My Houzz: Textures, Textiles, Patterns and Plants in New Orleans
A hand-painted mural and layered wall decor add boho personality to the apartment of a blogger and a graphic designer
After living and working in Portland, Oregon, for many years, Liz and Tim Kamarul decided they were ready for an adventure. They bought a 1980s Winnebago motor home and traveled around the country with their two poodle-mix dogs, Cudi (pictured with the couple) and Bo, to eventually land in New Orleans.
Liz, a stylist and blogger, and Tim, a graphic designer, live in a two-story, double gallery-style home, a common residential architectural style that’s similar to a townhouse. This style is often found in the Garden District and Uptown neighborhoods of New Orleans.
Liz, a stylist and blogger, and Tim, a graphic designer, live in a two-story, double gallery-style home, a common residential architectural style that’s similar to a townhouse. This style is often found in the Garden District and Uptown neighborhoods of New Orleans.
“When it comes to decorating, I love to mix old and new. Our home is about 60 percent thrifted and 40 percent new,” Liz says. “I think that helps add to the character and uniqueness of our space.
“Our couch is definitely the most prized possession,” she says. Liz got it from a client when she was working as a home stager in Portland. “I reupholstered the cushions, but the orange fabric is original. This is a piece we will keep forever and will continually influence my love of mixing colors and patterns.” Liz added wood paneling on the side of the sofa. “The accent pillow is a rug that I had sewn into a pillow,” she says.
Liz and Tim use the couch as a place to relax and the chairs by the window as a formal sitting area. “We spend the most time in our living room. It’s so comfortable, and the couch is so enormous,” Liz says. “We usually all pile on there together.”
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“Our couch is definitely the most prized possession,” she says. Liz got it from a client when she was working as a home stager in Portland. “I reupholstered the cushions, but the orange fabric is original. This is a piece we will keep forever and will continually influence my love of mixing colors and patterns.” Liz added wood paneling on the side of the sofa. “The accent pillow is a rug that I had sewn into a pillow,” she says.
Liz and Tim use the couch as a place to relax and the chairs by the window as a formal sitting area. “We spend the most time in our living room. It’s so comfortable, and the couch is so enormous,” Liz says. “We usually all pile on there together.”
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Liz enjoys creating interesting vignettes by using nontraditional items as wall decor. In this space, she layered a gray faux cowhide rug with a geometric mirror. She uses other organic elements, such as plants, to add texture and depth.
The raw wood console table on the left and the round side table on the right continue the organic-geometric theme. The console is a recent addition. “It’s so bizarre and unique, and I knew that people would have mixed reactions about it, which is why I love it even more,” Liz says. The black-and-white print is by artists Gabriel and Isaac Fortoul of the Fortoul Brothers. “It’s titled Hands of Destiny, which I love,” she says.
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The raw wood console table on the left and the round side table on the right continue the organic-geometric theme. The console is a recent addition. “It’s so bizarre and unique, and I knew that people would have mixed reactions about it, which is why I love it even more,” Liz says. The black-and-white print is by artists Gabriel and Isaac Fortoul of the Fortoul Brothers. “It’s titled Hands of Destiny, which I love,” she says.
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Since the apartment is a rental and the couple is unable to renovate, Liz came up with clever, nonpermanent ways to personalize the walls. On one side of the fireplace, she added thin plywood panels, and on the other side, she painted a mural inspired by the framed print by Virginia artist Christina Flowers. “I quickly realized after hanging up the artwork that a white blank wall would never do it justice. This art was vibrant and needed a vibrant backdrop,” Liz says. The mural mirrors the artwork’s shapes and colors. She created a digital mock-up of the wall with the artwork so that she could visualize the final look before painting the wall.
“Everything in our home has been chosen not because it was a certain style or came from a certain era or a particular color scheme,” Liz says. “Each piece is just something that I love and spoke to me.”
Many of the houseplants are from local nurseries Urban Roots and Harold’s Plants.
“Everything in our home has been chosen not because it was a certain style or came from a certain era or a particular color scheme,” Liz says. “Each piece is just something that I love and spoke to me.”
Many of the houseplants are from local nurseries Urban Roots and Harold’s Plants.
For additional seating, Liz bought woven poufs from Jennifer Harrison-Ciacchi of Flea Market Fab, which are often occupied by Cudi and Bo. “Originally I bought them for people to sit on, but the dogs took over as usual,” Liz says.
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Shop for floor poufs and pillows on Houzz
The front door features a color-blocked paint treatment in pink and blue. Liz reupholstered the seats of the secondhand bucket chairs. The white matte coffee table is also vintage.
“Something I noticed after the space was completed is how perfectly the art matches the chairs. I was drawn to the Christina Flowers piece because of the colors, which seem to show up time and time again throughout our home,” Liz says.
Because many fireplaces in New Orleans are no longer functional, including the ones in this home, Liz put a neon flame from Brite Lite Tribe underneath the mantel where the fireplace would once have been.
“Something I noticed after the space was completed is how perfectly the art matches the chairs. I was drawn to the Christina Flowers piece because of the colors, which seem to show up time and time again throughout our home,” Liz says.
Because many fireplaces in New Orleans are no longer functional, including the ones in this home, Liz put a neon flame from Brite Lite Tribe underneath the mantel where the fireplace would once have been.
One challenging aspect of living in an older apartment is the lack of storage. To solve that problem in the living room, the couple created a media storage area underneath the TV, hiding the wires and electronics behind a fringed curtain.
Liz bought the mirror over the mantel on Craigslist because she loves the shape. It probably used to be part of a set, but it now stands on its own as a staple of the room.
The chestnut-colored leather side is one of a pair that Liz bought for $30 total. “One of my first amazing thrift store finds, and I will never let them go,” Liz says.
Liz bought the mirror over the mantel on Craigslist because she loves the shape. It probably used to be part of a set, but it now stands on its own as a staple of the room.
The chestnut-colored leather side is one of a pair that Liz bought for $30 total. “One of my first amazing thrift store finds, and I will never let them go,” Liz says.
The coffee table is vintage. On the right, you can see the thin sheets of plywood that Liz attached to the wall with nails.
The exposed brick fireplace in the kitchen is original and introduces warm, earthy tones to this space.
Liz personalized the rental kitchen with items that reflect her style. For example, she attached Oriental rugs beneath the bar counter to resemble wallpaper.
The sculptural artwork above the upper cabinets is a Thunderbird wall hanging from Wanderluxe. It’s handmade from laser-cut poplar, leather and nylon fringe.
Liz personalized the rental kitchen with items that reflect her style. For example, she attached Oriental rugs beneath the bar counter to resemble wallpaper.
The sculptural artwork above the upper cabinets is a Thunderbird wall hanging from Wanderluxe. It’s handmade from laser-cut poplar, leather and nylon fringe.
In the left corner of the kitchen is a thrifted bar that Liz customized by wrapping the base with jute rope. The large painting of a pelican flying into the sunset is vintage.
Browse home bar carts in the Houzz Shop
Browse home bar carts in the Houzz Shop
The bar is stocked with the couple’s favorite liquors and a set of vintage numbered cups. To the right is a potted African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona).
Enliven Winter Gardens With Tropical Euphorbias
Enliven Winter Gardens With Tropical Euphorbias
Three wooden shelves display a collection of vintage glasses, vases, artwork, dishware and a metal straw dispenser. Clippings from a split-leaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) are also on the shelves, along with a potted plant in a woven basket.
High-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
High-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
Behind the kitchen, a staircase winds up to the apartment’s two bedrooms. On the wall at its base, Liz created an interesting composition with a pair of indigo-dyed tapestries from artist Hansika Sharma, a round basket and a handmade eye sculpture from Umasqu. Along the stairs, a rug pinned to the wall repeats the philodendron’s leaf shape.
A small half bathroom nestles underneath the staircase. Its ceiling follows the shape of the bottom of the staircase.
Browse powder room design ideas
Browse powder room design ideas
Liz and Tim’s bedroom is on the second floor. A brass hanging lamp dangles in the space between the gallery wall and the open shelves holding Tim’s sneaker collection.
The gallery’s framed artworks creep up the wall, mimicking the ivy on the exteriors of countless New Orleans homes. The colorful collection features thrifted pieces and work from some of Liz’s favorite artists.
Tim’s sneaker collection includes more than 40 pairs of Nikes. The shoes are organized by color on floating shelves to save space in the couple’s closet and to make an interesting wall statement.
“The most challenging thing about this home is the lack of storage space. We make up for it by utilizing the area under our bed and getting creative with storage systems in the closets to maximize space,” Liz says.
The white mirror above the mantel is a secondhand find. The bedding is an eclectic mix of colors, patterns and textiles, including cotton and wool.
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“The most challenging thing about this home is the lack of storage space. We make up for it by utilizing the area under our bed and getting creative with storage systems in the closets to maximize space,” Liz says.
The white mirror above the mantel is a secondhand find. The bedding is an eclectic mix of colors, patterns and textiles, including cotton and wool.
Shop for wool throw blankets
The second bedroom serves as a lounge area and an office for Tim, who works from home. The accent wall features a removable Eazywallz mural of a mountain range in Portugal. “The office is a really great room. It gets the most natural and bright light,” Liz says.
The couple built the bench under the faux sheepskin rug from pine studs and plywood. Liz decorated the window seat with graphic textiles and pillows to align with her boho style. The side table, from the Sister Hearts Thrift Store in New Orleans, displays a split-leaf philodendron, which lends an organic and tropical element to the space.
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The couple built the bench under the faux sheepskin rug from pine studs and plywood. Liz decorated the window seat with graphic textiles and pillows to align with her boho style. The side table, from the Sister Hearts Thrift Store in New Orleans, displays a split-leaf philodendron, which lends an organic and tropical element to the space.
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Many of the furniture pieces in this corner are from secondhand stores and antiques markets. They include the desk, purchased in New Orleans, and a pair of acrylic chairs, found at an antiques market in Oregon.
The tapestry wall art was handmade in California by artist Kalla Mcguire of Küdd:krig Home.
Browse kilim accent rugs
The tapestry wall art was handmade in California by artist Kalla Mcguire of Küdd:krig Home.
Browse kilim accent rugs
The two framed images between the windows are Liz’s illustrations of the couple’s two previous homes: their 1980s Winnebago and the place they owned in Portland. The gray linen curtains come from Barn & Willow.
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Shop for window treatments
A chestnut-colored leather side chair next to a secondhand wood side table adds an additional seating area in this bedroom.
The greenery gives the upstairs balcony a treehouse feel. The couple added a macramé lawn chair and a graphic black-and-white rug to warm up the green-painted deck. The cactus-shaped sculpture and the parrot figurine provide a playful touch.
The backyard swimming pool is shared by a few of the apartments on the block. During the hot summer months, Liz and Tim take full advantage of this amazing amenity.
“Ultimately we chose this apartment because it had the most character and original details. We love the tall ceilings, the outdoor areas and its great central location to everything in New Orleans,” Liz says. The exterior’s porch deck and shutters are painted deep green.
“We really enjoy going for walks every day with our dogs and taking in all the beautiful homes that New Orleans has. It’s something very special to us,” says Liz, who started writing a blog series about the special homes and outdoor spaces she encounters while on strolls through the Lower Garden District neighborhood.
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“We really enjoy going for walks every day with our dogs and taking in all the beautiful homes that New Orleans has. It’s something very special to us,” says Liz, who started writing a blog series about the special homes and outdoor spaces she encounters while on strolls through the Lower Garden District neighborhood.
See more of this apartment
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
Get home design ideas
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for home products
Who lives here: Tim and Liz Kamarul and their two poodle-mix dogs, Cudi and Bo
Location: Central City neighborhood of New Orleans
Size: About 1,100 square feet (102 square meters); two bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms