Designer Penny Francis spearheaded the renovation and decoration of this Uptown home to better reflect the personalities of her long-time clients. "They wanted a house that they could grow in and share with their families, and they're all about colorful, well-functioning spaces." The result is as joyful as it is glamorous. The kitchen required a total demolition. Penny opened it up to the family room and improved the layout which gained valuable additional work surfaces. By situating a custom 8-foot island with seating that faces the large window, she maximized views to the backyard, pool, and patio. Hand-selected quartz backsplash and countertops and a handmade stainless hood with brass strap detailing are elegant choices, and the reclaimed heart pine floors nod to the age of the house. I love the artisan vibe she created with the wall of polished porcelain tile — Night Lily by Iris Apfel — and custom floating shelves with a brass sconce from her shop, Eclectic Home.

The guest bath was also taken down to the studs. To give the illusion of more space but still accommodate a shower and tub, Penny combined both functions within frameless clear glass, allowing the amazing glass ombré tile from Stafford Tile to take center stage. With hexagon Carrara marble floors alongside mirrors and lighting from her shop, she achieved a beautiful spa retreat. For a powder room tucked under the stairs, Penny covered the walls and ceiling with an Osborne & Little paper to "conceal the many odd angles and to add decorative drama."

The dining and living rooms — each with their own design identities, depth of color, and layered pattern — work seamlessly together. For one, the rich velvet deco-inspired sofa and the client's art collection were the building blocks. The walls are painted Newburyport Blue and the ceiling and trim are China White, both by Benjamin Moore. The other plays off of the living room's dark wood furniture and secondary gray hues by going with Stonington Gray for walls and a creamy custom dining table and chairs from Highland House. With 12-foot ceilings, an abundance of natural light, and stately crown molding, the setting is perfect for the mix of vintage, antique, and contemporary furnishings that Penny selected from Nola Rugs and Eclectic Home. "We saved completing the entrance hall until the painting by Rebecca Rebouché commissioned by my clients was finished. The colors in the adjoining rooms work beautifully with the art and with a console for family photos and holiday décor, the space sets the stage for what's to come." When I asked Penny for some tips on how she mixes prints and patterns together so masterfully, she had some great advice. "It works to have various scale patterns — small, medium, and large — in the same room. Additionally, go with an assortment of styles. For example, in the dining and living rooms, I used a large geometric on the sofa pillows, a chinoiserie print on the wingback chairs, and a small geometric on an occasional chair, all grounded with saturated solids." For me this house just sings. Every shade of blue flows throughout the entire decorative scheme, including in the fabulous outdoor spaces, and the happy pops of accent color in each room deliver nothing but joy.

This article appeared in Adore's October 2022 issue

New Orleans is filled with homeowners committed to preserving the architectural fabric of our neighborhoods and the talented creatives needed …