Design: The Flanagan Home 
by Susan Owens
photography by Thomas B. Growden
Well, well, well, if it isn’t mom and pop living above the store—again. Or rather, it’s Donna and Flagg Flanagan living large above the family business. And this is not the first time that they have called these lofty digs home. When the two-story brick building was finished back in the ’70s, their business, Flanagan Instruments, Inc., occupied the first floor and Donna and Flagg moved in upstairs. Nice commute!
For seven years, the Flanagans grew their business and their family, all living, working and playing together on a sliver of land on Village Lane in Mandeville. During the early years, Flagg worked long hours and late into the evenings. “But, since we were living upstairs, he was only a heartbeat away” in his office below the master suite, says Donna.
Eventually, the family outgrew the nest and moved out to the 
country. For fourteen years, Donna, Flagg and their two daughters enjoyed life in an idyllic rural setting on Million Dollar Road, just north of Covington.
The winds of Katrina blew these semi-empty nesters back to their home on Village Lane, without real estate agents or house shopping. Caught in the wave of New Urbanism, they returned to an even more densely populated little enclave off Causeway Approach.
When the time came to adapt their old home to accommodate their new lifestyle, Donna attacked the task much like the artist approaches a blank canvas. In the process, she infused her interiors with a high level of energy and artistry by enlisting the assistance of Patrice Senac, designer and owner of Arabella in Mandeville.
Client and designer clicked, and the fun began. “Donna was a dream to work with,” says Patrice.
Donna credits the success of the renovation to Patrice, noting, “She really does have a vision.”
Very few structural changes were required. The stage was set for casual living on a grand scale when they opened the dining room to the living area by removing the walls surrounding the dining room. The home, which had aged gracefully over the years, came to life through the magic of paint, updated lighting and careful editing of furnishings.
Creating a rich backdrop for furniture, original artwork and 
accessories, the daring design duo washed the walls in neutral tones. Next, they worked very hard to save the natural silk sea-grass wall covering that was original to the house in the ’70s.
Ever the artist, Donna’s own paintings are a part of the décor of the home. Hers are the ones with the alphabet-soup signature—Piekarczyk, a family name. In addition to showing her paintings in local art venues, her work, which was featured on the cover of Inside Northside, is displayed nationally through a gallery in New York.
Donna’s respect for the talent of fellow artists prevailed in her choices for furnishings, draperies and lighting. The spectacular dining room chandelier is constructed of sparkling hand-blown C-curved pieces of glass that are all hooked into each other. “You can make it as long or short, or as wide and thin as you want,” Patrice notes.
Some of the inspiration for the furniture plan for their new way of living came from the French country pieces that Donna and Flagg integrated into their desire to go a little more contemporary. The nubby zebra-print upholstery kicks those classic French Bergère chairs right into the new millennium. And the sleek cork bench in the foyer says, “This is not just another fancy tree house.”
Tables, the hand-carved headboard and blown-glass lamps all bear the signatures of artists and designers who toil daily to enhance the quality of life in our homes. Even the toilet paper roller from Water Metal Art is not your garden variety bathroom accessory.
Patrice truly made a grand statement when she called upon her talented band of seamstresses to layer even more texture into the mix. Based on her designs, they constructed lush window treatments and bed coverings. Dupioni silk banded in raw slubbed silk paired with airy linen sheers drape the windows to ensure that the bedroom is a cozy, private retreat.
Updating the interiors, incorporating the work of artists and adding a dash of contemporary style drove the design process. The final touch was the installation of new tennis courts beside the house. Having a very personalized place to live, work and play tennis was the original goal. And the results speak for themselves. The Flanagans’ new home looks clean and classic—and it speaks to their interests, artistic sensibilities, their past homes and looks to the future. Brilliant!
