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Liberate!

мimi READ: Most people who make a fresh start do so by choice. But Ann and Charles Leggett were forced to begin all over again —with nothing. susan nob - E jones: Literally nothing. Their house in Pass Christian, Mississippi, washed away in Katrina. All that was left was just the slab and a piece of chimney. They didnt even have a spoon. What kind of house was it? Modern, minimalist —all glass, steel, and stucco. 1 decorated it for them, and it was filled with lots of modern art and classic midcentury furniture. There were pieces by Mies, Saarinen, Warren Platner, Noguchi. Ann still talks about how perfect that house was, and it was. But she didnt want to replicate it. Theyre both forward - thmking, and they just wanted to move on.
Why did they move to New Orleans?
I think because the city is so alive.
It has that happy - go - lucky feeling of Live life to the fullest.
And why did they choose the French Quarter?
Theyre fun - loving, and they love artsy people. Its been very easy for them to make friends with artists and writers. The Quarter is so intimate and friendly. She paints, and he renovates properties to rent, and they 1 ike being able to just hop out to the street and walk to restaurants and shops. And he rides his bike all over. Were you surprised that these two modernists bought an 1820s Creole cottage?
What surprised me more was this: How did they possibly have the vision that this particular cottage would ever work? They like a clean, simple look. Light, bright, and white. Theyre no: into wood at all. But it was a dark bachelors pad, frozen in the 1980s. The kitchen was all dark pine, the trim was dark pine, the fireplace was dark pine. There were shag carpets and brass chandeliers —it was so bad. What appealed to them, then? The history and the solidness, the fact that it had lasted for almost two centuries. Even though their architect had taken every precaution, their
house in Pass Christian was ultimately too fragile. This house feels steadfast and permanent. Its going to be there for them. New Orleans houses often feel weighted down by the past —all those heirlooms. Theres something liberating about being free of them. This is a house without baggage —its light. Charles and Ann dont care much for antiques and memorabilia. But I made them buy a few French antiques for warmth. I always use antiques sparingly and I dont clutter up a place with accessories. I like negative space, some void. Then the pieces become more special. New Orleanians are also a chandelier - crazy lot. Those large drum - shade pendant lights are a refreshing change. Chandeliers would have been too formal and busy. We wanted to make the space more personable, more about people and conversation. I thought, 4 Ycu know what? We need great big lamps to come down into the room, because the ceilings are so high and everythings looking too lofty. These soft shades are so glamorous and feminine. They make me think of 30s and 40s movie stars —and also of Ann. Shes very stylish, loves shoes and clothes. I made the bathroom as glamorous as I could for her. That soaking tub is exquisite, and I could just see her satin robe thrown over the Lucite chair.

Their house in Pass Christian, Mississippi, washed away in Katrina.


Now I get the meaning of that white art piece over the tub. Shoe passion! Thats a papier - mache sculpture. I saw it in a Santa Fe gallery and thought, Its so her!
Do white walls have anything to do with the houses buoyant, happy feeling? Sure they do. White reflects light, so it sends off a wonderful energy, a prism of color that you arent necessarily aware of.
Why only orange accents? Bitter orange is really the only color Ann likes. Her hair is a coppery cinnamon color —and she loves that hair! Orange is warm and bright, and those attributes, to me. equalhappiness. What else makes for happy design? Rounded shapes like the drum shades, the living room tables, and the tub. They soften a room and make a house more lovable and livable. What space in your life has made you happiest?
Probably my grandmothers home —an old farmhouse that had warm pine floors, a screen door that squeaked. It had airy high ceilings, abig foyer with the doors always open, and a huge hallway —one of those shotgun hallways where you saw through from the back to the front porch. She was warm and angelic. She would build tents for us in the formal living room so we could play. Drape it in white sheets. There were all these fine pieces of furniture, but if we came to play shed have a big tent made. Shed get on her knees and crawl inside, and wed play Go Fish and Crazy Eights. Has this fresh start led to happiness for the Leggetts?
As Ann said, We found ourselves again. This is who we really are, Happiness is finally arriving in the place we need to be.
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