Street Walking

Don't you just love to walk around your city or town and look at the Christmas windows?
My friend Gail Watson in New York sent me these photos of Bergdorf's windows, which she thought were bringing window display design back to refinement. Go HERE to the fabulous blog of The Paris Apartment to see a wonderful collection of photos of the Bergdorf Goodman windows.
All this beauty put me in the mood to do a little street walking.
So I sashayed up and down Magazine Street here in New Orleans the other day. The warm weather is back with the temperature reaching a near record high. Still I was feeling festive.
My first stop is Julie Neill. Julie's signature image is the crown. I haven't asked her why this is so, so maybe she'll leave a comment and tell us.
This holiday display shows all kinds of crowns! I'm sure you could find just the right one.

Everybody in New Orleans has a little altar in their home. It's not really religious or voo-doo (which is Voudon and a recognized religion here), but rather a collection of good luck objects, a gris- gris altar.
I love this one in Julie Neill's store - I call it Mary and her back up singers. I spy some crystal finials in the bowl with the shells. Large Mary is $35. Each back up Mary is $25.
A little silver tree glistens in the window, flanked by two stunning lamps using a silver coral form. Lamps are around $200. each. Don't you love the hand painted table top. Julie Neill has a great line of hand painted furniture.
The table is set with white pottery from Italy, featuring a Fleur di Lis, which is the symbol of New Orleans. The new Julie Neill design of the metal drum shade over a chandelier is one of a zillion beautiful lighting fixtures in this shop.
Don't you just love this pale palette? The silver tea light candles on the plate look like pastries!
A study in texture at Julie Neill. Even the pastel Christmas balls have glitter crowns on them.
Julie Neill's signature colors are pale, but she has a grand collection of things in deep jewel tones. I love the lush curtains in her store.
Walking a few blocks more, I came upon Top Drawer Antiques. Aaron Jarabica is the lovely owner and his windows are filled with hundreds of vintage dolls that he recently acquired from the estate of a major doll collector.
What could be more Christmasy than a gift of a doll? The dolls from the countries of the world are $75.
Madame Alexander dolls range from $80.- $150. depending on size. There are baby dolls of every description. If you're a doll collector it would be worthwhile to get in contact with him. And right now there is a sale of 25% off. I have never seen such an impressive collection (and in the original boxes too)!
Switching gears to something super glam, I stop in at Hazelnut.
Hazelnut is chockful of great things all year around.
But holiday time is super glam. Just peek through the front door at all that eye candy!
Co-owner Tom Cianfichi dreamt up the Christmas windows a year ago: LOVE and PEACE.
He is so sweet and good looking! Sigh. And he is so humble about the major talent that he is.
The windows he designed are just spectacular! I think they are the smartest windows in town.
Two women were talking while I was snapping photos, and one said the windows reminded her of the Hippie Holiday windows at Barney's in New York, and the other one said that she thought that Tom's were better!
It's the 50th anniversary of the peace symbol, and I think Eddie Ross would love the one Tom fashioned for his eye popping display.
The little penguins make a plea to save their pole.
Moseying down the street to another wonderful place on Magazine Street is the gallery of Ashley Longshore.
She's a painter and I love her painting of a Christmas tree out front.

Her pop art paintings are fabulous, and she even did some special Christmas subjects.
But this is my favorite Santa! Lots of houses in New Orleans have these, but I have not found out where they sell them. I would love to have one!
As I walked along, I just had to take a picture of this gas station sign to record the cheap price of gas! It is down to $1.44 today! It seems like a good thing, but for the state of Louisiana it's not that hot. This state produces oil, and the price of oil is way down. Just recently Congress finally granted royalties on oil production to this poor state, and now they're pretty much worthless, and the state's budget is in a shambles since it counted on those royalties. But for us real folks, filling up the tank is a pleasure!
There are a ton of doggie daycare places doing a brisk business. Is this the future business for all of us out of work interior designers?
I couldn't resit snapping a couple of photos through the front window of this place.
I wanted to bring Cholo here so he could play with other dogs, but they won't accept him because he isn't neutered. I would like for him to sire some puppies, more than going to daycare ha ha.
This jewelry store, Kathy Beh, has one of the most fun decorations.
It reminds of Cartier in New York.
Now I'm nearly home, and I stop in to say hello to Caroline and Jack at Perch. They did up a huge live tree in their center hall. I like the way the Sputnik chandilier looks like a tree topper!
Another wreath for Eddie Ross! This would take a ginormous wire hanger! Has anyone of you actually made Eddie's wreath yet? This beauty at Perch looks lovely hanging on the antique doors.
I like this little tree in this little hallway - the Kartell chair is to die for.
These desk top smalls are so pretty at Perch.
And this stack of kiddie Kartell chairs looks like candy!!!
Perch has a new line from a fantastic Canadian potter named Laura McKibbon, AND the pieces are very affordable, starting at $33.
I love the way they look displayed on two demi lune tables ($950. each) pushed together to make one table.
This mirror at Perch is just spectacular!
And the chorus line of white pointsettias couldn't be prettier.
Unless of course you saw this bevy of white reindeer! How cute is this grouping?!
And of course I love this holiday (or any day!) red couch at Perch. And isn't the linen covered bench just too perfect?!
The couch at Perch reminds me of a Ruthie Sommers couch.
So that's it for now. I hope you enjoyed street walking with me. Ta ta for now!
PS My cold hit the road too, and I'm ready for this week's festivites! Thanks for all your get well wishes. They did the trick!

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Kellie and Marc

Today I have the great pleasure to bring you a very special reader's home. She has been coming to perch. in New Orleans for design ideas, and over the last couple of years has become very dear to us.

A wing chair now in Kellie's house next to an antique armoire
Fabric from perch. - Note the matching dog bed!

I met Kellie when I first started working at perch. I liked her right away, liked the choices she made in the shop. We struck up a friendship. Sometimes she brought her husband Marc with her, who is adorable.

The wing chair then - cute, but Kellie made it cuter!

Kellie loves to decorate, though she is not one aspiring to be a designer or a decorator. Her Mom has always done interesting serial home renovating and decorating, and Kellie can't remember a time some craft project was happening in her house.

Kellie is one of four girls. She was fortunate enough to grow up in a home where her mom was constantly redesigning, redecorating and rearranging. All four of the “girls” have the decorating bug, although they all have different styles.

Kellie says, "Maybe it’s genetic!?! When my mom was ready for a change, she went for it. One time mom decided she didn’t like the location of her kitchen. She called the plumber, electrician, painter, and carpenter and had them move her kitchen to an entirely different part of the house. The funny thing is…nobody flinched…not Dad, not my sisters. We were used to the constant projects and upgrades".

Bright green paint and a gas lantern are touches added by Kellie and Marc

The house is a new build in Greta, Louisiana, just on the other side of the Mississippi River from perch. It is adorable, and looks like it has been there for a hundred years.

Kellie and Marc purchased the house in August of 2004. Initially, Marc did not like the house at all and did not want to buy it. Admittedly, it wasn’t too spectacular. It needed some help but Kellie knew she could make the house a beautiful home. Also, she loved the neighborhood and loved the fact that they could walk to church, the post office, bank, coffee shop, florist, etc.

Kellie's design books

Kellie loves design books, and magazines, and blogs, and she is well versed in what's happening in the design world. She knows how to use trends, and make them her own long lasting classics.
Her style is decidedly feminine, what's she calls as girly.

Kellie tells us, "Marc’s and my home is in a constant state of change. In the six years we have been in the house we have added a sun room, added a fireplace, re-did the kitchen, painted each room a godzillion times, and added and subtracted furniture and art. The den has been four different colors. Thank god my husband’s patient!"

Basket of shoes by the side door

What inspires Kellie's decor choices? She tells us, "I am definitely feminine and girly—maybe from growing up in a house full of girls. I like soft pastel-ly colors and lots of whites. I always lean toward soft pinks and lavenders. My husband is pretty laid back about my girlie-ness and decorating and takes it all in stride. His only request was that we not have a pink bedroom. So I painted our bedroom a color called Lily Lavender! I try to have an eclectic assortment of furniture. I don’t want to be too matchy-matchy. My furniture ranges from mid-century to antique French to contemporary. And I love, love, love buying art!"

Marc is perfectly at ease with Kellie's choices, and loves how pretty she has made their home.

Kellie and Marc

Marc is in the military, and has been deployed overseas for a year. He is home for a small leave for a week or so, and Kellie is anxious to show him some of the changes she's made while he has been away.

Marc is a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army. He is an infantry soldier and has spent the past six months serving in Iraq. Marc knows that anytime he leaves for a deployment he will be coming home to an “updated” and changed house. Working on the house keeps Kellie occupied, and keeps her mind off of the realities of his job.

Detail of antique armoire doors

Kellie is a methodical decorator. She knows what she wants, and she saves up her cash for it. She works hard, and she shops wisely. She loves to mix vintage and antique and contemporary things, using a pale color palette of blues, whites, grays, lavender, and pink.

Detail of antique armoire

There is a pooch in the house named Toulouse, so everything is dog friendly. Toulouse is affectionately called Lucy, and was found walking the streets of Houston.

Lucy

She was homeless and they took her in. Kellie says, "I didn’t want a dog but Marc loved her so much that I caved."

Lucy has been a great dog and takes good care of Kellie while Marc is away. They assume Lucy is about 7 years old although they aren’t quite sure.


Kellie shops at perch. , and at other stores on Magazine Street. She supports local businesses as much as possible. She also is a savvy internet shopper.

She loves high end luxury things as well as anyone, but if her budget does allow for them, she scales down and uses one or two really nice things mixed in.

The living room
Kravet linen covered sofa - a definite investment and splurge
Synthetic Antelope area rug is very affordable
All of these pieces including fabric for pillows
and white lacquer coffee table are from perch.
Pink chair is vintage


Kellie's sister made the pillows

Vintage trim on pillow from perch.

Papier mache antelope head over fireplace - Stray Dog from perch.

Vintage pink chair

Right after Katrina, Kellie bought three Julie Neill chandeliers. She saved up for them and bought them one at a time. The prices were more reasonable then, though certainly not bargain basement.

Dining room chandelier then

Recently Kellie wanted to change her dining room chandelier, to coordinate with a Julie Neill fixture in her open floor plan kitchen/dining area/ living room. She had a modern one that ended up HERE

The two different chandeliers really work!

We searched long and hard for her, and realized that matching the kitchen fixture would be impossible, and that two different chandeliers could coexist, and be quite interesting and beautiful.

The dining room chandelier now

We considered many possibilities, but came back to a classic Swedish/French style wood turned chandelier. The only problem was the cost. Another Julie Neill chandelier was not doable.

The candle chandelier was wired for electricity
Antique Swedish dining table from perch.

I found a candle chandelier at Tommys Flower Shop in the French Quarter (933 Rue Royal, New Orleans, LA 70116, phone - 504-522-6563), and we had our perch. electrician wire it up.

The best part is that the cost was only $465. total! Compared to the starting cost in the $2000. range for a chandelier style like this we were pleased and Kellie was thrilled.

Kellie's grandmother's china

Kellie has some lovely china from her grandmother, and she mixes in vintage silverware and lovely monogrammed linen napkins when she sets the table.

Hem stitch linen napkin and vintage silverware

Dining room

Marc and Kellie had the kitchen redone. It has a small footprint, so they were able to use the luxury items they wanted: stone counter tops, farm house sink, stainless appliances, Carera subway tile black splash, and the drum style Julie Neill chandelier.

Carera marble subway tiles

The kitchen has a great mix

Each of the three bedrooms in the home are unique and beautiful.

The front bedroom has a French daybed, an antique tall clock, a zebra print hide on the floor, and a Lucite desk with a seat belt chair.

Seat belt chair from perch. paired with a Lucite desk

The white linen drapes with the wide black border were made by Kellie's sister. The chandelier is Julie Neill.

Antique daybed and Julie Neill chandelier in the office

Antique case clock in the bedroom that doubles as an office

The guest bedroom is all vintage from the charming painted bed and dresser, to the lamps and the chandelier.

Vintage painted bed in the guest room

The silk drapes were made by Kellie's sister, and the hand made return rod came from perch. The mirror night stands are from Pottery Barn.

Kellie got one king sham from Leontine Linens for the guest room
She said they were so nice to her to suggest this as a way to have a little luxury

It's no secret that Leontine Linens has beautiful and pricey things. So Kellie just got one king size monogrammed pillow sham for her guest bed. Just that one thing makes the bed look luxe.

Vintage painted dresser in guest room
Metal antlers from perch.

The lavender master bedroom has the third Julie Neill chandelier.

Kellie and Marc and I have been married for 7 years. They are a great match!

She says, "I’m a high-strung lunatic and he is cool, calm and laid-back. I am fortunate that my husband lets me do my thing with the house. He never balks at my girlie decorating or my constant projects. He is definitely secure in his masculinity. I think it’s great that my combat soldier of a husband sleeps in a Lily Lavender bedroom."

The Lily Lavender master bedroom

There are vintage side tables and chairs, and a fabulous Barbara Barry vanity with a Kartell Victoria Ghost chair and an antique trumeau mirror above it.

Barbara Barry vanity

Kartell Victoria Ghost chair

Side table in master bedroom

Silk drapes in master bedroom

The enclosed back porch (sun room) is adorable, with a French settee covered in pink on one side of the room, and a pair of sleek white Barcelona chairs on the other.

White drapes and a pink settee on the back porch

Heavily lined white duck drapes are very elegant and help keep the room cool in the Summer and warm in the winter.

White Barcelona chairs on the back porch


White Barcelona chairs on back porch


Lady paintings on the porch

Sweet blue shed in the back yard

The art collection interweaves a story throughout the entire house. Kellie and Marc collect local artists, and what they love. It is colorful and whimsical.

Side hall art gallery

The lady painting collection is impressive, and Kellie is always looking for another pretty lady to add to the bevy of beauties that grace her walls.

Vintage lady paintings

Vintage lady paintings

Vintage lady paintings

So there you have it! Kellie and Marc and their pretty little house. I hope it inspires you and that you had as much fun looking at all the photos as I had taking them.

Doll house in the office

Kellie's sister Maggie, is a beautiful seamstress and she has sewn all of the curtains and pillows throughout the house. She has an etsy website where she sells her original designs and creations, and she can also make just about anything to order.

In addition to her etsy website she sews military bags and purses for a company called “Hero On My Arm”. You can order a bag HERE

Kellie's sister Maggie makes the "Hero On My Arm" bags

Maggie used Marc's old fatigues and lined the bag with cute a cute floral

I asked Kellie how her home made her and Marc feel: "I am definitely a nester, and I love my nest. My job is in sales and I spend my days talking and meeting and negotiating. At the end of the day, I want tranquility. My house is just that…soft, calm and quiet. I love when it’s late at night and Marc and I are on the couch watching TV with the dog at our feet and the dishwasher humming. I feel safe and serene. So lovely. Marc’s much simpler and easier than me. He just wants a place to eat his Cheetos, take a shower, and grow tomatoes."

Marc and Kellie both grew up in New Orleans but in different parts of the city. She was a west bank kid (Algiers) and Marc grew up in eastern New Orleans and the Northshore. They both love New Orleans and plan on staying.



PS Today is my birthday. I am holding at 100! My birthday wish is for Marc and all those who are serving to come home safe and sound.

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