Thursday, October 31, 2013

American Horror Story Houses in New Orleans

American Horror Story Coven was filmed in New Orleans, so I thought I would show you some of houses that were used, in honor of Halloween. If you haven't seen the show you can get the brilliant re-caps from Jenny Andrews at MFAMB Home, HERE and HERE

One of the houses featured is the LaLaurie Mansion in the French Quarter. It's on all the walking tours, and known as the most haunted house in New Orleans. It's at 1140 Rue Royal if you are in town. Nicholas Cage bought it in 2007, and lost it to foreclosure in 2009. It has recently been bought by Michael Whalen and decorated to the nines by the fabulous Katie Stassi-Scott. You can read a terrific article by Susan Lagenhennig HERE. The photos shown from that article are by Chris Granger.

New Orleans locations are used for American Horror Story Coven - Here's a shot (from MFAMB Home) of Kathy Bates who plays Madame LaLaurie, walking down Royal Street in the  French Quarter with Jessica Lange, who plays the head honcho witch Fiona
LaLaurie Mansion today - photo by Chris Granger


In the TV show they are using the exterior of the Gallier House in the French Quarter for shots of LaLaurie Mansion
 
The TV show is actually using the Hermann-Grima house for the LaLaurie interior scenes

The parlor of the Hermann Grima House where Katy Bates "lives" as Madame LaLaurie

In the episode’s opening scenes in Madame Lalaurie’s parlor, the Hermann-Grima’s yellow walls, red curtains and crystal chandelier are noticeable. This house is an 1831 Federal mansion, designated as a National Historic Landmark, and also operated as a historic house museum. The Hermann-Grima House has the only 1830s open-hearth kitchen and horse stable still in existence in the French Quarter and has been painstakingly restored to depict the lifestyle of an affluent Creole family in 1830s New Orleans. The house is open to the public for tours.

Kathy Bates as Madame LaLaurie in her mansion

Another great house used in the series is Maison Vitry a splendidly decaying manor located in the  Treme neighborhood. The house was built in 1855 by a free woman of color and features all the accouterments of New Orleans’ Golden Age: 14-foot ceilings, faux-bois treatments, cast ironwork and original moldings. The house is furnished with an eclectic mix of antiques, lots of gold-leaf and truly reflects the decaying splendor that is New Orleans. The house is available for rental at $350 a night, with a minimum three-night stay, and open for tours by appointment.

We’ve seen Maison Vitry in episodes 2 and 3 so far, when Fiona visits Marie Laveau at her salon/voodoo parlor and Cordelia does the same seeking help with her fertility problem.

This is another location in a fabulous house Maison Vitry aka Marie Laveau’s Cornrow City Salon
Corner of Dumaine and N. Prieur streets in Treme

Angela Basset plays Marie Laveau (and the owner of Cornrow City) in American Horror Story Coven

 Now let's take a look at the real LaLaurie Mansion as it today - Katie Stassi-Scott worked miracles:

The LaLaurie Mansion has recently  been renovated, and interior designer Katie Stassi-Scott did the interior decorating - Love this skull print fabric on the chair back - photo by Chris Granger

A parlor in the LaLaurie Mansion today -  Hard to believe it's haunted - photo by Chris Granger

The stairwell inside the LaLaurie Mansion

Detail of  a fabulous staircase  in the LaLaurie Mansion - photo by Chris Granger

Red lights illuminate the stairwell to the attic inside the LaLaurie Mansion - a nod to its sordid tragic past

Palette and spirit cleanse in this serene bedroom in the LaLaurie Mansion today - photo by Chris Granger

Red lips wallpaper in a powder room in LaLaurie Mansion - photo by Chris Granger

A beautiful moody bedroom in LaLaurie Mansion today - photo by Chris Granger

The interior doors are carved with intricate floral designs- photo by Chris Granger

An angel frieze in the dining room

Python skin covers the seats on the dining chairs - photo by Chris Granger

The dining room with those python covered chairs and that angel frieze - photo by Chris Granger

Modern wing back chairs, coffee table, and art with a fur rug in the parlor- photo by Chris Granger

Katie Stassi-Scott did the new interiors at the renovated LaLaurie Mansion, a home featured in American Horror Story Coven, and one of the most haunted houses in New Orleans - photo by Chris Granger - Read more HERE

Love her work! Katie Stassi-Scott

American Horror Story Coven is attracting big names actresses, Kathy Bates, Jessica Lange, and Angela Basset, joined with guest appearances by Mare Winningham, Patti Lupone and Christine Ebersole. It is a little gory, a little silly, a little disgusting, a little scary, and very entertaining.

Jessica Lange (Fiona) with her young charges walking in the French Quarter in front of  Hotel St. Marie, at the corner of Toulouse and Dauphine Streets

Onto the next house, The Buckner Mansion, walking distance from my house. It's located on Jackson Avenue in the Garden District.

Head mistress Jessica Lange (Fiona)

From Curbed New Orleans: The Buckner Mansion is the fictitious Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies (witches in training, with head mistress Jessica Lange) on the show. The 20,000-square foot estate was built in 1856 for cotton king Henry S. Buckner and was home to the SoulĂ© Business College from 1923 until the 1970s. Now? Of course, film crews flock to the site but it's also available as a vacation rental for, ahem, just $20,000 per month. American Horror Story has been filming around town since July and will stick around until January 2014.

The Buckner Mansion in New Orleans

The Buckner Mansion 1410 Jackson Avenue in New Orleans is used for a location in American Horror Story Coven

It was once a business school, and now it's a school for young witches


The Buckner Mansion as it is today

The dining room at the Buckner Mansion which is a rental now

A little connecting hall between parlors - I wish I could redecorate this house

Girl talk in the Buckner Mansion

Kathy Bates plays Madame LaLaurie and she is in the Buckner Mansion in this scene

Nice interior shot of the Buckner Mansion in American Horror Story Coven

A fabulous chandelier and a fabulous stunt at the Buckner Mansion in New Orleans

A hilarious scene in the Buckner Mansion where Kathy Bates aka Madame LaLaurie the worst racist has to wait on an African American witch student

A still of the Buckner Mansion from the American Horror Story Coven web site

A special effect of a levitating young witch from American Horror Story Coven filmed in the Buckner Mansion in New Orleans

You can see more locations in New Orleans for American Horror Story Coven HERE

Also check out a post from Nita at Mod Vintage Life about the Buckner Mansion.



So what do you think? Are there any famous haunted houses where you live?

Happy Halloween from Valorie Hart The Visual Vamp


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Saturday, October 26, 2013

Time To Get Cozy

The season has changed. It feels cooler in most parts of the country. There is nothing more cozy than a rug underfoot.  Adding an area rug is a quick and easy way to add a  huge visual lift to any room.
My Guest Picks at Houzz this month shop the top trends from high to low prices. Go check it out.

In the meantime here's a look book to inspire you.

Designer rugs are a hot trend if you can afford them

Missoni Missoni Missoni! Go to my post on Houzz to see a low priced version rug you can afford!
 
The over dyed rug - It comes at all price points from wool or silk vintage rugs stripped of color and then over dyed, to affordable new rugs with the same look

The beauty of the over dyed rug are the distressed areas - no need to worry about wear and tear

The over dyed rug mixes well with every decor style - the contemporary color make the traditional oriental rug more modern

Rugs from Anthropologie ignite the dreams of the Bohemian rich hippie, but if you are on a budget go to my Houzz post to see some great stylish options

The Beni rug is the darling of decorators - They look good in every room and mix well in traditional, modern, or vintage rooms - Check out the options I found and posted on Houzz

Zebra print has always added a certain chic to any room

Zebra is always in style

Nowadays you can find faux zebra in synthetics and wool - Go to my post on Houzz to see what I found

A printed cow hide is considered a faux zebra, but if you don't want animal hide I give you a couple of options on my Houzz post to choose from

Sheepskin rugs have been trending  big time - They are perfect for the cool months ahead - I have some great options at Houzz

Sea grass is so affordable - I have had one in my dining room for years, and it has worn really well, and sea grass or mountain grass is not scratchy underfoot - It's great on its own, and perfect to layer other rugs on top of it

The flat weave rug with a geometric has become a classic - I love it in gray and give you three good options at Houzz

The top trends in rugs:

  • Over dyed
  • Bohemian luxury
  • Moroccan Beni
  • Zebra
  • Sea Grass
  • Designer print
  • Sheepskin
  • Flat weave geometric

Which one do you love or have?

I have zebra hide under my breakfast area table, faux Beni in my living room, inexpensive over dye in my office, mock Missoni in my bedroom, mountain grass in my dining room! And I love them all!

Zebra print on hide in the breakfast area - Valorie Hart - photo by Sara Essex Bradley

Beni style in the living room - Valorie Hart

Over dyed in the office - Valorie Hart - photo by Sara Essex Bradley


Mock Missoni in the bedroom, sheepskin on the chaise - Valorie Hart - photo by Sara Essex Bradley

Mountain grass (very much like sea grass) in the dining room - Valorie Hart


Check out Valorie Hart Guest Picks October 2013 at Houzz



Hover over any image to Pin it
Please add my NEW address to your blog list: http://thevisualvamp.blogspot.com
And please become a Follower again (or for the first time) on this newer VV blog