Uncovering Treasures: New Orleans

A melting pot of culture, art, and creole, there are few things I hold more dearly than my “hometown” of New Orleans. Last month, I went back to my Southern roots with a trip home to the Northshore of New Orleans. My cup was overflowing with all the charming design, architecture, art, food, and French 75s! NOLA is filled with such rich history and some of the best unassuming destinations to shop until you drop.

Today, I am sharing my list of the haunts I visit every time I’m home. Plus, my tips for shopping, and the strategy I always use to uncover treasures every time you hunt.

xo Genevieve

Genevieve’s top tips to uncovering treasures:

EXPLORE:

Not all the good finds are in the “shotgun” shops along the notable Magazine Street, peek through alleys and courtyards for tucked away treasure chests.

TAKE YOUR TIME:

Magazine Street is a full 6 miles long so make a plan for more than one day of meandering, not only to look at shop goods but also the building beauties gracing the street.

Genevieve’s MUST VISIT SHOPS!

1. Kevin Stone Antiques on Magazine St.: Owners Kevin Stone and Mark Diamond are backed with 15 years of experience in antiques and interiors with merchandise ranging from furniture to wall decoration, lighting, accessories and garden elements. Kevin is especially versed in Gustavian and Swedish pieces, I learned on a recent design project.  Plus, they have the cutest Frenchies to accompany your store visit!
2. Antiques de Provence in The French Quarter – Transport to the South of France in an instant with a visit to this sophisticated multi-level shop. Brimming with provincial furniture, garden fountains and pottery, mirrors, lighting, art and more, you will bathe in French fashion. Be sure to visit the charming adjoined courtyard on your way out.
3. B. Viz Design: After sourcing textiles worldwide (from Paris to Istanbul, London to Cape Town), Rebecca Vizard brings them back to her studio on the shores of Lake Bruin.  They repurpose and repair centuries old fragments, salvaging precious trims and stitches from skilled artisans of the past, hand cutting and sewing them to sturdier fabrics,  creating unique one of a kind pillows…a process Rebecca likes to call “regal recycling”.
4. Katie Koch Home: New Orleans native Katie Koch designs and engineers hand-sewn window treatments from the simple and tailored to the lush and opulent. Her imaginative drapery creations truly transcend all trends!
5. Leontine Linens: At Leontine, every stitch sewn is done out of passion, out of a love for an art that was once fading. Founded by Jane Scott Hodges, Leontine preserves and reinvents this classic art form, infusing it with a modern twist.

1. Mignon Faget: Though Mignon has long been known for her bold jewelry, I always stop by the flagship store to check out their latest glassware designs, as the taste and craftsmanship lasts for decades.  My collection grows every time I visit!
2. Sunday Shop: Logan Killen Interiors creates spaces that are calm, cool and comfortable with all things interior design that you would seek to enjoy on a slow Sunday morning. Each piece is created with colors, textures and materials that soothes the soul, and unlike the traditional New Orleans aesthetic.
3. Alexa Pulitzer: As a handwritten note type of gal, I swoon over the stationary from Alexa Pulitzer. Since 1995, Alexa Pulitzer has been creating whimsical papers in her native New Orleans, and now her collections can be found in esteemed retailers around the world. Stop by to discover a bespoke touch that is personalized for each and every one of your pen pals.
4. Renaissance Interiors: If you are in search of quality consignment, look no further. Discover the treasures straight out of stately New Orleans homes. I scored a lovely vintage oil painting of the Coliseum by Eugene Colignon for $100!
5. Julie Neill: The art and craft of bespoke lighting, especially in plaster, is Julie’s passion. If you are a designer, make an appointment at the workshop so you can see her team in action.  A New Orleans native, the tropical climate, the picturesque architecture and the off-beat way of life are an unending source of inspiration for Julie.

Where to grab a cocktail after a day of shopping 

After a long day popping around New Orleans, it is time for a well-deserved cocktail…or two! Whether you have a sweet tooth or looking for a drink on the rocks, these decadent restaurants have every refreshment you could fancy.

Monteleone Hotel: – The most luxurious place to land in the French Quarter, the Monteleone Hotel has my favorite milk punch in the Carousel Bar…just the thing you need to cure your hangover or if you are craving something sweet during happy hour.