8 New Orleans Interior Designers (And Their Shops) That You Should Know About

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New Orleans is a top destination for design enthusiasts and it is easy to see why. A walk down our streets is a lesson in architecture, showing the influences of the many cultures who have called New Orleans their own. Iconic designer Gerrie Bremermann helped place the Crescent City on the map for the design world, and the vibrant design industry is evident in the endless antique shops you’ll find from Magazine Street to the Northshore and everywhere in between. With so many options to choose from, we rounded up our list of eight interior designers (and their shops) that you should know about before embarking on your next home project.

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1. Tara Shaw (5833 Magazine Street) 

Tara Shaw’s signature style shows timeless Old World pieces accented by contemporary art and luxurious finishes. Tara believes in the power of antiques, how they carry a story and their story becomes interwoven with our own and gives rise to our creativity. Antiques have served as the inspiration for Tara’s line of antique reproduction and custom furniture, Maison, where each piece is hand-crafted in the greater New Orleans area. These pieces have been called the new classics — you would be wise to get your hands on them while you can. Tara is also the author of the design book Soul of the Home: Designing with Antiques, and her new shop on Magazine Street is opening soon.

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2. Melissa Rufty (3806 Magazine Street) 

Melissa Rufty excels at blending texture, color, and pattern to create spaces that are both elegant and approachable. Her design choices are thoughtfully interconnected so that the finished room feels more like an experience: a bayou party barn where you can practically smell the woodsmoke soaked into the aged timbers; an updated mid-century modern whose airiness feels like a dreamy art gallery; a lush sunroom that inspires even the faultiest green thumb.

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3. Vikki Leftwich of Villa Vici (4112 Magazine Street) 

With over 25 years of experience, Vikki Leftwich excels at creating timeless home environments that excite the senses. Her style is eclectic modern, seamlessly blending European antiques with sleek, clean-lined pieces. Vikki and husband Bryan Colwell own Villa Vici, a home store featuring eclectic modern designs as well as reclaimed wood and antique one-of-a-kind objects.

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4. Grace Kaynor Design of Sotre (3933 Magazine Street)

Grace Kaynor is passionate about environmentally friendly, long-lasting, and luxurious decor for the home. From an updated mid-century modern to a historic center hall cottage, Grace’s versatility can help you achieve the style you love with an eye for sustainability. We recommend visiting Grace’s shop, Sotre, where 90% of the products are environmentally safe.  

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5. Shaun Smith of Shaun Smith Home (3947 Magazine Street – Closed) 

Shaun Smith is a master of creating interiors that appeal to men and women alike. His homes are at once modern and timeless, classic and clean, harmoniously mixing antiques and contemporary pieces. He loves to preserve the character of an older home, and trades as comfortably with bold wallpaper as he does with neutral palettes. Shaun’s home store, Shaun Smith Home, is a treat for the design-minded, and we are eager for the completion of the recent renovation. 

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6. Cindy St. Romain of St. Romain Interiors (209 St. John Street, Madisonville) 

Cindy St. Romain spent much of her childhood as an expat in Italy, developing a rich appreciation for the European lifestyle. Pre-pandemic, Cindy still traveled to Europe often to source antiques for her clients, as well as to discover new pieces for her shop, St. Romain Interiors, on the Northshore. Cindy’s style combines elegance and comfort, creating restful, light-filled spaces. Several featured projects highlight neutral walls and upholstery paired with stunning European antiques. Insider tip: St. Romain Interiors offers these gorgeous antiques at accessible price points.

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7. Tina Lagasse of Jade (324 Metairie Road) 

A graduate of LSU’s esteemed interior design program, Tina Lagasse’s style is contemporary eclectic. Tina has blended her contemporary aesthetic with modern, French, or classic influences, depending on her client’s taste. A favorite modern project features a white bed with a sumptuous magenta velvet coverlet and pillows alongside a sitting room with white lacquered walls and crisp teal sofas flanking the fireplace. Tina is the in-house designer for Jade in Old Metairie which specializes in contemporary, comfortable, and casual products including their private line of upholstered furniture.

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8. Kathy Slater Designs (3908 Magazine Street) 

A longtime interior designer, Kathy Slater was unable to source the tables she sought for a client’s project. Ever resourceful, she started creating the tables herself. Since then, her line has expanded to include dining tables and chairs, accent and coffee tables, stairway railings, benches, and beds, ranging from traditional to contemporary and available in a variety of fine finishes that showcase Kathy’s exquisite taste. You can see more on her website or by making an appointment at her showroom on Magazine Street.