A Garland of Magnolias

Get Inspired by this 19th-century New Orleans Home and Its Devoted Owners.

- Meryl Schoenbaum

Mighty Merry.

An enormous fresh Fraser fir tree showcases decades of family ornaments combined like a rich gumbo, sweet reminders of a family member, dear friend or special occasion. It sits on a rare Louis Philippe classical French Aubusson rug with a Greek key design, jewels and flowers. The First Empire period French cabinet was a very rare find.

This time of year, with traditions and nostalgia in full swing, décor gets more emotional than ever. To listen to interior designer Hal Williamson and Dr. Dale LeBlanc describe their home and beloved city of New Orleans, Louisiana, is to hear poetry in every word. The passion of their language comes not from the infatuation of residents new to the area but from two people who have found their place in the world and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

After residing in New Orleans’ French Quarter for 12 years, Hal and Dale longed for a home with more land and a place to garden. They settled on a house just uptown from the French Quarter, in the sector known as the Garden District.

“Architecturally, there is little more beautiful in this country,” Hal says. “It is draped by centuries-old oak trees, magnolias, sweet olive and other rich plant life that gives it a dreamy feeling, keeps it cool and fills the streets with lovely scents from its gardens. Being a native of Atlanta and knowing how much of its early architecture was lost makes me love this even more.”

Christmas Tea.

The sitting room is a cozy relaxed space with original hand-carved Italian-marble mantels swagged with pine garland interlaced with pineapple and pears for a nature-inspired holiday look.

HALLS DECKED WITH HISTORY