CasaSugar

Roundup: Mardi Gras Madness

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:25 -0800

Happy Mardi Gras! The yearly celebration in New Orleans ends officially tonight, the day before Lent begins on the Christian calender. While the people in NOLA have surely been decorating the streets with beads, floats, crawfish, costumes, doubloons, and beverages galore, I thought I'd have a go at decorating our homes Mardi Gras style. The official colors of Mardi Gras were chosen in 1872 by the Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovitch Romanoff of Russia during a visit to New Orleans, and reaffirmed at the first daytime parade, Rex. Mardi Gras's symbolic colors include purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power). The Mardi Gras flag also features a crown, another symbol of power. Beyond that the fleur-de-lys is an iconic symbol of New Orleans, and undoubtedly makes many appearances in NOLA during this holiday. So, I thought I'd roundup a few furnishings for you incorporating these historical symbols. Don't go overboard and snatch them all up: A few accessories will add just enough festivity to your home. To see my finds, read more.

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Guess Who Owns This House?

CasaSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:45:07 -0800

A well-known celebrity couple owns this Creole townhouse, located at 521 Governor Nicholls Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Can you tell me the name of the super dad who lives here? Source

Roundup: Fleur-de-Lys

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:00:49 -0800

Continuing with my New Orleans theme this month, I thought it'd be appropriate to round up some fleur-de-lys home furnishings, seeing as it has been a symbol of the city since its birth. Fleurs-de-lys abound in New Orleans. Today, they top wrought-iron fences, serve as trendy baubles, brand popular clothing lines, and emblazon football helmets in the Superdome, cheeky advertisements, and even post-Katrina fridges. The history of the symbol is long and does not escape the shelter market. The lily-inspired shape has bloomed on everything from bedding and bath linens to glassware and paper towel holders. Here's a healthy dose for you:

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Love Shack: Incense Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

CasaSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:45:18 -0800

According to The Mistic, an old-time occult shop that supplies products and services for the "spiritually minded," in New Orleans (a place with a long history associated with sellers of Hoodoo and Voodoo products), incense can be used "in spells to encourage romance, stimulate sexuality, draw love, and create harmony."

Some of the herbs included in these incense blends are juniper berries, lavender, calamus root, basil, red roses, periwinkle, and cinnamon. According to the Mistic, "Occultists generally agree that the best time to do work which draws love and sex is Friday under the Waxing Moon or Full Moon." And, single gals, incense can be used, according to the Mistic experts, to "lure anyone to your shores," or just to "create a general feeling of love amongst partners, friends, family, or coworkers." Are you an incense person? Or would you try it, considering the benefits to your Love Shack? Personally, I just can't fall in love with the scent . . .
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Etsy Find: Masked Set of Four Letterpress Cards

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:30:49 -0800

Mardi Gras may be over, but you can still put your mask on with this Masked Set of Four Letterpress Cards ($10) by Sarah Ridgley. The perfect thank you card for the krewe member who invited you to the Endymion Ball. If you're secretly admiring someone from afar, it could also be quite the mysterious (anonymous) note card. Or stock up on them now and start planning your 2009 Gras bash. Just be sure to send me an invitation! I'll bring the crawfish . . .

Casa Quiz: Creole Townhouses

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:45:12 -0800

Last week I told you about Creole Townhouses, one of New Orleans most treasured styles of architecture. Can you remember some of the details of these buildings? Take this quiz to find out.

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Coveted Crib: Doullut Steamboat Houses (Part 2)

CasaSugar — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 08:05:53 -0800

On Friday I told you a bit about the Doullut Steamboat Houses. You can read the first half of the story here.

As you may have guessed, the houses were influenced architecturally by the steamboats that Doullot himself navigated. The deep decks that surround the houses, their narrow inner hallways, round smokestack chimneys, and square portholes, as well as the Mississippi River facing belvedere, are all distinctly derived from the vessels' architecture. Also in nautical fashion, much of the building (interior and exterior) was constructed with tin, and of course, the ornate woodwork with unusual pearls on the balconies is inspired by those on the steamboats that cruise the mighty Mississippi. In addition, the houses share many qualities with Louisiana plantation homes, which are generally grand, symmetrical, and boxy, featuring balconies and columns or pillars.

What you may not have suspected of the steamboat houses is that they were also largely influenced by the Japanese exhibit building, or teahouse garden building, at the St. Louis World's Fair 1904, also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The exhibit building spawned the second level and pilot house concave roofs and glazed tiling of the scroll-shaped columns of these New Orleans treasures.

400 Egania Street:

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503 Egania Street:

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Coveted Crib: Doullut Steamboat Houses (Part 1)

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:00:51 -0800

TeamSugar member RowD recently shared photos of two Steamboat Houses which she encountered during a post-Katrina trip to New Orleans. Since they're such fascinating houses, and historical landmarks at that, I figured I'd give you a bit of a background. The two remarkable houses in question, at 400 and 453 Egania St., were built between 1905 and 1913 by Milton P. Doullot, a steamboat captain, for his daughter and son. In 1977, the twin houses were designated historical landmarks by the New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission.

In the 100 years since they were built, the houses underwent some changes, due to hurricanes and normal aging, so they are no longer identical. The original house (400 Egania) was also originally closer to the river, but moved back when the levee was moved. Doullot's great grandson still owns the house, and the other was auctioned out of the family.

For details on these houses' unusual architectural influences, tune in over the weekend for the second half of the story.

400 Egania Street:

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503 Egania Street:

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Architecture Styles: The Shotgun House

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:00:49 -0800

The Creole Townhouse isn't the only architecture style the world should thank New Orleans for. The Shotgun was also developed in the Louisiana city between 1850 and 1910, and is the predominant type of house there. A Shotgun is a long, narrow rectangular structure, usually no more than 12 feet wide with doors opposite each other at both ends. Each of its three to five rooms open onto the next with no hallways to beget privacy. The Shotgun gets its name, legend has it, from the saying that a shotgun blast at the front door could pass uninterrupted through all the rooms to the back. To hear more about Shotguns, read more

The structure is typically a one-story house raised 2 to 8 feet above ground on brick piers, and also features a narrow front porch covered by a roof apron and supported by columns and lacy, Victorian jigsaw brackets. There are several variations of this style, including the Double-barrel Shotgun, the Camelback, and the Double Width Shotgun. Double-barrel Shotguns are basically duplexes, or two separate Shotgun houses sharing a single, central wall to allow more houses to be built in an area. The Camelback is a Shotgun with a second story built onto the rear of the house. A Double Width Shotgun is a single structure that's twice the width of a normal Shotgun.
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Coveted Crib: the Wedding Cake House

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:45:37 -0800

Mardi Gras' parades and festivities have all ended, but I've still got New Orleans on my mind. In this Coveted Crib, I introduce you to the Wedding Cake House, an ostentatious Victorian Georgian revival mansion, named for its frosting of layers of balconies, cornices and columns. Built in 1896, the house is one of the most prominent and recognizable historical residences along St. Charles Ave, and is home to Attorney Calvin Fayard, one of the region's major political fund-raisers for the Democratic Party. It recently underwent a $6 million dollar renovation by Trapolin Architects including a "full restoration of the exterior facades of the main house and two accessory buildings; extensive improvements to the landscaping and grounds; complete renovation of the existing interior spaces; and the addition of a rear entry vestibule and stair." Project Architect Patrick Melancon says it was a challenge to balance," the aesthetic of a new wing of the house within the context and complexity of the existing, heavily ornate Victorian façade posed the primary design challenge." But, I find the results to be breath-taking, and a dangerously eye-catching sight for the drivers of the recently revived St. Charles streetcars.
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Merida Meridian Viewpoint Kids Forget-Me-Not Fleur Modern Kids Rug - $609.00	Sandy Chapman 2-Light Fleur-De-Lis Hand Forged Iron - $378.00
Belle Fleur Knob - $8.00	Fleur de Lis Lanterns (Set of 3) - $129.99
Fleur De Lis Wall Art - $100.00	Louisiana State Map - $249.00
Orleans Table Lamp - $100.00	"Marina" Mirror - $245.00
Crown Correspondence Cards - $46.00	Art Insert, Crown - $19.00
Hoops Glasses (Set of Four) by New Arcadia - $75.00	Bernardaud Frivole Collection - $45.00
Rutherford Park - $89.99	Momeni "New Wave NW-19 Multi" Area Rug , 2' 6" x 14' - $1,089.00
Koko - Waves Plastic Floormat 5 x 9 - $81.00	Ming Medallion Silk Pillow - $125.00
Rosemary Vine Rugs - $169.00	Venini Hourglass- Green/Purple - $770.00
Flower Beaded Napkin Ring - $2.95	avalisa - Wonder Wool Rug - $310.00