Behind Closed Doors - Tom Landry

Tom Landry is an architect and an interior designer. He is also a family man and a philanthropist. I recently interviewed him ala the Proust Questionnaire for CUE Magazine. I was also assigned to take a photo of him for the story, and what was supposed to be maybe three of four shots, soon turned into fifty, as he graciously showed me the stylish loft he lives in.

Entry Hall detail

Entry Hall in the home of Tom Landry - LOVE the French antiques

On the other side of the entry hall: art and a bike

Loft living in New Orleans exists, but it is not the vernacular of the city. Shotgun houses, center hall "cottages", Craftsman bungalows, double gallery town houses, Victorian mansions, grand antebellum  homes, and everything in between, is what one associates with the abundant antique housing stock found in New Orleans.

Open plan for the dining and living area

Another view of the living and dining space -  the high back chairs are amazing

My favorite portrait of Tom Landry - the loft was un-styled, "as is", and I think this photo personifies natural elegance

Coffee table detail

 
So it was a real treat to see the inside of a very interesting loft space, deep in The Irish Channel. The building is well designed with a progressive elementary school housed on the main floor. Besides residential spaces, there are studios and offices. It is a true mixed use space.

The incredible outdoor common area behind the building

Behind the building is a huge common area comprised of several lots knitted into one beautiful  huge green space. Besides the di rigueur swimming pool, there is also an organic vegetable garden for residents, along with chickens providing fresh eggs. The building was renovated using eco-friendly principles. All this juxtaposed with a killer view of the downtown skyline.

Another seating area in the living room - painting is by New Orleans artist Harouni

The galley style kitchen is behind the dining area

Art work on the kitchen counter

Watermelon as art in the kitchen

 
Tom apologizes for his loft, as many home owners and decor mavens do: He says it is a work in progress. And what a work it is!  Tom collects and curates, and has some of the best design icons mixed in with antiques and art, all infused with a comfortable family feeling. Although the space is concrete, beams, and brick, it is far from the coolness of its surfaces.

Tom Landry's living room, a great mix of modern, antiques, and his collections

A sculpture on the antique desk - check out the amazing beams reflected in the mirror

Another beautiful textural detail on the desk

The loft is divided with a huge open space designated for living and dining. There is a nice separation provided by a formal entry hall. Behind the living room are two smaller spaces, one large enough to house Tom's office, and the other just large enough for a little reading nook with a cushy chair, and a sleek side table.

Tom's office tucked behind the living room

The perfect little reading nook also tucked in behind the living room

Detail of the iconic Kartell gun lamp in the reading nook

Down a hall are three large bedrooms, one for Tom's son, another for a guest room, and one for the master suite. Also along the hall is a large expansive family room.

The door to Tom's son's room

The son's bedroom- he's ten years old

The boy loves to paint, so there is an art area in his room - isn't his work fabulous?!

Love this shelving in the boy's room

The serene guest room - note the canvas Union Jack rug

The family room

At the end of the hall is the master bedroom suite

Master bedroom - art work over bed is from a trip taken to Buenos Aries - Tom is still looking for perfect bedding - In the meantime he keeps it simple, and asks the reader to forgive what's on the bed - I say, no apologies necessary!

Night stand detail

The whole sensibility of the place, says three guys live here. It looks like a chic version of "Two and a Half Men". Though decidedly furnished with what I call "mantiques", it is a pretty space any woman would feel at home in too.

Tom in front of cabinet filled with curiosities

A close up of the beautiful things Tom collects

Besides being uber talented, Tom is a very private and modest and humble guy. He has an impressive project roster,  yet surprisingly his home has never been photographed. Believe me it is very very magazine worthy and I hope Elle Decor stumbles upon my humble snap shots, and comes to New Orleans pronto.

Thank you Tom for letting us take a peek behind closed doors