A Narrow Site in New Orleans Proves a Welcome Challenge for a Designer Couple
Located within a historic district, the skinny, modern box aims to fit in even though it stands out.
Located within a historic district, the skinny, modern box aims to fit in even though it stands out.
In a city famed for architecture and thousands of historic properties that range from colorful Creole cottages to Italianate manses, it was a lot strewn with gravel and patches of grass that caught Caroline and Sabri Farouki’s eye.
Designers Caroline and Sabri Farouki’s home in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans is only 12.6 feet wide in the front and even narrower in the back. The skinny, modern box contrasts with
the neighborhood’s reigning mix of styles, but it aims to fit in even as it sticks out.
Photo: Daymon Gardner
The home's roof height meets that of its neighbors’ second stories, and its big, black-framed Marvin Ultimate tilt/turn windows put a contemporary twist on a centuries-old ventilation strategy. Its Artisan V-Groove siding by James Hardie, with mitered corners and painted Narraganset Green—a deep peacock-emerald with tones of charcoal and slate—strikes a happy medium between subtropical color and chic contemporary minimalism.
Photo: Daymon Gardner
"It was basically a large driveway," says Caroline, laughing, about the 2,400-square-foot parcel they purchased in the LowerGarden District in March of 2018. At the street front, it was a mere 18.6 feet wide. The skinny allocation further narrowed as you moved the 130 feet back to the anterior property line.
The entry has a custom cubby for shoes that pulls out to reveal storage concealed under the stair.
"The wood is northern white oak," says Caroline. "I wanted a rustic grade, for character. Since we don’t have a lot of stuff, or a lot of space, the materials have to speak." The sconce is by Allied Maker.
Photo: Daymon Gardner
See the full story on Dwell.com: A Narrow Site in New Orleans Proves a Welcome Challenge for a Designer Couple
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