As anyone who has tried to sell a house or scrolled through the Zillow feed shopping for their own well knows, curb appeal is a huge factor. Don’t judge a book by its cover, of course, but a home with an interesting or beautiful exterior just stands out from the pack. That’s exactly what caught my eye about this delightfully funky home for sale in New Orleans.
The facade features geometric-patterned gray and white panels, which can slide to close off the entrance or reveal a bank of floor-to-ceiling windows. A raised gravel patio punctuated by pavers leads up to the front steps, while out back, the fenced-in yard includes a shed, two petite decks, and grassy space to relax or entertain.
Inside, bamboo floors, lots of recessed lighting, and tall ceilings make the 1,277-square-foot space feel large. A one-wall kitchen with stainless appliances, rainfall shower, and not one but two attics round out this 2016 construction.
Are you on the house hunt, or just the type of person who loves browsing real estate listings, even when you’re not in the market for a new home? Property Crush is a column where we feature actual real estate listings that get the Apartment Therapy seal of approval in regards to style (we haven’t done home inspections or anything, so don’t sue us). Know of a great house on the market? Email the listing to repitches@apartmenttherapy.com.
It’s no secret that exposed brick is a covetable home feature. When looking through listing photos, checking into an Airbnb, or slyly peeking into brownstone windows as I pass by, I always say a little “wow, nice” to myself every time I spot a patch of brick. So imagine my joy when I came across this absolutely lovely condo for sale on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. From the all-brick courtyard to the accents poking through in the kitchen backsplash, bathroom wall, fireplace surround, and even around arched doorways, this place is an exposed brick heaven.
The mood of the condo is immaculate, too. The lime green shutters that greet you in the plant-filled courtyard set a fresh, happy tone from the start. Inside, an eclectic mix of wooden ceiling beams, wood cabinetry, and white countertops and walls round out the first floor. Up on the second level, both bedrooms enjoy heaps of sunlight, ample closet space, and easy access to and a balcony that overlooks the courtyard below. Depending on which window you look out, you can embrace the buzz of Bourbon Street or the peaceful slice of brick paradise in your own backyard.
Are you on the house hunt, or just the type of person who loves browsing real estate listings, even when you’re not in the market for a new home? Property Crush is a column where we feature actual real estate listings that get the Apartment Therapy seal of approval in regards to style (we haven’t done home inspections or anything, so don’t sue us). Know of a great house on the market? Email the listing to repitches@apartmenttherapy.com.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Name:Kimberly Nesmith and her canine child, Jude Location: Algiers Point — New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 570 square feet Type of Home: Half shotgun house apartment Years Lived In: 2.5 years, renting
Kimberly Nesmith is a technical writer, but she’s also well known for her photography and art, which often features gorgeous New Orleans architecture. And ever since 2018 she’s lived in this cute rental apartment located in a truly charming part of New Orleans that isn’t super well-known: Algiers Point. “I really love the neighborhood, especially in the fall. Algiers Point is truly New Orleans’ best kept secret to me,” Kimberly explains. “I was always a Lower Garden District girl and still love it, but nothing beats AP. It’s like quaint, coastal village meets Bywater architecture meets Garden district nature. The neighborhood itself is full of great people and a true sense of community with seasonal events and always being there to help each other.”
For Halloween lovers, this time of year is a favorite, but it’s even more so for New Orleans residents. “Halloween night is so unique. After growing up in rural Alabama, it was the first time I ever saw hordes of children in the streets trick-or-treating,” says Kimberly. “It was like ‘Hocus Pocus’ came to life for me. Not to mention, the adults do their own ‘trick-or-treating’ with beverages and Jello shots on some porches. Needless to say, my own love of autumn and Halloween drew me into this place, but it’s also a perfect location by the river, just across from the bustling French Quarter.”
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Mystical bohemian meets goth meets tropical meets vintage? I really do just buy what I like. I do notice that I tend to favor jewel tones and unique textures. I love antiques. Furniture that has a story/history and is passed down through the generations is beautiful to me. Feels spiritual.
Inspiration: I think the older I get, I want my home to resemble a cozy cottage in the woods with natural elements and vintage, timeless pieces. I obviously use Instagram to look at photos that meets my aesthetic for decor ideas. It’s also hard not to be inspired walking around New Orleans—this city definitely speaks to my love of old, historic homes AND furniture. Everything is unique, even the paint on the houses. There’s nowhere else like it. I’m always finding a new color combination to use.
Favorite Element: I initially want to say the porch, but it’s really the open layout of the apartment. I have pocket doors that divide the living from the kitchen, but with those open and the front door open in fall/spring, it’s like one huge, amazing room. The porch itself adds a lot of square footage and openness to my living room if I have the front door open. I can also open the full-length window for more porch access. My dog loves it as well.
Biggest Challenge: The biggest challenge has definitely been the size. It’s the smallest apartment I’ve ever lived in—I went from a 1,600-square-foot place to just under 600 square feet. I wanted to downsize, though, and not have the upkeep/cleaning for just one person. I’ve tried to utilize wall space and creative storage ideas.
Proudest DIY: Probably the wall in my kitchen beside the fridge. I took a vertical shelving unit and mounted it on the wall horizontally after painting it a turquoise color. I use it to store coffee mugs, glasses, etc. I used a vintage dresser from the 1950s below it to be more counter space for a coffee station and the microwave. The drawers add wonderful storage. I also like the large branch I added as a decor piece above my pocket doors. I recently found that beautiful branch on my street after a storm. It had been there for a few weeks without anyone cleaning it up, so I snatched it. I hung dried flowers from it. For this season, I thought the autumn garland would be great. I’ll add some special garland for Christmas, as well.
What percentage of your everyday home decor gets switched out for the holidays? Probably 40 percent? Depends on the holiday. I love decorating for the holidays, and we practically have a new one each month in New Orleans. A lot of my Halloween decor stays up year round, though, because it’s just my aesthetic… so I end up just adding things that are blatantly Halloween-y, like jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins, costume-y items, etc. I probably add more in for Christmas but I think my Halloween decor ends up looking extravagant just because there’s so much I have in my living room that looks like Halloween already!
How long have you been decorating your home for Halloween? Ever since I lived on my own after college… so about 11 years now.
How long does it take to decorate? Usually I can tackle it in a day, but it takes more time when I decide to buy and add more pieces (every year…) or if I go all out like I did this year with the porch. That takes another day and some help.
What’s this year’s Halloween decor theme or inspiration? I never really pick a particular theme, but my neighbor and I noticed that with our witch hats hanging from the roof that we got some “Practical Magic” vibes. My altar area also stays like that year ‘round, so I think the witch theme fits.
How much did you spend on Halloween decor this year? I’d say not more than $175. That was mostly new things like the teapot, a few new pumpkins, figurines, rugs, etc. I already have a good bit to work with. All of my decorations tend to come from HomeGoods, TJMaxx, Target, Amazon, At Home, Spirit Halloween, or random places throughout the years. I did buy a lot of larger candles this year from Warm Glow Candle Company. Their scents are the absolute best, and the candles last forever; I have one over a year old that I burn all the time that’s still going!
Overall, I tried to do Halloween on a budget this year. I know we’re all feeling the wallet shrink with Covid. Of all places, Dollar Tree was my secret this year. Rather than spend $20 on a fall leaf garland from a home decor store, I’d buy four strands of the thinner/cheaper fall leaves at Dollar Tree and twist them together. I’d have a full garland for only $4. There are tricks like that you can use to make the lower quality stuff look higher end, fuller, whatever the case, for a whole lot cheaper. That way you can spend your money on a few nicer items!
Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? I know it sounds typical, but truly buy what you love, and I don’t think you have to worry about whether or not an item “goes” with what you already have. You’ll see that you likely have an innate sense of style built in… you’ll notice a theme. And try to be creative. A lot of times you can recreate a look for a lot less if you use tools like the internet and your imagination.
This house tour’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
Jacqueline is a commercial and editorial photographer based in her beloved hometown of New Orleans. She spent 16 years working as a newspaper photojournalist in Newport, RI, before returning home. When she isn’t taking photos of her spirited 9-year-old, she’s busy beading her costume for next Mardi Gras.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Name:Diogo DeLima, Michael Hahn, and their dog Trigger Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 2400 sf Years lived in: 7 years; rented
Mellow Brazilian music is playing throughout Diogo and Michael’s New Orleans home on a sunny summer day. Open windows offer a view of live oaks, banana trees, and palms everywhere you turn. The verdant surroundings, along with house plants in every room, blur the lines between inside and out.
In a city where most people seek refuge from the heat inside of sealed, air-conditioned spaces, feeling a breeze inside a home—however slight—is a welcome change. Diogo, who was born in Brazil, explains that the windows were painted shut when he moved in seven years ago. Along with stripping the paint from the wood walls with a scraper and heat gun, he made all of the windows operable. “It would be a tragedy to have these beautiful windows without function,” he says. “To feel the heat brings you closer to nature; you’re accepting it.”
Before Diogo moved in, the 100-year-old Spanish Revival home looked like a frat house. There were couches everywhere, different colors on the walls in every room, and the yard was a wreck. “The owner didn’t love the house,” he says. “Nothing was taken care of. I saw potential, but the vibe just wasn’t right. There was contradictory energy between the things in the house and architecture.”
Diogo set out to give the neglected home the love and attention it deserves and seven years later, there’s an enchanting quality to the place. Friends come and go freely and have nicknamed the house “tropical seclusion”. “People here feel very at home and free,” Diogo says, “it reminds them of vacation places.” The lush, beautifully landscaped backyard is the perfect setting for parties. In fact, it was were Diogo and Michael first met in 2017. Michael attended a party with a mutual friend, then romance eventually led to marriage. “At least three other couples we are friends with have met right here in this yard,” Michael says with a smile. “The walls come down and people lose track of time when they are here,” he adds.
Michael, an engineer, is the perfect creative collaborator for Diogo, a choreographer and contemporary dancer. When they started living together, they decided that instead of buying furniture, they would invest in tools and build the things they needed. Together they have designed and built a platform bed, the frame for their sofa, and all of their outdoor furniture. They describe their method as focused, efficient, and fast. “Constantly working on a project is part of making a home. Once you’ve put a lot of hours into it,” Michael says, “it makes it feel like home. We’ve really enjoyed the process.”
The men describe their style as organic, eclectic, and masculine. The decor, they say, is a cohesive mix of their values. “To us, home is a sacred place. We pour good energy into it, design spaces intentionally, maintain it constantly, and fill it with friends, family and love—and, it works! The result is a space that gives back! It has a warm feeling that at once inspires and makes you feel welcome.”
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Inspiration: Places around the world that we have visited that have a feeling of home
Favorite Element: Natural light and plants. The Spanish Revival architecture features open spaces with lots of light. When plants are added, it creates a feeling of relaxation and of being outside while indoors.
Biggest Challenge: The biggest challenge for us was to honor the architecture of the home while making it unique and ours—we wanted our style to be elegant, yet relaxed—to create a place which is beautiful, but still feels like home and which feels immediately welcoming to everyone.
Proudest DIY: Hand-crafted furniture in our house: the platform couch, bed frame in master suite, and outdoor furniture.
Biggest Indulgence: PLANTS
Best Advice: Make your home your own—truly find the things that reflect who you are and which make you feel good—try new things and see how they fit! Let your home grow and change as you do.
What’s your best home secret? Brazilian hospitality goes a long way. Simple gestures like making coffee or offering fresh fruit help people feel welcome and at home.
Jacqueline is a commercial and editorial photographer based in her beloved hometown of New Orleans. She spent 16 years working as a newspaper photojournalist in Newport, RI, before returning home. When she isn’t taking photos of her spirited 9-year-old, she’s busy beading her costume for next Mardi Gras.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Name:Megan and Chris Olsen Location: French Quarter, New Orleans Size: 1100 square feet Type of Home: Apartment in Creole townhouse Years lived in: 2 years, renting
After seeing the courtyards and curved staircases of this rental apartment in the French Quarter, Megan and Chris Olsen knew this was the place for them. They are a very creative couple: Chris owns the vintage and antique clothing and furniture brand Vice & Graft as well as Swamp Rags, and Megan is Assistant Vice President of Nursing at Ochsner Health, a paper artist, and co-owner of Vice & Graft. They both love that their home has a ton of natural light, great French Quarter views, and that it’s within walking distance to their favorite bars, coffee shops, and their kids’ school. Like everywhere in the Quarter, their home is dripping with history, too.
“A few weeks after moving in, we headed to The Historic New Orleans collection, which maintains the original blueprints and history of most of the buildings in the French Quarter. The plot of land for this home was designated in 1722 and construction for a single-family townhouse and completed in 1833,” Megan explains. “By the Storyville era in the 1900s, it was purchased by the current owners, Mercier Realty & Investment Co., and it became known as The Shim Sham Lounge, a jazz hall. When jazz fell out of popularity, it was reverted to individual townhouses by the 1970s. One of our neighbors has resided there since that time! We have two young kids and they’re the first kids to live in the building in a long time.”
“When we’re at home, we typically keep the balcony doors open to let in the light and sounds. The French Quarter is magic no matter what time of day it is, but at night the gas lamps glitter and the sound of horse-drawn carriages or jazz drifting lazily through the neighborhood feels like a perpetual vacation. Even after more than a year in it’s still magical,” Megan says.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Vintage, eclectic, and kid-friendly
Inspiration: The lush and old-timey New Orleans vibes mixed with eclectic vintage pieces.
Favorite Element: The view! The other details like the gas lamps and courtyards are also neat.
Biggest Challenge: The small space, especially with two kids. This is the subtropics, so there’s no attic, and no basement, and with the humidity you can’t store much in the courtyard. We’ve gotten pretty good at storage and organization and making dual use of spaces.
Proudest DIY: The paper moon hung in our bedroom! I made a vintage-style paper moon out of leftover Mardi Gras supplies and Amazon boxes for a photoshoot prop and it came out so good that I’ve gotten dozens of messages to sell it, or make more. It’s got the right amount of whimsy and romantic old-timey vibes that I can’t let it go.
Biggest Indulgence: The plants — it makes a difference in how lush the apartment feels. Because of the sunlight and humidity we get in New Orleans it’s pretty easy to grow big tropical plants indoors. I have made some expensive mistakes, though, so I’m grateful for all the guidance from our local plant shops who give all the tips and tricks (@Fait.Nola and @UrbanrootsNOLA).
Sometimes Chris comes home with these incredible Storyville-era pieces of art simply to get my opinion on it and do research on it for Vice & Graft and I just can’t let them go. And I have quite a collection of vintage accessories (purses, pins, beaded collars)!
Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? Well, we’re running two small businesses out of it, and raising two kids in it so we’re sensitive to staying organized to make the most use out of the space. We’ve done research on different kinds of vintage furniture that both meets our aesthetic and keeps things organized.
An example is the 1920s Stradivara sheet music cabinet in our bedroom that is a perfect piece to house all the paper for my paper art business. Another example is repurposing a vintage bar cabinet that was repainted to look Atomic Age that had these neat shelves that my five-year-old assures are perfect for housing his Lego collection.
What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? We’ve amassed a sizeable record collection of vintage jazz and swing records since we couldn’t go swing dancing during the pandemic and used the living room as our dance floor. Some are from @peachesrecords and some from antique shops. And locally made goods, especially candles from Hazeltine. They’re locally made, women-made from start to finish, hand-poured candles that smell incredible, and have great art on the labels that depict the memories that the scents are based on. I give them as gifts often.
Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: While we deal in a lot of vintage furniture and would love to outfit the entire place in perfect-condition vintage pieces, sometimes it’s better to go with the worn-in (or washable) version of it for now because of the amount of Crayola paint and goldfish snacks in our lives while raising kids. Having a couch cover that can be washed easily but still fits with the rest of the furniture has come in handy more times than I can count.
What’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? Take your time. It took us a year to curate the space into our vision, and it’s still a work in progress. We travel around rural Louisiana every few months now to source vintage pieces for Vice and Graft. I’d encourage people to have an adventurous spirit and check out antique shops in their travels. You’d be surprised at the neat pieces you’ll find.
This house tour’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
