When John Miller purchased the beautiful 1890s three-bay side-hall shotgun at 3356 Esplanade Ave. in 2008, it needed a full renovation. Updates included a new kitchen and bathrooms, but retained all of the exquisite character of the over 120-year-old home. The house contains almost every wish list item for a historic home buff, including original heart pine floors, pocket doors, and original plaster walls and medallions. In addition, a rare three-sided fireplace faces the living room, kitchen and dining room with a combination of reclaimed, period-appropriate mantels. The home is situated on a lush, 150-foot-deep lot shaded by a huge live oak and Cabrini Cathedral’s dome. The rear yard features a vintage gas streetlight and brick patio as well as a brick accessory structure that provides both storage and ambiance.

John’s style is eclectic and distinctively masculine while also being extremely inviting. His decor features art and objects he has found throughout New Orleans along with family keepsakes, including his father’s framed Army jacket from the Korean War. Also on display is a dulcimer — an ancestor to the piano that is played by striking the chords with handheld hammers — that has been in John’s family since 1868 and doubles as a table in the side hall when closed. It makes a great conversation piece upon entering the home. One favorite art piece is the Blue Dog print hanging in the master bedroom.

 

Join us for the Shotgun House Tour on April 22 and 23 to see this home and other fine examples of New Orleans’ iconic shotgun houses.

Shotgun House Tour 2017

Image Gallery

Photos by Sarah Essex Bradley