When they first set eyes on an old house in New Orleans, Katharine and David Rhudy knew it could be amazing
FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL
HALL
‘This is an unforgettable but elegant entrance,’ says Katharine. The dramatic mural wallpaper adds to the visual impact.
FAMILY ROOM
Plentiful seating with an inward arrangement is designed for sociability.
Vacating their home in Metro New York hadn’t crossed the minds of Katharine Kelly Rhudy and her husband David as they strolled around the tranquil environs of New Orleans’ Audubon Park while visiting their daughter and son-in-law for Thanksgiving in 2020. That is, until they came across an empty 19thcentury home that was badly dilapidated but whose faded elegance persuaded them of its amazing possibilities. ‘The house had endured years of neglect so it was apparent that a major renovation and upgrade was needed to every aspect of the building’s fabric,’ says Katharine, who, as the owner of Reed & Acanthus Interior Design, was the perfect candidate for reviving the fortunes of a building known locally as ‘the Grande Dame of State Street’.
Upping sticks and moving from the East Coast wasn’t as daunting as it could have been, as the couple’s three children had grown up and left home – perhaps more challenging was the prospect of renovating one of the most historic homes in New Orleans, a property originally owned by the celebrated Flower family (Walter Flower was the city’s mayor in the late 1800s).
Katharine and David moved into their new home in April 2021, but a few months after the rebuild and renovation began, Hurricane Ida rolled through the city causing widespread havoc and resulting in a monthlong delay to work. ‘As well as restoring the old house to its former glory, we had to give it a function and style suited to the way we live today,’ says Katharine. This meant stripping the house back ‘to the studs’ to remove various additions, rotting facade and crumbling foundations, as well as replacing the outdated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. In the midst of all this, there were pleasant surprises, such as discovering the hidden 14ft ceilings and the feeling of light and space that ensued once the original-sized rooms were reinstated.
HOME TRUTHS
THE PROPERTY Detached 1880s house
ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen-diner/ family room, dining room, study, three bedrooms, four bathrooms
LOCATION New Orleans
