The Best Eclectic Home In New Orleans

Do you have an eclectic home? A decor that looks as though it evolved over time with a collection of furnishings that represents your personalty culminating in a cohesive design defines the eclectic home.

Gorgeous linen covered wing chairs at Eclectic Home

Here in New Orleans there is a wonderful shop off the beaten path of Magazine Street, and well worth a special trip. It's called Eclectic Home, nestled on nostalgic Oak Street, it is a gem of a shop that is eye candy for those that enter.

Have a fun time at Eclectic Home, 8211 Oak Street, New Orleans

The shop is huge, and it represents every line a home decorator has ever seen in a magazine.  It is well stocked all the time, with new merchandise appearing regularly. Besides all the fabulous on trend home furnishings, Eclectic Home has killer updated vintage pieces, art work, and handmade objects to add to your unique mix. They also have the most extensive selection of designer lamps (table and floor), chandeliers, and lighting fixtures in New Orleans.

The great mix at Eclectic Home - LOVE the pillows!

Owner and lead interior designer Penny Francis has carved out a solid reputation at Eclectic Home for over ten years. Her staff of assistant designers, Elizabeth Kurtz, Michelle Mancini, and Brandon Mathieu are always there to help you with your choices.

Owner and lead designer Penny Francis has created something very special at Eclectic Home

The team at Eclectic Home does high style interior design work throughout the whole house, and the kitchens they design are extra fabulous.

This art work with circles is very affordable, and a nice copy cat of a certain beloved New Orleans artist - I spy a Trina Turk pillow - Eclectic Home has the best designer pillow selection in New Orleans

Eclectic Home also takes on commercial projects, their latest at the much anticipated Blue Plate Artist Lofts, where they did the interior design for the offices, the model loft homes, and the amazing roof terrace.

Eclectic Home is doing interior design work at fabulous new Blue Plate Artists Lofts opening at the beginning of March

Whenever there is a special event showcasing design talent in New Orleans you are sure to find Eclectic Home on the program. They have done exhibitions at The New Orleans Museum of Art for Art In Bloom, and this March they are creating a tablescape at Longvue Gardens in conjunction with the Tea For Two exhibit.

Eclectic Home carries many wonderful table top items, including this never polish ware from Beatriz Ball

There is a terrific back room at Eclectic Home filled with things on sale. Right now they are having a fabulous store wide Winter sale.

This cozy and luxurious bird throw would be the perfect finishing touch for your eclectic room

And yes I shop at Eclectic Home, for myself and for interior design projects. Hope to run into you there! And for all you out of town bloggers, EH will ship anything. Keep up with them on their web site and Facebook page where they continually post what is currently in the store. They have access to all the top furniture lines when you need custom work.

You can afford to add a little couture to your life with these incredible Christian Lacroix pillows sold at Eclectic Home

More Lacroix at Eclectic Home

Love the texture of this burlap covered shelf at Eclectic Home

Good advice from Eclectic Home

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Designer Bikes, Yes or No?

I have been wanting a bike for the past couple of years, not a motorcycle, but an old fashion pedal bike. When I spend time in Key West with Michael Pelkey, we ride around town night and day on beach bikes, those faded cruisers often personalized with a home made paint job. I also have fond memories of Danilo riding me on his handlebars late at night to the New York City disco Area. We'd "pull up" alongside the limos and a doorman would take Danilo's bike and stash it in the coat room, and wave us in past the ubiquitous velvet ropes.

I love the new crop of designer bikes that have come out lately. Here are a few to consider.

Missoni bike at Target - You can still get it!  $399.

City Bike from C. Wonder - $249.

My favorite! At Wal Mart only $89.99! They are out of stock online, but I have seen it and lusted after it at my local Wal Mart. LOVE the aqua accents and the black and white damask print! I would love to ride around town on this for sure!

No post about bikes would be complete without a picture of Audrey Hepburn riding her bike! I would love to get a basket for my bike and ride Cholo around! I wonder if he would let me do it?!

Did you know that the bicycle was a very important aspect to woman's liberation? It was an equal opportunity modern way of transport that was embraced by women in the Victorian and Edwardian era, affording them a freedom to move around under their own power and on their own.

The bicycle gave women freedom

Another acquaintance, Pryor Dodge has an amazing collection of antique bicycles that he exhibits in museums around the world. He first pointed out to me the profound effect the bicycle had for women.


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Shop Keepers Homes - Maria and Simon Hardeveld - Antiques On Jackson

A beloved couple owns a shop beloved by many here in New Orleans called Antiques on Jackson.
Their home is featured in the January issue of Our Louisiana Magazine. Unfortunately the magazine web site doesn't have the article or any photos up, so I pulled some from another story about them done in CUE Magazine some time ago.

The home of Maria and Simon Hardeveld owners of Antiques on Jackson in the January 2012 issue of Our Louisiana

If you see the current issue of Our Louisiana pick it up so you can see the most current gorgeous shots of Maria and Simon's amazing home. I never get tired of seeing a home I love shown again either on blogs, in another magazine, or in books. Too many editors don't understand that decor devotees in fact like to look at things they love over and over again. Every photographer, writer, and stylist puts a new spin on things even if they have been shot before. And every home owner is always tweaking and revising and revamping their rooms because that's what they love to do, so you always can see something changed, added, or subtracted. The personal evolution of a home owner who does decor and design is ever fascinating. And the body of work of a designer is there to be enjoyed over and over again, in as many outlets as possible.

The home of Maria and Simon Hardeveld in CUE Magazine - all photos by Theresa Cassagne, story by Lee Cutrone

I think we need to let editors know this! They need to update their thinking and policies to reflect the age of the internet and social media where the flow and sharing of information is forever changed. Images will be repeated, especially the ones that strike a chord. No one seems to mind when the same fashion or celebrity photos constantly reappear. The idea of the exclusive is powerful, but becoming less realistic with the free flow of information.
So Bravo! Our Lousiana for doing another story on the Hardeveld's fabulous home.

Still life in the Hardeveld's home - They personify Patina Style!!!

For designers and decorators, creating a body of work takes time. Rooms and houses are months long projects segueing into years.  Waiting to have something new to present to editors is difficult. I think some leeway can be given to designers allowing them to share the same project with multiple outlets. There are levels on exposure: local publications and blogs all the way up to national magazines and books, and also television and You Tube exposure. Except for the media and decor mavens the general public does not focus on when they last saw something. Eye candy is disposable. For the mavens, repeating things with another point of view is welcome.

More great objet at the Hardevelds

What do you say? 

The master bedroom -  "We buy things that have their original finishes and surfaces," says Maria, a native New Orleanian whose love for antiques was instilled by relatives who emigrated to New Orleans from Italy.

Go to Antiques on Jackson to get some of the great Hardeveld style

Maria and Simon - He is an artist who creates iconic New Orleans signs - A native of Chamonix, France and former chef, Simon shares his wife's affinity for antique, distressed and hand-hewn wares, taking satisfaction in their daily use.

Alberto and I purchased a sign from Simon for our tango dance studio back in 2001 - It now hangs in our home studio where we teach private tango lessons - I  think it looks fab with the Union Jack armoire Alberto painted for me - photo Valorie Hart

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Upholstery Sale At The Creole Cottage

As if the regular great prices at The Creole Cottage couldn't get any better! The Creole  Cottage is the cutest shop that sells Upcycled home furnishings.

Classic French style chair - The frame is flawlessly painted, and it's meticulously reupholstered in fabric from West Elm -  A perfect chair for the living room! Get it on sale now at The Creole Cottage 1817 Magazine Street

This shop a favorite of girls on a budget, and designers looking for a deal for their clients. They have recently added vintage pieces meticulously reupholstered in current modern fabrics from high end designers such as Thomas Paul, West Elm, and Duralee. The frames are perfectly painted, and if you have ever done a DIY project painting and/or upholstering furniture you will really appreciate how very good the prices are.

Very stylish upholstery at The Creole Cottage - The stool is covered in Thomas Paul fabric for only $55.

So get on over there now, and tell them The Vamp sent you! You can also order online. Even with shipping you'll come out ahead.

Pair of cute twin upholstered headboards only $30. each - Great for a kids room, or hang them together for a stylish adult king size bed - Side chair is only $40.! So cute for a desk chair!

Love the mix of two prints on this arm chair - Upholstery has sharp double piping - This chair is only $125!

Pair of blue/gray rolling chairs with neutral seat - How great for the dorm!

The "Love" side table - Perfect gift for Valentines day

Chic gray linen with nail heads - Only $45!

Large vintage wicker bench - could almost be a daybed on the sleeping porch, or a great piece at the end of a king size bed - Only $95. at The Creole Cottage

Fabulous settee upholstered in stunning linen print - $650. Really!!!!

Cute vintage pillow - LOVE the elephant print - only $18.

Fab arm chair with beautiful new upholstery - Only $150. - You know you'd pay that in labor alone!

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New Years Eve Decor

Why not host a small New Years Eve supper? Invite a few neighbors or close friends, and sit down to dine and toast the New Year together.

New Years Eve Supper - all photos and styling by Valorie Hart

As an event designer I decorated many huge New Years parties HERE.

One of my favorite event designs was one in a 7000 square foot loft space. I want to show you how you can scale it down for your home.

Valorie Hart Designs - I designed this corporate event in a 7000 square foot loft - This is the inspiration for a New Years supper party you can scale down and recreate at home 

The elements I use are white branches, ribbons, white flowers, gold and silver, and pearls.
You can hop on over to Houzz to see my product guest picks to get some of the things I use. Even if you don't have time to order on the internet for New Years Eve, check out the sites for after holiday sales and stock up for next year. Shop locally too. All the elements are easy to find.

All the elements from the loft party are here in my dining room

Create focal points on your dining room table, the chandelier overhead, the sideboard or buffet, and on any other furniture in the dining room. The whole room will look decorated by decorating three or four places in the room.

My starting off point came by way of a wonderful Christmas gift I got from Mitchell from Optimism and White Paint. It's a "tablet" of 50 paper placements. This design is in black and white, but you can use any color you like.

I was off to the races with these black and white paper placemats, a gift from Mitchell

I basically used all the black and white things I had on hand: black and white plates, white branches, black and white ribbon, black napkins, white flowers, etc.

Black and white dinnerware, black napkins, black and white ribbons enhance the black and white placemats

I placed tall white branches on the chandelier, and made two large bouquets with them in silver vases. Inexpensive curling ribbon was cut to varying lengths and hung from the chandelier and on the branches. It gives the effect that the whole ceiling is decorated with festive New Years Eve streamers.

Tall white branches arranged in vases and placed on the chandelier  festooned with ribbon

Each of the black and white dinner plates has a different animal on them - This is the dog - The under plate is Italian

The rabbit plate - the pattern of the black and white plates is Du Paquier by Mottahedeh

This little guy looks like a weasel, but I call him a monkey

The fourth animal is a boar

I used simple white spray roses and flat leaf eucalyptus in black glass  containers

I took down the Christmas decor in the room that did not have the New Years colors.  I added a silver wreath on the mirror in place of the vintage color one, and removed the tree from the buffet with the vintage color balls, and removed the turquoise ornaments in the hurricanes.

The bar cart and trumeau is another focal point - I changed out the Christmas colors for the white and silver New Years color - I added a tall glass vase filled white branches, a silver wreath on the trumeau, and black and white ribbons hanging from the garland on top of the mirror - I also pinned wide strips of silver lame ribbon to transform the the lamp shade on the plaster Della Robbia lamp

I filled the glass vase with pearls - They are actually Mardi Gras beads

The buffet area - The "Dream" banner used for Christmas decor remained, but all other previous  Christmas decor was removed to keep the color scheme consistent

A large white ironstone platter holds hats and horns - I kept to silver. gold, and black - Sand in the bottom of the  hurricanes replaced the turquoise Christmas ornaments

Cholo loves the New Years Eve supper party decor

I actually styled this table from everything I had on hand, to participate along with the other fabulous tablescapers at Susan's Between Naps On The Porch.

And I am using Mr. Linky at Nitas's Mod Vintage Life to participate in her metamorphosis series. I admire Nita very much for many reasons, and am honored to be included in anything she does.

What are your New Years Eve plans? I hope I inspire you to do a little decorating!

Alberto and I usually stay home on New Years Eve. This year we will be "at home" and inviting people to stop by for a drink on their way to or from a party or whatever their New Years Eve plans are. It is not really a party. It's causal and no pressure, and we will be happy to see who turns up.

photo via Vintaquarian

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