Transformation requires vision. Most people will walk away from a home that needs any work or choose demolition because the thought of updating is overwhelming.
And it absolutely is.
However, the story of this Old World Tuscan’s transformation into a luxurious transitional estate will offer inspiration and create clarity that demolition of a perfectly good structure should never be the go-to option.
It just takes imagination.
When Catherine (Cat) Wall and her husband Darren Aschaffenburg first saw this 2004 Old World Tuscan wonderland, they never considered walking away. Instead, they saw enormous potential.
To say this dynamic duo has vision is a colossal understatement. Darren, a real estate developer and investor, is dapper enough to have been profiled by MyNewOrleans.com for his sartorial style, while his Emmy-award-winning wife, Cat, has a long history in the film business as a makeup artist and stylist.
Taste and style are just part of their DNA. So, it’s not surprising they completely transformed this tired Tuscan into a dream home.
“The previous owners had built onto the house, which, I feel resulted in a choppy layout,” Cat said. “The same day we signed the purchase papers on the house, I started to work creating a better floor plan that would give us spaces for entertaining and live music, as well as quiet areas where we could spend time with our son.”
When looking for architects, Cat fell in love with the work of Richard Drummond Davis. He was a perfect match for the couple as he’s known for his authentic English and French estates.
France figures heavily in Cat and Darren’s background with a proposal on Pont Neuf in Paris and a wedding ceremony at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Darren is also from New Orleans, so the French influence has always been in his life.
“Richard came up with the idea for the porte-cochere, the apartment, and the extra garages,” Cat said. “We essentially elongated the property, and the extension resulted in the addition of two more bedrooms.”
The renovation took this luxurious transitional from 11,288 square feet to 16,000 with nine bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
When the couple purchased this home, a lot was going on, from a Federal dome to Napoleonic touches, and of course, corbels were everywhere.
It was not just finishes and decorative touches that were transformed. Additional foundation work was done to support new marble floors. Electrical and plumbing work was completed, and triple crown and plaster moldings were installed. A new stairwell was added, and the attic was turned into a fully furnished, livable space.
The salon and the living room walls were opened to create a connective flow through the house.
“I tore down a dated buffet and cabinet piece near the dining room to make way for a stunning glass and mirror curio cabinet,” Cat said. “This allowed the light to flow through the space, and we decided to make one shelf of the cabinet a full glassed-in bar while the rest of the shelves serve as storage and to display things we love. We entertain a great deal, and it’s been a fun detail everyone likes.”
A dramatic wine room was created from unused space.
“This was a project Darren took over passionately,” said Cat. “When we purchased the home, there was an outside square space in the center of the house. We were not sure why or what it was supposed to be. We enclosed it and created a chic walk-up, three-story wine room. It holds approximately 5,500 bottles and is definitely one of the stars of the house!”
The vivid blue library is another showstopper that houses Cat’s extensive collection of fashion books and Emmys.
“Originally, it looked like Don Corleone was doing business in there,” Cat said. “I thought, if I’m going to have a library, let’s make it fun, and it is. Everyone gravitates to this room.”
Because everyone also ends up in the kitchen, it needed to be open and light.
“I wanted to create a little art gallery with one foot in the garden,” Cat said. “I opened the kitchen and converted the sink wall into French doors so that I could open them daily and be connected to nature. I wanted to feel like I live in a garden and not just have one.”
This luxurious transitional home was reconfigured not just for family needs but also for entertaining. Both Darren and Cat were raised in families where entertaining was a given. The ability to host everything from intimate dinner parties to concerts, book signings, and concerts was essential.
Cat names rooms for their personality. One guest room is called the Dandy Suite, a homage to two of her closest friends, both award-winning hair and makeup artists in Hollywood, who also happen to dress as chic Victorian Dandies every day. The room feels likes a fashionable room in a trendy boutique hotel.
“The garden also becomes an extension of the living space,” Cat said. “Many of the parties we host here support our favorite nonprofit organizations and our creative friends.”
Creating a livable, luxurious, sophisticated home that is comfortable and welcoming was Cat’s goal, and she achieved it beautifully.
“We have a full game room, a movie theater, a tennis court, aromatherapy steam showers, a library, an art room, a full bar, and a garden path where you to walk and reflect,” Cat said. This house really has everything. It’s fun to be here. There’s something to be said about your home when it can make you happy.”
Allie Beth Allman’s Christine McKenny has this luxurious transitional estate on 1.44 acres at 9520 Hathaway Street, listed for $12.9 million.
