From Old World '90s to French Country Fun

How we put the "fun" in function for these New Orleans natives' kitchen and living renovation.

Guiding Vibe #1: Design a French-inspired Renovation for New Orleans Natives

Our guiding vibe: a french-inspired renovation and refresh for these New Orleans natives. We began with a 1990s home in The Woodlands designed in true "Old World" fashion: dark cabinetry, closed-in spaces, and a little bit of that "outgrown" feeling. This home had functioned well for this family since their move-in decades prior — but now, it was time to modernize and make it truly function for this entertaining-loving family.

Guiding Vibe #2: Love the Spaces Where you Live the Most

For a family who loves to entertain, it was crucial to focus on those "connection cornerstones" — the places where friends and family will gravitate toward. For this home, that meant opening up the kitchen to the living spaces, creating a seamless transition between cooking, connecting, gathering, and everything in between.

In this renovated living space, you'll find:

• Custom furnishings and upholstery

• Natural brick fireplace, hand-laid by local masonries

• New durable flooring, built to last for family, guests, and pets

In this renovated kitchen, you'll find:

• Custom built-ins and new cabinetry

• Custom cabinet inserts and storage for optimal function

• Expanded island painted in a statement color

• Natural brick features, hand-laid by local masonries

• New durable flooring, built to last in a heavy traffic area

• FUNCTION!

As one of the biggest parts of this renovation, opening up these two spaces was both an emotional and financial investment. But at the end of the day, this is where this family lives the most — and you should love where you live!

Guiding Vibe #3: Function over Tradition

One of the other most notable pieces of this renovation was converting the unused, formal dining room into an expanded butler's pantry and home office. Formal dining rooms off of the entry are pretty much a staple in traditional home builds, but that doesn't mean that it has to be a staple in your everyday life. For many of our clients, these formal dining spaces go unused and underutilized, and this family was no exception.

So, we turned to creativity to maximize the square footage to create a space our clients will love. Somewhere to be productive during the workday, and functional when entertaining with friends. The solution to this unused square footage: an expanded butler's pantry.

So, if you're looking for a sign to choose function for YOU over tradition... this is it! Home is a sacred place, and we believe every inch should reflect who you are and how you live. So go for it! Be bold!

Guiding Vibe #4: Prioritize Pattern and Texture

Also on the first level is the Powder Bath, which was also renovated tip-to-toe. Packed with punch, you'll find custom wallpaper and traditional brick flooring to create big impact in this small space.

We're honored to share this renovation was also nominated for HGTV Designer of the Year in the Kitchen & Dining Category, and was featured in the Houston Chronicle.

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Designed by Nancy Charbonneau of Charbonneau Interiors

Photographed by Texas Home Photo

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