Design: Old World Inspiration

When homeowners Paula and Brett Davis met designer Matt Voelkel, something just clicked. “I showed him a picture of a house in California that had lanterns, old beams and a classic European style, and he ran with it,” says Paula. Brett, a contractor, and Paula, an artist and co-owner of a flooring company on the southshore, struck up a working friendship with Matt that resulted in the creation of their new home in Mandeville.

Paula and Brett had lived in Lakeview for many years in a typical 2,000-square-foot house when Katrina struck. She says, “After deciding to move to the northshore, we envisioned a more traditional European-style house. Matt added the contemporary touches that give it a modern edge.”

As you approach the white stone home, you are reminded of a European manor house. The symmetry, the shape of the windows and the porte-cochère give grand scale to the exterior. The finish was created by mixing stucco with crushed limestone into an ultra-smooth finish. Peacock Pavers top the stairs, which lead to the Spanish cedar arched French front doors.

The owners’ passion for art and openness is evident when you enter the house. Its contemporary look belies its warmth. A Garland Robinette portrait hangs in the foyer, while two upholstered iron benches sit under trumeau mirrors that Paula designed and painted. Four oversized antiqued bronze iron sconces flank the mirrors. Peacock Pavers in Buff, which look like reclaimed limestone and have a contrasting grout, run throughout the foyer, kitchen and great room. At the end of the foyer, the stairwell reveals two more of Paula’s creations, a tall iron chandelier and the iron stair railings. The railings lend curves against Matt’s trademark storefront-style floor-to-ceiling windows. “I love the way Paula brought curves into the room,” says Matt. “Everything about this house is bold.”

A decagon-shaped cocktail table and the desk chair add modern sophistication. Copyright 2011, Thomas Growden.

Most of the walls in the house are finished in a product called American Clay in the Porcelina finish. “American Clay is 100 percent green, environmentally friendly and is an alternative to cement and lime plasters. The look of rich texture and depth creates a crisp luster and satin-smooth finish,” says Matt. The walls set the tone for a neutral, subdued palette throughout the house.

The office off the foyer houses a Julian Chichester kidney-shaped bureau and built-in desk with bookshelves that are painted a glazed cream. A large portrait of Brett that Paula did hangs over the small brown velvet sofa. The bookcase showcases a Robert Cook painting, while family mementoes and photographs fill the shelves. The walls are painted Texas Leather. A contemporary desk chair and a solid wood decagon-shaped cocktail table add modern sophistication.

Many of the beams and old timbers in the house are reclaimed from an old warehouse. For the great room, Matt designed structural trusses made from 200-year-old Canadian fir hand-hewn beams from a church in Canada. Six iron and seeded-glass lanterns give a soft glow to the room. Two natural linen shelter sofas with taupe linen trim are at right angles to a round antiqued mirrored table. The cocktail table, a mirrored cube with gold trim, is topped by the simplicity of natural coral. Behind one sofa is a table consisting of a plank top resting on old pillars from a French hotel. Two sea urchin lamps, in a silver finish, are topped with linen shades. A long narrow leather box with metal studs completes the look. The tall armoire, with a carved diamond motif, is a soft muted grey-green. Natural linen draperies have a woven embroidered silk trim that mimics the design of the armoire. The rugs in the great room and dining room are custom-made Oushaks.

The oversized marble island in the kitchen is complemented by glazed cabinets and a vent hood trimmed in antique beam. Copyright 2011, Thomas Growden.

The fireplace breast is made of the same material as the outside of the house, crushed limestone with plaster. With an old beam for a mantle, the simple classic French lines add character to the sculpted fireplace. A small Robert Cook painting sits atop the mantle. The andirons and fireplace tools are custom. Over the faux-bois demi-lune tables on either side of the fireplace are framed geometric English tapestries of embroidered linen.

In the dining room, a server made from an old French Quarter cypress beam is decorated with two iron candle lanterns that Matt designed. Above it hangs an oversized painting in bright colors by Dr. Swalomir Lazczkowski, a family friend. Salvaged from Katrina, the twelve-foot dining tabletop has new cast-stone bases. “The tabletop floated up several times during the flood,” says Paula, “so we salvaged it and had it refinished.” The wood and iron chandelier is made from an old reclaimed wine barrel. Arches leading into the great room are mimicked by the Spanish cedar French doors to the terrace.

A fire crackles in the hearth of the French-style fireplace. Copyright 2011, Thomas Growden.

“The dining room was originally designed as an outdoor space. As we got close to completion, we realized that we could enclose the space and still have a terrace,” says Paula.

Cascading steps lead down to the pool and lower patio from the dining room and terrace. Paula says, “You can see the pool from every room in the house.” The cabana houses relaxed furniture and gives a bird’s-eye view of the one-acre lot, which is filled with blueberry bushes and lemon and orange trees. European-style landscaping accents the lines of the house. Teak loungers and cubes of teak root once again give a contemporary edge to the scene, while Bevolo lanterns provide old-world ambiance. A large-screen television drops down from the cabana so movies can be viewed from the pool and terrace.

Nestled beside the stairs, the breakfast room features a black lacquered round table surrounded by six mixed chairs. “The use of the smaller leather and wood director-style chairs with the slip covered parsons chairs is an interesting mix,” says Paula. An open ironwork obelisk, another of Matt’s designs, anchors the corner of the room, while an antique zebra rug is in the foreground.

The open kitchen is dominated by a 7-foot-by-13-foot Calcutta Gold marble island. Every modern convenience is there, with the stainless steel appliances once again giving a modern edge. “This kitchen is perfect,” says Paula. “We created lots of storage in the island and everything is within reach.” Trimmed with an old beam, the vent hood is in the style of the fireplace. Natural woven wood blinds dress the windows. Keeping with the natural color scheme, the cabinets are a very subtle Coastal Fog, with a black glaze.

An elaborate electronic automation system allows Paula and Brett to watch the children, listen to music, and climate control the entire house with the push of a button.

The master bedroom is another study in simplicity. Sheer panels hang at the corners of the hammered silver-finished iron bed, which has a mohair headboard. A large custom armoire houses a television and other electronics. Over a small brown velvet settee hangs a starburst mirror that reflects the light of an antique French chandelier. On a traditional Victorian marble-topped walnut chest of drawers is a contemporary lamp with a burlap shade. The wood plank floor is topped with a custom-made rug; the walls are painted Texas Leather.

In the sleek, spacious master bathroom, a large whirlpool tub, surrounded with dark granite, overlooks a stainless steel fireplace filled with limestone rocks. Custom-made sink bases, with Harlequin-design fronts, hold Purist-style countertop lavatory sinks with granite tops. The walk-through shower is tiled in chipped limestone. Burnished brown glass tile, in matte and glossy finishes, creates a broad stripe on the front of the shower wall. White Rice-tinted Peacock Pavers are placed on the diagonal to create an even more spacious feel. The custom closets and deluxe coffee bar—with a refrigerator—make the master bath an adult retreat.

Paula, Brett and Matt, with help from designer Holly Biggs, have created a warm European-style house that is spacious, open and shows their artistic touches throughout.