Avenue Magazine | Oct 2025
Written by Melanie Warner Spencer | Photography by Collin Magee
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Designer Chad Graci Helped Transform This Not-So Empty Nest in Old Metairie
When a pair of empty-nesters in Old Metairie decided to downsize, they found the perfect home in their current neighborhood. The catch? They’d have to build it.
“The family that owned [a nearby lot] spent three-plus years working on house plans and had done a beautiful job,” says the homeowner. “So we bought the lot and house plans when they decided to build in another area.”
The couple’s builder, Gulf States Construction, recommended adding Chad Graci of Graci Interiors to the team. The homeowner says Graci was part of the decision-making process at the outset. The plans needed considerable revision, having been created for a family with small children. From interior elevations and modifying the floorplan to adding rooms and redesigning cabinetry, Graci’s vision permeates every corner of the 5,000-square-foot home.
The owners sought a design that balanced their love for entertaining with a desire for comfortable, livable spaces for visiting family. “My husband and I currently live here with our two dogs,” says the homeowner. “But the house has become more of a bed and breakfast lately. My son recently moved out when he bought a house out in Lakeview and my daughter, along with her husband, 3 ½-year-old son and 9-month-old twin boys, is in the process of moving in with us while they wait for their new house to be ready. So lots of comings and goings!”
The design process began in earnest in 2022, with Graci working closely with the builder and LRK Inc. architectural firm.
“The homeowners were really open,” says Graci. “They had been in their former residence around the corner for so long, I think they just wanted everything to feel fresh and new while still using some of their antiques. She wanted everything lighter and crisper than the other house.”
While the home’s exterior exudes traditional charm, its interior features thoughtfully curated spaces with deftly mixed traditional and contemporary elements. In the entryway, a striking limestone field tile floor — originally imported from France—is punctuated by black marble cabochons. Graci sourced the floor from an architectural salvage dealer in Breaux Bridge. The living room injects color into the home’s overall neutral palette with Sherwin-Williams “Peat Moss,” a hue Graci unearthed from an obsolete paint chart. An 18th-century Italian chandelier, sourced from Dallas, illuminates the space, while local artist Rhenda Saporito’s work hangs above the sofa. Nearby hangs an 18th-century French painting of cherubs, a lucky find with a frame color that’s nearly an exact match to the wall color. “If you zoom in, the cherubs are up to no good,” jokes Graci.
Across the hall, the dining room is awash in sophisticated charm. Schumacher scenic wallpaper sets the backdrop, complemented by lacquered trim in Sherwin-Williams “Misty.” An 18th-century rock crystal chandelier with amethyst, which Graci found locally at Kiehl’s Antiques, adds a touch of opulence. The room is anchored by the owners’ existing French extension table, which is designed to accommodate their large family gatherings.
“The dining room was one of the first rooms that we really nailed down with them in both color palette and fabrics,” says Graci. “Everybody really fell in love with the wallpaper, so that was the starting point for that room.”
In the kitchen, warmth marries urbanity via Cremo Delicata countertops that offer a distinctive alternative to Carrera marble. Antique mirrored cabinets add a touch of sparkle, elevating the space beyond typical painted cabinetry. The mirrors vibe like glass-front cabinets, without the burden of keeping up with always perfectly styled contents. Custom-made Kathy Slater bar stools line the island, and the adjacent butler’s pantry showcases one-of-a-kind stone slabs.
The family room, also known as the garden room, provides a cozy gathering space. Graci installed an 18th-century limestone fireplace mantle, which he sourced and had reassembled to give the room “some gravitas.” Swivel chairs refreshed with new skirts and trim offer comfortable seating, while Lucite legs on the coffee table add a contemporary touch. Centrally located, the homeowner says the garden room is a favorite gathering space for the family.
Even the home’s bathrooms are customized down to the last detail. A powder room features customized Pottery Barn sconces, re-gilded and adorned with custom silk lampshades. Another bath features Amanda Talley wallpaper painted and printed on grasscloth, a vintage Murano glass light fixture and honed soapstone countertops. Upstairs, a home office provides a moody and intimate space for the husband. A faux pine bookcase anchors the room, creating a study for him. The homeowner says he also loves the back outdoor living area, where he likes to relax after work. The ground-floor primary suite prioritizes comfort and luxury. The en suite bathroom features a reverse of the entryway tile; the field tile is marble with green limestone cabochons. Walnut vanities with minimal detailing and crystal knobs warm up the space.
Throughout the home, Graci incorporated existing antique pieces, reupholstering and altering them to fit the new design scheme. The result is a cohesive blend of old and new, tradition and innovation. Textiles play a crucial role in the home’s design. A damask in the living room is an overscaled version of a very old rural fabric, while a Scalamandre leopard print adds va-va-voom to traditional chairs in one of the bedrooms. In the entry hall, a work by New Orleans-based artist Raine Bedsole hangs over the antique Swedish clock. “They needed something modern, a little unexpected, because everything in that room was getting very, very traditional,” says Graci.
Graci successfully navigated numerous challenges, including the project’s lengthy timeline, which was largely due to extensive customization. The warm and inviting design blends formal and informal spaces with kid-friendly details for the couple’s children and grandchildren.
“The house has clean and simple lines and flows very well,” says the homeowner, who, despite downsizing for an empty nest, often still finds herself living en famille.
