Portraits
Earlier this summer, I was lucky enough to meet Chris Scheurich and Ali McNally, the lovely couple behind the Uptown boutique Neon Heart. I photographed the space where they live, work and play for Apartment Therapy. You can see the full tour HERE.
And here are some of my favorites photos from our shoot:
Guest quarters
Guest quarters
Guest quarters
The couple's boutique Neon Heart, located Uptown at 1022 Lowerline Street
Chris' framing studio, located behind the boutique:
Brian and Emily’s New Orleans shotgun will have you smiling before you even take a step inside. The exterior color combination of red, purple, and bright blue is as bold and fun as the city they call home. The couple’s vast collection of folk art covers the interior walls like a modern day version of the storied Parisian salons. “We like to pile it on thick,” Emily says with a laugh.
The couple has amassed their collection from a variety of sources such as festivals, art markets, local galleries, and street vendors in the French Quarter. “I really love New Orleans and I came here because it just seemed so rich and vivid… The art I’ve gravitated towards is like this place,” Emily explains. Although they don’t buy art with investment in mind–“We buy it because we love it,” Emily says–they have a knack for finding artists before they hit it big.
Their artworks are grouped in themes: the music room is decorated with a hand-painted guitar, a bust of Elvis atop a piano inherited from Brian’s grandmother, and depictions of musicians like Lucinda Williams and David Bowie. The kitchen is a celebration of Southern cuisine–think alligator po-boy and hot-boiled crab–and includes whimsical paintings of cats eating food. The bathroom is a display of "Oriental" art inherited from Emily’s grandmother and the den is filled with hand-carved masks from all over the world.
Several distinct pieces of mid-century modern furniture–six tall-back chairs, two glass tables, and a three-piece wooden cube coffee table–make a strong visual statement in the home. The vintage pieces were designed by Adrian Pearsall and inherited from Emily’s grandmother, whose Texas ranch house maintained an early-1960s style until the time of her death.
The overall vibe of the house is lighthearted and inviting. Emily and Brian, who both work in academia, love to open their home to their friends for holiday celebrations, dinner parties, and watching Saints games. “Our style is informal,” says Brian, “because we run in informal circles around here.”
When they are not entertaining, Emily and Brian love to sit on the front porch and take in the verdant streetscape that lured them to the Irish Channel ten years ago. While gushing over all of the wonderful aspects of the neighborhood–the walkability, the varied architecture, the great people-watching–Emily sums it up with this: “The first house [we lived in] didn’t seem like a forever house, but this seems like a forever house… We hope to never leave.”
You can see a full tour of Emily & Brian's home and read more about their art collection at Apartment Therapy.
Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque
When Tiffany Napper was house hunting in New Orleans five years ago, she couldn't get her mind off the first place she saw. The little white shotgun, located near the Mississippi River, was previously owned by a 93-year-old woman who had been born in the house and lived there until she died. It had drop ceilings, faux wood paneling, and dirty wall-to-wall carpeting. The narrow 1,400-square-foot structure also boasted a dark galley kitchen, one tiny bathroom, and four small bedrooms sandwiched together without a hallway...
“My real estate agent thought I was joking,” Tiffany says, after she asked to go back to the house for a another look. “When I first walked in, I saw the potential and couldn’t let go of that idea,” she explains. Tiffany returned to the house with a video camera, then went straight to a nearby coffee shop to get to work. She sketched plans to reconfigure the cluttered building into the airy two-bedroom, two-bathroom space she now calls home.
It’s not surprising that Tiffany was up for the challenge of a major renovation. She has been witnessing the transformation of spaces since she was a child. Her parents owned a flooring business for years and tackled many ambitious projects, and their creative spirit rubbed off on her. “I’ve always had a really strong vision when it comes to design and aesthetics,” she explains. Unexpected elements, like the hardwood flooring on the kitchen ceiling and the sliding pocket doors that open to the guest room, are a testament to this.
A key part of Tiffany’s redesign is the large combination office and living space at the very front of the house. A striking brick fireplace, once hidden in a closet, serves as the centerpiece. One side of the bright and spacious room has a sleek row of white built-in cabinets and the other has two cozy seating areas, an art wall, and a hanging swing chair.
The casual and inspiring atmosphere became the launchpad for Tiffany’s two businesses: Bats on Strings, a public relations and marketing firm for musicians and creative artists, and a handbag line called Flying Fox. The little white shotgun that was once desperately in need of new life became a place where fresh ideas are born. Tiffany ran the businesses out of her home for three years before moving the operations to a rented office space, which has her unmistakable visual stamp all over it. “Now, for the first time since I renovated, my home is just my home. It’s my sanctuary, and it feels really great,“ she says with a smile.
You can view Tiffany's full Apartment Therapy house tour and read more about her style HERE.
Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque
Six rows of neatly displayed wigs decorate a brick wall in Kerry Maloney’s French Quarter apartment. They’ve been collected from Mardi Gras costumes throughout the years. They’re decked out with stars and plumes, birds and elaborate handmade crowns. There’s the French aristocrat, the drum major, the conehead, and the wizard. Like the dozens of framed snapshots that cover the opposite wall, each of these wigs holds a memory and tells a story of spirited camaraderie.
“Mardi Gras has been so important to me,” Kerry explains, “It’s a thing that’s grown with me and my friends.” Kerry and her comrades have made an annual tradition of selecting a group costume theme for parading on Fat Tuesday. They start creating their festive ensembles as soon as each new year begins. “After New Year’s, it’s just glitter and glue until Mardi Gras,” she says with a smile, “The excitement of it just builds. And having the most glitter means winning.” Past themes have included aliens, sea creatures, a marching band and Vikings – complete with a shopping cart decorated as a ship.”
When Mardi Gras day finally arrives, the friends are awake before dawn. They paint their bodies, transform into character, and make their way to the Bywater neighborhood to march with The Society of Saint Anne, a walking club of merry revelers dressed in the most elaborate and over-the-top costumes imaginable. “We spend all day dancing in the streets, hugging and laughing. It’s the most glorious day ever,” Kerry gushes, “I can’t believe I lived for 22 years without Mardi Gras.”
When Kerry, a wedding photographer with a background in journalism, moved to New Orleans, she never thought about living in the French Quarter. “It didn’t seem like anyone lived here,” she explains. But something kept pulling her back to the neighborhood. When she spotted a rental sign in the window of a duplex with a porch – a rarity in the Quarter – she knew it was where she wanted to live.
Six years later, Kerry is still happy with her choice. “There’s always something going on here. Everyday someone walks by playing an instrument. Every week there’s a parade within earshot.” Even though she lives in an area heavily-trafficked by tourists, Kerry still feels a sense of community in her neighborhood. Her next door neighbor Jim has lived in the other half of her duplex for over 20 years and Catherine, who is in her 90s, has lived in the Creole Cottage across the street since the 1960s. “We look out for each other,” Kerry says.
Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque
Click here to see the full tour of Kerry's space on Apartment Therapy.
You can check out Kerrys' beautiful photography here.
You don’t even have to enter Vanessa’s home to know that it’s not your typical seaside cottage. Unique bullseye glass details embellish bright green doors and custom-designed bamboo fencing. A horse made of rusty metal tools grazes on the front lawn. The tidy gardens, framed by a single stone arch and a curved brick pathway, are peppered with whimsical planters and sculptures. Impeccable craftsmanship, attention to detail and a fun-loving owner who doesn’t restrict herself to a singular style make this small cedar-shingled house shine.
When Vanessa, a real estate developer and designer who owns an equestrian center in rural Rhode Island, purchased the home in 1999, she was enchanted by the privacy and tranquility of the oceanside property. She capitalized on the stunning location with all new landscaping and the addition of outdoor entertaining areas, including a deck with a full-sized dining table, a gazebo with a stone fire pit, and a private dock.
The house itself was nothing special, but Vanessa saw it as an opportunity to design everything exactly the way she wanted it. She gutted it down to the studs and looked to magazines and her world travels for inspiration. “You go to these places and see things you’ve never seen before. Travel was my education in design,” she explains. Some decisions were based on the love of an object; bright blue granite became the starting point for her kitchen. Others were more practical and forward-thinking; pickled grey floors were chosen to hide the dirt that would inevitably be tracked in by her dogs Solomon and The Dude.
Vanessa’s furnishings, art and decor reflect a wide range of styles and origin. It doesn’t matter if it’s antique or modern, traditional or folk; if Vanessa loves it, she incorporates it into her home. Her aesthetic influences span the globe. There are bright Moroccan tiles in the bathroom, carved Mexican cougar heads in the guest room, and teak Tibetan monk statues from Thailand in nearly every corner.
Vanessa’s playful and unrestricted approach to homemaking makes her house unique. Tiny plastic figurines from toy stores and vending machines, plus funny pop culture references that appear throughout the house keep the feeling light. “I find my house personally entertaining,” says Vanessa. “I just sort of laugh and enjoy. I think that’s what a house should be all about.”
You can see the full tour and learn more about the Vanessa's style and inspiration on Apartment Therapy.
Photos and text by Jacqueline Marque
Thanks to Kyle Tormey, vinyl devotees in Newport have a new spot on Broadway to hunt for 12-inch treasures. Kyle buys, sells and trades records that span all musical genres at Vinyl Guru, so the inventory is always changing. Eamon and I are big fans of the place and have scored some gems for our growing collection since Kyle opened in June. Eamon's favorites: Kurt Vile's Childish Prodigy and Constant Hitmaker. Mine: Stevie Wonder classics Innervisions and Talking Book. Not only is the shop packed with great finds, but Kyle and his girlfriend Jessica Teixeira are always a pleasure to see. I had fun shooting the couple recently for a Mercury cover story by Olivia Barrett on Vinyl Guru and two other new local businesses started by young entrepreneurs, The Reformed Moth and Tricycle Ice Cream.
I got to experience the magic of aerial dancer Nichole Raab last month at the Newport Art Museum's annual summer gala, Night at the Museum: A Beaux Arts Ball. When I entered the museum that evening, I was delighted by the sight of Nichole, wearing a pink mask and white wig, suspended in a bed of white fabric near the ceiling. It took me a few moments to notice her, but then I couldn't stop staring at her with a big smile on my face. It was a charming sight that set the tone for a lovely evening.
Later in the night, Nichole captivated the crowd with a surprise performance. Seeing her maneuver fluidly from one acrobatic pose to the next while hanging from red silks was a wondrous sight.
To read about Nichole, who has combined her love of aerial dance with sailing through the program she founded, The Art of Sailing Project, on the Tall Ship Sloop Providence, check out Jamie Gillette's interview in this week's Mercury.
Photos by Jacqueline Marque
I had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family on a beautiful May evening in Middletown. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot:
This one is my favorite. I just love this kid's curls and smile. What a cutie.
Beth Hammond, a mother of three who works as a CNA and runs her own senior fitness company by day, is the producer, costume designer, choreographer and star of her own Lady Gaga tribute act by night. We worked for nearly two hours at Salvation Cafe to get this shot for the cover of Mercury. Beth amazed me with her ability to hold some very uncomfortable poses. Thanks for being a good sport and a great cover model, Beth! Check out Jamie Gillette's Off the Lip interview with this amazing woman.
Jon and Cara Hall followed up their intimate Spring wedding with a Fall 1940's-themed celebration at Fort Adams. The history buffs were delighted to see that nearly all of their guests came dressed for the era. There were fedoras, fascinators, victory rolls and even a guest dressed as Rosie the Riveter. It was a perfect evening; mild temperatures and an incredible sunset added to the merriment. Enjoy the photos from this adorable duo's unique celebration:
The Providence-based Generations Barbershop Quartet entertained guests as they sipped on Sloe Gin Fizzes, the signature cocktail for the evening.
Thanks to hair stylist Melanie Watson of The Vintage Ginger Snaps and makeup artist Andrea at Archbeauty, Cara looked like an old Hollywood movie star. The lovely figure-flattering dress, from Stop Staring, was just perfect for the occasion. 
Jon and Cara take in the view from the rooftop of Fort Adams in the very spot where Cara surprised Jon on his 40th birthday with a private dinner for two. The fort has been a special place for the couple since that evening, when Cara also surprised Jon with a delivery of 40 Harbor Bars, one of his favorite childhood treats.
Cara is clearly a girl who love surprises. Jon was stunned when she serenaded him with a sweet and sassy version of Billie Holiday's "Them There Eyes." I was impressed to find out that she only took a couple of voice lessons to prepare. She sounded fantastic, evidenced by the excitement of their guests.
