Sue Gaden Preece’s sidehall shotgun home is joyous. When she purchased the home in 2012, it was gutted and zoned for commercial use. She was drawn to the original floors throughout as well as natural light — perfect for an artist like herself. Sue surrounds herself with things that bring her joy and is a self-described collector. She considered opening a shop in the space, but found that the home was the perfect fit for her own paintings as well as gifts and collected items.
Sue painted the enclosed sidehall an exuberant orange, which highlights the bold artwork throughout and the natural light that fills the space. The home features a variety of reused and repurposed items, like the vintage cast iron bathtub, closet doors, the living room chandelier, and porch railing — all sourced from local shops like PRC’s Salvage Store and The Green Project. The bathroom vanity and dining room chairs were salvaged from her own home in Waveland, Mississippi, which flooded in Hurricane Katrina. She found these pieces scattered in the woods behind her home and was able to give them new life in this new home.
Sue is in the process of opening her new store, Evangeline, at 1228 N. Broad St., which will feature home furnishings, art, antiques, crystal and china, jewelry, and home and garden gifts from elegant to whimsical.
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.
Photos by Sara Essex Bradley
