Heart and Soul
by Poki Hampton
There are times when you walk into a home and you can feel its heart and soul. This old Covington Acadian is certainly one of those homes. Filled with generations of family treasures, it is the perfect blend of history and texture, formal and family.
The entrance hall holds a narrow table slipcovered in a neutral silk with silk tassel trim. The layering of a small oil painting on a gold leaf mirror is one of designer Marguerite Duvic’s special touches. On a horn-and-bone tray, a white compote holds green ceramic apples. Two ivy-decorated Limoges plates are flanked by hand-carved ivory figures, which were gifts from a favorite aunt and uncle, and tiny beige lamps. Yellow roses fill small family silver pieces. The gold leaf sconces of caladiums and dragonflies are by India Stewart. On the opposite wall hangs a portrait of a great-grandfather, which is reflected in the mirror.
The living room is also filled with treasured family pieces. A humidor once owned by the president of the Cotton Exchange sits on a turned-leg mahogany table. Limoges plates and figurines top an 18th century five-drawer chest, above which Napoleon III sconces are placed alongside Gretchen Howard paintings. The small sofa, which the homeowner’s grandparents bought in the 1960s, has been re-covered in neutral silk velvet. A Dunbar piece and a portrait of the homeowner at age 3, by Robert Bruce Williams, hang above. Two striped slipper chairs and an antique needlepoint rug complete the picture.
The center of the dining room is a six-foot round table made in France of old fruitwood. The chairs, from an English pub, are slipcovered in beige linen with silk tassels. Camellias, pansies, sasanquas, viola and zinnias mixed with rosemary and kumquats fill a French-style urn. “I love the way the florist mixes fruit and flowers with greenery,” says the homeowner. The dining table is set with antique hand-monogrammed linens and old ironstone plates, c1850. On a trip to Venice in 1927, the homeowner’s grandparents had the hand-blown stemware custom made. The 18-karat hand decoration makes these glasses especially beautiful.
A mixture of old family sterling pieces and silver-and-china demitasse cups and saucers graces the 18th century sideboard. Silk-shaded Chinoserie lamps stand behind mustard-colored Chinese export porcelain bowls, c1780, which hold satsumas. The tremeau mirror above the sideboard was bought at auction a few years ago by the homeowners. In front of it is a copy of an old Dutch master painting called “Holy Kinship” that was painted by the homeowner’s grandmother in the 1950s. A large hand-painted Chinese screen is the focal point of the far wall.
Adding to the charm of the dining room is a mahogany butler’s tray table filled with cut-glass decanters. Above it hangs an Americana portrait, c1820, of a young missionary holding a quiver, indicating he was a friend to the American Indians. It comes from the collection of Felix H. Kuntz, a great-uncle of the homeowner, who was one of New Orleans’ leading antiquarians of American art, furniture and documents during his day. Above it is a small zebra painting.
The animal theme is carried into the family room, which is spacious but cozy with a big roaring fire and hanging game. The homeowner loves to hunt and fish, so this room is for him. The walls, built-in bookcases and seven-step crown molding are painted a custom-blended soft green. The tall windows are casually draped in natural burlap and the upholstery is slip covered in natural linen with zebra print velvet throw pillows. The portrait above the mantle is by Tim Trapolin. Two small child’s rockers sit beside the fireplace with an antique fire extinguisher. The iron and glass cocktail table holds a rustic basket with another assortment of fruit, flowers and greenery. Three monkeys dance on the hanging chandelier above. Your eye is drawn to the large blue marlin on the far wall that was caught by the homeowner years ago. An 18th century mahogany chest sits between two Italian antique hand-carved Rococo chairs painted a subtle blue. Two whimsical lamps, with mink pom-poms, stand beside an antique elephant print. The homeowner gave this print to her husband as a joke after learning of her first pregnancy. Green vases hold cream roses, while silver pheasants stand near by. The two whimsical dog portraits are by George Williams.
The heart pine floors continue into the keeping room, where there is another fireplace and sitting area. Green needlepoint pillows rest on a cotton damask slipcovered sofa, the perfect place to read or watch television while dinner is being cooked in the spacious adjacent kitchen. A converted gas light hangs over the large cypress table and chairs, which are great for family meals and doing homework.
One of the most interesting pieces in the keeping room is a hand-made glass-incased replica of the riverboat “Natchez.” It was one of seven boats that were part of the 1968 Cabildo exhibit celebrating New Orleans’ 250-year anniversary. An iron urn filled with forsythia and curly willow adds color and height, while small silver pieces hold variegated camellias.
The large kitchen was designed to be a workspace, and there is lots of room to cook for a large party. But it seems very homey, with travertine countertops, cream-painted cabinets and colorful touches such as an antique dough bowl filled with fruit and vegetables and a ceramic fish and porcelain tiles over the stove.
In decorating this home, designer Marguerite Duvic used cherished family pieces mixed with new objects and added her own special touches to make a warm and comfortable home—a home that gives voice to its heart and soul.
