Photography by Tria Giovan
When Houstonian Michael Whalen bought a storied house in the French Quarter, he asked Houston designer Katie Scott to manage the renovation and decoration. Being a New Orleans native, Scott leapt at the opportunity to refresh the historic interiors and create a modern, luxurious Big Easy retreat. She was not familiar with the Lalaurie House, so she looked for more information at a local bookstore, where she was directed to the section on haunted houses. “I wondered what I had gotten myself into,” she recalls. But the lavish mansion proved too alluring to pass up.
Built in the early 1800s, the Lalaurie House had survived scandal, neglect, and hauntings before actor Nicholas Cage bought it in 2007. When Scott set about giving the house a fresh new look, she took inspiration from the fun-loving yet grandly historic neighborhood. “We wanted to create a sexy, burlesque, French Quarter feel—rich in color with modern flourishes,” she says. New plaster, lacquered walls, and restored crown moldings contribute to a jazzy, upbeat scheme.
“WE WANTED TO CREATE A SEXY, BURLESQUE, FRENCH QUARTER FEEL, RICH IN COLOR WITH MODERN FLOURISHES.”
—KATIE SCOTT
One challenge in decorating a house of this period is adapting the formal spaces to the expectations of comforts for a modern lifestyle. Parlors, ballrooms, and foyers were common in these homes, but they did not encourage lingering. Scott solved that dilemma with intimate arrangements of upholstered furniture, one of the most effective ways to bring warmth to an imposing room. “Layering and diversifying textures is key to bringing comfort to grand spaces,” she says. “Custom curtains and rugs play vital roles in adding volume and depth.”
A spirit of fun reigns over the house’s decor, with a daring palette—black lacquered walls in the study, a pink-and-red confection in the living room, a kitchen with blush lacquered walls—and modern art in place of the expected period artwork. At every turn there are moments of surprise and whimsy, such as the pink tufted “social” in the kitchen and the lit-from-within coffee tables in the parlor. A colorful piece of modern artwork is framed in the reflection of an antique gilt mirror, leaving no doubt that this house was made for ignoring the rules. “As I imagined how this home would be used, I pictured guests hanging out in the kitchen, drinking Bloody Marys with the windows to the balcony open and a parade rolling by,” she says. “The kitchen’s tufted ‘social’ came to mind as the perfect spot to gather.”
In the formal parlor, lacquered black to set off the intricate plasterwork, contrasts are striking. “I chose the selenite coffee table for its resemblance to an iceberg—aglow and lending a cooling effect to the walls,” says Scott. Abiding with the balance of textures, leather and fur sofas provide natural warmth against the marble floors and coffee table. “I love the tension that is created between two opposing forces,” says the designer. “I see best when old and new collide. It’s electric!” Having banished the gloom from the historic home, Scott added one last touch for good measure. “As a gift for my client, I brought in a priest to bless the house.”
