My Houzz: Stately Southern Charm in a Federalist-Style Home
Moss-covered oak trees, European antiques and contemporary style set off this Louisiana home
Kayla Stark
May 22, 2016
Houzz Contributor. I'm a photographer, graphic designer, and artist currently living in New Orleans, LA. My favorite thing about being a photographer is that it allows me to get out into the world and see beauty everyday. It motivates me to explore and to be adventurous. I love that all of my days are different and that I never know who I'll meet or what I might be able to capture.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a photographer, graphic designer, and artist currently living... More
“Heavy pungent air, moss-covered oaks, and a sense of mystery and history made lasting and profound impressions on my soul when I first visited my sister in Louisiana many years ago,” says Marian Margetson, an interior designer and Northern California native. These details impressed Marian so much that she and her husband, Bruce, decided to move from their contemporary home overlooking the San Francisco Bay to the 1977 Federalist-style home in Covington, Louisiana, just north of New Orleans, they now call home.
The couple bought their home in 2005 but waited nine years before starting their 18-month-long renovation process. Working closely with their contractor, Kenneth Lauber, they brought in a slightly more modern aesthetic while honoring the original design integrity of the home. “I have allowed myself the liberty to find a balance between those classic elements and the eclectic feel of mixing in the other elements we love,” Marian says.
The couple bought their home in 2005 but waited nine years before starting their 18-month-long renovation process. Working closely with their contractor, Kenneth Lauber, they brought in a slightly more modern aesthetic while honoring the original design integrity of the home. “I have allowed myself the liberty to find a balance between those classic elements and the eclectic feel of mixing in the other elements we love,” Marian says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Bruce and Marian Margetson and their pugs, Flora and VaVa
Location: Covington, Louisiana
Size: 4,000 square feet (372 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Year built: 1977
The living room is decorated in soft grays and whites, typical of this Federalist style. The contemporary sofas, upholstered in gray velvet, take their inspiration from both 18th-century English chesterfield sofas and tuxedo sofas from the 1920s. The couple commissioned California painter Andrea Fono to create the large contemporary piece above the sofa.
Who lives here: Bruce and Marian Margetson and their pugs, Flora and VaVa
Location: Covington, Louisiana
Size: 4,000 square feet (372 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Year built: 1977
The living room is decorated in soft grays and whites, typical of this Federalist style. The contemporary sofas, upholstered in gray velvet, take their inspiration from both 18th-century English chesterfield sofas and tuxedo sofas from the 1920s. The couple commissioned California painter Andrea Fono to create the large contemporary piece above the sofa.
Marian added double Empire chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling gray-patterned drapery panels and a West Indian rug as a nod to tradition, while the tea table next to the sofa is Plexiglas and polished chrome for a contemporary touch. The artwork in the room is also a combination of antiques and contemporary pieces. Above the mantel is an oil painting depicting French country cows, which was a gift from one of Marian’s interior design clients as thanks for her help in finding European antiques. The 18th-century polychrome Madonna atop a stone pedestal on the right side of the mantel contrasts with a contemporary sculptural work by John Marc Anderson.
The Louis XV–style Steinway & Sons piano is complemented by the contemporary Plexiglas-and-glass coffee table, whose legs mirror those of the piano. Marian found the impressionist painting signed by J de Greef at an antiques market when she and Bruce were living in Brussels.
The window treatments throughout the house were made by Bertha’s Draperies in St. Rose, Louisiana. The hand-finished fabrics are backed with hand-sewn invisible sheers for privacy. Both hang from the ceiling to avoid a chopped-up look and achieve an elegant visual sweep of fabric. Marian notes that the custom window treatments were one of her biggest splurges in the renovation, but they complete the space.
The window treatments throughout the house were made by Bertha’s Draperies in St. Rose, Louisiana. The hand-finished fabrics are backed with hand-sewn invisible sheers for privacy. Both hang from the ceiling to avoid a chopped-up look and achieve an elegant visual sweep of fabric. Marian notes that the custom window treatments were one of her biggest splurges in the renovation, but they complete the space.
BEFORE: In the kitchen, the walls were painted dark green, and the cabinets were dark natural wood. One major project for room was to make it feel more open and sleek.
AFTER: Marian designed this modern kitchen with the help of SieMatic, based in San Francisco. The cabinets have a pale gray finish, and the countertops are Carrara marble. A contemporary painting titled Sunriser by Brian Hollister hangs on the far wall in the kitchen. The glass-and-metal cabinet helps keep the couple’s dishes and serving pieces easily visible.
Appliances: Miele and Gaggenau
Appliances: Miele and Gaggenau
While renovating the kitchen, Marian had a large portion of the wall between the kitchen and loggia removed to allow more natural light into the space and open up a view to the garden. The large cabinets above the new opening provide ample storage space for occasional tableware. A chandelier nods to Marian’s love for mixing traditional and contemporary style.
The dining table is an 18th-century Venetian table that still has its original orange-and-pink marble top. The sideboard has been passed down through Marian’s family and was originally made for her great-grandfather by a skedaddler from the Civil War.
Marian had a built-in buffet installed on the far wall to provide extra storage for glassware. The left side of the built-in is a wine cabinet and wine fridge that can hold 132 bottles; the right houses a TopBrewer coffee system. The wall paint and drapery complement the warm, natural tones in the wood and marble tabletop. The dining chair seat cushions were reupholstered in Fortuny fabric.
Marian had a built-in buffet installed on the far wall to provide extra storage for glassware. The left side of the built-in is a wine cabinet and wine fridge that can hold 132 bottles; the right houses a TopBrewer coffee system. The wall paint and drapery complement the warm, natural tones in the wood and marble tabletop. The dining chair seat cushions were reupholstered in Fortuny fabric.
This section of the loggia has large French doors and windows that open to the formal dining room. Since the spaces are so close, the warm orange color palette was continued here. The white upholstered chairs from Restoration Hardware are slipcovered in white Perennials fabric, which is resistant to staining and sun damage.
Custom rug: Stephen Miller Gallery
Custom rug: Stephen Miller Gallery
In the center of the room is an 18th-century English garden statue Marian bought in New Orleans when she was still living in California. She brought it back to Louisiana when she and Bruce purchased this home, and it now acts as the liaison between the interior and the exterior of the home. One of their pugs, VaVa, contentedly naps in the warmth here.
The loggia, which opens to the kitchen, dining room and an outdoor seating area, used to be an outdoor area but was enclosed by the home’s previous owners. It is perfect for entertaining guests because the spaces flow together. It is also ideal for admiring the surrounding garden, oaks and river. Marian says, “I chose a sunny yellow-orange and cream tropical theme to speak of the ‘exotic South’ and our memories in the also-tropical south of France.” Gold and clear Murano lamps add additional warmth.
The French doors in the loggia open to this outdoor dining area, which is often used for dinner parties. In developing her outdoor spaces, Marian wanted each one to feel like an extension of the home.
Outdoor dining set: Klismos, Restoration Hardware
Outdoor dining set: Klismos, Restoration Hardware
The seating area just past the outdoor dining area is designed for relaxation and socializing. The three statues along the wall of the home were found at Crown and Colony Antiques in Fairhope, Alabama, and depict musicians playing their instruments.
Outdoor seating and fire pits: Restoration Hardware
Outdoor seating and fire pits: Restoration Hardware
With the help of Smoketree Landscape, based in Madisonville, Louisiana, Marian was able to complete this luscious and shaded front garden, which is filled with Tanzanian tree ferns, tropical caladiums, palms, hydrangeas and sasanqua camellias. She says that Brad Yarborough and his Smoketree team helped her dream of the South become a reality.
The entryway of the home has a Louis XVI table topped by a classic Empire marble lamp. Also in the room is a pair of 19th-century Louis XVI chairs that were left to Marian by her mother. The space is completed by a simple and chic Nepalese rug that Marian designed. The color scheme of gold lines on cream-colored surfaces adds an elegant touch to the space.
This small den just off the entry was designed as a workspace for the couple. The small framed piece by Chagall that hangs on the fireplace was the inspiration for the color scheme of the room. The walls are a dark eggplant, while the ceiling is one shade lighter to keep the room from feeling too dark. The Chicago fireplace was limed and painted to incorporate another lighter element in the room. A hand-forged contemporary light fixture that hangs in the middle of the room pairs nicely with the midcentury-inspired chair.
This room houses some other favorites in the couple’s art collection, including two etchings by Folsom, Louisiana, resident and artist Phillip Sage.
Marian loves to begin a design project with a piece of art and then build the room or space around the artwork. The powder room on the main floor is an example of how Marian allowed the work — in this case, a dramatic charcoal and painted piece by Cathy Daley — to dictate the design. Its movement mirrors that of the Carrara marble tiles, and its color palette ties in to the pale gray, white and black of the room. The pedestals that flank the simple oval tub add elements of Georgian and Federalist symmetry. All the fixtures are simple classical ovals.
The master bedroom upstairs was reconfigured to make it more open. The master closet was moved, making room for the angled bed treatment, which is now the focus of the room. To create the headboard, Marian had a French Regency-period gold-leaf architectural motif mounted on a contemporary jacquard headboard. Luis Rossi of Rossi Antiques faux-painted the wooden bed frame, recovered the headboard and copied the central portion of the gold motif to created a couronne, or crown, for the drapes hung behind the headboard from the ceiling.
Marian used a handprinted leaf pattern on blue linen and silk by Nomi Fabrics for the fabric in the room, and to create the color palette and mood.
One of the couple’s most cherished pieces is the Louis XV armoire (seen here on the left), which originally sat in the home that Bruce and Marian were renting while they lived in Belgium. Belgians leave a piece of furniture in their rental homes so that they can claim ownership of the home should they wish to kick out the renters. After falling in love with the armoire, they bought it from the homeowner. It has traveled with them from Belgium to California, Geneva and now to Covington. It holds collected items from their travels and stands as a reminder of their time living abroad.
Two marble pillars act as stylish bedside tables and an alter stick lamp from Tara Shaw with contemporary glass shades completes the bedroom suite. A Mischtechnik, or “mix technique,” painting of a nude couple by Eberhard Hückstädt hangs by the bed.
Marian used a handprinted leaf pattern on blue linen and silk by Nomi Fabrics for the fabric in the room, and to create the color palette and mood.
One of the couple’s most cherished pieces is the Louis XV armoire (seen here on the left), which originally sat in the home that Bruce and Marian were renting while they lived in Belgium. Belgians leave a piece of furniture in their rental homes so that they can claim ownership of the home should they wish to kick out the renters. After falling in love with the armoire, they bought it from the homeowner. It has traveled with them from Belgium to California, Geneva and now to Covington. It holds collected items from their travels and stands as a reminder of their time living abroad.
Two marble pillars act as stylish bedside tables and an alter stick lamp from Tara Shaw with contemporary glass shades completes the bedroom suite. A Mischtechnik, or “mix technique,” painting of a nude couple by Eberhard Hückstädt hangs by the bed.
On the other side of the master bedroom suite is a set of French doors that overlooks the beautiful front garden. For this sitting area, Marian chose an 18th-century wooden Italian cradle, a French blue writing table from Epoca in San Francisco and Empire-style chairs. On the left wall is a Jean Cocteau poster.
The elegant master bath was also designed to be dreamy and serene like the master suite. In the center of the bathroom is a free-standing contemporary bateau tub that offers views of the back garden and river. White orchids add a luxurious, organic touch.
French doors open to a balcony with a small sitting area.
The custom bath cabinet between the Directoire-style washstands is fitted with original Victorian doors with etched glass depicting peacocks. Marian found it in an antiques store.
The shower in the master bath has a shower head in one wall and is not enclosed. The floor is angled with a V drain for easy drainage. The open and airy design is wheelchair-accessible and easy to maneuver through, making it not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functional.
The second floor of the home has two guest rooms that family members use when they visit. This guest room, which is typically used by the couple’s grandchildren, is inspired by “the snowy wood.” The bedding is soft ivory mohair with matching shams, while the drapery is natural wool. The bed is an 18th-century Portuguese rosewood bed from Epoca.
Marian says, “The fun is in the life-size rideable white reindeer, and the other animals on the bed and in the armoire,” Marian says. “I have a lifelong collection of Steiff animals and love the home I found for them.”
Marian says, “The fun is in the life-size rideable white reindeer, and the other animals on the bed and in the armoire,” Marian says. “I have a lifelong collection of Steiff animals and love the home I found for them.”
The house features an elevator in the rear. Enclosed by glass, it overlooks the garden and back side of the house, and opens to an entry hall on the second floor. Marian says, “We have laughed about serving cocktails in the elevator to our guests so they could enjoy the beautiful views of the garden and river.” This part of the home is flooded with natural light throughout the day.
The resin console seen here has a French bronze of a doe and fawn. It is framed by a pair of Parisian lamps from St. Romain Interiors in Madisonville, Louisiana.
The resin console seen here has a French bronze of a doe and fawn. It is framed by a pair of Parisian lamps from St. Romain Interiors in Madisonville, Louisiana.
The couple painted the walls with Snowbound by Sherwin-Williams, a soft white with a hint of gray, when they moved in. They also redid the floors, choosing DuChâteau’s San Tropez oiled engineered floors from the Vernal collection, which are white oak with a slightly whitewashed and wire-brushed surface. Marian chose to remove all the baseboards and install large Federalist-style crown moldings throughout. The clean lines along the floor allow the eye to travel upward.
Art: oil reproduction of Klimt’s “The Park”
Art: oil reproduction of Klimt’s “The Park”
The open back patio connects this hallway to this seating area just outside the master bath, which in turn overlooks the back garden.
BEFORE: The back garden is seen from the porch.
AFTER: Marian and Bruce bought the lot behind the home, which allows them to have this second-floor view of the 400-year-old oaks, open land and the Bouge Falaya River below. Smoketree Landscaping’s Yarborough helped bring the idea for the garden to life. The center of the backyard garden is a large parterre in the shape of a quatrefoil that’s surrounded by crushed granite.
While Marian and Bruce were living abroad, they grew fond of the European gardens they visited, so when it became time to build their own oasis, they naturally drew inspiration from French and other European gardens that they loved. The fall of water from the large fountain in the middle of the parterre creates a serene, calming effect throughout the garden, while the rose bushes around the fountain provide a lovely scent. The back garden is a delightful spot for mingling and enjoying the sun setting over the river during dinner parties.
The back view of the home, with its large glass walls, feels much more contemporary than the front but still maintains the style of the home.
A large balustrade separates the upper garden from the lower grassy area. It also adds a European feel to the space.
As you make your way down to the river, you’re met by lush green open space that’s perfect for hosting crawfish boils or picnics. The space is also wonderful for enjoying a quiet afternoon of fishing, relaxing or sunbathing.
Bruce, Marian and their pug VaVa enjoy hanging out by a balustrade on their recently renovated property. Marian says, “It holds all the beauty and mystery I could ever have hoped for.”
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.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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Beautiful! I would like to be a guest.
Beautiful home from the inside out!
what a wonderful vision! This is so beautiful and elegant...
Just gorgeous.