Suite Serenity: Everything in its Place

In a Venetian-inspired home near New Orleans, a photographer's keen eye and an architect's practical ideas blend beautifully in clean lines, sumptuous materials, and even a darkroom as part of the third-floor, master-suite plan

Written by Susan Kleinman • Photographed by Langdon Clay

Location: Covington, LA
Produced by Laura Dye Lang
Styled by Kathryn Brookshire Brown

The bare wood floors and lots of washable white cotton fabrics give the Darrs a space that feels uncluttered and comfortable for the entire family.

"My husband and I live very hectic lives," says Carol Darr, a photographer and hands-on mother, "so we wanted our room to be a sanctuary. We wanted it to be light and peaceful, but not someplace where we were always having to say to the kids 'don't touch.'" Together, architect George D. Hopkins, Jr. and interior designer Vikki Leftwich gave Carol and her husband, Kevin, the casual comfort they wanted.

The site on the Bogue Falaya River, along with a trip to Venice, Italy, informed the design choices for the new three-story house. An entry, covered outdoor areas, and the garage inhabit the main floor, with living areas above, where views and breezes are best. Inside, "they wanted a minimalist look," the designer says, "but the kind of minimalism that's warm and not hard-edged." Airy and uncluttered, the bedroom is decorated mostly in easy-to-care-for white. "People are often afraid of white," says Leftwich, "but because we used prewashed fabrics, it's never a problem. You can just throw them in the washer with some bleach and they come out looking brand-new."

The warmth of the rooms is further enhanced by an iron bed, sandblasted for a softer finish. A reproduction dresser from Italy was painted white for an antique look. A nightstand from the same line (Leftwich's firm, Villa Vici, imports it) holds the telephone and a few books.

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