Garden District Interior Makeover
This award-winning project consisted of a full interior renovation of a 170+ year-old historic home in the Garden District. The scope included significant floor plan reconfigurations alongside the restoration of historic architectural elements that had been compromised during previous renovations. The three-story Uptown residence also underwent a complete mechanical overhaul, including new HVAC systems and updated plumbing and electrical infrastructure.
Jensen Killen led the interior design vision for the project, working closely with both our team and the architect to ensure every detail was executed seamlessly. The home features numerous custom built-ins, including a pair of olive-green armoire-style units in the boys’ room and a richly stained built-in cabinet in the butler’s pantry.
The original antique pine floors, which had been heavily discolored by years of sunlight exposure, were carefully restored. Reclaimed antique pine was installed in new areas to match the existing flooring seamlessly. Custom-milled interior trim and doors were fabricated to replicate the original detailing wherever the floor plan was altered.
Existing plaster crown moulding and medallions were severely deteriorated and required extensive restoration. The original entry hall felt dark and disconnected, with an awkwardly placed powder room at its end. To improve both flow and natural light, the rear wall of the hallway was removed, visually connecting the entry all the way to the rear yard. In place of the former powder room, a custom wet bar was introduced along with a new exit to the outdoor patio and pool. The resulting bar area is airy and light-filled, layered with thoughtful details including latticework at the walls and ceiling, mirrored shelving backs, brass brackets, marble tile flooring, and honed marble countertops. Fully equipped with a bar sink, wine cooler, ice maker, and beverage drawers, the space was designed equally for entertaining and everyday use. The powder room was relocated beneath the main stair. Here, the wall supporting the stairs was a masonry wall, so extensive work was required to convert the unused space into this lovely water closet.
On the second floor, the hall bathroom was removed to allow the hallway to extend to the front balcony entrance. The existing balcony doors — originally interior doors that had been repurposed for exterior use — were replaced with custom-milled exterior doors fabricated to match original profiles found elsewhere in the home, and fitted with insulated glass.
The final result is a home that preserves its historic character while creating more functional entertaining spaces and a more livable, cohesive environment for a young family.
CREDITS:
Architect: Zangara + Partners
Interior Design: Logan Killen Interiors
Photography: Laura Steffan
Photo Styling: Suzonne Stirling
