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.
Hope Sherman hadn’t even set foot inside when she and her husband Adam bought their latest renovation project: a six-bedroom, three and 1/2-bath Greek Revival home built in the 1860s. The couple, both well-versed in the world of real estate development and design, recognized its potential — even only having taken a virtual tour. “I looked at it and it was, to me, highly imperfect but had great bones,” Hope said.
Hope had traveled to New Orleans frequently for various development projects before the couple decided to move here in 2021. The city’s rich culture and deep respect for history and craftsmanship, she said, was a compelling draw for the two admirers of art, history and antiques.
They purchased the Garden District home at 1539 Seventh St. from a family who had lived there for just three years. But before that, the property had been in the Hunter family for half a century — a legacy that neighbors still fondly recall, Hope said.
Intent on preserving the home’s history, the Shermans embarked on a year-long mission to restore it to its former glory, rebuilding its exterior galleries while infusing the historic gem with modern functionality and family heirlooms.
“Most people are going on vacation every three months. We’re busy redecorating here every three months,” Hope said.
Inside, their home is anchored by French furniture and reupholstered antiques, with a smattering of modern furniture and accessories. Each room is painted in a garden-inspired Farrow & Ball palette. Paintings they’ve collected over time, from passed down family pieces to recent auction finds, line their walls.
1539 Seventh St. (Photo by Liz Jurey)
The flooring is almost all original, though some mahogany was sourced from an old house off of Napoleon Avenue.
Architecture holds just as much weight as the decor for the Shermans. Working with architect Courtney Jones, Dixie Construction owner George Vulevich and Guild Carpentry owner Andrew Goodrow, the couple reimagined the home’s layout, transforming it into three spacious bedrooms, each with its own en suite bathroom.
“Before we hired anyone, I had already planned this space and [Adam] drew it,” Hope said.
Originally a double, the house had been converted to a single family-home about a century ago. In the Shermans’ renovation, they removed the home’s second staircase, opening the space to better display the home’s original floating staircase — one that Hope refers to as a piece of sculpture. To the right, they converted a pantry to a bar nook using the same 100-year-old cypress for its shelves and countertops.
“I wanted it to look old and dinged up,” she said of the wood countertops, which were left unfinished to resemble their original state.
This is the Sherman’s third old home restoration, so they’ve given attention to every detail, down to the bathtubs. “I wanted to have the bathtub paneled,” Hope said, pointing to a bathtub with bolection molding Adam saw on a neighbor’s door. It took Vulevich a year to perfect it.
That meticulous care is evident throughout the rooms, each one showcasing a thoughtful mix of craftsmanship and character.
“We like it to be comfortable,” Hope said.
