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The French Touch
by Poki Hampton
The tranquil setting Connie and Jim Seitz have created in their Beau Chêne home has not always been so. Looking at the before pictures, it is hard to believe that such an amazing transformation has occurred since the duo tackled the project. When they first purchased the house overlooking the golf course, it was painted Lapis blue on the inside and a baby blue on the outside. Connie knew instantly what changes she desired and went to work applying her talents to give the space warmth, character and integrity.
“I shy away from spaces that look too new, so aging a space is important to me,” says Connie, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers. “I find that mixing old and new is stimulating.” An example of this is the contemporary painting by husband Jim Seitz—Inside Northside’s December 2005 cover artist—that hangs over the living room sofa, cased in a 19th century gilded frame.
“I love to rescue things—from houses to furniture to cats,” laughs Connie. “I started collecting antiques in high school. I look for the history behind a piece and can imagine its former life, how it was used and cherished. I feel compelled to be a caretaker of these pieces for future generations.”
During the home’s makeover, only one wall was moved—to create a larger breakfast room, which now holds an ash table and chairs from France. The original flow of the house was actually quite functional and allowed for quiet moments or entertaining a large group of friends.
As you enter the exquisite home, you are struck by the high ceilings and the openness of the space. The slanted walls on either side of the living room feature two highly carved mounted doors, c. 1870. The detail on the doors shows cameos, acanthus leaf, laurel leaf and urn and medallion carvings. “Originally, I was thinking of art for these two spaces, but really wanted something unique. While exploring Bush Antiques on Magazine Street in New Orleans, I saw the doors resting in a corner and knew they would be perfect for the spaces,” remembers Connie. Little did she know how perfect they were. On a trip to New York last year, Connie and Jim saw almost identical doors behind Plexiglas in the French section of the Metropolitan Museum.
The living room has an ambience that says comfort. “Your home should fit who you are,” says Connie. “With so much stress in the outside world, you should be able to walk into your home and be instantly at ease.” The vintage zebra rug on top of sisal adds interesting texture to the floor. A large 19th century French walnut armoire from the Paris flea market sits opposite the cream-silk sofa and is flanked by two Louis XV cane chairs wearing Kravet Couture. An Italian chandelier hangs above a vintage Italian cocktail table topped with a floral arrangement from Ambience in Mandeville, antique books and wooden Bolle balls from France. A Michalopoulos painting hangs beside the armoire, while antique French sconces from St. Romain Interiors are positioned on either side of another of Jim’s paintings.
In the sunroom, artist William Binning’s bronze titled “Isadora” sits opposite an antique walnut abatant, another of Connie’s finds from the Paris flea market. A painting by Alexander Stolin hung on the wall captivates the eye. The chairs and ottoman in the room are covered in Kravet fabric, while petite walnut chairs wear a Pindler and Pindler print.
The luxurious, comforting feeling of the house continues in the master bedroom. The silk draperies, Roman shades, and bed skirt were designed by Connie. The custom-made toile headboard creates a sanctuary where Jim and Connie can retire for the evening or curl up and read a good book by the light of the bedside lamps made form old French balustrades. The brightly colored landscape above the bed is by artist Kevin LeBlanc. Connie designed the iron bench at the end of the bed as a place to sit or place the duvet on warm nights.
Between antique bronze sconces, tone-on-tone striped silk draperies, lined in solid silk, cover the large windows of the dining room. “Jim and I love to have a few friends over for a cozy dinner in the dining room,” says Connie. “We use pieces such as the antique French sterling and vintage stemware we have collected on our travels and buying trips.” An antique French walnut vassiellier, decorated with antique white-and-gold Paris porcelain and Waterford stemware, anchors the room, with collages by Hal Larson on each side. A Robert Cook painting hangs over a marble-topped antique Louis Philippe chest. Also of note are an interesting lamp made from a French candlestick and glorious faux-painted walls, done by artist Kelly Gironda.
After removing blue tile from the fireplace in the keeping room, a southshore artisan created a French-style mantle, following Connie’s own design. After a travertine insert was complete, artist Denise Centola faux painted the surround to mimic old stone. On the mantle sits a pair of antique altar sticks that Connie found in a small shop in Fairhope, Ala. A wooden carving of a 17th century monk from MacMaison in New Orleans is also displayed. The fire screen, cocktail table and sofa table were designed by Connie and fabricated in Baton Rouge from old fence parts found in Strasbourg, France. The top of the sofa table is made of reclaimed plank and refinished by furniture artisan Keith Dufour. Dufour also refinished the vintner’s table, which was originally bright yellow and now sits between comfortable chenille chairs. Connie found the carved Louis XVI needlepoint chair at St. Charles Auction. The wooden stair railing leading to the upstairs was replaced during the home’s renovation with a spectacular iron railing from Authement Ironworks. The artworks on the stair well and above the fireplace are Jim’s own.
The kitchen was also given a face lift. Tropical Brown granite replaced tile countertops and new stainless-steel appliances with brushed nickel hardware were added. The existing cabinets were painted and glazed, and molding was added above and below. Rope trim on the cabinets is replicated in tumbled limestone tile on the backsplash. Beaded glass was added to the middle of cut-out cabinets in the desk area. A final touch—a wine cooler—made the space a perfect wine-service area.
Perhaps Connie’s most treasured piece from all of her buying trips to Europe is the 18th century French armoire that hails from Rouen, France. “I found this fabulous piece, stamped by the ebinist, but I had already purchased my allotment of armoires in Provence and decided to pass on this one. I just couldn’t get this piece out of my mind, so several weeks after returning home, I decided to call the store owner in Rouen. He still had it and said he could truck it to Paris to be included in my shipment, which was days from leaving port. I kept this one for myself because of its subtle, classic lines and its beautiful patina. It is actually a work of art signed by the maker.”
Connie gave the powder room an unusual twist by using two corbels from an old New Orleans shotgun house. The pieces were turned upside down to form a sink base and then topped with a honed travertine platform and sink. The walls of the powder room are an aged Venetian plaster finish by Denise Centola. The room’s mirror was found at Bush Antiques, while the antique chandelier is a family heirloom.
One of the most ingenious projects in the house was the conversion of an existing laundry room into a butler’s pantry-laundry room. By adding an extra wall oven, stainless-steel sink and ice maker to the area, it is now the perfect place to prepare for parties. The cabinetry adds storage space, while the granite countertop makes easy work of clean up.
For about ten years, Connie has imported antiques and objets d’art from such places as Rouen, Il Sur la Sorge and other quaint villages in France. “Going to France and handpicking items for clients gives me the opportunity to find just the right piece. I continue to get requests for certain pieces and make buying trips to meet my clients’ needs,” says Connie.
Those buying excursions have no doubt satisfied Connie’s clients, as well as assisted her in filling up her own home with just the right focal pieces and accents. The meticulous searching has surely paid off, as the Seitz’s home has been transformed into a classic, warm and inviting place.
