A Queen Anne Reimagined

A Whole Home Renovation of an Queen Anne Residence

This whole-home renovation celebrates the history and architectural character of a remarkable Uptown New Orleans residence while adapting it for modern family life. Reed & Acanthus approached the house from room to room, restoring its sense of symmetry and grandeur while creating interiors that feel comfortable, personal and very much alive.

Rich color, lively pattern, antiques, art and contemporary furnishings come together in rooms that feel collected over time rather than newly decorated. The result is a gracious and highly individual home—a spirited mix of old and new that honors the past without being bound by it. Photography: Laura Steffan

Originally built in the 1880s, the cruciform house once stood on St. Charles Avenue before being relocated to State Street, where Victorian porches were added and it became known as “The Grand Dame of State Street.” In later years, the residence was divided into four apartments and suffered years of neglect.

Our renovation returned the property to a single-family home while preserving the character that made it special. Seven pairs of French doors were added across the kitchen and family room, flooding the interiors with Louisiana light and strengthening the connection to the garden and pool. Throughout the house, nature-inspired fabrics, wallpapers and artwork in shades of green, blue and cream reinforce that indoor-outdoor connection.

Entrance Hall

With its soaring 14-foot ceilings, the entrance hall called for something with presence. A dramatic tropical landscape mural brings scale and atmosphere to the space without competing with the architecture. An antique architect's desk, black lacquer settee and a collection of oil paintings add depth and history, while whimsical King and Queen paintings commissioned from New Orleans artist Tony Esom introduce an unexpected note.

Parlor / Living Room

The parlor takes its cues from old-school country club elegance, interpreted with a lighter hand. Antiques and a gallery wall of oil paintings are layered with floral chintz, flame stitch, velvet and decorative trims. Brown dragon lamps and a snow-leopard carpet add just enough wit to keep the traditional mix from feeling overly serious.

Dining Room

Designed for formal entertaining, the dining room is also deeply personal. Family heirlooms—including the antique dining table, cellarette, sideboard, French mantel clock, candelabra and collection of oil paintings—were combined with newer pieces to create a room that feels inherited rather than assembled.

A traditional damask wallpaper rendered in a silver metallic colorway gives the room a subtle luminosity, while contemporary dining chairs and a crystal chandelier bring a fresh counterpoint to the antiques.

Powder Room

A small room offered the opportunity for a bold gesture. Paul Poiret's exuberant 1930 design for Schumacher—with floating champagne bubbles, ostrich feathers and ribbons—immediately brought to mind the celebratory spirit of New Orleans and its Second Line tradition. The result is playful, glamorous and unexpected

Kitchen

Designed for multiple cooks and large-scale entertaining, the kitchen combines generous proportions with materials chosen to develop character over time. A dramatic 10-foot-5-inch slab of Calacatta Gold marble anchors the island, complemented by zinc countertops, custom cabinetry and a layered mix of brass, nickel and stainless steel.

Ebony, brass and cane counter stools and oversized brass lanterns introduce warmth and contrast, while an adjoining dining area makes the kitchen as comfortable for everyday family life as it is for a house full of guests.

Family Room

The family room draws its palette from the landscape and pool just beyond its doors, layering cream, blue and soft gray to create a relaxed counterpoint to the home's more formal rooms. Seven pairs of tall French doors fill the space with natural light and open the room to the garden, creating an easy connection between indoors and out.

Primary Bedroom

Schumacher's Chinois Palais fabric, with its exotic birds and flowering branches, provided the starting point for the primary bedroom. Chinoiserie influences continue in the black metal four-poster bed with brass accents and custom black lacquer nightstands, while French gilt pieces, artwork and collected furnishings give the room the layered character found throughout the house.