New Orleans is beloved for more than just its raucous celebrations and fun-loving spirit—it’s also revered for its rich sense of style. Antique furnishings, elaborate ornamentation, bold colors and tantalizing textures fill The Big Easy’s mansions. Even if you don’t live in one of NOLA’s iconic double-gallery homes, you can still celebrate the city’s style in your own space. Simply stick to these three tips:
- Mix the old with the new. You can easily achieve the NOLA look without stuffing your home with pricy, precious antiques. Combine antique mirrors, picture frames and candleholders with new baskets, artwork and rugs. Just make sure the new elements have a vintage vibe to them.
- Leather makes every room look rich. Nothing says luxury like buttery smooth leather (or faux leather if that’s what your budget calls for). Choose a deep color and add earthy accents in dark burgundy, green and tan.
- Tie it all together. If there’s an aesthetic that calls for an elaborately patterned rug, this is it. Don’t be afraid of mixing patterns—your accent pillows, drapes and rug can all don different prints. Just be sure to choose pieces within the same color family and your room will come together beautifully.
Once you’ve introduced a little Creole flair into your space, why not celebrate with an iconic Louisiana dish like shrimp po’ boy sandwiches?
Shrimp Po’ Boy Sandwiches
INGREDIENTS:
- Raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Fish/chicken fry
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- Oil
- Double-bagged paper lunch bag
- Frying pan (or electric fryer)
- Lettuce, shredded
- Tomatoes, sliced
- Ketchup, mayonnaise, pickle slices or chips
- French bread (Cuban bread works fine, too)
DIRECTIONS:
- Heat about 3″ of oil in the pan
- Rinse off the shrimp
- Beat the eggs and stir in the milk
- Add fish/chicken fry to the paper bag
- Dredge the shrimp in the egg/milk mixture
- Place shrimp in the paper bag (about 6 at a time), fold it closed and shake until the shrimp are fully coated in the fry
- Drop one at a time into the oil and fry until golden brown
- Cut French bread into 6-10 inch sections and slice in half; dress the bread with the ketchup, mayo, pickle, tomato and lettuce
- Put the shrimp between the dressed bread halves
- Serve with chips or fries and sweet iced tea
Special thanks to Ashley Homestore team member, Aaron Betts for the inspiration behind this article.
