The Louie

Trip Back in Time to a Shotgun House in the Big Easy

The lure and intoxicating sensory delights of the "Big Easy" invariably draws you into its festive vibe, and this vacation home rental in New Orleans takes what's so great about this city and distills it down to a modern appreciation of design and culture. 

Formerly referred to as ‘double shotgun with a camelback,’ the apartment is a stylish hideaway with a little surprise around every corner. Built in the late 19th century, the elongated design has two sides to it (‘double’), with the idea that, hypothetically, you would be able to shoot a shotgun clean through it, front to back. Its ‘camelback’ was a later addition that dates to a time when there were architectural restrictions that limited further development and gives guests a sense of what it was like to be living in New Orleans at that time.

A passion project for the owners, the renovations make a seamless transition from past to present and transports you to a time and place that is undeniably modern in context.

Situated on the top two floors of a late 19th-century "shotgun" house, the house has a history as evocative and varied as the many cultures that ended up here.

Built in 1890, the townhouse was discovered and restored by a couple whose frequent visits to the city ultimately lured them in. A fixture since the early 19th century, the shotgun houses developed back then were modest, understated homes and a big part of New Orlean's legacy.  

Through careful restoration, the owners sought to create a thoughtfully designed space that brings guests closer to the most authentic, local version of the city. 

A bright and airy space, the apartment retains its historic charm and character, highlighted by original features and fixtures including the fireplaces (although they aren’t operational), weathered whitewashed wood and even the original antique stove in the kitchen.

The first floor houses the sitting and dining room as well as the kitchen and a separate den with sofa bed and a private deck. Upstairs are two double bedrooms with a full bath.

Decor includes a mix of 20th-century vintage pieces and antiques that pay homage to the city's heritage including chairs rescued from a Jazz bar, with contemporary design elements that have a more modern sensibility.

There's a (rare) private backyard shared with the owners and a sense of solitude in a space that is all about relaxation and a sense of place.

Around

You’ll be right in the middle of the action from here. Just blocks from the French Quarter in the thriving Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, a  district that has emerged as one of the vital centers of the city and hosts some of the best nightspots and live music in New Orleans. 

Just a few blocks from Frenchmen Street and downriver from the Bywater, the area has some of the most inventive new restaurants in the city. Positioned along the parade route for P’Tit Rex (shoe box floats) and just 2 blocks from many of the city’s most eccentric parades: Krewe du Vieux, Delusion, Chewbacchus, and Saint Anne Parades. 

Location

New Orleans, Louisiana. Nearest airport: Louis Armstrong International

Best time to visit

The most popular time to visit New Orleans is in the spring and fall.