When Adrienne LaBauve purchased a home in the Irish Channel in 2019, it was because the charm of the house and neighborhood won her over. “The character and potential of the house itself, as well as the outdoor space and rare-in-this-city off-street parking, was too much to pass on,” she says. “I love the oak trees, and the vibe of this neighborhood and the Magazine Street corridor.”
LaBauve, who was born in Lafayette and grew up outside of Nashville, moved to New Orleans for college and eventually decided to stay. She and her partner, along with their four-pound Yorkie named Archie, enjoy using their home for entertaining and relaxing after a long day. “The flow of the house, and the outdoor spaces, make it a nice place for a good party,” she says.
The home, which was an existing structure built in the 19th century (once used as overflow from the former Methodist hospital that sits across the street) and previously owned by interior designer Valorie Hart, needed renovations rather than a total redesign. When LaBauve saw Maureen Stevens Design on Instagram, she knew she had found her interior designer. “I loved the color she brings to her projects,” she says. “I wanted a design scheme that brought energy and vibrancy as opposed to something stark and predominantly white or with a much more limited palette. We took a lot of things that Valerie had already done and [made] them work for what I envisioned.”
LaBauve, who considers herself a minimalist, wanted a modern look with a background of blue, gray and gold, pops of vibrant colors and texture throughout. “I wanted the home to be colorful but also relaxing, and stylish but livable,” she says. Stevens ran with this plan and included lots of blue hues in the home, all while making each space harmonious with one another. “Maureen is very good at not only listening, but hearing beyond the words to really understand the concepts and feelings that the project should embody,” LaBauve adds. “After the second design draft, we were on our way.”
Stevens began the design work in 2020 (which is still ongoing), and she did everything from space and furniture planning to sourcing, installation and styling. She also curated the lighting, paint colors and wallpaper. For the attached guest house, Stevens curated all of the pieces from the furniture to the artwork. “[The apartment] is a great space for friends and family to enjoy,” LaBauve says. “It’s classy and elegant, welcoming and warm.”
In the main home, Stevens took inspiration from the colorful vibe of New Orleans. “It has a lot of classical themes without taking itself too seriously,” she says. “I heavily considered Adrienne’s likes and dislikes, and the descriptors on how she would like her home to feel. Designers are creative detectives. We learn about our clients from observation – their personality, the way they dress, the places they’ve been, what they read – which helps us hone in on the design direction.”
She achieved LaBauve’s design goals by using a wide array of colors (blue as the anchor with touches of green, gold, pink, apricot, teal and black) without going overboard. She also layered accessories, varied textures (such as plush rugs, and velvet and linen fabrics), and paired geometric patterns and architectural motifs with landscapes. Stevens also sourced wallpapers from House of Hackney via Spruce Wallpaper and Fabric Showroom to add hints of drama. All of the draperies and Roman shades are custom, and Stevens added picture molding around the mural in the living/dining room to double as a piece of art.
In the kitchen, Stevens commissioned a kitchen table – which also acts as a bar and prep table – from NOLA Boards to fit the long and narrow space. “We kept the cabinets and countertops that Valerie installed,” LaBauve says. “Valorie had the granite installed matte side out on the countertops, and we really liked the way it looked. So, we were very much able to play off some of the great work that Valorie did with the space.”
LaBauve also had added some landscaping to the outdoor space, and she wanted to make the most of it. “She hosts parties here, so a main seating area was crucial,” Stevens says. “We took neutral colors and added the throw pillow accessories reminiscent of her indoor space.”
Overall, the updated classic home features simple, clean lines in most of the furnishings, highlighted by tasteful accessories such as ornate frames, classical sculptures, urns, busts, and artwork that depict classical themes and scenes. “I like to think my home is refreshing and vibrant, and that people can relax here, and still be surprised and delighted perhaps by some element of the design,” LaBauve says.
