As a southern interior designer, I often get clients who want their interior spaces to have that "New Orleans loft" feel. But how can that be done without spending a fortune is the question. A main piece of advice I always give my client's is to first pay attention to what they have on their walls. Walls are the backdrop to every space, so it's very important that they are treated appropriately! The color and texture of a wall, the art that's on it, and the lighting that a wall gets are all equally important factors when thinking about wall applications.

When clients say they want a "New Orleans loft feel," I immediately think exposed brick, concrete, wood, and maybe even some graffitti! But not everyone can afford the downtown loft with exposed brick walls and concrete beams. So then how can that look be achieved? You could hire a faux finisher to paint an accent brick wall in your space, but even that can get expensive sometimes. Another alternative would be to use a fabulous wallpaper! Now wait! I know what you're thinking. I said wallpaper and you immediately thought of that ugly floral print on the walls in your grandma's house back in the day. That's not what I'm talking about. Wallpaper has actually come a long way since those days. Below are some of my favorite industrial style wallpapers that can add character to your space and achieve that "loft-like" feel without spending a fortune. Check them out and if you're interested in ordering, contact me today for a free consultation and quote!

This wallpaper collection is the result of photographing raw and refined concrete walls, brick walls and even grafitti, in locations across Norway. The imagery used in this unique wallpaper is based on high-resolution photography and custom manipulation. No pattern is ever repeated, something that results in a very realistic finish. Depending on your personal wishes, we can make the wallpaper either lighter or darker, or even add a specific colour cast. These are high-quality vinyl wallpapers (approx. 350 g/m2 heavy, PVC coated non-woven). It is available up to 124cm (4 feet) in width. Rolls can be made to up to 25m (82 feet) in length. The wallpaper is produced to your precise requirements. It can be installed with standard wallpaper tools and be applied with regular wallpaper paste. The wallpaper is washable and UV-resistant and with good scratch resistance. Non-woven construction allows the complete removal from substrate.

If you're interested in having a unique wallpaper in your space, contact me today for a free consultation!

This weekend, the New Orleans Home and Garden Show includes a Container Village, where former shipping containers of multiple sizes are on display, retrofitted for daily use. Local designers, including myself, were asked to design and stage shipping containers for this weekend's event to show that these containers can actually be lived in! We teamed up with The Benjamin Collectibles Collectibles (http://thebenjamincollection.com for the buildout of this fun, exciting project! Check out how we transformed this shipping container from drab to fab in the photos below!

Don't believe me that these containers are really livable? Read this article to see how one young, Uptown New Orleans couple bought two freight containers and turned them into a modern, efficient and eco-friendly home! http://www.nola.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2015/03/an_uptown_couple_converts_a_fo.html

The home's open layout is roomy enough for a sofa, five chairs, a kitchen island, two bicycles, a standing fan, bookshelves for 400 books and a 10-foot desk -- all in 720 square feet. "That's not an uncommon dimension in New Orleans," said Rodewald-Bates, the homeowner. "If you've lived in a shotgun, the halls are narrow," he said, striding through his home's hall from kitchen to bedroom. " Day-to-day wise, you don't realize it's a container." Container architecture is an environmentally friendly design trend that re-uses steel intermodal containers as a structural building element. The low expense and wide availability of shipping containers -- as well as their sturdy, rectangular shape and weather resistance -- make them easy and efficient to use for new home construction!

Come visit me at the New Orleans Home & Garden Show this weekend to check out my booth and learn more about eco-friendly design! Friday 3/13/15 12:00-8:00, Saturday 3/14/15 10:00-8:00, and Sunday 3/15/15 10:00-6:00.