Renovating A New Orleans Home From The Civil War Era | Hidden Gems | Architectural Digest

Today on Architectural Digest we visit Baronne Street in New Orleans to tour a civil war era property bursting with potential but in need of renovation. This house is a quintessential example of Italianate architecture deeply associated with New Orleans and has no shortage of original Victorian features. Contractor Anna Karp explores room by room sharing her expert ideas on how to restore this gem to its former glory.
Check out Anna Karp, CEO & Co-Founder of Bolster here:
Website: www.bolster.us/
Bolster's Instagram: @bolster.us | / bolster.us
Anna's Instagram: @annakarpnyc | / annakarpnyc
Director: Skylar Economy
Senior Producer: Vara Reese
Associate Producer: Brandon Fuhr
Director of Photography: Alejandro Moreno
Camera Operator: Andrew Bui
Audio: Lee Garcia
Production Assistant: Ashley Bush
Editor: Alex Mechanik
Junior Editor: Paul Tael
Assistant Editor: Justin Symonds
Post Production Supervisor: Andrew Montauge
Post Production Coordinator: Holly Frew
Supervising Editor: Christina Mankellow
Graphics Supervisor: Ryan Powell
Graphics, Animation, VFX: Ross Rackin
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Production Manager: Melissa Heber
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Special thanks to:
Nicole Kaes, VP Marketing, Bolster
Ana Petropavlovsky, Chief of Staff, Bolster
Inna Shellkopf, Owner, Brownstone Door Co.: www.brownstonedoors.nyc/
Christina Worms, President; and Julien Worms, Vice President, Picardie: www.picardietimberframe.com/
Jackson, Notarial Archives Research Center: www.orleanscivilclerk.com/res...
And to Jeanette Bell, a very helpful neighbor: www.bfsnola.com/about
Want even more AD? Subscribe to the magazine and get a free tote ►► bit.ly/3Oh8McU
Still haven’t subscribed to Architectural Digest on KZbin? ►► bit.ly/2zl7s34
ABOUT ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST
The leading international design authority, Architectural Digest features articles and videos of the best in architecture, style, culture, travel, and shopping.

[@dirkgently354]

This was BY FAR the best, most detailed and thoughtful video on restoration, preservation and future-proofing I have seen on this channel. Hats off to Anna Karp and her team!

[@Travisml3]

I said the same.

[@pollytiks3885]

Agreed 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻!!!

[@ericdean5911]

100% agreed!

[@postmodernrecycler]

I really wish AD was more in this vein than some of their celebrity cribs stuff.

[@drakeprice4641]

my mind is blown as this would have been considered “middle class”. Anna was extremely detailed and informative on every aspect. i loved the natural history mixed with interior/architect history of this build.

[@krogg5868]

It's mostly a reflection of how poorly modern homes are done. Great video!

[@sersabio3401]

Remember, middle class in the 19th century was actually pretty wealthy and a minority since the majority of people were working class/poor. The middle class in the US didn't expand until the 1940s-50s

[@TheDesertMarmot]

Airflow makes such a difference in a house. I live in southern CA and every time anybody's power goes out in the summer they start with how tough people must have been to live in these temps and how could they possibly survive!? It's like, no, your house is just super impractical lol.

[@pollytiks3885]

Makes me wonder if the “painted ladies” in San Francisco are more practical to the environment. 🤔

[@08pixiedust]

As someone who grew up in Florida, the houses now are boxes that require AC. If you go to Key West and tour Hemingway's house, it was surrounded by deep verandas, floor-to-ceiling screened windows, and is shaded by trees.

[@katherinep.8919]

What an amazing video, filled with excellent detail, historical accuracy, attention to preservation and modern building issues, and sensitivity to cultural and societal differences. I would watch a whole series if they were just like this! Thank you to everyone who contributed!

[@MsYingyang2]

I agree. The commentator was so interesting and informative. She really made this video exciting to watch.

[@PeterParker-bc7mk]

I'm the person restoring this house

[@glangley8526]

Absolutely love Anna and her team. She is as impressive as the property. So intelligent and insightful. Would love more content like this AD.

[@c.dean-chen]

THIS

[@PeterParker-bc7mk]

I have personal been restoring this house. Never met this lady

[@gabriellebaalke6704]

Wow. Interesting. Is this your house/restoration project? Would love to hear more@@PeterParker-bc7mk

[@RONDAWILLIAMSON]

My family has been traced to New Orleans and other Mississippi River towns since the 1730s. My mother's family also lived in this neighborhood, on Prytania St, during this era. You have presented the house history wonderfully. I love authentic windows and recognize features that keep this house stable. I would restore with true plaster walls, which did not mold and mildew, unlike paper drywall..

[@wyster14]

That’s the kind of house I wish I could live in. Sunny, colorful, and also big enough for any hobby I have too

[@janeperanteau6129]

Anna Karp is great at bringing an amount of information and complexity to us that could be overwhelming but is instead entertaining and informative without being overly simplified or abbreviated. It stayed fascinating and fun, and I feel that I learned some things that are important for all of us to know as participants in our times. Thanks for this.

[@sunshinekid8755]

Anna is so effortlessly entertaining and knowledgeable. Another great tour. Thanks AD!

[@DanG1001]

These restoration segments with Anna have quickly become my favorite AD videos. Keep them coming!

[@marquamfurniture]

This woman is so well informed, and has the most agreeable manner. Very impressive!

[@rachristensen]

It is my understanding that New Orleans homes were taxed in part on the number of doors, so the windows were built to be fully opened to the floor and high enough to walkthrough to get past this tax.

[@bedstuyrover]

IF i'm not mistaken, the closer you built to the street, the less taxes paid also.

[@mehere337]

Funny that this was for a middle class family, originally....and now you'll need to be rich to think of living in it. It's too bad all classes can't live in such beauty.

[@yamilletrivas8041]

Absolutely loved this video and this wonderful entrepreneur and amazing woman Anna Karp! I want to learn more. She has definitely brought refined style to what any of us think about when we think of builders, renovators, construction, etc. Also she SHOUTED out her team and other builders and creators! I love her.

[@yamilletrivas8041]

New Orleans is the one only city in America that I would love to live in. It reminds me of my beloved Dominican Republic and the people of New Orleans are joyful and beautiful just like that of my country of birth!

[@AP-wq9dv]

This was excellent and informative. Please take us back to the property as it undergoes the restoration and allow us to see the design choices and finished product. Thank you

[@zymurgea]

Nice. I used to ride by the property when I lived on First Street. It's wonderful to see these wonderful homes brought back instead of being pulled down. I hope more like it in the neighborhood are also brought back.

[@katherinecuellar919]

Loved this, would love a follow up to the house remodel.

[@jefflawrentz1624]

It’s a beautiful house and I love New Orleans. My interest would be in putting back some of the character that was removed such as the handrail and balusters to stairs, period mantles etc. I’ve only been to New Orleans once but need to visit again soon to see again the 105 blocks of historic houses.

[@tubeyhamster]

This is fascinating. I could listen to this woman talk about architecture all day.

[@Jmot123]

This was an excellent episode. EXCELLENT.

[@gonefishing3644]

I wish that modern houses were designed as well for ventilation and natural cooling during warm weather, especially for times when the local electric power grid is down and the AC is not working.

[@marishlarosa]

As an architect, I appreciate the attention to detail and describing why things were built the way they were for functional purposes

[@rhondav4204]

Born and raised in the Broadmoor area of New Orleans. Beautiful house. Great episode.

[@kathleenweinberg6442]

Big beautiful house with lots of room and space for family and friends to enjoy

[@Celtic_Amy]

I wouldn’t live in New Orleans between floods and hurricanes. This house is beautiful and I love that it was designed for airflow. Houses now are just built cheap.

[@CRFSUIGENERIS]

And crime sadly…

[@laurac2005]

I love these! You should do one in Savannah!

[@faeriesmak]

Beautiful! I live in an 1883 Wisconsin farmhouse and a lot of the details of our property can be found in that eras Sears Roebuck catalogs. Restoration and preservation is so important but it is so, so expensive and not accessible for most people. It took us years to find someone willing to rebuild our original windows and soffits. Now we cannot do it, though, due to the economy.

[@deniseroe5891]

Restoring a house like this is a dream. Love the quality and craftsmanship in these regal homes in my favorite city. The paint job on the corbels in the porch is beautiful. I prefer the Italinate to the Greek.

[@gemstonesparkle7915]

Don’t forget to show us when the house is finished and decored!!!

[@xxkittymeowxx8093]

That back room was the slave or help quarters.The back staircase was for help.

[@gun7596]

It is a super interesting episode! Please do more of those because we can fully understand the structure and construction of a house + its history 😊

[@cmilliken64]

I LOVE that you get the architectural history correct! Outstanding!

[@rockshot100]

I worked in N.O. for only 6 months, but I love this style tons more than any other. I am an architect and almost 6'5" but still feel the grandeur of this style. This evolved mostly for practical reason, New Orleans is extremely hot and muggy, still the houses are packed in each block. Every effort was made to maximize air flow. Too bad she didn't show the higher end houses. The front wall of the house of those abut the sidewalk. Then going through a gate, it opens up into a large courtyard, loaded with plants and furniture. A large balcony surrounds the entire 2nd floor. No such thing as AC back then. So beautiful. All doors and windows are floor to ceiling and all have the beautiful huge handmade shutters. Lots of hurricanes, flies and mosquitos, but no screens. All of this elegance and grandeur in contrast to the serious crime and corruption.

[@ericdean5911]

I love the videos with her! She is so extremely smart and talented.

[@MegaIheartme]

The house is beautiful and the history lesson around how the house was built was undoubtedly interesting but hand taking water to the second story and how the settlers had the ingenuity of the American spirit only reminds me of how all of this was done....through pillaging and enslaving humans. I can appreciate the house's beauty without crediting the settlers for how it was actually done!!

[@sableann4255]

I've spent allot of time in New Orleans, some of the most beautiful homes ever built in this country. Wonderful episode! Anna is extremely informative and personable.

[@markherring1891]

This was a thorough and comprehensive walk-through of a historic gem (one of the few). My apartment is in a NYC transitional Greek Revival/Federal with a view across the street of long row of Italianate brick townhouses. Some of them still have the original details, intact, inside and out. It makes for a beautiful block. Kudos to the owners of this place for a thoughtful restoration.

[@c.dean-chen]

Anna Karp, wow! 10/10 would hire her and her team

[@EllenOzHealth]

Anna is the absolute best!!!

[@tammywilliams2035]

there's no way that construction today compares in quality with construction back then. Thank you for sharing. Very interesting

[@maxx1000]

Thank you for the floor plans... Helps to track which part of the house and how it relates to other areas.

[@yo2sxm856]

I'm always say that before they knew how to build to last a lifetime and more... I'll restored it the same way in the authentic style ! Thank you for the tour ,it's amazing !

[@mirandaterrell]

Please walk us back through when the restoration is complete.

[@hoperules8874]

❤Anna❤Karp❤ She really brings it! So worth listening to! Such a class act and obviously fantastic team! AD--You hit the jackpot.

[@TrueMeaningOfLove]

When she mentioned her tour guide at the end I immediately knew who he was. Robi is part of New Orleans Tours by Foot. That channel has great tour videos with a lot of interesting historical information!

[@forward_ever_ever2595]

Lady, i'm very impressed with your in depth knowledge & passion you have.

[@dakotac180]

Anna definitely did great research, her programming is on point. So many cherries on top of ice cream, everyone wants a New Orleans balcony.

[@outloudkat]

I love every AD video that Anna hosts!

[@tcraigg4563]

This was amazing. I thought I would be bored, but I watched the whole thing with great interest. Anna Karp presented the information with detail and focus but didn't overwhelm with too much information, and it was obvious that she knows what she's talking about.

[@ich8174]

New Orleans houses look very much like houses in Jacmel and Cap-Haitian, Haiti.

[@qflower4982]

Everything about this video was amazing. The details, history. Definitely one of the best ones I've seen on this channel. I really enjoyed watching

[@jackzfun]

Thank you for this amazing video! More Anna Karp and team PLEASE!!

[@tomeis8499]

What a beautiful house! I'd love to see it finished.

[@oldworldchris4187]

I've been to New Orleans a couple times. I love the style of architecture. Great video, I love seeing the bones of a building!

[@klomax7089]

I love all things New Orleans, and this was a really great video! I learned so much! 👍🏽

[@dianapearson1771]

I love how the house was structurally supported. I think they were considering the weatherand storms of the area. Whatever, it has withstood all these years. Amazing!!!

[@laurachatain5983]

i would keep everything the way they were originally. I know it wouldn't be adequate to modern time living but sometimes, for the sake of keeping a piece of history in its integrity, not just the decade, we should be the one to adapt to the house rather to change it to our needs and comfort. Thanks for that beautiful video.

[@teresahiggs4896]

I would LOVE to live in that house! I love New Orleans!

[@mattmayo3539]

The 4x4 wall frame is so cool. They really built them to last back when.

[@LS-lm5vf]

AMAZING VIDEO! I love this woman and her explanations . I learnt a lot and makes me wanna preserve and honor the memory of these houses. Congratulations !!

[@corneliuswhite5139]

What a lesson in architecture!

[@craigmerkey8518]

Wow I could watch her to listen to the expertise all day!

[@janebeatty9472]

Beautiful restoration project. Just wish we could see it all the way through. Absolutely love the architecture of N’leans and so happy to see these lovely homes lovingly restored.

[@amberf6275]

This was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing and teaching.

[@cheryldodd-marko9787]

Thank you that was very informative....🕊🇺🇲💕

[@ShaunaCross1]

Wow. I love her passion and knowledge. Delightful.

[@brightgreenleaves]

MORE Content like this please!!!!! Intelligent, thoughtful, educational 💖

[@louisghost]

I love this series!!

[@jasminepetal3972]

I love the blushy peachy pink they chose for the exterior!!!!

[@sarahwestling9438]

So informative! Anna is a great presenter.

[@stephanieweir8564]

Loved this video! Would like to see more like this!

[@Cmdtheartist]

Thank you so much. This was lovely.

[@susanbaker2796]

I lLOVED this video. So much, I watched it twice!

[@ferminsalaberri]

Amazing! The knowledge of this woman!

[@kristinpothast]

I love your videos and the wonderful houses you share with such passion! I only wish that we can get an actual walkthrough so we can really see how the whole house is experienced. Otherwise, I adore watching these.

[@butterfly06830]

Excellent video............... Thank you so much Anna Karp.... I hope you do another video showing the finish product...

[@IrrelephantSims]

Would love to see more content like this! Really enjoyed it.

[@rockshot100]

Fun fact: the majority of the porch ceilings were painted a very pale shade of blue, probably all were. They believed that bees, wasps, hornets hate that color and wouldn't build hives there. Maybe it is true?

[@anjalisesen449]

I've lived all over the south and low-country the color is known locally as "Haint Blue" and it's said to keep bad spirits away😁. Too bad we don't have it in NE Florida, it's a stunning color❤️

[@rockshot100]

@@anjalisesen449 OK, Haint Blue. I noticed that no matter what the other colors were on the house, this part was never white but always that blue, this is what they told me. I like your explanation, they were very superstitious. In fact they would not eat carrots because they "look like devil's horns".

[@0HellcatMary0]

​​@@rockshot100 NOLA resident with a Haint blue porch here, and it's both, lol. The particular shade of blue is meant to mimic a blue sky. So more to confuse than because they don't like it. Now, whether you're trying to confuse the ghosts or the bugs is entirely up to you.

[@diieold]

LOVED this video!

[@ShesInLosAngeles]

So interesting!! She’s a great presenter 👍🏼

[@carolinagbb]

Please more content like this and more Anna!

[@LindsayHenno]

I loved every piece of this

[@ronycamacho7132]

I can’t wait to see the final piece, after renovating.

[@rialimpe]

Incredibly informative, thank you!

[@LoisAGrimm]

How interesting! I've never been to New Orleans but have long dreamed of visiting.

[@helendrew3640]

Beautiful house and really brought to life by Anna!

[@LeCrenn]

She's charming. I love how the house was designed with air flow in mind. I hope the owners keep that wonderful back staircase, and are able to restore most of the historical detail.

[@phyllisarrington7436]

I so enjoyed this episode. TY.

[@Thirteenthdi]

Great video hosted by a knowledgeable expert. My only qualm is that if a family has a staff that serves their need, they wouldn't be called "middle class." Certainly not by today's definition.

[@aliseamcleod1]

Truly excellent. Thank you.

[@richardroyster2749]

Thank you so much for the tour. Your presentation amazing. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities. Would love to live there. Please make more videos on New Orleans architecture. Thanks!

[@grumbogee1772]

i expect like at least another 100 new orleans videos. thank you thank you

[@sierrarmcclain]

This video was amazing! I’d watch Anna over any celebrity any day! Please show us the finished project!

[@flyoverurbangarden4315]

Fascinating video.

[@user-sd4zc2rb3l]

Excellent presentation, very helpful in understanding the floor plan

[@sloqlap7822]

More videos like this please.

[@mohroshomoh]

The nose on the bottom stair doesn't appear broken- it was cut out to accommodate an inset newel post

[@chucksuter6551]

New Orleans, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, San Francisco… the most architecturally important US cities.

[@ltandrepants]

i’d include nyc!

[@IndependenceCityMotoring]

Philadelphia, duh!

[@AskMiko]

Many more… the oldest states and cities, the best architecture.

[@ayannahendricks6266]

You can’t leave out nyc though a lot of the historical beauty has been cannibalized it still has a ton.

[@lm-hf3gd]

Great presentation!

[@Sassyglbeauty]

It’s amazing how well houses were built 150 years ago!