Wedding Cake Residence
The most photographed home in New Orleans
Category
Custom Residential
Location
New Orleans, LA
Size
13,750 SF
Year
2004
Located on historic St Charles Avenue and known locally as the “Wedding Cake” house due to its many layers of exterior decoration, the house was constructed in 1896 and is an outstanding example of the picturesque mode of the Colonial Revival style of architecture. The current owners are only the 3rd owners since the house was built at the turn of the century and experienced some unfortunate alterations over the years. Due to its age, it had also lost much of its exterior ornament by the time of the renovation.
During the extensive renovation, the main public rooms of the house were meticulously restored. The kitchen was completely remodeled, the former Butler’s Pantry was remodeled into a generous breakfast room with new doors to visually connect the Breakfast room to the side yard. A new rear addition now houses a pantry, an elevator and a second set of stairs.
The single largest change was the creation of a new Garden Room connecting the house to the exterior by means of a large glass circular bay window designed in style with the original design of the house. Other axial views thru the house were restored and in some cases newly created to give additional connection to the exterior.
On the second floor all Bedrooms and Baths were completely modernized into 21st Century luxury but in keeping with the feeling of a period house. New walk in closets were added at the Master Suite. The third floor, which hadn’t been occupied in 50 years, was renovated to include a large den with a large walk in wine cellar and guest suites. The grounds were also completely redone and landscaped with a new fencing, a glass tile faced pool, terraces, patios and walks to create a series of outside rooms, both private and public.