Tour this and other stunning private homes in the historic Garden District during the PRC’s 50th annual Holiday Home Tour presented by McEnery Residential on Dec. 13 & 14.
Click here for tickets and tour details.
Elizabeth Keckler almost didn’t go to the showing of the double-gallery Greek Revival house built in 1865. She and her husband, Adam, had been house hunting for months, tired of walking through spaces that didn’t feel quite right. “But the moment I stepped inside, I knew this house was different,” she said, crediting the entryway’s historical Zuber wallpaper.
Previously owned and renovated by interior designer Michelle Smith, the house at 1439 Seventh St. was practically move-in ready. Will Erickson, a friend and owner of Yazoo Restorations, sealed the deal with one line: all she needed was a toothbrush. He was right, Elizabeth said.
Aside from a few minor tweaks, like staining the floors, the couple left the home largely untouched — preserving timeless elements by society architect Myrlin McCullar and innovative designs left by Smith.
The Kecklers finished a two-year renovation on their previous Foucher Street residence in 2017. After Harry’s Ace Hardware — a well-known Uptown landmark next door — sold to real estate developers, the couple was ready for a quieter neighborhood to raise their two young daughters, Lily and Kathryn. It took little convincing for Adam to agree. “Walking into this historically-rich house and being able to add modern details made it feel like home,” Elizabeth said.
Adam works for an engineering firm, EDG Inc., and Elizabeth partners with her family on a lakeside development in Mississippi called Splinter Creek. She said her mother’s natural eye for design helped pull everything together. Decorating has always been a family affair, she said.
“We take the floor plan and map out furniture placement with blue painter’s tape directly on the floors,” Elizabeth said. “Sometimes my sister even flies in from D.C. just to join in.”
Since moving last August, the Kecklers have transformed the historic residence into their own, filling the space with an assemblage of artwork from the likes of George Dunbar and Todd Murphy. A sculpture of standing oars by Raine Bedsole, another artist they deeply admire, rests in the corner.
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
Photo by Liz Jurey/PRC
“Art is what ties everything together and makes a house feel like your own,” Elizabeth said, noting that majority of their art was original to their other home.
Lighting has also been a priority throughout the decorating process, she said, especially in the dining room, where they chose a contemporary Lindsey Adelman light fixture to illuminate the rustic dining table below.
Another striking light fixture is their Noguchi ceiling lamp, which hangs at the end of their entryway, cascading from the ceiling like a sculptural centerpiece.
For their holiday decorations, Elizabeth wanted to complement the home’s current color palette, largely defined by rich greens and cozy, neutral tones. She hired Ben Miller — the decorator for boutique hotel The Chloe — to bring her vision to life with a modern-inspired Christmas tree.
“It’s a different vibe,” she said, “but I feel like this house speaks for itself.”
