Okay, here’s a sarcastic blog post, stripped down to its core message, with a touch of humor and a touch of self-deprecating humor:
**Dorothy Ball’s Lost Love for New Orleans: A Postscript**
Hey there, fellow souls! Ever feel like your life is a carefully curated collection of dusty old books and faded photographs? Well, I’m about to share a secret, a truth that’s been buried deep in my soul for years: New Orleans is, in fact, a place of vibrant history, rich culture, and a whole lot of architectural flair.
And while I appreciate the architectural marvels that make it so captivating, I’m starting to question if it’s really the *only* place to find a home. My family, bless their hearts, have been thinking hard about moving. They’ve been searching for a new place to call their own, a place where they can truly feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves.
So, what’s the deal? I’m so excited to finally be able to share this with you. I’m going to be donating my time and resources to help them find the perfect home, a place that’s not just a house, but a sanctuary for their souls.
I’ve been working with Jesse Parris-Lamb, a true inspiration, and I’m so grateful for your support. You’re a true asset to this project.
And, of course, I’m bringing the incredible art books from Brooklyn, because let’s be honest, the history is just too fascinating to keep to myself.
So, what do you think? Is it really the only place to find a home? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below!
And if you’re ready to trade your dusty books for a modern home, I’m open to discussing all things real estate!
Talk to you soon!
Best,
[Your Name]
Dorothy Ball has deep roots in New Orleans, with family living in the city for five generations and a career with the Historic New Orleans Collection, where she works on art books related to the collection and Gulf South culture. It was fitting, then, that when she and husband Adam Campagna, who runs a charter school in the French Quarter, were house-hunting for their young family, a 1910 Craftsman designed by prominent New Orleans architects Favrot & Livaudais won out. But the historic house isn’t a total archetype of local French-inspired architecture—instead, the interiors include deeply hued cypress paneling and atmospheric, original art glass. “So many New Orleans houses of all sizes, small and big, are designed for a time before air conditioning, so they have super high ceilings and lots of windows and they’re very, very bright. That’s the kind of house that I grew up in, and I’ve always loved them,” shares Ball. “But this was so different because of the darkness and the wood.”
Ball’s first call was to a longtime friend, designer Whitney Parris-Lamb, cofounder of Brooklyn-based design firm and AD PRO Directory member Jesse Parris-Lamb. The two first met in college at UNC Chapel Hill and later shared a tiny New York apartment. “‘Whitney, it’d be fun one day for you to help me out with a house!’” Ball recalls saying back then. “But I never imagined that I would work on a project with a designer.” For Parris-Lamb and her cofounder Amanda Jesse, the four-bedroom house was their firm’s first remote project, and both the layout—and that distinctive wood—provided creative hurdles. “The brown stone and dark wood-paneled rooms absorb so much light and color,” notes Parris-Lamb. A 2017 renovation left behind a major stylistic mismatch amid the house’s historic bones. “A lot of rooms had been renovated in a style that wasn’t cohesive and stripped the character we loved,” says Parris-Lamb. “A lot of the work we did was helping Dorothy and Adam [reclaim the home]. How can we add layers, character, and charm so that the house feels cohesive?”
Dorothy Ball has deep roots in New Orleans, with family living in the city for five generations and a career with the Historic New Orleans Collection, where she works on art books related to the collection and Gulf South culture. It was fitting, then, that when she and husband Adam Campagna, who runs a charter school in the French Quarter, were house-hunting for their young family, a 1910 Craftsman designed by prominent New Orleans architects Favrot & Livaudais won out. But the historic house isn’t a total archetype of local French-inspired architecture—instead, the interiors include deeply hued cypress paneling and atmospheric, original art glass. “So many New Orleans houses of all sizes, small and big, are designed for a time before air conditioning, so they have super high ceilings and lots of windows and they’re very, very bright. That’s the kind of house that I grew up in, and I’ve always loved them,” shares Ball. “But this was so different because of the darkness and the wood.”
Ball’s first call was to a longtime friend, designer Whitney Parris-Lamb, cofounder of Brooklyn-based design firm and AD PRO Directory member Jesse Parris-Lamb. The two first met in college at UNC Chapel Hill and later shared a tiny New York apartment. “‘Whitney, it’d be fun one day for you to help me out with a house!’” Ball recalls saying back then. “But I never imagined that I would work on a project with a designer.” For Parris-Lamb and her cofounder Amanda Jesse, the four-bedroom house was their firm’s first remote project, and both the layout—and that distinctive wood—provided creative hurdles. “The brown stone and dark wood-paneled rooms absorb so much light and color,” notes Parris-Lamb. A 2017 renovation left behind a major stylistic mismatch amid the house’s historic bones. “A lot of rooms had been renovated in a style that wasn’t cohesive and stripped the character we loved,” says Parris-Lamb. “A lot of the work we did was helping Dorothy and Adam [reclaim the home]. How can we add layers, character, and charm so that the house feels cohesive?”
