Overlooking Bayou St. John, the historic raised cottage on Moss Street was originally built in 1850 and served as a rowing club, a fencing club, and a movie production studio until it was purchased in 2011 by the homeowners. In 2018, NANO was hired to renovate and transform the historical property into a 6,500 SF single-family residence that embraced both design and purpose, while still honoring its historical significance. Working closely with the clients, we were able to design an authentic living space that better supported their lifestyle and design preferences. Our main goal was to maintain the historic integrity of the home, while also creating a contemporary 21st century living space.
Project Team
- Terri Dreyer
- Ian Dreyer
The project encompassed full interior design services, design for a cantilevered auto covering, reconfiguration of the bathrooms, custom designed furniture pieces throughout, and coordination of historic tax credits.
The cantilevered auto cover design emerged from zoning restrictions preventing construction within 10’ of the property line, forcing NANO to think creatively to maneuver around the codes to meet the client’s needs. LED tape lights run between steel angles creating a striking line of light that highlights the design’s contemporary construction.
A noteworthy component of this renovation was our ability to thoughtfully repurpose materials throughout the space, a goal set forth by the client from the get-go. The clients owned many unique, valuable antiques and custom-made furniture, so ensuring the continuity of custom design and attention to detail was extremely important to them. Custom furniture pieces, designed and built by NANO, include the entertainment unit in the living room, vanity in the master bath, bookcases in the master bedroom, and light fixtures in the family room. The light fixtures were made from salvaged cypress slats from the second floor of the home.
