Cottage Charm in New Orleans

This charming cottage in New Orleans finds its second life after a thoughtful design renovation.

New Orleans house exterior with blue front door
Photography by Mac Jamieson

Text by Katie Ellis

Although New Orleans is known for its vibrant culture and cuisine, the city also boasts a delightfully charming cottage scene. Seated in the Uptown-area neighborhood just off the famed shopping destination of Magazine Street is a recently renovated shotgun-style cottage. The renovation transformed the home with updated amenities while remaining true to its heritage. No longer shotgun style in architecture, the now 2,220-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath floor plan was thoughtfully designed by Andrew Stout of Stouthaus Architecture. Originally 1,560 square feet, the home had been partially gutted and sat vacant for 13 years. In 2017, Andrew reimagined the floor plan, adding more than 600 square feet to the rear of the house in order to expand the family room and kitchen, which now open onto a new rear deck.

cottage office
Photography by Mac Jamieson

Ann Williams and Eleanor Williams Hohnstein of WilliamsWorks New Orleans took the lead on the renovation design and development. The pair selected relaxed, stylish furnishings to create an inviting space that feels fresh and modern. While the house was originally designed for the mid-19th-century lifestyle, Ann and Eleanor’s creative choices helped add in modern conveniences without compromising the home’s historical architecture and character.

painted brick fireplaceInside, the rooms of the existing structure were rearranged to maximize livability, space, and privacy. A quaint sitting room greets guests as they enter, and the painted brick fireplace demands attention as the room’s architectural focal point. History was preserved in the home’s original wide heart pine flooring that shined like new once sanded and refinished. Just off the sitting room awaits a charming home office. Its distance from the kitchen and bedrooms creates a quiet place for productivity to thrive. The wall of floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcases opposite a charming fireplace creates a perfectly cozy office space that could also easily transition to a bedroom.