Design Details
Wildwood, a North Carolina-based lighting, furniture and home décor brand, has added a line extension to its collection in partnership with designer Denise McGaha (think colorful new mirrors, lighting, planters, candles and other home accessories). Additionally, the Wildwood Select line (a program wherein pieces may be customized in any Benjamin Moore colorway) now has pieces available in Blue Nova (Benjamin Moore’s 2024 Color of the Year). Wildwood also has launched its Shiga collection, consisting of 11 one-of-a-kind lamps and four vases handmade in Shigaraki, Japan. Available at Eclectic Home, 8211 Oak St., 866-6654, eclectichome.net
Top Summer Design Trends
Ashley Biscan, interior design and trend expert at Floor & Decor, predicts that home design this summer will go bolder and be more personalized. For starters, she says that patterned tile will punctuate small spaces to make every nook feel special. She also says that art deco mosaics and handcrafted looks will take center stage, while homeowners also will upgrade their upstairs spaces with light-colored hardwood flooring (in herringbone patterns and wide planks) in lieu of carpeting. And in bathrooms, Biscan says that large-format stone in saturated blues and greens will be popular. 3609 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 635-4501, flooranddecor.com
Smoke Show
Porter Lyons, the fine jewelry, curated wares and luxury piercing studio founded by Ashley Porter in the French Quarter, has released the newest addition to the Porter Lyons Home collection: custom-scented, hand-dipped incense sticks. Designed to create intention and awareness within spaces, the line has been curated by Porter in collaboration with a master fragrance artisan. The incense boasts a 45-minute burn time, releasing fragrant smoke that calls for savoring the present moment. It’s available in three scents (or a combination of all three), including: First Light (a fusion of frankincense, clary sage, cypress, orange, moss, earth and Spanish sage); Mantra (a blend of palo santo, ho wood, bergamot, sandalwood, lemon, wild mint and bitter orange); and Moonlight (a medley of tangerine, bergamot, lavender, peppercorn, ginger, vetiver, cedar and amber). 623 Royal St., 800-585-0348, porterlyons.com
Hotel High Design
Hotel Henrietta, a new five-story, 40-room boutique hotel from locally based Sandstone and Formwork, recently opened on St. Charles Avenue. The hotel, which is the first to be built from the ground up on the avenue in 30 years, serves as an extension of the Columns hotel. Local firm Farouki Farouki led the contemporary yet timeless architecture and interior design, with an eclectic mix of custom furniture for the guest rooms and public spaces. Wall coverings by French designer Pierre Frey add texture to the space, which opens into a lobby with wood ceiling, decorative millwork and multiple seating areas with banquettes covered in custom fabric. Meanwhile, handpicked vintage and commissioned art from local and global makers are layered throughout the space. An adjacent colonnaded front porch and terrace offers outdoor seating with two fire pits. A variety of guest room layouts are available and feature custom millwork, velvet headboards, a color palette inspired by the historic mosaic tiles at Columns and bathrooms with oversized showers, Waterworks fixtures, and marble tile and vanities. Select rooms also boast dishwashers, and Smeg refrigerators and microwaves. Luxury amenities include Parachute linens and Le Labo bath products. 3500 St. Charles Ave., hotelhenrietta.com
Meanwhile, hotelier Robért LeBlanc, in partnership with Cure Co.’s Neal Bodenheimer and the team behind The Chloe, have opened The Celestine in the French Quarter. The property, which dates back to 1791, is now a charming boutique hotel that flaunts European charm thanks to French, Spanish and Afro-Caribbean influences paired with a glamorous 1950s flair. 727 Toulouse St., 332-2200, thecelestinenola.com
Sound Asleep
The Original PeachSkin Sheets Oversized Comforter Set has been named one of the Best Comforters and Duvet Inserts by Good Housekeeping’s 2024 Best Bedding Awards. They are ultra soft, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, lightweight, and ideal for all seasons and sleepers. The best part for those suffering from night sweats, the athletic-grade-performance poly fabric wicks away moisture, decreases sweating and increases air flow. The sheets and comforters also come in a range of cute summer colors. peachskinsheets.com
Architectural Fusion
Two of Louisiana’s architectural firms, Lafayette-based ACSW (renowned for projects like River Ranch, Lafayette High School and the University of Louisiana’s Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium) and New Orleans-based Rozas Ward (with projects such as the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center and The Kalorama of New Orleans condominiums), have merged to create AQ Studios. The new firm, which focuses on innovation, cultural richness and urban sophistication within the educational, healthcare and civic architecture spaces, is dedicated to shaping the architectural landscape of Louisiana and beyond. 1100 Poydras St., Ste. 3550, 524-4375, introducingaq.com
