When interior designer Boo Randle acquired her Uptown home in the spring of 2022, the previous owners had painted every room in the house stark white. As white as the powdered sugar-colored paws on Moufette, Randle’s cat, who padded along with us on the house tour, meowing in French from room to room like a whiskered Parisian tour guide.
“I believe with or without the white backdrop I would have seen the potential,” said Randle, “but obviously having a blank canvas allows for unencumbered exercises of imagination.”
Having moved from her Magazine Street loft with two children (twins), an au pair, a dog and the aforementioned Moufette, Randle had a vision of something specific for her family, and herself.
The writing was on the white walls that this was the right space for a personal design project.
“I fell in love with the house the second I walked in the door because of its natural light, which is most heavily concentrated from mid house toward the back,” recalls Randle.
Taking a page from her own professional playbook, she went into the process as she has learned works best. “I treated it like all my projects and followed my tried-and-true process: conceptualization, design, procurement, installation. I assembled a team – my architect, contractor, trusted fabricators, installers and artisans – right from the start to help me execute.”
Before embarking on the project, she asked of herself what she asks of her clients and took the time to ponder her aspirations for the space.
“I wanted this home to be a living, breathing expression of my personal style that would be able to evolve and grow as time moved on. It needed to be family and animal friendly and flow well
for entertaining.”
Randle’s style, which she describes as collected, layered and timeless, is apparent in the mix of antique, vintage and modern pieces showcased throughout the home. From the pair of 1960s earthy pink wingback chairs in the front formal living room that have been through many iterations of reupholstered styles, to the glass and iron table in her living room, a piece repurposed from the home she grew up in, to the pair of mid-century modern lamps she procured from a former boss, the mix appears effortlessly curated.
Of the collection of treasures she said, “I love working with existing pieces – they tell the story of a life lived. It’s so important to have reminders of where you’ve been, and who you were, welcoming you home each day. I work really hard to incorporate clients’ special pieces in every project, and my home is no different. Sometimes things don’t work, but most of the time you can find a home for a piece that brings you joy. A lot of my furniture has lived many lives and that itself makes me happy to see all their growth over the years.”
The designer’s personal style is further highlighted in her color palette, a mélange of greens, blues and soft pinks, as well as in every paint and wallpaper choice.
“I embraced the darker front rooms, using a richer color palette, and then changed things up as you walk into the light by using a cream paint,” said Randle, noting a combination of Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.
“To keep things cohesive, I used the same green trim from front to back on the main level and stuck with an overall color palette that was repeated in different combinations in each room. I actually look at the whole downstairs as sort of one piece,” noted the designer. “I see each room as an extension of the next room. It’s the overall color palette of the downstairs and the pattern play that makes me happy. When I stand in the kitchen, I can see all the way to the parlor. I can see the parlor from the sectional in the living room. The rug in the living room is green and the green plays off the trim – they are all connected. They all play well together so comprehensively.”
To keep guests’ heads on a delightful swivel from the moment they step foot into the home, Randle also incorporated whimsical elements throughout.
“With any space I design, I wanted it to be comfortable, inviting, functional, and of course, beautiful. I also wanted a healthy dose of fun and whimsy.”
Case in point, within the formal dining room, Randle fell in love with and brought in a music-inspired wallpaper from MINDTHEGAP. A melophile herself, with favorite bands and musicians like Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Soul Rebels and Allen Toussaint, this melodic motif choice adds a playful yet sophisticated component to a room where friends and family gather for a holiday meal at her Parsons dining table.
Playing with prints moving deeper into the house, she incorporated a playful touch of southern tropical wallpaper near the bar area. Offset from the kitchen and always properly stacked with ingredients for the perfect Paloma, the curated cocktail corner is even more eye-catching with bold-patterned vinyl floor covering from Spicher and Company anchoring the space. Said Randle of the multi-use coverings, “I use them everywhere – particularly high traffic or wet areas like hallways, kitchens, bars and laundry rooms. They have fabulous patterns and are super durable. I particularly love the one in my bar area. I can’t tell you how many times people have walked across it and said, ‘oh my goodness, that isn’t tile?’”
During the gut renovation process, which included everything from powder rooms to the primary suite, she faced a few structural challenges within the historic home.
“As most people do in a renovation, we ran into some unexpected old home challenges, so some of my more ambitious construction changes needed to be altered,” said Randle. “But in the end, I think those limitations actually led to a layout and flow that honors the original home in a more genuine way.”
Randle viewed these limitations as opportunities to pivot, particularly in the kitchen when she realized that electrical issues would limit ideas like moving the range. Brimming with creative solutions, she was inspired to swap in sleek European custom cabinetry both for aesthetics and additional storage. She also added an island made of Infinity White Quartzite in the heart of the kitchen to add prep space and create an open, welcoming ambience for when company is present.
“So much of my life is spent in the kitchen. It’s where my kids do their homework. When we have friends over, it’s where we all are. I love to cook I spend a lot of time in there,” said Randle, who notes her go-to hostess dish, Broiled Shrimp à la Justin, a favorite learned from a cookbook that can be found lovingly tucked away between the records and the spirits on her bar. “There’s so much light and the flow is now great for entertaining.”
Past the cozy living room where the family often gathers on the custom-made sectional that Randle describes as “a hug”, we head upstairs to the bedrooms and surrounding areas, pausing mid-climb to appreciate the stained-glass windows that evoke a feeling of Old-World charm.
At the top of the stairs, we are met with an inspired design decision that was the result of a tête-à-tête on how to make the most practical and best use of the space; to marry the two bedrooms and two bathrooms in a quad design. For this, Randle turned to longtime friend Kim Payne Allen, Architect and Design Director of Studio BKA.
Allen, who had drawn up the plans for Randle’s first renovation project in New Orleans on Magazine Street, was a natural fit for the partnership.
Said Randle, “We went back and forth on how to get these two rooms to feel like they were always together. I love Kim’s style. She came up with some fantastic ideas.”
Allen approached the space by keeping in mind Randle’s hopeful goals for the upstairs yet also understanding the realities of structure complications in an older home.
“The plan modifications were a result of function and needing more space,” recalls Allen. “In newer homes, we design large primary en suites; however, in historic homes, large en suites have to be carved out of whatever space is available or whatever space must be sacrificed for the en suite to be functional. She (Randle) gave up the fifth bedroom in order to have a large, multifunctional closet and combined two smaller bathrooms to make a larger one with the absence of a soaking tub. Prioritizing needs and wants becomes fundamental in planning renovations in old homes.”
Of this piece of the project, Allen was met with a few architectural obstacles. “That area posed quite a challenge because we wanted to avoid moving too many of the walls with existing plumbing. Once she embraced the idea of a walk-through shower, everything else came together smoothly.”
Randle and Allen kept the idea of having ample natural light top of mind in terms of priorities throughout the combined spaces. With sunlight streaming in through the primary bedroom courtesy of wood plantation shutters that allow for a picturesque view of the pecan trees, decisions were made to have similar light in the bathroom, making the clean-lined marble more lustrous.
“I’ve always been a fan of incorporating windows in bathrooms—they’re one of my favorite architectural elements,” said Allen. “Keeping all the windows was a priority, not only because they enhance the space but also because they make the room feel more expansive.”
The result was a successful open living space that showcases a covet-worthy closet. Fun gems like a hot pink BENE crossbody bag done in collaboration with local designer Alexa Pulitzer and her signature golden gator detail are but one of the pieces among the multihued collection of shoes and purses, artfully stacked on the floor to ceiling shelves. The fashionable accessories are anchored by a view of a fireplace, an original to the house, that Allen encouraged Randle to highlight.
“For her closet, I immediately envisioned the fireplace as the focal point, framing the sightlines with her shoes and bags as a stylish backdrop,” said Allen. “I had worked on a similar project for a celebrity client, where the shoe closet was arranged in a comparable way, and I wanted to bring that same vibe to this space. I also imagined a bench in the center, perfect for those moments of deciding which shoes to wear and which bag to carry. Once that central element was in place, everything else naturally followed: an office nook near the window, his and her closets, and a small exercise area tucked into the room’s corners.”
Of her time working with Randle, Allen found it to be a rewarding and copacetic collaboration.
“Boo is fantastic to work with. Her trust in me allows for the freedom to develop creative, out-of-the-box concepts. She then beautifully refined the space with her impeccable choice of materials and colors.”
These choices to which she refers include the expressive French artwork above the brick fireplace, the sleek Formica, wood and brass 1980s dressers in her bedroom, a mix of plush and printed rugs, and a variety of objet d’art displayed on various walls.
Said Randle, “On the second and third floors, where the bedrooms are located, I stuck with light and bright for the backdrop – really highlighting all the gorgeous natural light – while accenting with color in the upholstery, accessories and art.”
Seeing the design project come to life in its entirety and having experienced the process of renovating and outfitting her own home, Randle expressed a sense of proud contentment.
“I truly captured my ethos of ‘if you surround yourself with things that you love, you will be happy.’ This house is authentically me: it’s my favorite colors, patterns, pieces and art. It functions exactly as I intended and exudes warmth in every room.”
Recreate the Look…
Evoke a feeling of rhythmic celebration with the On the Stage wallpaper from MINDTHEGAP. The Pattern Collective, thepatterncollective.com.
The Calvin three drawer side table in a dark matter burl finish provides elegant storage for any interior. Eclectic Home, eclectichome.net.
Cast a contemporary cool light from the sleek Viper chandelier. Villa Vici, villavici.com.
The chic way to accent a vanity mirror, the Sascha triple sconce offers a diffused glow to elegantly light your bathroom. Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com.
Create a cozy corner on your sofa with a linen/velvet square cushion in soft guava. JADE, jadenola.com.
Add a touch of plush to your space with an ethically sourced sheepskin pelt from New Zealand. Sunday Shop, sundayshop.co.
