Fountains are found throughout New Orleans, especially in the French Quarter and the Garden District. They grace the courtyards of many private residences and they are commonly found among the restaurants and hotels in the area. Even Pat O’Brien’s on Bourbon Street has a courtyard fountain that appears to be on fire at night. Here are the five most fascinating and historic fountains in the city of New Orleans. Darlington Fountain This fountain in New Orleans’s West End was erected prior to World War I. It was known as a musical fountain because an operator controlled the water flow and the [...]
Preparing Your Gulf Coast Garage for Summer
As a homeowner in the Gulf Coast region, you can protect your home’s garage doors from summer weather by making a plan and by taking action to implement it. The first of June is the official start of hurricane season, and your prompt action can limit or avoid damage to your home’s structures. Planning for weather events that are predictable is a duty of responsible homeowners. The National Hurricane Center cites sustained wind speeds at up to 95 mph for Category 1 and up to 157 for Category 5 storms. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale indicates that frame structures are [...]
Window Tinting a Gulf Coast Home
Window tinting makes any interior space cooler, more private, and more enjoyable; this is particularly valuable for homes in the New Orleans and Gulf Coast region. The addition of window tints can not only reduce cooling expenses, it will protect furnishings and art from the bright sun while also making it harder for intruders or strong winds to break a window. However, it’s important to choose the right team to tint the windows in any private home. Here are a few tips homeowners can follow when searching for a window tinting company. Selection Not all window tints are created equal. [...]
Easy Tips for Gulf Coast Homeowners to Keep Cool This Summer
Battling summer heat in an arid region is tough enough, but when you’re living in New Orleans, or any city in the Gulf Coast region, you have to deal with both heat and humidity. Use the following tips to keep you and your family nice and cool during your Gulf Coast summer. Stay Inside and Crank Up the A/C This one is simple enough. You probably don’t want to be a hermit all summer long, though, so if you’re going to spend time outdoors, aim for early in the morning or later in the evening when outside temperatures will be [...]
The 4 Most Luxurious Spas in New Orleans
Spa at Windsor Court The spa at Windsor Court is located inside the elegant Windsor Court Hotel, in the heart of the French Quarter. Enjoy the many luxurious offerings at this full service spa, catering to your every need. Once you enter the spa, you are greeted by friendly, courteous staff that will provide you with the accessories you need for your relaxing session. Guests are provided with robes, sandals, and a private locker for personal belongings. The facility also offers a pool and gym area for those receiving treatments. The Windsor spa offers personalized treatments from facial, nail, and [...]
Achord Eye Clinic
Written by: Jill Martinez The most effective advertising we do, to tell you the truth, is not anything we pay for or can even control to a certain extent,” reports Dr. Shonda Achord. “We get a lot of our business from patients who refer their friends, family members or co-workers to us because they’ve had a positive experience here.” True to form, the moment I entered Achord Eye Clinic the staff offered ample amounts of smiles, assistance and freshly brewed coffee. I even noticed them greeting patients by their first name and immediately delving into enthusiastic bouts of spirited conversation. [...]
Acadian Brick and Stone: Paving the way to a new gold standard
Written by: Jill Martinez It’s been a hard road to hoe since his days working in oil field management almost five years ago, but Darriel Green and his wife, Dione, have stayed committed to their vision to create a service oriented business which provides quality brick and stone products to both residential and commercial projects in the Lafayette area. “Looking back, I get a lot of personal satisfaction knowing that we excelled at a business people told me years ago wasn’t even worth my time,” says Darriel Green. “We’ve been able to grow our business from a cramped modular building [...]
Treasure Trove: Renaissance Interiors
Written by: Simonette Berry It’s hard to let go of that gorgeous antique writing desk or second set of china that you simply have no room for anymore, but at Renaissance Interiors, your piece will be in good hands. Renaissance Interiors of Metairie has become the leading high-end consignment shop in the South, offering quality furniture, art, silver, china, and collectibles. They accept consignment from individuals and businesses within a 200-mile radius of New Orleans. If you don’t want to make the drive yourself, take advantage of their pick-up, delivery, and shipping services. With an 18,000-foot showroom and a steady [...]
On the Right Track: StreetcarShops.com
Written by: Leroy Jenkins If you live in, or frequent, the “Red Stick,” chances are you’ve noticed the StreetcarShops.com vibrant billboards on Bluebonnet, or even opened your mailbox to discover a personalized booklet of reward cards for your redeeming pleasure. Custom-painted by award-winning artist Terrance Osborne, the StreetcarShops.com artwork embodies the company’s mantra, “We Take You There,” encouraging you to live locally and support your city’s economy. And there’s no better encouragement than incentive. StreetcarShops.com is a user-exclusive website that offers unlimited access to reward card offers available in your city; and you can find rewards for just about anything; [...]
Romancing the Stone: D&D Ornamental Concrete
Written by: Simonette Berry Where can you encounter a giant gorilla, a baby dinosaur, a slumbering dragon, and an angel with a six-foot wingspan surrounded by a host of genuflecting saints? Not in your dreams or even Disneyland (they don’t have saints), but the epic statuary section of D and D Ornamental Concrete. D and D has been offering an inspiring collection of statuary, fountains, birdbaths, garden furniture, and garden ornaments since 1986. With four acres in Napoleonville and another acre at the Baton Rouge location, D and D’s huge selection, among other things, has made it the largest wholesaler [...]
Bella Pietra, Bella Famiglia: The Stone Gallery
Written by: Simonette Berry In business since 1999, the Stone Gallery is a sprawling, one-acre stone yard in Harahan. This is not your average stone experience; at the Stone Gallery, you can purchase slabs of stone for the same wholesale prices that are usually only offered to stone fabrication shops. There are stone selections to fit every budget. After 10 years in the business, the Stone Gallery owner, Johnny Altobello, Jr., decided his company was going to change the way natural stone was sold in southern Louisiana. He decided to clearly mark each color of stone with the name of [...]
LED-ing the Way: Valley Supply
Written by: Simonette Berry The lighting industry is undergoing radical changes with the dawn of the green movement. In south Louisiana, a region not often thought of as a frontrunner in green technologies, Valley Supply in Houma has been sewing these seeds of change for years. Owner Cecil Zeringue, whose family has run Valley Supply for over 30 years, says he remembers customers requesting “long life bulbs” ages ago. “It used to be that the typical customer would walk into our store and ask George Chaisson for our long life 130v bulbs. They were known to live through power surges [...]
Timeless Design: Supreme Ornamental Ironworks
Written by: Simonette Berry Graceful scrolls, vine tendrils, and ornate old world designs are interwoven into the rich fabric of Louisiana’s architecture in the form of historic ornamental ironwork. Iron is a timeless medium; old houses are restored around it. Wood rots, bricks crumble, and cement sidewalks crack beside the gracefully aging balconies, railings, fences, and window grilles of yesteryear that stand strong through hundreds of hurricane seasons and frosty winters. These works of art crown the homes and businesses that local families hand down for generations. Karl Adams, founder of Supreme Ornamental Ironworks, was drawn to the old ironwork [...]
Outdoor Living: Adams Aluminum
Written by: Simonette Berry Have you ever walked outside on a beautiful day, ready to enjoy a cool drink by the pool or tan on the patio, only to discover you need to clean your pool, rake the yard, or douse yourself in bug spray before you can relax? We are lucky to have gorgeous weather in Louisiana almost year-round, yet often our tropical climate presents other challenges: the constant leaf debris, clouds of giant mosquitoes, and the occasional snake or family of raccoons that drop in for a visit.Imagine for a moment a hassle-free, tranquil area that you can [...]
The Secret to Success: Brian’s Furniture
Written by: Simonette Berry Louisiana has many “locals-only” secrets; where to get the best boudin (Hebert’s Meat Market in Maurice), where to go hear the best music (if you don’t know, ask a local), and where you got them shoes (according to the French Quarter scam artists, they’re “on yo’ feet!”). In the heart of downtown Port Allen’s historic district, there is another well-kept secret; a city block transformed into a shopper’s paradise. Brian’s Furniture is anything but a simple furniture store. The 40,000-square-foot complex is made up of four specialty shops offering indoor and outdoor furniture, accessories, art, and [...]
Living Like George Jetson: Select Automation homes of the future
Written by: Lauren Noel However cliche the title sounds, it is literally the only way to describe the things that Select Automation of Mandeville has to offer for your home. Security systems of the highest quality, lighting control systems, media and audio systems, or all in one package: anything you can think of to create your very own “smart home,” Select Automation can install and maintain for you. When I began working on this story, I had no idea what “select automation” even meant. When I spoke with someone from the company, all they told me was that I had [...]
Following the Music: Dancing in Louisiana
Written by: Simonette Berry I’ll never forget learning to Cajun dance on the worn wooden dance floor of Mulate’s Restaurant in New Orleans, my little feet poised on the toes of my mom’s high-heeled shoes as she walked me through a slow waltz. I was utterly mesmerized as my legs magically moved in time with the giant pairs of legs gliding past me. Fast forward 23 years and I’m still enchanted by Louisiana music, learning new steps every chance I get, and attending dance classes to learn new styles. I’ve grooved to Rockin’ Doopsie, two-stepped to Rosie Ledet, second-lined to [...]
Particular About Pianos: Tips on buying the best
Written by: Simonette Berry The first time I sat at a piano at age nine, I didn’t know a note of music. After six years of ballet lessons and seemingly glorious recitals, my parents forced me to change course and study music, to my utter horror. Didn’t they get it? I was destined to be a famous prima ballerina like Anna Pavlova! I wanted to live forever in a tutu and leap across stages. Very reluctantly, I began taking piano lessons from a serious, no-nonsense teacher who would crack a pencil across my hands when I missed a single note. [...]
Stairway to Success: The Stairway Shop
Written by: Simonette Berry Has your house every felt like a scene from The Money Pit? In this movie about a home renovation gone hilariously wrong, a young couple buys a house only to find that what they thought were minor repairs turn into months of renovations. In one iconic scene, the main stairway collapses and Walter and Anna are forced to move things from floor to floor by ladder and pulley. After Katrina, scenes of this nature occurred in thousands of flood-ravaged homes, yet there was no place for New Orleans residents to buy custom stairway products. Everything had [...]
The Other Side of Paris: Fabulous flea markets awaiting discovery
Written by: Michelle LeBlanc Fine Paris is a city of discovery. Its graceful bridges curve over the sensuous Seine River connecting its vibrant streets to an array of intriguing neighborhoods. Visitors explore this romantic city’s great art, architecture, and historic sites, while savvy dealers from around the globe flock to Paris to search its flea markets for rare and collectible antiques. The flea markets of Paris are a virtual treasure trove for antique dealers. Here is where some of the finest collectibles are found and shipped back to the states for resale. Although no one needs an excuse to go [...]
Building Better: MLM Incorporated
Written by: Simonette Berry If you’re like most New Orleans residents, you or someone you know has a home renovation horror story. From Chinese drywall to carpetbaggers that take off with the cash, this city has seen it all since Katrina. It still seems like a gamble when you’re looking to hire someone to do renovations: will they give you a fair price, get the job done on time, and do it right? At MLM Incorporated, the superb work ethic, superior customer service, competitive rates, quick turnover time, and impressive workmanship will make renovation a surprisingly pleasant experience. Making changes [...]
Shreveport-Bossier Opera Guild presents: Les Boutiques de Noel
Written by: Simonette Berry Are you one of those people who finds yourself weaving in and out of crowded department store aisles a few days before Christmas, battling the masses instead of making like Betty Crocker? Canned holiday music is barely audible over the din of long, bustling queues in which the nearly deaf or technologically impaired yell urgently into cell phones, and badly behaved children tear through displays like tiny bulls charging at every red bow in sight (there’s always one in the store during Christmas who you just know is getting coal in his stocking that year). As [...]
A Decade of Design: Stafford Tile
Written by: Simonette Berry “You remember your struggles, the things you work the hardest for in life,” says Peggy Stafford, owner and founder of Stafford Tile. A fearless entrepreneur, she dared to dream big and got something even bigger in return. Her mission was to bring a world-class selection of tile and stone products to Louisiana; what she received was a host of meaningful relationships with staff members and clients and a chance to reestablish her roots. What started as a tiny shop on Oak Street in New Orleans is now a Louisiana icon, exclusively distributing several nationally recognized product [...]
The Corbel: Something old, Something new
Written by: Simonette Berry “We were doing green before green was cool,” says Don Charlet, co-owner of the Corbel. “We do it because old things have this character, beauty, and depth that new products don’t. It’s about an appreciation for the originality and history that come with old things, but it also happens to go hand in hand with being eco-conscious.” Don and his wife Susan focus intently on what their customers need in the home building and renovation process. The Corbel employs builders, designers, and artisans who exist in symbiosis, creating custom furniture, lighting, ceiling beam, and wood design [...]
A Vision for Living: Eye Care Surgery Center
Written by: Simonette Berry “Restoring someone’s vision is one of the most gratifying things you can imagine. Patients have an immediate improvement in the quality of their lives. If you tell someone you’ve controlled their blood pressure, they can’t tell the difference, but when they can immediately see again, the patient is very excited and appreciative,” says Dr. Scott Nelson, MD of the Eye Care Surgery Center in Baton Rouge. Dr. Nelson, who has been in private practice for 21 years, is a Baton Rouge native and a groundbreaker in his field. He is well known in south Louisiana for [...]
Making Space: Ruffino Custom Closets
Written by: Simonette Berry What are you always trying to find? Hint: There’s never enough of it. “Time” is probably your first answer, followed by another biggie, “space.” If only we had the time and energy to make the spaces around us exactly how we want them to be””beautiful, unique, and useful. Thankfully, Ruffino Custom Closets offers a rare custom option in a world of prefab space-makers. Partners Christian Russell and Matt Ruffino have opened the door to a myriad of creative options that just aren’t possible with factory made products. “We help people organize their lives,” says Russell. “We [...]
A Personal Touch: Inessa Stewart’s Antiques and Interiors
Written by: Simonette Berry Inessa Stewart is a rare gem in the antique world. It’s unusual to find a business owner who personally selects each piece of merchandise, especially for an antique store. It’s common practice in the antique world to send out “buyers” to do the legwork or to buy online, but Inessa insists on keeping a personal touch. After 20 years of experience and refinement, that personal touch has made her business wildly successful. She and her husband and business partner John Stewart still personally select each piece that fills their 55,000 square feet of showrooms over three [...]
The Hidden Treasure of Old Metairie: Sister’s Antiques
Written by: Simonette Berry At first glance, Sister’s Antiques looks like just another tiny shop tucked away in the heart of Old Metairie. The diminutive exterior of Kathy Collins’ quaint double shotgun storefront is deceiving; once over the threshold, customers discover 12 large rooms filled with antiques and interior décor accessories. After a few hours of getting lost in the artful maze of vignettes, set up naturally as if in a home environment, customers discover what a treasure the Sister’s Antiques collection is. “The outside is deceiving. Once I get customers through the door, they’re surprised by how big the [...]
Inside the Interiors of Ty Larkins
Written by: Simonette Berry Award-winning interior designer Ty Larkins is a rising star in the Louisiana interior design community. Looking at his portfolio, you’d never guess he was arguing cases in the courtroom instead of drafting designs in the studio just a few short years ago. The jump from attorney to interior designer is quite a long way, but for someone who sees each project as a test of his ingenuity, it came naturally. For as long as Larkins can remember, he’s been told he has “good taste.” His first home, a small 1,600-square-foot cottage, got rave reviews from visitors, [...]
The Road Less Traveled: Designer’s Showroom
Written by: Simonette Berry While most European antique buyers are shopping in the high-traffic Parisian markets, Randy Williamson and Richard Clements of Designer’s Showroom are leaving dust trails in early morning light down the winding roads of the French and Belgian countryside. During a typical buying trip, they wake before dawn and work 12- to 16-hour days. They find their best pieces in small towns among the dusty bric-a-brac of shops, street fairs, personal storehouses, and farmhouses, pieces that have been tucked away sometimes for centuries. The trick, they say, is traveling by box truck; this way, they don’t have [...]
La Pavers: Planning a Vacation in Your Own Backyard
Written by: Simonette Berry Whether it’s a desire to stay close to family or because of the struggling economy, many people are spending their vacations at home rather than abroad. Rod Trahan, owner of La Pavers, has seen this trend develop over the past few years; instead of spending cash on a vacation that lasts a few weeks, his clients invest in an outdoor living room that they can visit year-round and will last for a lifetime. A well-designed outdoor living space can make your own backyard into a vacation destination, and La Pavers can make any dreamscape come true. [...]
A Magazine Street Marvel: Floor and Decor Design Center
Written by: Simonette Berry Floor and Decor has taken the home improvement market by storm, creating a whole new way to shop and design for customers, designers, and contractors. By cutting out the middleman, Floor and Decor is able to offer unheard of prices and unmatched selection. Since the first outlet opened in Atlanta in 2001, they have grown to more than 28 retail locations across the nation and changed the way customers shop for flooring and cabinetry. The newest location, which has recently opened on Magazine Street in the heart of the Uptown New Orleans shopping district, has caused [...]
DJ Dada: Paul Dean
Written by: Simonette Berry Baton Rouge artist Paul Dean is best known for his collages and sculptural assemblages, made through a process he’s dubbed “Punk Rock Dada.” These compositions combine images in new, entertaining ways. His themes range from socio-economic commentaries to art for art’s sake, and they are expressed by juxtaposed images referencing everything from long-playing records to the Renaissance. Dean is an LSU professor of graphic design, typography, and color; he also moonlights as a freelance graphic designer and a DJ. In the past few years, he has expanded his scope to painting. His background in graphics carries [...]
The Cajun Collector: A restaurateur passionately inspired by his heritage
Written by: Lisa LeBlanc-Berry “It’s the American dream,” says Mulate’s owner Kerry Boutta, whose journey as a businessman and an avid art collector began very modestly in Breaux Bridge and without much capital. In 1980, he launched a down-home Cajun restaurant with a three-person staff in a weathered little nondescript building, not far from his hometown of Arnaudville. “Mulate’s used to be a little nightclub,” says Kerry. “The owner retired in 1975. We decided to keep the name. He said, “˜I don’t want anything for it, just a cup of coffee.’ But before I came across Mulate’s, I had already [...]
Passionate About Antiques: A collector and a folk artist combine forces
Written by: Lisa LeBlanc-Berry Maria and Simon Hardeveld have created a magical world at their quaint shop filled with unusual treasures. Unlike the more traditional furniture galleries along Magazine Street, Antiques on Jackson pays homage to the intrinsic character of New Orleans, where anything goes. Located on a large corner lot at Jackson and Magazine streets, the charming store displays an atypical combination of elegant antiques juxtaposed with rustic folk art. Popular with interior designers and collectors since it opened in 1999, the shop reflects the vibrant character of this enigmatic city that seduces residents with its opulence and decay, [...]