My Houzz: Collected Antiques and Art in a New Orleans Home
A couple personalize their home with a kitchen renovation, vintage finds and a colorful commissioned mural
Kayla Stark
April 16, 2018
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
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Mari and George Fisher and their Chihuahua mix, Frida
Location: Uptown district of New Orleans
Size: The main house is 2,200 square feet (204 square meters) with three bedrooms and two bathrooms; the studio-guest house is 400 square feet (37 square meters) with one bedroom and one bathroom
Year built: 1998
George and Mari Fisher called the San Francisco Bay Area home for most of their lives and never thought they’d live anywhere else. But after George retired from the Berkeley Fire Department and Mari closed her estate-liquidating business, they decided in the spring of 2015 to move closer to their three children and grandchildren, all of whom surprisingly had settled in New Orleans.
The couple bought a one-story house built in the late 1990s on a secluded L-shaped lot. Mari, a former restaurant owner and an avid cook, wanted to update the kitchen. “It was in good shape but we made some major changes,” she says. “Our lifestyle is around the food, cooking and the wine,” so personalizing the space was a high priority.
The couple enlisted the help of their architect son, Sean Fisher, to help draw up the new floor plan for the kitchen. George served as the general contractor for the renovation and completed most of the demo, some carpentry and rough plumbing and drywall.
Who lives here: Mari and George Fisher and their Chihuahua mix, Frida
Location: Uptown district of New Orleans
Size: The main house is 2,200 square feet (204 square meters) with three bedrooms and two bathrooms; the studio-guest house is 400 square feet (37 square meters) with one bedroom and one bathroom
Year built: 1998
George and Mari Fisher called the San Francisco Bay Area home for most of their lives and never thought they’d live anywhere else. But after George retired from the Berkeley Fire Department and Mari closed her estate-liquidating business, they decided in the spring of 2015 to move closer to their three children and grandchildren, all of whom surprisingly had settled in New Orleans.
The couple bought a one-story house built in the late 1990s on a secluded L-shaped lot. Mari, a former restaurant owner and an avid cook, wanted to update the kitchen. “It was in good shape but we made some major changes,” she says. “Our lifestyle is around the food, cooking and the wine,” so personalizing the space was a high priority.
The couple enlisted the help of their architect son, Sean Fisher, to help draw up the new floor plan for the kitchen. George served as the general contractor for the renovation and completed most of the demo, some carpentry and rough plumbing and drywall.
“Our decorating style is very eclectic,” George says. “Mari shops, almost exclusively, at thrift and consignment stores, yard sales and estate sales.” In California, the couple owned a large consignment store, and most of their art and furnishings come from the estates Mari helped liquidate.
“Our home is very much a work in progress,” she says. “I seek out interesting things that call out to me, no matter big or small. I’m not in a hurry to fill it with any things. They really have to grab me on some emotional level.”
“Our home is very much a work in progress,” she says. “I seek out interesting things that call out to me, no matter big or small. I’m not in a hurry to fill it with any things. They really have to grab me on some emotional level.”
Before. The homeowners removed a load-bearing wall between the original kitchen and the sunroom. This structural change let in more light and allowed ample room for a large kitchen island. They installed heavy beams in the ceiling for structural support.
After. The couple worked with Cabinets by Design on their custom gray cabinets. They also bought all new appliances, including a six-burner Wolf gas range, a wine refrigerator, a slim stainless steel hood and a microwave-convection drawer oven. The waterfall island countertops are Caesarstone quartz.
The couple splurged on the range and Sub-Zero refrigerator (not pictured). However, they were able to save some money by buying showroom floor models at a discount.
When the couple moved in, the flooring was a mix of hardwood, carpet, tile and brick. “Our preference has always been wooden floors and having one continuous type always for smooth transition and natural flow,” George says. They installed recycled southern pine throughout. “To [also] help create that easy flow, all the walls were painted the same light color,” George adds.
When the couple moved in, the flooring was a mix of hardwood, carpet, tile and brick. “Our preference has always been wooden floors and having one continuous type always for smooth transition and natural flow,” George says. They installed recycled southern pine throughout. “To [also] help create that easy flow, all the walls were painted the same light color,” George adds.
“Last week we had everyone over to help make our traditional homemade tamales,” Mari says. “The kitchen was abuzz with music, busy hands filling and folding the hojas and steam rising from the stove. It was just the way I like it.” Seen through the window from the sink is a custom mural the couple commissioned.
George and Mari commissioned Adrien Segal to paint the mural visible through the kitchen window. “The mural is simple but includes all that has been important in my life: church, family and food,” Mari says.
Each member of the family is depicted in the mural, dancing and enjoying a party. When she painted it, Segal was a recent California College of the Arts graduate. She is now an accomplished sculptor. Mari loves that the mural provides a vibrant view from her kitchen window when she’s cooking and entertaining.
Each member of the family is depicted in the mural, dancing and enjoying a party. When she painted it, Segal was a recent California College of the Arts graduate. She is now an accomplished sculptor. Mari loves that the mural provides a vibrant view from her kitchen window when she’s cooking and entertaining.
The couple spent a year looking for a dining table before finding this impressively large one at a local consignment store, Renaissance Interiors. “We looked earnestly as Christmas was approaching and we were hosting. We seriously considered about six other tables. We were determined to find the ‘right’ one,” Mari says. After much consideration, measuring and remeasuring, the couple bought this table, even though it was a bit over budget.
“When it was delivered, much to our surprise, we had greatly erred. The table was 14 feet, not 12 feet as we were shopping for,” Mari says. “Our options were to cut some off the ends or set it perpendicular to the fireplace. We both got a good laugh from it.”
The couple chose the latter of the two options and now enjoy the longer table and use it to entertain and host their large family. “Tuesday evenings we have all our kids and grandkids over for a dinner. The dinners range from crawfish boils to deep frying, grilling and Mari’s specialty, Mexican food, the family favorite,” George says. “The casual dinners always have a festive feel and include beer, wine and a homemade dessert. It’s our favorite night. Our family is together, the kids are running around. All is well.”
“When it was delivered, much to our surprise, we had greatly erred. The table was 14 feet, not 12 feet as we were shopping for,” Mari says. “Our options were to cut some off the ends or set it perpendicular to the fireplace. We both got a good laugh from it.”
The couple chose the latter of the two options and now enjoy the longer table and use it to entertain and host their large family. “Tuesday evenings we have all our kids and grandkids over for a dinner. The dinners range from crawfish boils to deep frying, grilling and Mari’s specialty, Mexican food, the family favorite,” George says. “The casual dinners always have a festive feel and include beer, wine and a homemade dessert. It’s our favorite night. Our family is together, the kids are running around. All is well.”
Mari bought the ladderback-style dining chairs with rush seats in both California and Louisiana. “Their differences make the experience so much more interesting for me and tremendously less expensive than purchasing a new 14-piece set,” she says.
Red sculptural flowers from Hazelnut on Magazine Street serve as centerpieces and add color, height and whimsy to the room. The pieces hanging on the wall were a recent birthday present from Mari’s sisters, who found them at Polanco in San Francisco.
The existing chandelier fits in with the couple’s vintage style.
Red sculptural flowers from Hazelnut on Magazine Street serve as centerpieces and add color, height and whimsy to the room. The pieces hanging on the wall were a recent birthday present from Mari’s sisters, who found them at Polanco in San Francisco.
The existing chandelier fits in with the couple’s vintage style.
Mari found this large blue cabinet for $900 on Craigslist. It took four people to move it into the space. “It was the right size and style. It holds some of my favorite cooking pieces and interesting doodads,” she says.
Mari loves shopping for vintage folk art, wood and metal pieces and textiles. A vintage chicken coop from Heirloom Furnishings with a wooden chicken figure on top of it hangs above the fireplace. The two vintage candlestick holders and lamps are estate sale finds. “I don’t really enjoy shopping for new things or in regular retail stores,” Mari says. “I love the feel, the wear and patina of used things.”
George is a skilled metal- and woodworker and designed and built this utility table. The top of it was crafted from reclaimed oak found at various garage and estate sales. The three wooden figures resembling the biblical wise men were found at a thrift store. They were originally candlestick holders, but Mari modified them by removing the small caps on top.
Paint: Alabaster (wall) and Extra White (trim), Sherwin-Williams
Paint: Alabaster (wall) and Extra White (trim), Sherwin-Williams
“New Orleans housing and decor greatly differs from California in many ways,” Mari says. “For me the most obvious is the age and grandeur of the homes. The high ceilings create so much wall space, allowing for larger pieces of art and furniture and the use of chandeliers — all differences that I like.”
George made the two matching wrought iron sofas in the living room. The midcentury floor lamp and floor rug are from estate sales.
George made the two matching wrought iron sofas in the living room. The midcentury floor lamp and floor rug are from estate sales.
George also made the large mantel sculpture. “I am a lifelong metalworker, so we have a number of pieces — furniture, crafts and art that I made through the years. I would say a lot of our things are organic,” he says.
Dragon magazine holder: Renaissance Interiors
Dragon magazine holder: Renaissance Interiors
The homeowners bought this oak pew, used as extra seating in the living room, at a white elephant sale in Oakland, California, more than 20 years ago.
A few of Mari’s favorite textiles hang on the back of the pew, including the small handwoven Chimayo piece on the right from New Mexico. The mosaic of Frida Kahlo is by artist Jackie Hicks of Palm Springs. “Being Mexican, I’m drawn to vintage Mexican folk art and religious art,” Mari says. The piece to the left depicts the Stations of the Cross and was found at Dop Antiques in New Orleans.
Local artist Paul Gruer designed the sconce.
A few of Mari’s favorite textiles hang on the back of the pew, including the small handwoven Chimayo piece on the right from New Mexico. The mosaic of Frida Kahlo is by artist Jackie Hicks of Palm Springs. “Being Mexican, I’m drawn to vintage Mexican folk art and religious art,” Mari says. The piece to the left depicts the Stations of the Cross and was found at Dop Antiques in New Orleans.
Local artist Paul Gruer designed the sconce.
This guest bedroom includes traditional-style furnishings such as a metal bed, wicker chairs and a gold-foiled mirror. The art on the far wall is titled Escape and is by Margaret Keane, known for her portraits with oversized eyes.
Frida, the couple’s Chihuahua mix, is seen here relaxing in her bed in the master bedroom.
The couple renovated their master bathroom as well. The concrete floor tiles are one of their favorite features in the new space. The pattern includes three different shades of concrete tile from Arto that was handcrafted in Los Angeles.
Ceiling light: capiz chandelier, West Elm; floor tile: Artillo Arabesque pattern by Arto via Stafford Tile & Stone
Ceiling light: capiz chandelier, West Elm; floor tile: Artillo Arabesque pattern by Arto via Stafford Tile & Stone
The bath and shower include gray and white subway tiles that complement the floor.
Structurally, the couple removed a small wall to increase the size of the shower, which was fitted with a piece of custom glass. They installed a new Caesarstone bench and countertop and laid penny tiles on the shower floor.
Structurally, the couple removed a small wall to increase the size of the shower, which was fitted with a piece of custom glass. They installed a new Caesarstone bench and countertop and laid penny tiles on the shower floor.
In the backyard is a 400-square-foot studio and guest house. “While growing up, long before large grocery stores, my parents owned the small neighborhood grocery store called the Miracle Grocery,” Mari says. She was able to salvage the sign, which is displayed as a piece of family history.
The guest house includes a bedroom, bathroom and small living area.
Many of the couple’s extended family and friends live in California and visit often. “Last Mardi Gras we had six friends staying with us. There is plenty of room and different areas of the house to use,” George says. This separate house is perfect for entertaining and allows the couple to comfortably accommodate guests.
Many of the couple’s extended family and friends live in California and visit often. “Last Mardi Gras we had six friends staying with us. There is plenty of room and different areas of the house to use,” George says. This separate house is perfect for entertaining and allows the couple to comfortably accommodate guests.
“Our front porch is so inviting,” Mari says. “I enjoy reading the paper and doing crossword puzzles there. Frida, our dog, loves to fetch tennis balls there. I also enjoy the front entrance. I think it is a bit intriguing, as if you don’t know what to expect. We are close to the river and sounds of the ships and heavy metal against heavy metal clanging are timeless.”
An outdoor sculpture George crafted from old beer kegs is a focal point in the backyard. “Some of my favorite things are things George has made for me,” Mari says.
See more photos of this home
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 home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
See more photos of this home
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 home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
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The couple who owned this house has impeccable taste in decor and elegance. I would pay to have a tour around their house, and I would probably have an awesome time looking at all those fine wall art, sculptures and many more.
Loved the house. Mari is a woman after my own heart. Love the tribute to her Mexican heritage throughout the house. I'm also hispanic and my cat is name Frida. I love all things Frida Kahlo, cooking, shopping at thrift and consignment stores. I have friends who live in New Orleans and would love to visit your home some day. Great job!!!