Elegant rustic stairway design

Exploring Antiques in New Orleans

THE FRENCH QUARTER IS HOME TO SOME OF THE RICHEST HISTORY AND FINEST ANTIQUES IN NEW ORLEANS

We made a recent trip to the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans to capture the spirit and appreciate the culture. The French Quarter is also known as Vieux Carre’, which translates to Old Square. While it does have the age part right, there is certainly nothing “square” about it. The place is alive and has a certain Je Nais Sais Quo that captures your imagination. There really isn’t anything like it in the country.

  • The streets of the French Quarter always alive with activity. A street Jazz quartet provides a backdrop for brunches.
  • The Supreme Court building located in the French Quarter is one of the most beautiful in the area. It is probably the best example of the Beaux-Arts style in all of New Orleans. Look at the detail!
  • The illustrious Cabildo building was formerly a seat of government. It housed the city council and is the site where the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies took place. It is now used as a museum and is considered a national landmark.
  • Ida Manheim Antiques is located at 409 Royal St. It is a world-renowned gallery and an authority in many periods and styles. 3 generations of expertise and knowledge are evident in curation and buying. They have a jaw-dropping inventory, including this monumental 18th Century Flame Grain mahogany cabinet. It is a magnificent piece of Dutch provenance.
  • An elaborately carved giltwood mirror is from the Louis XV period. The level of detail found in some of these 18th Century pieces is mind-blowing. Keeping it company is an English antique of exceptional quality. The mahogany sideboard with satinwood inlays is from the George III period.
  • Circa 1810, a very rare First Empire Period Marble Specimen Table, maintains its original base. 43” of WOW.
  • A beautiful early Victorian Coromandel library table with Palm Cross banding. Very Rare, circa 1845.
  • We also stopped by another French Quarter institution, M.S. Rau Antiques. It is located at 630 Royal St. This gallery has been open for more than 100 years and is considered a landmark and a must-visit for serious collectors. The extensive selection is full of unique and very rare items. This Victorian-era Jockey Scale is a personal favorite. It was crafted by the British firm of W & T Avery of Birmingham, a premier manufacturer of measurement devices of the time. Excellent piece of Horse Racing history for any of you well-heeled equestrians.
  • The intricately carved gilded base of a console table is breathtaking. It was housed in a castle in Scotland belonging to the Earl of Kinnoull. The majestic eagle supports a verde antico and rosso marble top, very much in the manner of William Kent.  It really captures the grand style of the Palladian era.
  • Arnaud's has been open since 1918, and it is a bastion of Creole cuisine. The tin roof, tile floor, and bentwood chairs all contribute to the charming ambiance. Jazz brunch is highly recommended!

Beige waiting area interior design

David Hicks Design

A DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF DAVID HICKS DESIGN

“If I have been able to influence in some small way an important aspect of everyone’s environment, then it has been worth the hard work that I have put into trying to lead people away from drabness, safeness and conventional solutions” – David Hicks

Source

If you have ever seen Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, you might remember a particularly arresting Steadicam sequence. The shot basically follows one of the protagonists on his Big Wheel Tricycle going from corridor to corridor. It had an eerie rhythm about it, as the wheels would change from wood floor to carpet. The carpet itself is a copy of British Interior Designer David Hicks most famous pattern, Hicks’ Hexagon. As one of his era’s preeminent tastemakers, David Nightingale Hicks had an extraordinary influence and the prestigious clientele base to prove it.

Source

“I have always had a passion for what some people consider clashing colours. I call them vibrating colours – for instance, vermilion, shocking pink, puce, salmon pink, and blue pink. I like them with aubergine. All reds go together, and I include both pink and orange in the red family.” – David Hicks

David Hicks was able to show very effectively how to use bold color, how to mix new and old together, how to use patterned carpets. This is a beautiful example of a well-lit, strong color environment he was known for creating.

Source

With the exception of the lone table lamp left of the fireplace, all ambient lighting come from up lights. Beige, Black, and white color schemes complement each other very well. Hicks employed the use of graphic Wilton carpets to tie colors often together and dictate the mood.

Source

Not shying from bold colors and ethnic references, Hicks had a remarkable ability to create disciplined spaces with such strong materials. The bravado in the ceiling and walls are from a North African design. Wall St. corporate raiders can channel their inner Gengis Khan.

Source

“Tablescapes” was a term he coined to describe beautifully arranged objects. Hicks was able to take disparate items and encouraged conversations between them by arranging them into themes. This beautiful example of blues comprises of a color-refracting Perspex sculpture by Rory McEwen, lapis lazuli, pottery, enamel, and glass. A lone yellow flower in the mix alludes to yellow and blueprint found on the sofa.

Source

His work at the Hyde Park Hotel in London captures the brand of maximalism he championed throughout his career. Vibrant colors, layering of patterns, and the occasional over the top detail like this canopy bed fixed to the ceiling.