The Peak of Très Chic: Sara Ruffin Costello's New Orleans Abode

My favorite southern decorator/stylist to follow is Sara Ruffin Costello. I’ve had my eye on this stylish gal since her Domino magazine days (she was the founding creative director). Now, she lives in New Orleans with her husband and 3 children in a stunning abode located in the Garden District. She works as an interior decorator and is the sittings editor for Vogue. She also contributes to Travel+Leisure and T magazine in her free time. Sara has an effortless style that is equal parts bohemian and classic, with a little sprinkle of mod thrown in for good measure. Her New Orleans home (originally built in 1868) was photographed for One Kings Lane awhile back, and it’s so good I thought it was worth revisting today:

Sara's daughter running through their breezy entryway:

I love the easy, almost haphazard layout of the living room. It feels elegant and mixed, but still comfortable enough for young kids (and pets) to enjoy:

Sara has an innate styling sensibility. The bust shown in the image above was the first "real" purchase Sara made, and she has taken it with her from home to home: “It was the first thing I bought in my life that cost something. It’s so impractical, and yet it’s been one of the great surprising moments in every room I’ve ever had.”

I love Sara's kitchen- there are no upper cabinets at all, which allows the space to feel extra open and roomy. They also aren't really needed for storage, thanks to the massive kitchen island by Bulthaup:

A funky mix of art and photography hang over the family's dining table:

The study is extra cozy with velvet upholstery and layers of rugs. My favorite element is the palm leaf chandelier, though. Sarah explains her goal when decorating and selecting pieces for her home: “I love something that looks a little used—nothing too new or shiny, please. I like things that make you want to know their secrets if they could talk. I like it to feel very much today and progressive, but I don’t want it to look like it was installed this morning.”

Costello's master bedroom features a dramatic canopy bed with beige linen curtains that attach to the ceiling:

Sarah posed adorably in her fiberglass tub, meant to resemble a classic shape:

Sara chose a bold, flashy turquoise blue for the walls of her daughter Kiki's room after a visit to Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul in Mexico City. The closet door is taken off and replaced with a whimsical curtain in a floral print:

Her son's room Ruffin has a soothing color palette and a design that the 4-year old can grow in to. It doesn't feel too "little kid" in style, and all of the pieces could transition with him through the years (except for the teddy bear!)