A Balancing Act: Demolition, Preservation and Styling

Demolition has begun on our Project House villas under the guidance of Sara McDaniel, who is salvaging as many aspects as she can while dreaming up interior designs.

- By Autumn Krause

Sometimes, a renovation project is a bit of a three-ring circus, with each act needing careful balance: You must demolish what exists to make room for better things to come ... while also preserving what you can. It's an ongoing balancing act.

Such is the case with the Villas at Spanish Court, the subject of our 2022 Project House.

Sara McDaniel of Simply Southern Cottage is lovingly bringing these dilapidated 1930s buildings back to life as a boutique hotel in Minden, Louisiana.

Knowing what must go, what can be salvaged and what's to come can be difficult, but Sara has just the expertise to navigate all three aspects for the best results. As the demolition phase gets underway, Sara is simultaneously casting the creative vision for the villas' final form via mood boards and inventorying the elements that can be preserved.

There are a lot of considerations, but I'm working to make sure the villas will stay true to themselves, she says.

WHAT GOES: DEMOLITION

The villas are being renovated from the inside out.

“Right now, environmental hazards are being addressed. The asbestos is being rectified, lead paint is being remediated, and the creek bed is being cleared, Sara says.

The sidewalks are also being torn up to clear the way for a wonderfully nostalgic brick manufactured by Cherokee Brick.

Tile Tales

Preserving original tile might well be worth the extra effort.