Valorie's Bold New Orleans Home

Valorie Hart is fearless when it comes to style. Her bright pink pixie coif, bold wardrobe and oversized eyeglasses, reminiscent of fashion icon Iris Apfel, make clear that this decorator, interior designer and stylist loves to have fun and make a splash. This self-described “New New,” a New Yorker transplanted to New Orleans, treats her home as a design lab, where she dares to test out big ideas with spunk to match her eccentric look.

In Valorie’s world, decorating is a way of life where nothing is off-limits. Textiles and paper Fornasetti cutouts act as wallpaper; a cow hide becomes a tablecloth. She describes her style as “free and all-inclusive.” Known for her popular design blog The Visual Vamp and her interior design book House Proud, Valorie effortlessly mixes unlikely combinations with ease: modern furniture with antiques, high-end pieces from the likes of Bloomingdales with rusty treasures salvaged from the street. A disco ball hangs from the ceiling in the same room with an antique French settee. Ceiling-to-floor silk drapes in turquoise and lime green dress windows in luxury, while a painter’s drop cloth purchased from a local hardware store hangs as a DIY wall covering.

It’s hard to imagine that this Irish Channel shotgun was “a sad little house” when Valorie and her late husband Alberto bought it nine years ago. The property, used as overflow housing and office space for a girls’ orphanage, was cold and drab. It had been renovated by volunteers using a hodgepodge of donated materials. Architecturally, it was nothing special, but to Valorie and Alberto, it was perfect. The infrastructure was solid, the price was right, and the possibilities were endless.

Valorie continues to enjoy exploring these possibilities with a sense of humor, despite a recent unexpected turn of events. She has been living alone since Alberto died suddenly four months ago. “I am picking up the pieces, and my work that I love is a key component,” she explains. On an April afternoon, her dining room table is impeccably set and a banner that reads, “Holy shit, you’re old!” hangs above her banquette. The table’s upholstered bench seating was the last project she and Alberto worked on together. She describes the fun she had selecting the perfect china from her collection to dress the table and her outdoor seating area just for my visit. Throwing dinner parties is something she’s always loved. She obviously takes great pride and pleasure in sharing her keen visual eye with others. No matter what happens in life, Valorie’s passion for style will keep her young at heart.

 In Valorie’s world, decorating is a way of life where nothing is off-limits. Textiles and paper Fornasetti cutouts act as wallpaper; a cow hide becomes a tablecloth. She describes her style as “free and all-inclusive.” Known for her popular design blog The Visual Vamp and her interior design book House Proud, Valorie effortlessly mixes unlikely combinations with ease: modern furniture with antiques, high-end pieces from the likes of Bloomingdales with rusty treasures salvaged from the street. A disco ball hangs from the ceiling in the same room with an antique French settee. Ceiling-to-floor silk drapes in turquoise and lime green dress windows in luxury, while a painter’s drop cloth purchased from a local hardware store hangs as a DIY wall covering. It’s hard to imagine that this Irish Channel shotgun was “a sad little house” when Valorie and her late husband Alberto bought it nine years ago. The property, used as overflow housing and office space for a girls' orphanage, was cold and drab. It had been renovated by volunteers using a hodgepodge of donated materials. Architecturally, it was nothing special, but to Valorie and Alberto, it was perfect. The infrastructure was solid, the price was right, and the possibilities were endless. Valorie continues to enjoy exploring these possibilities with a sense of humor, despite a recent unexpected turn of events. She has been living alone since Alberto died suddenly four months ago. “I am picking up the pieces, and my work that I love is a key component,” she explains. On an April afternoon, her dining room table is impeccably set and a banner that reads, “Holy shit, you’re old!” hangs above her banquette. The table's upholstered bench seating was the last project she and Alberto worked on together. She describes the fun she had selecting the perfect china from her collection to dress the table and her outdoor seating area just for my visit. Throwing dinner parties is something she’s always loved. She obviously takes great pride and pleasure in sharing her keen visual eye with others. No matter what happens in life, Valorie’s passion for style will keep her young at heart.

You can see the full tour and read more about Valorie's style on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

Matilde & Gustavo's Arts District Apartment

Apartment living is the key to happiness for Matilde Alberny and Gustavo Duque. These New Orleans artists never imagined they would end up renting their beloved home in the Lower Garden District to move into their 710 square foot investment property. But after short-term tenants opened the Colombian couple's eyes to the joys of living in their small Warehouse District apartment, they decided to make the move. After three months of renting Matilde & Gustavo’s Warehouse District apartment, the tenants, who were in the final stages of building their dream home, had fallen in love with the freedom and simplicity of small-footprint living. Once their house was completed, they made the radical decision to sell it and buy an apartment instead. Inspired by their tenants unexpected about-face, Matilde and Gustavo chose to give small-footprint living a try themselves.

They walked away from all of the excess in their life and started anew with only the things they really love: their favorite pieces of furniture and their art collection. The result is a simple space that feels right at home in the city’s Arts District. The thriving neighborhood of converted warehouses, situated just a stone’s throw away from the Mississippi River and French Quarter, is filled with restaurants, shops and art galleries on nearly every block.

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The paintings and sculptures that fill Matilde and Gustavo’s apartment tell the story of this devoted couple’s life together. Gustavo’s painting, “Mi Colombia,” the focal point of the living room, is where it all began. Matilde fell in love with the graffiti-style painting when she saw it on exhibit and was determined to meet the artist. A mutual friend arranged a meeting and Gustavo paid her a visit in hopes of selling her the painting. What started as a potential business relationship turned into a romance. Seventeen years later, they still wear the loving glow of newlyweds. The artwork they’ve made for each other throughout the years fills their home with memories of their journey.

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While their previous home was a quiet urban oasis, their new place is surrounded by the bustling energy of the city. It’s not unusual now for the couple to get a surprise call from friends and, minutes later, be dining together over a glass of wine just steps away from their front door. “Our life was completely different before we moved here,” says Gustavo

Living in an apartment allows them the freedom to pick up and go when they want to travel. The low-maintenance space also gives them more time for entertaining friends with Matilde’s wonderful cooking. “Life is so easy!” Gustavo exclaims with a giant smile and a twinkle in his eye. “We find more time for us. We enjoy more of life.”

Downsizing seems to have been all gain and no loss for Matilde and Gustavo. Everything they need fits comfortably in 710 square feet. Sitting on the couch beside Gustavo, Matilde looks up at “Mi Colombia,” and says “When we put this painting here, we said, ‘Now we are home.’”

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You can see the full tour and read more about Matilde and Gustavo's art collection and style on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

Kathie's Bohemian Live/Work Space

When Kathie moved back to her hometown of Newport 13 years ago, her brother Dave knew he had found the perfect spot for his artistic sister to thrive. “It wasn’t pristine,” she remembers her first impression of the former auto parts warehouse turned apartment, “But, oh, how I loved the space, the sense of space, the height of the ceiling, knowing I would have to live and work here.” With a recording studio next door and various other artists living and working in the converted industrial building, Kathie felt an immediate sense of camaraderie with her creative neighbors. “Throughout the years, there has been a collection of extremely beautiful and talented people who have lived in this building,” she says with a sense of appreciation.

Having always lived in historic homes and apartments where changes were off-limits, Kathie was delighted to finally settle into a place without creative restrictions. This new home was full of possibilities. The self-taught artist approached her new space the same way she delves into her work: like a kid at play.

Kathie’s live/work space changes seasonally to coincide with the inspiration for each of her new Teahan K woven metal jewelry collections. Art and textiles rotate, furniture is rearranged, wall colors change; nothing is off-limits. When Kathie is tired of a certain configuration, “it comes down as fast as the speed of light,” she says with a smile. “There’s no work in progress. If it takes me until 2:00 in the morning, I’m doing it. If it’s not speaking to me and making me still feel free to think, it’s gotta go.” Among this constant flux, Kathie’s goal for her live/work space remains the same: “This place has to stimulate me, but not overstimulate me.”

Kathie’s extensive textile collection, including quilts handmade by her mother, fill her home with patterns, colors and textures that inform her work. “They speak to me in a language that I understand. I am primarily a fiber artist who applies textile techniques to metal,” she explains, “I often study the pieces, the stitchwork, the choices that artist made in terms of color and shape."

In addition to fabrics, Kathie’s home is filled with an abundance of containers. Wood, metal, straw and glass; they are everywhere. They hold food, toiletries, tools and beads. Everything that enters her home in conventional packaging is transferred to a container. They help her compensate for the lack of cabinets, drawers and closets that are usually found in a traditional living space. Seeking them out at thrift stores, yard sales and catalogs has become a bit of a hobby over time.

Over a decade later, Kathie’s ever-evolving space continues to be a source of excitement. For this lively artist, there is little differentiation between home and work, the two are inextricably linked. “My space is a living work of art. It is a reflection of me, parts of me that I can’t articulate in words.”

You can see the full tour and read more about Kathie's style on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

Emily & Andrew's Colorful New Orleans Home

All it took was one weekend for Emily to fall in love. It happened during a girls’ getaway to New Orleans with her best friend last January. When she returned to her home in rural upstate New York, she handed a New Orleans real estate magazine to her husband and said, “Andrew, it is incredible. It is an old-house-lover’s paradise. We have to live there someday!” From there, the story unfolded like a whirlwind romance. About a month later, Emily saw a posting for a job at Tulane that had her name written all over it. Fast forward to September, and the couple was moving into their new home in the Crescent City. “It feels like a wild stroke of good fortune that I actually did (get the job),” she explains, “though, of course, the irony is that we bought a new house in this old-house-lover’s paradise.”

The rush to get settled before the start of the school year and lack of real estate options that fit their budget and needs led the couple to buy a newly constructed home. One of the first steps to making the generic structure their own was to add color to the boring beige walls. Their extensive collection of modern and folk art pops against paint colors like yellow, purple and turquoise. Bold rugs, floor-to-ceiling drapes and lots of fun textiles — including quilts handmade by Emily — make the house feel lively and joyful, giving it the unique character they felt it was lacking.

After living in a Gothic Victorian for eight years, moving into a house with an open floor plan was a big adjustment. Although they quickly came to appreciate the amazing light that pours into their new home all day long, the lack of walls in the kitchen and living rooms posed a design challenge. Emily and Andrew turned to interior designer Valorie Hart to help them with this hurdle. Under the guidance of Hart’s expert eye, they were able to carve out defined spaces that add intimacy and warmth without impeding the flow of the wide open space. The couple also credit Hart with teaching them how to take their decorating that last critical mile by adding pillows and throws and helping them organize their built-in bookcase with style.

Foregoing an old fixer-upper for a brand new home has afforded Emily and Andrew the time to immerse themselves in the culture of the city. The couple didn’t waste any time making friends and joining in the revelry of Carnival this year. After a neighbor learned of Emily's beading skills, she recruited her to join the all-ladies Mardi Gras marching krewe Dames de Perlage. In honor of the New Orleans tradition of perlage — French for beadwork — the women march in parades wearing corsets and headdresses handcrafted annually to coincide with a theme. Emily’s gold-beaded costume, an homage to the famous restaurant Brennan’s, which is now closed, is proudly displayed on a dress form in their eat-in kitchen. With all the exciting cultural possibilities the Crescent City has to offer, who knows what future creations will appear in this fun-loving couple's colorful new home.

You can see the full tour and read more about Emily & Andrew's style on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

Farmaesthetics' Stylish Skincare Apothecary

Brenda Brock, founder of the natural skincare line Farmaesthetics, remembers being a little girl, curiously standing on her tippy toes, and straining to see the top of her grandmother’s dressing table. There were toiletries in milky blue glass bottles with labels she couldn’t read, white linen hankies, crisp and folded, and sweetly scented powdery things. It was private, personal and intimate.

“I was drawn to that place. I think I knew that women were different at their dressing tables somehow, that this is where they went to soften themselves after hard work. It was mysterious to know that they had this place to be that had nothing to do with us."

All of the nostalgia and beauty wrapped up in this childhood memory is embodied in Farmaesthetics’ flagship Newport apothecary and treatment boutique. Entering the space feels like being transported back to a calmer, simpler time, not unlike the world where Brenda, the daughter of an 8th-generation Texas farming family, was raised. It was a world where everything was real and natural: tables were wood, pitchers were porcelain, bottles were glass. “It was glorious. That kind of texture was so grounding,” Brenda wistfully recalls. “Now it is considered a luxury, but back then, it was just a wholesome way of life.”

White tin ceiling tiles, antique rocking chairs and glass bottles labeled in cursive with descriptions like “Nourishing Lavender Milk” and “Cool Aloe Mist” pay homage to these bygone days and give Farmaesthetics an old-time charm that still feels fresh and refined. The space reflects the wholesome purity of the products, which are made with organic herbs, flowers, oils and grains from American family farms. The “rural kitchen culture” of Brenda’s youth is the inspiration behind her growing skincare brand. The women who gathered around the kitchen table to share natural, farm-based recipes for health and beauty set the stage for her lifelong love of herbal concocting. “So much self care information is held in verbal traditions. There was an intimacy of truth exchanged between us little girls and our elders.”

Following in the footsteps of her ancestors, Brenda began creating handmade skincare preparations for family and friends using herbs and flowers she grew herself. She started selling her beauty products at a friend’s roadside organic farm stand during the summer of 1999. From there, the demand for her natural products has continued to grow. Today her full line of skincare products for the face and body are used in spas like the Four Seasons and sold by retailers including Urban Outfitters and Terrain.

The antiques that fill Brenda’s Bellevue Avenue store keep her deeply connected to her past as her thriving brand looks towards the future. “I need them around me for reference in my work environment. All it takes is a glimpse or a quick touch to realign myself with my story and intentions for Farmaesthetics, and that is very important during the hubbub of a demanding day at a fast growing business.”

You can see the full tour and read more about Brenda's style and the apothecary's furnishings on Apartment Therapy.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque

Katie & Scott's Serene, Minimalist Home

When the McDonalds purchased the home of Katie’s parents four years ago, they were inspired by the spectacular view. The couple traded a Frank Lloyd Wright original in Rochester, New York, for a 1950’s colonial revival house overlooking a picturesque river in a small Rhode Island town.

Although the location was ideal, the existing gambrel-roofed home, situated on nearly two wooded acres, felt disconnected from the bucolic surroundings. Numerous additions throughout the years had left the house feeling like a complex aggregation of rooms. Katie, a holistic health counselor and raw food chef, and Scott set out to transform the structure into a modern, minimalist space that would allow them to deeply connect to the natural beauty of the serene setting.

Katie and Scott worked with 3six0 Architecture to execute their vision. Like the the prairie-style home they left behind, the couple’s new house would celebrate the principles of simplicity and intentional use of space. “Honoring nature remained the constant mission throughout the transformation,” Katie explains. Exterior decks and large floor-to-ceiling windows blur the line between inside and out. This harmony is particularly evident on a February afternoon, as a thick layer of snow appears to seamlessly abut an indoor rock garden made up of stones gathered from beaches the couple visited during their courtship.

In keeping with the family’s Buddhist practice, Katie says, “we were deliberate in creating an uncluttered space to unclutter the mind.” The former dining room, living room, kitchen, and family room were combined into one large multipurpose area. Custom wenge cabinetry running the length of the downstairs keeps the space tidy and acts as a unifying anchor for the open floor plan, connecting the glass doors of the living area to the Eastern-inspired meditation room on the opposite end.

Upstairs, the master suite with a private deck and adjoining bath area — complete with a Japanese soaking tub — has no furniture besides a chair and bed. Like downstairs, extensive closets and cabinetry eliminate clutter. Katie and Scott's 12-year-old son Sage, who wanted to keep his second-floor bedroom private, says, “I love my room because it represents me.” The fencing enthusiast says the thing he appreciates most about his house is the serenity. “I love how every room is the same, but different too.” His friends refer to the modern home, a rarity in New England, as the “IronMan House.”

The minimalist environment the McDonalds have created allows them to live in harmony with their surroundings and focus on their favorite sights: foxes frolicking on the ice, bald eagles pulling fish from the river, snapping turtles crossing the terrace, and owls filling the night. “Our favorite time of year is whenever the breezes flow through the house,” Scott says, “Each season brings its nuanced beauty through critters, foliage, scent, and diversity.”

You can see the full tour of the McDonalds' modern home and read more about their style on Apartment Therapy.

Text and photos by Jacqueline Marque.

Jane & Dan's Multifunctional Live/Work Studio

The temperature is in the mid 20’s and the ground is covered in a layer of snow that crunches with each step when I arrive at the Wrights’ Jamestown studio on a weekday morning in early February. Jane, a painter and printmaker, welcomes me into the tranquil space where she spends her days working. After shedding my heavy winter layers near the wood-burning stove, it isn’t long before I am settling in with a warm cup of Earl Grey.

Crisp light pours in through large windows, casting long, geometric shadows on the white walls and grey wash floors. The organic modern space, set back from the family’s home of 15 years, is at once a soothing refuge from the harsh elements and a harmonious extension of the natural surroundings. “The minimal design helps to keep me from getting distracted,” Jane explains, “It’s really nice. It frees me to do my work.”

The Wrights spent many years dreaming of having a multifunctional space, separate from their home, where they could work, accommodate guests, and hang out with friends. Jane was ready to stop renting studio space and work near home, and Dan, an attorney and musician who plays in three bands, wanted to have a place to edit and record music at night without worrying about waking up the rest of the family. Two years ago, they finally decided to make it happen. “We couldn’t just think about it forever,” says Jane.

To bring their dream to life, Jane and Dan turned to Newport architects Estes Twombley, whom they have long admired for their distinctive designs that feel modern and traditional at the same time. Jane has nothing but praise for the end result. “The architect did an amazing job of coming up with a design that was able to serve multiple purposes, while keeping the project within space and budgetary constraints,” she says.

Jane worked closely with the general contractor and managed construction of the space. Clean lines and the airy feeling of high ceilings, large windows, and a sleeping loft created the perfect canvas for her new interior design firm Roost Modern to execute their vision. “We tried to make it feel Scandinavian, but also like a New England farmhouse, and contemporary all at the same time. We chose the floor and wall color, lighting fixtures, Scandinavian wood stove and super simple and affordable cabinets and bathroom fixtures accordingly.” Jane feels the project provided the final piece of experience she needed to be ready to take on other construction projects with design partners Sue McNally and Misi Narcizo.

Jane and Dan have created a perfect setting for art and happiness to flourish. The couple’s collection of simple, mid-century modern furnishings are just right for the casual living room, which feels like a peaceful getaway right in their backyard. Plush hides draped over the back of chairs invite visitors to sit back, let out a deep sigh, and take in the artwork. The space affords Jane and Dan some precious time alone and provides a relaxing place to unwind with friends over wine and hors d'oeuvres. For their daughters Georgia and Lily, the studio offers the privacy that teenagers appreciate. When he's not working in his recording room, Dan enjoys the opportunity to have a session, with band mates or by himself, in the inspiring space. “It seems like every time I get a chance to really relax there, something positive happens, including a few tunes I don't think I would have written otherwise.”

Thank you, Jane and Dan, for sharing your beautiful space with us. You can see the full studio tour on Apartment Therapy.

Text and photos by Jacqueline Marque.

Miles & Antena's Laid Back Coastal Home

When Miles and Antena bought their Newport home eleven years ago, they loved the bones of the traditional Victorian structure, but envisioned a transformation that would infuse the 1892 building – filled with drab colors, floral wallpaper and period decor – with the bright coastal charm of a seaside cottage.

Over a decade later, the David home has a casual, all-American charm that welcomes visitors like a breath of fresh air. Past a white picket fence, a waving grand old flag, and a classic cast iron eagle plaque, guests enter a sun-drenched vestibule with a simple teak bench. Streaks of morning light accentuate the beauty of a shiny brass clamshell knocker and a heavy front door made of warm, rich wood. Streeter, a camera-loving yellow Lab, is ready to welcome a newcomer like an old friend.

The view from the foyer makes it immediately clear that this home is much more than an apple pie cliche. Wood salvaged from a Vermont barn covers the living room ceiling, which had a popcorn texture that proved impossible to remove. White walls, glass-paned pocket doors and custom built-in shelving provide a refined counterbalance to the rustic ceiling, which feels unexpected yet perfectly at home with the laid-back furnishings throughout the house. A peek into the dining room reveals a Smith and Hawken teak patio set complete with Sunbrella fabric-covered cushions. It is another unpredictable, yet fitting, choice that adds to the home’s easy coastal vibe.

They named the house Foghorn. The idea came to Miles, who works in the marine industry, when he heard the familiar sound one night in Newport Harbor, which is just a few blocks away. Foghorn has become an evolving labor of love to the Davids, who are inspired by their passion for design, art, and the sea.

“Buying our first home in a coastal town, we were drawn to local artists and really focused on the boats, beach and marine life,” says Miles, “After a few years, our taste changed considerably, and we now are drawn to the unique art of our friends, abstract art of our kids, and taking a few stabs at it ourselves.” The framed artwork of the Davids' young daughters hangs proudly throughout the house, which is filled with a vast and growing collection of art books. Miles' penchant for painting bullseyes has turned the familiar graphic into a recurring theme in their decor. “There is something soothing to me about a bullseye,” he explains, “I also tend to say ‘keep your eye on the prize’ when I reference them. When I put Bullseye Revisited in our den, I really felt it belonged there.”

Miles can always feel when something is out of place, and isn’t afraid to keep changing things until he gets it right. “This seems to be a theme in the house: tweak, tweak, remove, etc.,” he explains. The butler’s pantry he turned into a bar went through several changes until he finally settled on a varnished cherry counter finished off with an edge of brass nailheads. He made wood tracks to create wine storage, installed wainscoting in the liquor cabinet, and carved a "bar" sign. On a whim, he decided to cover the narrow hall with cedar shingles after testing out many colors, patterns and stripes; the added texture turned out to be just what the room was missing. “The pantry, now bar, connects the main house, built in 1892, and the den, built in 1936, so the shingles are rather fitting considering that used to be the outside of the house,” he says, “Many great conversations take place in that narrow space.”

It seems there are few things that have been untouched by Miles’ handiwork and the couple’s shared vision for maximizing space in a clean and beautiful way. The barn board ceiling in the living room, sliding pantry door in the kitchen, and custom built-in shelving throughout the house were all designed by Miles and built by custom woodworker Ben Wilcox. Antena, who works as a Student Outreach Coordinator for newportFILM, adds her creativity to the space with the curtains, pillows, bench seats and duvet covers she sews. It isn’t unusual for her to come home and find that her husband has started a new project, adding wainscoting to the second floor or working on one of the new lamp designs he hopes to manufacture. “Yes, this house has really lit the passion for design,” he says, “(I have) a passion to improve (my surroundings) and a mild case of ADHD. Put the two together and you’re walking around the house with a tool belt and measuring walls and floor space for the next idea.”

The Davids turned their third floor into a giant highly-organized walk-in closet with a bathroom.

Thanks for sharing your home with us, Miles & Antena! You can check out the full house tour and read more about the David home on Apartment Therapy.

Text and photos by Jacqueline Marque.

Mitchell & Thomas' Bougie Boho Style

New Orleans is known for its laissez-faire culture. Anything goes, and every occasion is an excuse for a party. Mitchell Settoon and Thomas Ecker approach life — and homemaking — with the same easy spirit that characterizes the city they call home. As Mitchell explains: “I could wear a red sequined cocktail dress to my local grocery store; nobody would bat an eye. The only question would be ‘paper or plastic?’ I do hope my house has that same relaxed appeal.”

Mitchell and Thomas live in one half of a 1,700 square foot double shotgun house they own with Thomas’ twin brother Todd. Friends flock to the Mid-City home, which is furnished in a lively style they like to call “bougie boho.” It’s an artful mix of high and low brow design that combines inherited Mid-Century Modern pieces with cheeky artwork and thrift store finds, neutral slipcovered seating with daring paint colors and bold textiles. Mitchell, an artist and decorator who can sew just about anything, uses his skills to satisfy his need for change. He freshens rooms with fine faux finishes and the pillows, curtains and slipcovers he makes himself. Frequent out-of-town guests never know what they will find when they return for another visit.

Entertaining is a way of life for the fun-loving couple, and their home is designed with this in mind. An outdoor patio furnished with a melange of vintage signs, yard art, and colorful seating creates the perfect setting for the two big house parties they host every year, for the Endymion parade during Mardi Gras and the twins’ birthday in October. Formal dinners, spontaneous potlucks, brunches, and barbecues keep their home alive with laughter and good times.

Touches of humor and kitsch throughout the home create a light-hearted vibe and let visitors know they’ve entered a realm where nothing is sacred. “While I admire quiet, tasteful elegance, it's never been something to which I aspired,” explains Mitchell. “Nothing in this house is taken too seriously, or is too precious to use.”

Two large paintings in the living room, inspired by the graffiti found throughout the city during Hurricane Katrina, are evidence of this. One bears markings similar to those left behind by the National Guard as they searched houses for survivors. “I made the painting — using materials salvaged from our house — to have a reminder to never take things for granted; to realize how transitory life is.” The other, a play on words a store owner spray painted on his boarded windows, reads, “Don’t try. I’m sleeping inside with a crazy man, a bigass dog, a vicious cat and a pistol.” Mitchell says that it “demonstrates how to maintain your sense of humor, even in the worst of times... I've had some visitors find them a bit grim or off-putting, but I've always enjoyed gallows humor, and I do think it's important to remember dark days have as much importance in shaping you as the sunny ones.”

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque.

You can see the full house tour and read more about Mitchell and Thomas' home on Apartment Therapy.

The Ritacco's Lighthearted Home

Written in chalk above the bathroom door are the words, “Artistry + Function + Simplicity = This Home.” It’s a fitting mission statement for Jill and Dan Ritacco’s small Rhode Island cape, which was gutted and revitalized by the couple themselves. From the drywall to the furnishings, Dan and Jill have built most of what you see in their 1200-square-foot home. Jill, an artist who studied printmaking and painting, and Dan, a wooden boat builder, aptly call their personal style “we can make anything.”

When the couple was house hunting three years ago, their priority was to live in a good school district, but their budget was tight. “We felt that we could make any house our own, so the architecture was not all that important. This house simply met our price and location needs,” says Jill. While it was hard for most people to see past the dilapidated kitchen, knotty pine wall panels, and blue shag carpet, Jill and Dan were thrilled to find that it had a good roof, septic system, siding and insulation. “This allowed us to make it our own because the inside needed some serious TLC,” Jill explains.

One of the first things you see when you enter the house is an illuminated handmade sign that reads “Make Taccos.” Leftover from Dan’s 30th birthday party, which featured a taco bar, and a play on their last name, the sign sets the tone for the humor and artistry you will find throughout this happy abode. Painted jellyfish swim up hallway walls, polka dots decorate Taavi’s tiny bedroom nook, and a mural covers the entire kitchen ceiling.

With a can-do attitude and plenty of talent between the two of them, Dan and Jill have tackled the making of their home with a true DIY spirit and a whole lot of lighthearted fun. The house is filled with homemade furniture: bed frames, a kitchen table with bench seating, an island with a bicycle wheel holding pots and pans underneath. Thanks to Dan’s clever use of built-in storage and space-saving solutions throughout the house – a skill honed through years of building wooden boats – everything is tucked away neatly on shelves and carved into nooks and crannies. And it helps that they also try to live simply: “We are always trying to live with less. The house looks cleaner that way. We are not big fans of spending time cleaning,” Jill explains, “We like to play instead!” In the Ritacco home, artistry + function + simplicity = happiness.

Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque.

You can read more about Dan and Jill's style and see their full Apartment Therapy House Tour HERE.