
Deeply saturated moody partitions, classic portraits galore, and a secret passageway are just some of the weather on this former church turned Airbnb that make it endlessly thrilling to stare upon. This can be a “dwelling” tour such as you’ve by no means seen earlier than however earlier than we get deep into it, a fast observe from Emily:
We shot so many superb homes for the e book, and at this time we’re launching a brand new collection the place we do options on the designers and houses, separately – with all their images in a single place. We’re beginning with doubtless essentially the most jaw-dropping of all the areas, which doesn’t suggest that it’s higher than the others – only one that shocked us time and again. Sara Ruffin Costello is a complete model maverick. This “home” is a former church in New Orleans and isn’t a house, however an Airbnb which allowed Sara to in all probability push boundaries additional. It’s simply unimaginable. I’ve recognized Sara since I used to be an assistant stylist 18 years in the past in New York. She was one of many founding editors of Domino when it launched, the inventive director, and I regarded as much as her a lot in my 20s. She had this lovely West Village brownstone, with candy children and was so pretty and right down to earth. I used to be in my early 20s and I keep in mind pondering that appeared like a fairly nice life to aspire to. She since moved to Louisiana and once I noticed this house on her Instagram, I instantly begged to shoot it for the e book. It far surpassed our expectations. Sara Tramp, Velinda, and Erik actually killed it on the images and styling. So go comply with Sara now. She continues to encourage with all of her tasks and I used to be so fortunate to have been close to her whereas studying my method by means of this model trade. Thanks, Sara. xx

The primary room of the tour displays a vibrancy that rivals the very metropolis it’s housed in. A New Orleans transplant herself, Sara Ruffin Costello as soon as wrote that “a part of the attract, in fact, is that even post-Katrina, New Orleans is sort of a film set.” Certainly, those that have ever visited can attest that town has a attraction and attraction that’s nearly dreamlike. Contemplating her deep admiration for town, it ought to come as no shock that the identical goes for this Airbnb she designed. It looks like a dream as a result of it has all of the issues one hopes to seek out in inside design: limitless attraction, a mixture of previous and new, daring decisions, vibrant colours, thrilling patterns, and unbelievable artwork, all packaged collectively to create a heat, inviting really feel.

On this first bed room, darkish blue partitions create the backdrop for a dramatic four-poster mattress and a golden, decadent tapestry. Instantly you might be enveloped by the moody blue shade which is emphasised much more so with the matching blue bedding. The bedding provides a ton of texture which contrasts the smoothness of the partitions, and the low brass sconces add heat together with the tapestry. As you’ll proceed to see all through the house tour, it’s these small particulars that make a great design GREAT.

Related to the bed room is that this toilet that’s embellished with floor-to-ceiling darkish subway tile. It’s laborious to inform from this angle if this can be a full toilet so I’m wondering, is it potential this can be a single bathe closet? In that case, that explains the daring spirit of Sara Ruffin Costello’s designs to a T.

When you ever thought moody and saturated had been contradicting adjectives, assume once more. The inky blue wall shade is each wealthy and darkish, including a lot depth to the room robotically.

It’s price noting {that a} four-poster mattress attracts the attention up, so the vaulted uncovered wooden ceiling is a deal with for the eyes. As your eye is drawn up you’ll additionally see the jute roman shades, which enhance the wooden ceiling, and each work collectively so as to add an ethereal heat to the house.

To distinction the dramatic wall shade, SRC performs with patterns to brighten the house. The old-world Mediterranean model tile flooring is paired fantastically with the same shade Persian rug, making a ton of sample and texture. The rug provides a layer of coziness however has wealthy colours that complement the Victorian model of the room. Talking of shade, I actually adore the delicate alternative to color the grid of the window panels a heat tone which provides to the crimson accents all through the room.
Oh, and did anybody discover the painted-over electrical outlet? It’s such a great trick to “disguise” it in plain sight.

As you’ll see, all of the items of artwork all through this complete Airbnb are putting and convey a classic collected vibe into each room. On this mini gallery wall, she performs with scale however retains the colour palette and magnificence constant so the gallery feels cohesive. I can also’t assist however love that mini soldier bust.

Transferring on to the following room, the adjoining hidden door is a extremely sudden and playful alternative. Persevering with the pink wall shade and golden yellow baseboard throughout the door makes the door disappear seamlessly into the room. When closed utterly, the tiny brass door knob and brass lock are noticeable and add a candy and eccentric contact. To starkly distinction the pastel pink wall shade, one other superior classic portrait breaks up the wall shade with a black ornate body.

It’s almost inconceivable to decide on a favourite room from this tour, however this front room is difficult to compete with. The blending of kinds (rustic meets glam meets Victorian attraction involves thoughts) makes it such an thrilling room to behold. Instantly, SRC is aware of the best way to seize your consideration and convey the attention up with that regal candle chandelier. Then as your eye bounces round making an attempt to seize all the decor components as soon as, it turns into clear that she is a grasp at combining textures. The plush cushions, velvet throw pillows, rustic wooden ceiling, and mismatched classic frames create a lot depth. To spherical it out, the small-scale patterned cafe curtains add an ideal dose of southern attraction.

The softness of the pastels coupled with darkish moody and comically severe oil portraits creates a extremely enjoyable and sudden juxtaposition. The brass tables additionally add a heat metallic tone that blends into the room properly.

Since that is an Airbnb and is supposed for in a single day visitors and never everlasting residents, the structure and performance are a little bit completely different, making the design much more playful. On the alternative aspect of the lounge/sitting space, is that this self-importance cupboard with a built-in sink. It doesn’t matter what the perform could also be, it undoubtedly is a stunning alternative making the room really feel much more refreshing.
I have to point out that one in every of my favourite decor methods that SRC executes rather a lot is low artwork placement. The summary piece above the cupboard might have been hung greater to be centered on the wall, however the low placement deliberately provides visible curiosity.


A wooden sliding door with a beautiful medium end and dramatic grain separates the lounge and powder toilet. She switched up the tile within the toilet however I really like how the lavatory tile is a bigger and less complicated model of the lounge tile and has the identical shade. It creates cohesiveness with out being too predictable.

Pay attention, I’ve by no means met a built-in bookcase that I didn’t like, however this one will doubtless reside within the built-in bookcase corridor of fame. The slim, gentle wooden door separating the 2 sides feels very playful and provides this sitting room an enclosed hidden library really feel. It’s simply SO good.

Whereas there’s a lot to admire about this room, I couldn’t assist however discover how the jute rug and wicker accents add a layer of heat that helps create that lived-in, inviting really feel. With so many darkish tones, this room might come throughout a bit chilly however the gentle decor items preserve that from occurring. And once more, the brass accents add a heat metallic distinction to the house.

File this shot beneath Pictures That Have Been Seared Into My Mind. I can’t recover from that wingback chair with the fashionable sample in opposition to the deep inexperienced cabinets. Oh, and I really like how the window shutters add attraction and an endearing architectural characteristic immediately.

On the alternative aspect of the room, the tile flooring continues seamlessly into the following bed room which is simply as moody and dramatic as you’d count on…

One other low artwork placement makes an look (I critically can’t get sufficient of this trick) however holy smokes this brass chest of drawers is so dramatic and enjoyable. The metallic gold shade pops in opposition to the inky blue partitions so properly.

When the entire EHD crew shared our obsession with this room, Emily instantly famous the deep mahogany mattress particularly. It’s actually a press release piece and one which was a little bit of a danger however ended up actually paying off. However mattress apart, the armoire is inconceivable to disregard. When you keep in mind this room from Emily’s e book, you already know that the regal dimension and darkish wooden end of the piece are usually not the one noteworthy issues about it…

That’s proper people, that’s an vintage armoire turned secret door that leads into the lavatory suite. Pardon this subsequent phrase however, I CAN’T EVEN. It is going to be laborious to speak about something however this for the following a number of months, but it surely’s additionally price noting that this room typically is a major instance of darkish wooden performed proper. I believe it helps that the bedframe and armoire have related wooden tones they usually actually pop in opposition to this explicit shade of darkish blue paint.

As if an vintage armoire turned secret door isn’t cool sufficient, the within of the door reveals a strip of vibrant botanical wallpaper. I do surprise if that was authentic to the armoire or added later however in any case, SRC by no means misses a stunning sample second.

Within the toilet, inexperienced large-scale tile covers the ground and many of the partitions making a vibrant and comfortable environment. It’s a stunning swap from the bed room, making the tile shade alternative really feel much more thrilling.

HOT TIP: A straightforward method so as to add character and sample to any toilet is by choosing a classic Persian rug as a substitute of a shower mat. I really like that she went with a vibrant pink rug to essentially distinction with the sunshine inexperienced tile.

This tile wall has a smooth gradient which makes the colour change and displays gentle in a different way, and white shutters add some candy classic attraction to this in any other case trendy toilet.

It feels becoming to finish with this bed room, which is so completely different than the rooms we witnessed above, but carries a well-known temper and dream-like state. Though it’s the solely impartial room on this dwelling tour, there is no such thing as a scarcity of drama or class.
For starters, the curtains added to the four-poster mattress make the mattress really feel like its personal separate room inside a room. So romantic and Victorian.

Now that we’re nearing the top of this dwelling tour, I can confidently say that SRC is a grasp of low artwork placement. I really like how she hung the artwork nearly instantly above the cupboard/aspect desk and positioned the sconce instantly over that. It makes this little nook really feel like its personal particular design second.

Simply as I started considering a shift away from hanging tapestries, this room proves me useless flawed. The tapestry brings in a lot shade, whimsy, and motion to the room all whereas bringing in much more heat due to the woven texture. It’s too good.

I’ll go away you with this dreamy bed room shot because it feels most apropos to the reoccurring themes of this dwelling: dramatic, collected, dream-like, and welcoming to call a couple of. Now, I’d love to listen to your favourite half(s) of this house so please drop a line down beneath. Thanks for studying and comfortable Wednesday. xx
*Design by Sara Ruffin Costello
**Styled by Velinda Hellen & Erik Kenneth Staalberg
***Picture by Sara Ligorria-Tramp for “The New Design Guidelines”
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