Inside Northside Magazine

Room with a Vieux

by Martha Pool

For northshore interior designer Shayne, creating a home-away-from-home for clients Bill and Rosemary Hall became an imaginative excursion.

As their pied-à-terre for fun get-aways, the Halls chose a 200-year-old French Quarter apartment for entertaining friends, overnight excursions in the city, serious shopping and general frivolity.

Located near Jackson Square, the intimate studio apartment came complete with a cozy balcony accessed only by climbing out—or rather, walking through—huge, 10-foot windows that offer a bird’s-eye view of the Quarter’s never-ending activity.

An initial gutting of the aged structure included removing old appliances and bathroom fixtures, as well as replacing the wiring and designing an entirely new lighting plan. A built-in chest of drawers and a small space for hanging clothes were added. After being stripped, sanded and waxed, the distressed wide-plank pine flooring added a special warmth to the space.

Shayne chose dramatic red paint for the plaster walls of the hotel-style combined bedroom and living area, and hung a large mirror on one wall to create the illusion of more space. Covering the three massive, floor-to-ceiling windows are sweeping 12-foot draperies consisting of bold, horizontal stripes in vibrant hues of burnt orange and cadmium red. A natural Roman shade covers the room’s smaller window.

To complement the vivid red walls in the living area, Shayne selected Benjamin Moore’s “Mystic Gold” paint for the kitchen and bath. “It’s a color I like to use—a pretty ochre with a touch of gray in it.” The existing pierced-tin kitchen cabinets were painted, as was the tile backsplash. Distinctive Abet laminate countertops were installed in the kitchen, creating an unusual look Shayne likens to “stainless steel ice.”

For the bath, Shayne selected a Calvin Klein shower curtain, adding a band of fabric across the bottom and raising the curtain to ceiling height. “Since the bathroom is so small, we completely painted it in one color from top to bottom, including the tile, shower and tub. The shower curtain, new lighting and some funky art added just the right amount of drama to the space.”

Shayne jumped at the chance to add some flamboyant touches. “This was a great opportunity to take advantage of the atmosphere of the Quarter and incorporate a lot of vintage furnishings and found objects. We used a few pieces from the main residence in Old Metairie. For the remainder, we spent every weekend for an entire month in New Orleans searching for interesting furniture and accessories. One purchase was an antique bed that I gold leafed and then re-upholstered.” The deep, burnt-red damask bed linens were handmade in the designer’s New Orleans workroom.

Positioned over the bed is a distinctive chandelier acquired on Magazine Street; a set of wonderful old chairs was found at a local junk shop. “We replaced the dated green vinyl with antique damask to create beautiful chairs, and actually accomplished a great look on a rather modest budget. You can be very creative with color and fabric.”

For wall decoration, says Shayne, “We just started hanging pieces, like they do in the galleries in France. There are many found objects and junk art, as well as some good art, with lots of differently shaped frames and a variety of art pieces. It’s a very eclectic look.”

When it comes to a signature style, this northshore designer is not easy to peg: “A lot of people refer to a designer’s particular ‘look.’ My work may not always be easily distinguishable, because I like to incorporate a lot of different styles.”

Shayne’s personal passion is mid-century modern furniture and art. “I love modern homes, but since that’s not mainstream design for the South, I adapt and incorporate basic design concepts with what my clients like. I’m very versatile—I can go in and do a home filled with French antiques and turn around and go to my next appointment, which may be all modern, and then go and design a home consisting of all-white shabby chic. I really listen to what the client wants—observing how they live their lives—and then I design around their lifestyle. I have three children, four dogs and a cat, so I understand the importance of creating a customized, livable space. I can create a beautiful environment in any client’s home, but if it does not reflect their personality and lifestyle, they cannot feel ‘at home.’”

Shayne tries to educate her clients to not just “fill up the rooms” but to buy significant pieces and to only buy what they love. Often, that involves a lengthy process in finding just the right furnishings. She says, “Even if it takes several years to decorate a home, when it’s all said and done, I want my clients to say that they love everything they’ve purchased and that they plan to pass it down to their children.”

After attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Shayne began her career in 1991. She moved to the New Orleans area in 1997, and maintained a New Orleans office until relocating her design studio to Covington’s Lee Lane in December 2003.