One-Stop Shopping
Go in for paint and come out with a platter. Helm Paint and Supply’s expanded location on Earhart Boulevard offers more than just paint to bring color into your home. It offers decorative housewares in a rainbow of colors and styles, such as Abigails’ famous fleur-de-lis ceramics in a new colorway, fresh celadon. Helm Paint and Supply, 8130 Earhart Blvd., 861-8179, or go to www.helmpaint.com.
All Wired Up
Rebuilt from parts purchased at the Paris flea market, this Swedish-style chandelier is ready to dangle in any room. Two grand tiers comprised of 12 lights atop wooden arms keep things bright while its rich patina evokes a timeless appeal that can only be created over centuries. La Jolie Antiques and Interiors,
701 Metairie Rd., Metairie, 835-2557.
Branching Out
Michael Aram’s simple philosophy that “function should reflect form” is best illustrated with his Olive Branch dish. The hand hammered bowl with its oxidized bronze olive branch is perfect for, well, holding olives. The dish is just one piece from Aram’s Bronzed Botanical Collection inspired by the form and texture found in foliage from around the world. Arabella Fine Gifts and Accents, 3902 Hwy. 22, Mandeville, 985/727-9787, or go to www.michaelaram.com.
Double Duty
Furnishing small spaces calls for big-time creativity. A vintage iron crib is a sizeable solution when in need of additional seating for a sunroom or veranda. Quilted pillows and shabby-chic fabrics look and feel cozy, and work well indoors for a cottage feel. For outdoor use, opt for pre-treated fabrics in heavy-textured earth tones.
Sister’s Antiques, 114 Codifer Blvd., Metairie, 828-6701.
The Storm Gourmet: A Guide to Creating Extraordinary Meals without Electricity (Pineapple Press, $9.95)
There are two things New Orleanians take seriously—bad storms and good food. This hurricane season, it’s crucial to prepare for both. The Storm Gourmet proves that with minimal effort you can still enjoy tasty meals in even the most inclement weather. It offers a shopping list to create the ultimate emergency pantry; more than 70 recipes using nonperishable food items and suggested menus; a practical guide to growing a storm-proof herb garden; and even advice, tips and anecdotes about weathering the storm. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929, or go to www.barnesandnoble.com.
Hot Legs
At first glance, the “Louis” side table is simple and sleek. But look a little closer and you’ll find that it’s anything but ordinary. The inverted legs of this black-lacquered beauty give it an edgy look that is totally unexpected, especially when accompanied by more traditional furnishings. Eclectic Home, 8133 Oak St., 866-6654, or go to www.eclectichome.net.
Pillow Talk
Give ‘em something to talk about by using pillows rather than canvases to display original artwork. Joanne Roberts-Wittauer’s designs are fanciful, colorful and most of all, unconventional. With an eye-popping aesthetic and thought-provoking story, each pillow brings a solid-colored sofa or armchair to life. inside design, 1623 Metairie Rd., Metairie, 833-8686, or go to www.insidedesignllc.com.
Back to the Beach
Watch out Lilly Pulitzer! Bryan Batt’s “Pontchartrain Beach” fabric is making a splash with its punchy patchwork design named for the amusement park founded by his family. Exclusive to Hazelnut, the new design is reminiscent of rollercoasters, cotton candy and summer in the city, but incorporates present-day symbols such as fleur-de-lis, magnolias and crawfish in its vibrant motif. Hazelnut, 5515 Magazine St., 891-2424, or go to www.hazelnutneworleans.com. Select Photographs by Sara Essex
