Distressed New Orleans Style; Entropy as a design style
In New Orleans, chic decay is cultivated in interiors. Paint disintegrates off crumbling plaster walls as structures crumble into the mud of the old French Quarter. Entropy is almost an interior design style here, where distressed interiors reflect the city's unique history and culture. New Orleanians are masters at creating beautiful, theatrical, eccentric spaces where the decor incorporates not only ruin and decay but also ancestor worship, tropical motifs, shadowy homages to religion, and a sense of grandeur gone to seed. Interiors aren’t just decorated; they are filled with objects that evoke memory or pleasure.
This hauntingly beautiful aesthetic inspires the interior of Henderson & Glass. Situated in a historic coach house from the mid-19th century, it was important to honor the building’s unique heritage. Its architectural elements were reinvigorated: centuries-old Manx stone walls were exposed, cleaned, and then sealed to preserve their raw beauty. Other walls were gently washed with pastel colors, embodying the essence of New Orleans style. The original wooden plank flooring was unearthed and carefully distressed before resealing.
Oxidized mirrors, reclaimed church pews, vintage chemist bottles, old oak bank doors, wooden paneling, and aged railway sleepers sit harmoniously alongside layers of real and faux ‘urban decay.’ The rough, raw aspects were balanced with a solid layer of soft luxury: velvet upholstery and sheepskin rugs adorn the decayed veneer. Chic marble tabletops contrast with the glow of low flickering table lights, creating a comfortable and inviting ambiance.
In a room of exposed solid stone, lighting was crucial. Exposed steel conduit bulkhead wall lights and suspended Edison filament bulbs were draped from the vertical axis of the space to add a warm, welcoming yet vintage atmosphere. Decorative reclaimed architectural oak and glass bank doors were re-engineered into impressive 3-metre tall wall installations, backlit around the perimeter with LED strips. Added to this were custom-made large-scale vintage signage and rebellious design features such as a bright white LED neon cross positioned centrally high above the bar—because coffee and cocktails is a religion; this is our church.
The resulting aesthetic is an exaggerated embodiment of chic urban decay: destroyed but sophisticated, engineered but casual, old but entirely new—ageless yet distinctly of our time.
