When a neuroscientist from California — who has been visiting New Orleans since the 1990s and has long wanted a second home here — found an available condo in the French Quarter, he purchased it sight unseen. While the bones of the historic home were beautiful, the interior design was quite dated. The real estate agent who sold the home, Rachael Kansas, referred the homeowner to Hattie Sparks Collins, owner, creative and decorator at Hattie Sparks Interiors, to transform the space.
The interior design work on the 2,300-square-foot, two bedroom/two-and-one-half bath condo began with phase one in June 2021, which included light renovation and a full redesign of the dining room, living spaces, powder room and two bedrooms. Phase two began in June 2023, including a full renovation of the kitchen, bar and bathrooms, with all work completed last October. Collins used the historic shell and created a modern bachelor pad using paint, wallpaper, window treatments, lighting, hardware and furniture.
The homeowner — who also travels and presents lectures worldwide, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia — wanted the home to have a collected, global feel. He also wanted the home to have a masculine touch and to reflect its location in New Orleans.
To meet these criteria, Collins layered old and new pieces to give the home personality and depth. For example, she incorporated elements from the homeowner’s travels and sourced vintage rugs from Turkey, decorative elements from Africa and natural materials like marble, leather and worn wood. Meanwhile, she avoided traditionally masculine clichés like all dark colors and heavy fabrics, and instead used neutral colors and a mix of rich fabrics (like velvet, bouclé, linen and aged leather) to complement the traditional architectural shell and nod to classic New Orleans style. The homeowner also loves art, so Collins incorporated pieces from local and regional artists such as Frank Relle, William McLure, Marjorie Pierson and Marc Chagall.
“I wanted the home to feel fresh and current, but still retain its historic charm and welcoming vibe,” Collins says. “We stripped away the more opulent decorative elements but maintained the beautiful millwork, door and window hardware, oversized mirrors and [original wood] floors. The various textures within the home help the space feel layered, welcoming and multidimensional. Furniture and decor is a layered mix of new, custom and antique pieces [sourced from 1stDibs, Chairish and local vendors] that intentionally helped the home look like it had been thoughtfully curated.”
Some darker colors do come into play, like navy blue walls in the dining room and smoke gray walls in the kitchen (painted by Maxin Creations). Wallpaper also plays a role in the primary bedroom and bathrooms, installed by Women Who Wallpaper.
“We found a wallpaper for his bedroom with the Napoleonic bee represented, which is a wink to New Orleans,” Collins says. “The primary suite papers are both from Timorous Beasties, and the bathroom paper is extra special. Along with being a neuroscientist, the client is a big marine life enthusiast. We found this paper that looks like a Rorschach test (a nod to his neuroscientist background), but, if you look closely, it’s scuba divers, sharks, fish and underwater elements. The powder room wallpaper is by Palm Orleans and is a fun tribute to Mardi Gras.”
Custom pieces also are layered throughout the home, including a nine-foot sofa from Clad Home. When the pillows are removed, the sofa can act as another bed. Collins also saw an antique black demilune table that she wanted to incorporate, but she needed a pair. So she enlisted Dop Antiques to create them. Meanwhile, the copper-top bar was at the client’s request. “It reminds him of the piano bar at Pat O’Brien’s,” Collins says.
The only challenge Collins faced was when it came to getting the new refrigerator into the kitchen. “[It] wouldn’t fit up the winding 19th century staircase, so we had to shut down the street with the New Orleans Police Department, hire a crane and lift it up through the top floor windows to the kitchen,” she says. “It was so nerve-wracking, but it went off without a hitch.”
Overall, the redesigned condo exudes sophistication with a touch of playfulness. And in the spirit of New Orleans, Sparks says that the condo is apparently a wee bit haunted. “We made sure to sage it prior to the client’s first stay,” she says.
