Southern comfort
25 Beautiful Homes
|February 2024
When they first set eyes on an old house in New Orleans, Katharine and David Rhudy knew it could be amazing
Vacating their home in Metro New York hadn't crossed the minds of Katharine Kelly Rhudy and her husband David as they strolled around the tranquil environs of New Orleans' Audubon Park while visiting their daughter and son-in-law for Thanksgiving in 2020. That is, until they came across an empty 19th-century home that was badly dilapidated but whose faded elegance persuaded them of its amazing possibilities. The house had endured years of neglect so it was apparent that a major renovation and upgrade was needed to every aspect of the building's fabric,' says Katharine, who, as the owner of Reed & Acanthus Interior Design, was the perfect candidate for reviving the fortunes of a building known locally as 'the Grande Dame of State Street'.
Upping sticks and moving from the East Coast wasn't as daunting as it could have been, as the couple's three children had grown up and left home - perhaps more challenging was the prospect of renovating one of the most historic homes in New Orleans, a property originally owned by the celebrated Flower family (Walter Flower was the city's mayor in the late 1800s).

This story is from the February 2024 edition of 25 Beautiful Homes.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM 25 Beautiful Homes
25 Beautiful Homes
A winter's TALE
A fortuitous meeting in an antiques shop on a winter day led to the perfect property for house-hunter and interior designer Martin Wharton
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
DESIGN solutions
We've picked the best style inspiration, interior advice and takeaway ideas from the homes in this issue
1 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
SNOW WHITE
The all-white interior of a Cornish cottage is magically transformed for the festive season with natural textures, rustic finds and soft candlelight
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
Dream come true
A couple with no DIY experience decided to take on a self-build and now live in a beautiful oak-framed cottage
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
Fairytale of NEW YORK
Designer Lisa Frantz reveals how she transformed this formerly dark Park Avenue prewar apartment into a stunning and light-filled family home
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
A KIND of MAGIC
As soon as they saw this Edwardian house, Katie and David Curtis knew it would be the perfect setting for Christmas
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
SPARKLE & SHINE
At Christmas, Amber and Nick Hopkins' Victorian terrace is transformed into a magical space filled with glittering and joyful touches
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
GENTLY DOES IT
Completely serene yet also full of character, this sleep space is the ideal retreat during the busy holidays and the rest of the year
1 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
LIFE IN COLOUR
This 1980s home was yearning for vibrancy and Laura Stephens delivered that with the most beautiful palette
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
STRIKING A BALANCE
Designer Philippa Thorp has managed to satisfy a complex brief for a calm and neutral LA vibe that also incorporates colourful pop art
2 mins
January 2026
Translate
Change font size

