Chic Provence Visits Karina Gentinetta

Ambling down Magazine Street one sultry morning not too long ago in New Orleans, I was fortunate enough to discover the lovely designo Karina Gentinetta's brand new space and to find her there putting the finishing touches on everything before the grand opening.

Walking into her place transported me to another place and time: a comfortable and soothing retreat. Waxed mahogany floors, exposed brick fireplace and tall shuttered windows provided a cool and elegant backdrop to linen covered pieces, coral from the sea, the white and grey painted furnishings, the glint of crystal, mercury glass, worn gilt, and the unmistakable patina of vintage pieces.

all images by Kit Golson

using iPhone

Visit designo Karina Gentinetta online--she is on both etsy and 1stdibs--- if you can't make it to New Orleans just now! And, oh, a big huge thanks to Stephanie of Bonjour Madame for sending me to find Karina's shop! If you read Bonjour Madame, you know that Karina just finished helping Stephanie redo her home in the style of vintage European charming chic.

.........................................

in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

When The Saints Go Marchin' In...

found at Perch. ask them about it

...I won't be in their number....I'll hop the St. Charles Avenue streetcar north to the Garden District. From there I'll walk towards the river's bend, pausing at the Garden District Book Shop on Prytania Street for a browse and a chai latte before heading a few more blocks past Commander's Palace to Magazine Street...heaven on earth for this California-transplanted-New-Orleans-native-designer-with-a-love-for-all-things-French, old-&-chic!

I'm reasonably sure any true-blue designer would meet me there this {Super Bowl} Sunday! We'll leave the ponderous and dark shops of Royal Street with its period antiques (splendid!) for the lighter mood up on Magazine. And we'll leave the serious business of cheering on the Saints v. Colts for members of Who Dat nation!

No better place to lighten the mood than Perch. There we'll meet up with blogger Valorie Hart & designer Jack Mayberry decamped among all the very hip and chic furnishings. If we're lucky we might even see Girl, the sweet shop doggie!

ask Jack or Valorie about this fabulous lamp at Perch.

lighthearted mix of happy, non-wintery colors and mood at Perch.

this is the way to add the all-important set of horns to your

large, blank wall....find it at Perch.

I love the fruit prints on the wall and the mix of pillows...kept

from being too sweet by the hip lamp

a large metal tree sculpture over a bed, with

beautiful chandeliers... at Perch.

this very cool turquoise glass chandelier could

come home with me anytime!

the exuberant and vivacious Visual Vamp herself (Valorie Hart)!

photo taken by the fantastic photographer Chris Golson

Hi Valorie!!

the very talented and chic designer, the sweet Jack Mayberry; photo

taken with my iPhone, that's why it's not in great focus, sorry Jack!

after all that design work, let's go across to the fabulous Sucre on Magazine Street

for French macaroons......

...and a cup of this!!!

Now, if you do find yourself somewhere wonderful on this Super Bowl Sunday, and if you are rooting for the Saints, you just might want to hedge your bets and bring along a little of Emeril Lagasse's Jambalaya for the crowd, followed by the world famous White Chocolate Bread Pudding from the Palace Cafe in New Orleans. Sorry, you'll have to make these yourself...click on the links for recipes!

....................................................

in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

I'll Meet You 'Round the Bend, My Friend

"I'll meet you 'round the bend my friend, where hearts 

can heal and souls can mend"*

St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square undergoing repairs

courtesy Tours of New Orleans

We're on our way to New Orleans and will be soaking up all the rich textural & visual culture of The Big Easy....to say nothing of sampling her amazing cuisine and fabulous JAZZ! We'll meander along the "third coast", stopping to visit the beautiful old city of Pensacola and the newly-minted urban-planned Gulf Coast communities of Seaside, Alys and Rosemary, then through Apalachicola with her circa 1820 French consulate. We'll return through Hattiesburg, Mississippi and New Orleans.

map of New Orleans circa 1880

see how the Mississippi River cradles the Crescent City in her bend

flag of the City of New Orleans, the three fleur des lis from her

birth under France; the red, white and blue because she is the

daughter of both the USA and France

*(I cannot find the source for this often-repeated quote...does anyone know it?)

...........................................

in the New Year, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design