Friday, April 12, 2013

New Orleans Lady


Julia Reed
on the porch of her First Street house
in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Photo:  online.wsj.com
Julia Reed, one of the South's most celebrated contemporary writers, bought a circa 1847 Greek Revival house in New Orleans' Garden District with her husband John Pearce in 2004, a year before Hurricane Katrina.  The experience is chronicled in her popular book THE HOUSE ON FIRST STREET: MY NEW ORLEANS STORY.

Julia Reed's house is considered one of New Orleans' most beautiful and hospitable homes.  Decorated with assistance from Thomas Jayne, decorator friends Suzanne Rheinstein and Patrick Dunne also gave advice.  In an article written by Julia Reed for Elle Décor magazine, she says Thomas referred to the team as the "Committee on Taste."  The house is also featured in Thomas' acclaimed book AMERICAN DECORATION: A SENSE OF PLACE.

1236 First Street, New Orleans.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio
The Entrance Hall of Julia Reed's house
looking back towards the front door.
Thomas Jayne advocated a neutral decorating
scheme to compliment the adjacent parlors.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio

The Front Parlor contains the pair of
faux bamboo settees purchased before the
house was bought in 2004.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio
Looking from the Front Parlor to the Back Parlor.
The bold door and window trim is typical of the
Greek Revival period.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio
The Back Parlor is also used as a Music Room.
The gilt catfish on the piano was salvaged
from a Mardi Gras float.
Thomas Jayne suggested the Claremont yellow
silk for the curtains and the chintz from Le Manach.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio
The Dining Room contains a sofa from the home
of Julia Reed's grandmother in Nashville.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio
The Pantry is painted in Ball Green
paint from Farrow & Ball.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor
The Kitchen contains a range for serious cooking.
Julia Reed wrote the food column for the
"New York Times" magazine for several years.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor
A Guest Bathroom is decorated with 19th century
prints of Napoleon and Pope Pius VII.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor.
The Master Bedroom features an
Aubusson rug on top of sisal.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor
The Library was added in the 20th century.
The stained paneling was painted to resemble pine
 by Julia Reed's childhood friend, Anne McGee.
Photo:  Jayne Design Studio
 
The Sunroom features Bennison Crewelwork fabric.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor.
Homeowner Julia Reed in the Sunroom
of her house on First Street.
Photo by William Waldron for Elle Décor
Now the house is being offered for sale.  Additional photos may be seen on the real estate website.  Reports are that Julia and her husband are looking at the French Quarter as possibly their next home.
Julia Reed's collection of essays about other experiences can be read in her best-selling book QUEEN OF THE TURTLE DERBY AND OTHER SOUTHERN PHENOMENA.  Additional stories as well as practical advice such as how to cook for compliments are found in HAM BISCUITS, HOSTESS GOWNS, AND OTHER SOUTHERN SPECIALTIES: AN ENTERTAINING LIFE (WITH RECIPES).  Julia Reed is famous as a hostess and some of her best advice will be given in her new book to be released at the end of the month, BUT MAMA ALWAYS PUT VODKA IN HER SANGRIA!: ADVENTURES IN EATING, DRINKING, AND MAKING MERRY.
Devoted Readers in the Chicago area will want to attend a style blogger panel discussion on April 20, 2013, as part of the Antiques & Garden Fair benefiting Chicago Botanic Garden.  Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic, Emily Evans Eerdmans of Emily Evans Eerdmans, and Marisa Marcantonio of STYLEBEAT will comprise the panel with the moderator being no other than the always delightful Julia Reed.

25 comments:

  1. It all made me smile and remember how happy I am to be Southern. I will be adding some books to my collection and gift list without a doubt.

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    Replies
    1. Kerry the books are loads of fun and make great gifts, too. Copies of QUEEN OF THE TURTLE DERBY start at just one cent (plus shipping).

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  2. Great post dahhling, as usual. Had seen this house in various magazines but always a treat to be reminded of its charming easy decor.

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  3. One of the most beautiful and beautifully colored houses I've seen in a long time!

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    1. Blue, the Elle Décor article mentions a number of the out-of-the-can paint colors by name. I think the light filtering through the big trees in the subtropical climate has a lot to do with it, too.

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  4. I always feel a sense of deflation when I read about a house much loved by the owners being hoisted onto the market after being featured in a leading magazine. Was it just an exercise to move on to the next one? Don't people hang onto and continuously evolve their style and preferences over time any more? I guess all will be forgotten when familiar furnishings are reinvented in the next residence in time for the next photoshoot before her next book is published. Does anyone else feel this way?

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    1. MfB, I suppose I had a sort of an admiration for those who want to move often; it is one of my least favorite things.

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  5. I like Jayne's use of color in the house, especially the way he favored lighter shades over dark/jewel tones. I also like the feeling of airiness, which features the architecture and appears very comfortable and livable. (The one detail I did not like was the pictures above the bathtub, which seem susceptible to moisture.)

    The Reed books look like fun, so I'll put them on my list for the next trip back.
    --Road to Parnassus

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    1. P., the proportions of the rooms undoubtedly help, too. Although I tend to use not-so-valuable prints in a bathroom, I do specially frame them so moisture cannot cause deterioration.

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  6. I shall forever LOVE Lucullus, Patrick Dunne's store. It was 23 years ago, I was in - he had 2 of the most superb 18thC Zuber wallpaper panels from Cupid and Psyche in Grisaille framed. They haunted me when back in Los Angeles...I opted for a late 17thC French painting of Paris giving the Golden Apple to Venus in oil and in original frame...to say the least, I called back and they were sold!

    Never again have I seen these other than in shows at the Armory or Barker Hanger for gobs of moolah! The Apple though is so Le Brun.

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    1. T.S., I, too, love that Zuber series of Cupid and Psyche. They are still produced, by the way. As things in my house seem to acquire patina quickly, I may be tempted for a scene or two.

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  7. I read her first book House on First Street and loved it. Can't wait to get the others. She is great writer and a fine cook. Sorry to see her leave that house.

    Americans never cease to amaze me (and I am one of them now). They are always traipsing through Europe to see old ruins and houses and yet when it comes to their own homes they see nothing in flipping them and moving on to a new project. I guess that is the American spirit!

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    1. J., Americans are indeed free spirits. And I suppose there is always that anticipation that the next house will be even better (and perhaps the basis for another book).

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  8. John,
    Great posting, as usual! I really enjoy NOLA, and enjoyed this interesting post. My clients in Charleston have recently sold their small house - for over $1,000 per square foot- a true jewel box if ever there was. I like the Garden District, but am more fond of the quarter and the area just past called Marigny-NOLA is just so authentic, even with all the tourism- it's like Venice in that regard. Let's visit NOLA soon, Robbie Cangelosi AIA gives amazing tours of the Crescent City. Muriel's off Jackson Square has decadent NOLA cuisine!

    Dean Farris*****

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    1. DF, someday we'll have to invite all the Bloggers who have left a comment here to join us for a gastronomical & architectural tour of New Orleans! Now that would be a style event to blog about.

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  9. I meant Dufour created the CUPID & PSYCHE panels.

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    1. Yes, Dufour. I received a message that the Zuber re-editions are silk-screened and do not have the dimensionality of the original woodblock prints.

      Adelphi Paper Hangings has two panels, but they are from an entirely different series. Attractive, though. Thanks for your comments.

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  10. I would KILL to be there, but will be en route to High Point to cover the Furniture Market!

    I saw Thomas Jayne last week and he's such a huge talent!

    xo

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    1. M, hopefully each of the Bloggers will do a post afterwards to summarize the highlights of the panel discussion. And ditto on Thomas Jayne.

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  11. Lovely, timelessly chic rooms. And Ms Reed can cook, too. Life just wouldn 't be
    the same without her recipes for cheese straws and seasoned pecans.

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    1. Toby, I always use her recipe for deviled eggs as the basis for my egg salad sandwiches. The key to the success is Grey Poupon mustard.

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  12. The color combination of the parlor — that striking yellow and green — makes it my favorite room of the house. I imagine it would brighten any day.

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    1. Mark, I think yellow silk curtains must always make a room happy. Thanks for commenting.

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