Projects

NOLA Modern

Categories

Interior Design, Architecture, Single-Family Residence

Location

New Orleans, LA

Size

1,600 SF

Status

Completed 2020

NOLA Modern

Empty lots in New Orleans are hard to come by, especially in coveted historic neighborhoods like the Lower Garden District. The Farouki family searched for more than a year before setting sights on the narrow 18-foot-wide site that would become their home. With three-foot side yards, their new two-story house is only 12-feet wide at the front and 9-1/2-feet wide in the rear. As designers, the couple understood that a narrow lot with such close neighbors meant that little sunlight would make it to the ground level. They also placed a high value on the kitchen and living spaces where they spent the most time as a family. By flip-flopping the traditional layout of a house, the couple created sunlit treehouse-like living spaces upstairs with cozy bedroom spaces downstairs.

NOLA Modern
NOLA Modern

Being in a historic district meant that the exterior of the home had to adhere to the Historic District Landmarks Commission’s (HDLC) strict requirements. Because the placement of the front door had to be on the front facade, the couple created a front gate entry that then led to a side entrance rather than sacrificing bedroom space on the ground level.

NOLA Modern

The main form of the house is clad in dark Hardie V-Groove siding with Marvin tilt/turn windows and a balcony that gives the exterior a modern European look and feel that also complied to the HDLC’s requirements. Since the footprint became even skinnier in the rear to only 9-½-feet wide, the couple designed a second level terrace over the children’s bedroom to differentiate the secondary form from the main form.

NOLA Modern
NOLA Modern

A custom white oak bench and shoe cubby is perfect for putting on shoes together.

NOLA Modern

A custom white oak stair rises from the side entry up a double-height space to upstairs.

NOLA Modern
NOLA Modern
NOLA Modern

The absence of hallways upstairs was also a key design strategy to make the home seem even more spacious. Eight-inch blackened tube steel frames the living spaces and serves as both the home’s necessary structural reinforcement and as subtle room dividers.

NOLA Modern

Simple modern white cabinet fronts paired with a natural Shadow Storm quartzite counter and backsplash.

NOLA Modern

Custom white oak platform beds and canopies are perfect for story time with mom and dad.

NOLA Modern
NOLA Modern
NOLA Modern
NOLA Modern

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