I would just quickly post these photos of this wonderful house to share them with you, but then…I found older photos of the house….and its previous décor… and as usual it became a much bigger and better story.
Enjoy!
Here is the beautiful house, freshly painted on Burgundy Street. It’s a sort of piano nobile design. The front door is through a covered walkway or Porte cochere seen at the right of the two bottom windows.
Here is an earlier view of the house years before it was restored.
In 1838, the house, located at 1124 Burgundy, was described as a 3 1/2 story, brick and stucco townhouse, with an attached service building. There were “square headed openings, a Porte cochere entrance, Federal style dormers, and simple wrought iron balcony railings.
Further it was said to be 25.6 wide, with 2 large parlors, hall and pantry in basement, 3 large rooms, closet, bath-house, hall on the 1st floor and on the second floor; 6 servant rooms, ironing room, washing room, kitchen, cellar, and coal room, and a coach house with large room above.
Today the coach house with the large room above is used as a party room. The original kitchen remains and is used as the party room kitchen.
Another early photograph of the house, looking rather empty and lonely.
The Saints! Here, the house has been restored.
Here is a rather bad aerial photograph showing the 4 story house, with the attached bachelor wing behind the main house and further back is the yellow party house/servants' house. The front is where the yellow arrow is.
The red arrow shows the next door neighbor’s house. One story, it is two buildings with a courtyard between them. The back building actually juts out into the neighbor’s courtyard and is a big presence in their lot as you will see.
Actually, both houses are owned by the same people and both are currently for sale.
Here are the original floor plans of the house! Amazingly, the layout of the house is still very much the same today. This shows the first floor – with the Porte cochere and front hall. At front is the parlor facing the street, then the dining room, which today is the small parlor, then the entry hall and stairs. Attached is the bachelor’s wing with the kitchen and bath. And out back is the carriage house which was also the servant’s quarters and is now the party house.
And the original plans for the second floor. Today, at front is the dining room and breakfast room, with the new kitchen is between the breakfast room and another sitting room across from the stairs. There are a few small bedrooms in the bachelor quarters.
In 2011, the Wall Street Journal featured this a long story about this very house which was for sale in New Orleans. It was then owned by hoteliers who used the house as a second home. They had purchased the house in 1997 for $700,000 which gave them a place to stay while keeping an eye on one of their businesses, the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel located in the warehouse district.
The hoteliers told the WSJ that they had spent six years restoring the house on Burgundy Street, first doing the work themselves, then contracting it out in the later years. Originally there was just the one small original kitchen located in the bachelor’s wing, so they added the larger, new kitchen on the second floor. The owners said the house had three bedrooms with 6.5 bathrooms and 5900 sq. ft. Today, the house is described as having 4 bedrooms and 4.2 baths.
The owners told the Wall Street Journal that they had matched all the new hardware to the original parts and they had bought antique chandeliers for the numerous parlors. All was wonderful, until their adult daughter, an artist, became ill with Multiple Sclerosis. Today, their daughter is bedridden and blind, but still manages to create art! The owners took over her care and they all moved to Baton Rouge, which is why they put the house up for sale. An architect rented out the former servants quarters to watch over the house while they were in Baton Rouge. (OR….did he actually rent out the neighboring house that they also owned??????? Inquiring minds….)
In the WSJ in 2011, they said their decision to sell was because the house needed someone to be there all the time to maintain it. They listed it for 2.8 million.
What is interesting is that today, the house is again for sale, six years later, and the same couple own it today as they did back then. They relisted the house for just 2,650,000. I assume they pulled it off the market all those years ago.
The Wall Street Journal’s photos are a nice addition, because some are better at showing the unusual layout of the house and its gardens.
And, there have been some interesting décor changes in the past six years.
The front door opens to the Porte cochere – you walk down the enclosed path to the front door located in the inner courtyard. Notice that tiny yellow house to the right? Yes. That is available too. Laters…!!!
2011: This view shows the courtyard at the Porte cochere entrance. Here is the bachelor’s wing on the left and the servants quarters at the rear. To the right is the next door house – the back portion of the tiny yellow home.
This shows the unusual layout. The house is in yellow. The main house and the bachelor house, then the servant’s house are shown. I tried to write “fountain” – but it’s impossible to write using a Mouse!!!! A fountain is attached to the back of the neighbor’s house. You can see the courtyard goes all the way to the back of the servant’s house and is like a Secret Garden. Between the two houses is a fancy wood gate that leads to the third house, next to the neighbor’s house. Actually, the hoteliers apparently own all three properties, but I don’t think the third is for sale anymore.
2017: At the left is the door that leads into the entry. And here are the two small windows where the original kitchen is. Just wait!!!!
The First Floor in the Main House:
2017: The entry hall into the house. The front door is at the right which leads to the Porte cochere. The second door leads to the courtyard.
In the original, front house, there are two main rooms on the ground floor – the Small Parlor and the Front Parlor, seen below:
2017: The Small Parlor. The large, paned window overlooks the Porte cochere walkway. Those curtains! The entry stair hall is seen through the double French doors with its original transom. Notice the antique French chandelier. I assume one of the two girls in the painting is their daughter who is the artist that they are helping to care for.
2017: The view from the Small Parlor towards the Front Parlor. That cabinet is beautiful.
2011: Six years ago, the Small Parlor wasn’t as furnished as it is today. No rug, no piano, no chairs. But the curtains and the chandelier are there, as is the original mantel.
2017: The Front Parlor. This overlooks the entry Porte-cochere and the street, Burgundy. I love this chandelier. And the curtains are just gorgeous – so “New Orleans.
There are no photos of this room from 2011.
The Second Floor in the Front House:
2017: Upstairs on the second floor, this sitting room overlooks the back courtyard. The stair hall is seen through the doorway.
2017: The second floor sitting room, another view.
2011: The same room with different furniture. OK. That armoire needs to be moved to the other side of the fireplace! The room would be better balanced then. Now, there is too much weight on the left side of the room.
Notice the door on the right, that is the new kitchen! And, also notice the art work, you will see this again later.
2017: That sitting room, seen through these two French doors, overlooks the courtyard and the bachelor wing. Below, you can see the tall iron gates at the Porte-cochere.
2011: Notice that this is a different view of the same area – instead of the second floor, this is the third floor. The second floor study is seen on that lower, left, level. Up the stairs is the master bedroom located on the third floor.
2011: The 2011 real estate brochure showed the second floor stair hall. Notice the peeling stucco walls with the brick underneath. This is soooo New Orleans and is huge part of its charm. Through the closed door is the bachelor’s wing and the sitting room is through the large opening.
2017: The second floor stair landing leads to the dining room through this hall. On the other side of this wall is the new kitchen. The dining room overlooks the street, Burgundy.
2017: The dining room. This chandelier is gorgeous!!!! Behind the dining room is the second floor landing and hall and through the doorway on the right is the breakfast room. Antique Oriental rugs.
2011: Beautiful. Dying. I want this house!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rush rug, no Oriental rug, yet. Beautiful antique mirror.
2017: The breakfast room with a corner banquette and antique wine tasting table and chairs. Gorgeous trumeau!! All these French antiques are making me weak in the knees. ??Mid-century modern – WHO CARES?!?!?
2017: The new kitchen with a center table. The kitchen is between the breakfast room and sitting room.
2017: The view into the sitting room. Those floors! I swear. I want to move here. I just need a few million $$$$. Anyone care to help out an old friend?
2011: The same view, not much changed from six years ago, except the sitting room furniture.
The Third Floor in the Main House:
Upstairs. On the third floor is the master bedroom, which overlooks the courtyard. Notice the French chaise longue at the end of the bed!!
2011: Both bedroom decors are pretty!
2017: The Mrs. closet. Yes, with a day bed and chinoiserie chair. This overlooks the street. The daybed is a cute idea for when the owners become grandparents, it is perfect for naps and sleepovers.
2017: The white marble Mrs. bathroom connects to her closet. Love the view of downtown.
2017: Mister’s bathroom has a fireplace in it. Vanity sink in antique chest. One day, I am going to have a house with a fireplace in the dining room AND the bathroom!! So romantic.
2017: The third floor landing. More peeling stucco. Through the door is the bachelor wing.
The Fourth Floor in the Main House:
2017: The fourth floor is a loft.
2017: Another view. Notice that ottoman – you will see it again.
2011: Without all the beds, the loft looks better - not as cluttered. French day bed in blue and white ticking. Another vote for the 2011 décor!
2017: The bathroom.
The Bachelor’s Wing:
2017. The bachelor’s wing overlooks the courtyard. It looks like there is a nice new slate roof on the neighbor’s house.
2017: In the bachelor’s wing, there is a guest bedroom and bathroom. Original doors and shutters overlook the courtyard.
2017: The newly restored bathroom in the bachelor’s wing.
2011: Again, looking back toward the servant’s quarters/party house. The original kitchen is to the left. The neighbor’s house is on the right.
The Servants’ Quarters:
2017: The servants’ quarters/party house. There is a large garden with a fountain behind this house. The blue shutters are so pretty.
2017: Inside the servant’s quarters – with brick floors and wood staircase. Beautiful windows.
2017: Servant’s quarters. These windows overlook the gardens and fountain. Notice the rafters and how tall the ceiling is.
2011: A bit different. More lived in. The architect rented this to keep an eye on the house while the owners were away.
2011: A bit messier. Notice he took the armoire door off!
2011: This earlier view explains layout of the back garden and fountain a bit better. The servants quarters is painted yellow with blue shutters. The fountain is on the back wall the neighbor’s house- which juts out into the courtyard. You can see the main house behind the fountain. Later, the owners added patio furniture to this area in front of the servants’ quarters window.
2017: Here, you can see the new patio furniture they added and this is a better view of the fountain on the back wall of the neighbor’s house.
The back courtyards in the French Quarter are so strangely laid out because of the limited size of the area and the age.
That brown garden door leads to the third house – which are all owned by the hoteliers, apparently, allegedly.
2017: And further back, behind the servants’ quarters is the second garden.
2017: The table set up outside the original kitchen in the bachelor wing.
2017: And here it is! Not sure why they needed a brand new, second kitchen !!!! This one is perfect, but a bit far away I suppose. This is the REAL thing, not a fake made-to-look like an old kitchen.
2011: Another view.
View of downtown from the top of the house.
Look at the real estate listing HERE.
And, now, do you want to see the next door house that sticks out in the courtyard?
This 1825 house is described as two cottages although it is only one bedroom. It is right next door to the previous house and is owned by same couple, the hoteliers. Both properties are now for sale. This tiny house has been restored and all the original millwork, hardware and mantel were all kept. The furnishings can be purchased, but not the art work.
This is a tiny jewel – and apparently, it’s the first time it’s been listed in over 50 years!
Here, the front gate opens to the house and courtyard. The bedroom is on the other side of the courtyard. The hoteliers’ other house is across the brick wall on the right while the third one is to the brick wall on the left.
The house is for sale for $740,000 HERE. It’s only one bedroom/bath though.
The living room faces the street. Notice the wood ceiling! And notice the bench? It’s from the house next door’s attic loft! Remember it?!!
Isn’t this room elegant? I love it!!! I would love to furnish it in my own way and make it MINE! lol.
Close up of the original mantel. Notice the art work on the mantel? It was in the other house’s second floor sitting room over the fireplace.
The dining room. Love the floors and ceiling. Fabulous. Love the furniture. The chandeliers are not quite as nice as the ones next door though. Those are beyond gorgeous. Notice the original hinges on the doors.OK – if I owned this (I’m getting delusional here, I know, but it’s so much fun to imagine!) I would make this more of a library/sitting room/dining room. I would put in a small gateleg or wine tasting table that would double as a dining table. I would add shelves and comfortable club chairs, and a gorgeous antique crystal chandelier.
The kitchen and bathroom both face the courtyard. This has been restored with a new oven, stone countertops, paint and subway tile. Simple but much better.
White subway tile is a classic and usually the best choice, in my opinion. So much better than all the new ridiculous tiles that people choose, just to be different. I don’t understand it at all. Why mess up a classic?
Maria Killam wrote the BEST blog about tiles HERE. READ IT!!!
Before: The renovation was simple, but perfect. They should have gotten a new refrigerator, but they didn’t realize I was buying this house!!!!
Another view of the courtyard, with a view of the bedroom house.
Across from the courtyard is the bedroom. How romantic! Fireplace. Painted floors. Great ceiling.
This is the building that sticks out into the hoteliers’ courtyard.
Another view.
I would make this more of a bed/sitting room, adding a small sofa with chairs. I would get rid of that bench and put the small sofa there and float the chairs in front of it. I think I would add a custom cut seagrass. This rug is too small and it cuts off the room which needs valuable space. I would probably add shelves and cabinets on each side of the fireplace. And add a huge antique chandelier.
The renovated bathroom. Good enough for me. Sign me up!!!
Seriously, for $740,000 – if you visit New Orleans a lot for work or pleasure – buy this and rent it out on Air BNB during Mardi Gras. You could break even. Hmmm. Add a tiny pool in the courtyard! This is a jewel waiting to be faceted! What?!?!? I’m tired I think!
I tried to find a current listing to the third property, but to no avail. Oh well! Maybe another time!!Hope you have enjoyed this quick visit to NOLA!
A few cute sales for the summer:
Vintage Chanel Sale! HERE
MIRRORS ON SALE! HERECUTE LIGHT FIXTURES!! HERE
