Frances and Rodney Smith
by allthebest • 28 Jul ’09 • Frances and Rodney Smith, New Orleans • 20 Comments
The charming Soniat House is one of the most acclaimed luxury boutique hotels in New Orleans. It has been named by Travel and Leisure as “one of the best hotels in the world” and it’s been included in Michael Kors’ New Orleans Address Book.
The hotel was created twenty years ago by combining three historic Creole town-houses in the quiet residential section of the French Quarter. Two of the houses were built in 1830 by Joseph Soniat, a plantation owner who needed a house in New Orleans when visiting with his large family. Just four years later his oldest son built an even larger house. The three have since become one.
While in New Orleans we were treated to a tour of the splendid Soniat House. However, before the hotel tour, owners Frances and Rodney Smith were gracious enough to give us a grand tour of their beautiful home decorated by Nicky Haslam. One of the worlds most distinguished interior designers, and renowned for his opulent interiors, Nicky’s work had been published in Architectural Digest, World of Interiors, Vogue, House and Garden, Elle Décor and Traditional Home. Notice the jib door leading to the dining room.
The remarkable hotel renovation by Rodney and Frances Smith has won every local award imaginable, as well as national praise for its sensitive design and the striking guest rooms.
The glorious details—spiral stairs, balconies and patios are all original. Courtyards explode with lush sweet olive, magnolia, guava and ginger.
Rodney and Frances travel the world selecting just the right antiques for their beautiful hotel and their antiques shop, Soniat Antiques.
Soniat Antiques has been featured in Architectural Digest, Southern Accents, House Beautiful, and Town and Country. The collection is primarily 18th and early 19th century French furniture and decorative accessories, including a superb collection of Italian lighting, both sconces and chandeliers. Soniat Antiques and Soniat House are a MUST stop on your next trip to the Big Easy.
Thanks for the tour about Soniat House. How grand to stay one day!
What a gorgeous building and interior! I'm hoping to make it to New Orleans next spring and will be sure to swing by! Thank you for your post today—I'm such a huge fan of yours. I must admit, I was a bit star struck. Can't wait to read more from New Orleans!
XXX Kate
Thanks for highlighting the Soniat House and Antiques. Looks simply stunning and I bet even better in person!
Absolutely beautiful . . . if I had the money (& of course the panache) I would aim to change our little Victorian guesthouse into something quite special also. Hmmm it's nice to dream !
Seriously. Magnificent. They are very blessed with wonderful taste.
Love the gorgeous lush courtyard entrance…
It is just gorgeous, and the added bonus was knowing its history and a little about the Soniat House's owners. Amazing trip you took, so many wonderful meetings with gracious residents and business owners in NOLA, lovely experieces to share.
Oh my word, the colors alone just make me want to run right there…simply stunning!
pve
Such a beautiful place with every large and small detail obviously thought of!
I am swooning. Such elegance and beauty.
PVE is right on with those colors, the terra cotta is the shade I just painted behind my lr bookshelves, and that courtyard!
For a moment I thought that I had died and gone to heaven. The antiques, the wallpapers, the colors!!!!!
Nicky Haslam really is too brilliant. His style translates beautifully to New Orleans, don't you think?
So beautifully!! What an absolute thrill to see his work…unbelievable! He is coming back to NOLA to work on another home with Frances and Rodney. Can't wait to see the results.
Those pictures are amazing. Definitely adding Soniat House to my list of places i NEED TO GO!
Georgeous hotel! New Orleans has such a style of it's own, beautiful
hi! thanks for stopping by my blog the other day and leaving such a sweet comment. it has allowed me to find your beautiful blog as well. the hotel you just posted about in new orleans is stunning. i can see why it has made the "best of" lists. i'll be back often to catch up on more posts!
Roda…The Soniat House is really beautiful place to live in. It looks cozy and so lovely. THanks for passing this on here. From Home Stager Toronto
fascinating stuff.
…and you are right there in the middle of it.
great rooms and everything else in the post
xx
How beatiful!!