WHO WE ARE
We are a New Orleans-based interior & exterior design business with a passion for giving new life to spaces as well as upcycling, refinishing, and creating custom furniture and art. Novel Design of Louisiana is a business of passion. We believe in taking the time to incorporate personal touches and style for each of our clients, always working with each as an exciting new project. When you hire Novel Design you are getting the professionalism and experience that you’d expect from a Personal Assistant with the finesse of a seasoned designer. You’ll be blown away by the level of care we take when it comes to catering to your wants and needs and by how intuitive our staff is. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and our ability to smoothly guide you through the steps of your project from start to finish. Creating your dream house or space doesn’t have to break the bank, which is why we work with any budget to get the most out of your investment. Imagine yourself in the space you’ve been dreaming about. Functionality and flow are our forte. Let us create the space you deserve. We take care of everything. From Interior to Exterior, First Home to Flip, Paint Color Selection, Virtual Design Services via TEXT/EMAIL, and 3D Renderings with complete Shopping Lists & Mood Board. Call or Text us to set up a consultation today and get started creating that space you’ve been dreaming of: 504-275-6528
WHAT WE DO
Novel Design prides ourself on being an affordable, around-the-clock option for home and business staging, decor, and design services. We pay attention to your budget as well as your needs. With Novel Design, there is no pricy or pushy up-selling or ties to expensive, marked-up retailers. Novel Design leaves customers feeling happy that they invested in their home and that it was not only money well spent, as well as TIME no longer wasted, brought on by a newfound feeling of functionality and pride. This company stretches your dollar as fas as it can go. You can really tell that we love what we do and it shows in our final results, every time.
Maybe you’ve been needing some more “me” time. Let Novel Design turn your old kid space or garage into a Mother-In-Law suite, workshop, home office.studio, upgraded pool house, or, our specialty: a She-Shed or Man-Cave. Give those yearly guests something to “oo” and “ahh” about when they come in town for Jazz Fest this year or when family comes in town for the holidays. Those bragging rights are sure to ease the holiday stress! Empty nesters looking to finally upgrade? Novel Design can turn those empty rooms and spaces into something beautiful, organized, and functional just for you! We also offer packages for college freshmen and first-time homeowners! Let ND take care of all the basic essentials needed for starting your journey into a dorm or new home. New baby? No problem! With Novel Design’s budget-friendly experts, you can have the beautiful nursery you’ve always wanted at a fraction of the cost you think you’d have to spend! Add some curb appeal by letting ND spruce up your front porch or yard! Your neighbors will be envious of the new look when they see what we can do. Maybe you want to add some “WOW!” to your outdoor living space or pool area? How about and outdoor kitchen or bar? Possibilities are truly endless! Maybe you just want to give a room (or two!) a facelift? Let Novel Design do the hard part for you! We do custom color boards and mood board! After assessing your home during the consultation and getting a feel for what your wants and needs are, we will choose the color palette for each room/space and present the options to you in your home to get your final approval. Selling a home? Did you know that your house will sell 50% faster when you have it staged?! Let Novel Design stage your home for sale and get you top dollar to boot!
Our ability to combine nostalgia, beauty, and functionality in our candles and designs is only matched by the personal touches we are able to add to each and every job. If you are interested in having a piece of furniture refinished or simply wish to update or remodel your space, we offer text and Face Time services to customers worldwide. We are also available to travel for jobs out of state, based on assignment. From breathing new life into family heirlooms to creating beautiful, fresh spaces with our professional paint color selection services and personalized shopping lists (sent right to your e-mail) to guiding you through becoming a short-term rental host to simply sketching a new view for you to see your space in a new light… We do it all!
NOVEL CANDLES
Our mission using and re-using as much as we can applies to everything we put our name on, no matter what job we are doing or what we are creating. The idea for Novel Candles spent years on the back-burner until our head designer and CEO, Ashley Dufresne, decided to attempt to “recycle” her time that was seemingly stolen by the Quarantine and apply is towards something meaningful to help her city. After spending a decade working in bars and hospitality, she had seen thousands of glass bottles go right into the trash, ultimately ending up in a landfill. It had always blown her mind that New Orleans doesn’t offer glass recycling options. On the opposite end of her career (6+ years of design, staging, and property management), she had purchased and thrown away hundreds of overprices candles- most of which didn’t even contain natural ingredients!
Alas, Novel Candles was born! Recycled glasses candles that celebrated all the great things about Louisiana, using all natural ingredients. Her decision to allow customers to add personalization was driving primarily by the devastating reality that people all over the world were not only unable to leave their homes in 2020, but unable to be with their loved ones.
Ashley wanted to give a chance to have customer receive a smile, a smell, and a piece of art, all while helping our environment.
DESIGN & REDESIGN
If you are looking for direction in redesigning an existing space or even something as exciting as beginning from a bare floor plan, Novel Design can guide your project starting with a simple questionnaire. From there, someone from our team will contact you for the best time for a visit to your space(s) so that we can further assess your needs, wants and style with a 60-minute consultation.
DESIGNER VS DECORATOR
INTERIOR DECORATOR VS INTERIOR DESIGNER
As you think about working with an interior designer or interior decorator, the most important thing to consider is what you need. To help you determine which professional is right for you, here are a few questions you can ask yourself.
Do you need someone to manage the entire project for you and assist with the build out and aesthetics? Consider hiring an interior designer.
Are you hoping to update one room in your home and looking for someone to make your design visions come to life? Perhaps working with an interior decorator is the best choice.
Does your project involve making functional or structural changes that may be difficult to solve when things pop up unexpectedly? This may be a project for an interior designer.
Do you need help determining your distinct vision and creating a space that celebrates your home’s character in a modern way? This could be a design project for an interior decorator or an interior designer. Both can help you!
Understanding what kind of design assistance you need helps you select the right professional for your project.
The Difference between the two & what we do…
“There are many things to think about when you begin a design project. Do you need an interior designer or an interior decorator? Are you tearing down walls or reupholstering furniture? Do you need helping selecting paint colors? Does your entire home need an overhaul?”
It can be overwhelming, and you may find yourself looking for some professional help. In your search, you’ll find some professionals who call themselves interior designers and others who call themselves interior decorators. But is there a difference between the two?
The answer is yes! Or, perhaps, maybe. In general, it comes down to the term they decide to use to describe their firm. It depends on how that design expert feels about the services offer and how they work. To clear up some of the confusion, I want to dive into the differences between what an interior decorator and interior designer do. I’ll share what makes them different and talk about a few of their similarities. I’ll give you a quick checklist so you can determine which design pro is best for your design project.
DO YOU NEED AN INTERIOR DECORATOR OR AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
First, I want to make it clear I don’t get too attached to labels. I usually refer to myself as an interior designer, but I definitely don’t bristle when someone calls me an interior decorator. I’ve often found the distinction to be a generational one. Many in the Old Guard call themselves decorators, while those in the New Generation of design prefer the term designer.
Technically, they are two separate occupations. Depending on your design needs, you may select to work with one or the other.
WHAT IS INTERIOR DECORATING?
Before we jump into what an interior decorator does, let’s talk about what interior decorating is. Interior decorating entails the use of decorative details and aesthetics to make preexisting spaces more aesthetically pleasing. Interior decorating focuses on design elements like color palettes, furniture, and accessories. It doesn’t address exterior elements, architectural features, or how the space functions.
WHAT MAKES AN INTERIOR DECORATOR?
A decorator is much like a personal stylist. They’re hired to create an atmosphere within the home that aligns with their client’s personal style. They use paint, fabric, furniture, and accessories to change the visual aesthetic of a space. Their clients are homeowners, Realtors, or architects.
WHAT DO THEY DO?
Interior decorators work with their clients to establish their likes, dislikes, color preferences, and budget in order to develop and update their current space. Once a decorator understands the look their clients want to achieve, they begin sourcing the soft furnishings. This includes selecting colors, furniture, fabric, rugs, wallpapers, and accessories to create an inspiring atmosphere.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH AN INTERIOR DECORATOR?
Working with decorators is a hands-on process. They present clients with multiple options, mood boards, and get their client’s feedback in order to finalize the decor. The next step is shopping, either in person or online to select the pieces that represent their client. After the final selections are made, a decorator organizes the transportation and installation of all the furnishings. They’re often the ones doing the actual project install.
IS AN INTERIOR DECORATOR THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL FOR ME?
An decorator might be the professional for you if you’re updating your home’s aesthetics. If you want to change paint colors, install new window treatments, or reupholster furniture, you might consider working with an interior decorator.
WHAT MAKES AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
Interior designers focus on proper space planning, as well as the aesthetics. They’re involved in the construction or renovation of an entire home or business. This means they work from the ground up or take an existing property to the studs and rebuild it. Interior designers are often said to be professionals that move walls.
In addition to having an eye for design, they understand interior architecture, renovations, and construction processes. They work on either residential or commercial properties and their clients are architects, builders, Realtors, and homeowners.
WHAT DO INTERIOR DESIGNERS DO?
Clients usually hire an interior designer at the start of a construction project. They’ll partner with architects and builders to help develop floor plans, electrical, and plumbing plans. Interior designers make project specifications for things like floors, millwork, moldings, lighting, and countertops.
Ideally, we engage at the earliest possible moment. These are my favorite kinds of projects when we can assist the build team. I’ve worked hand in hand with some of my favorite contractors and architects in both New York and Louisiana.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
Let’s describe an ideal scenario for Novel Design. — A wonderful client has just purchased a home in need of extensive renovations or is planning a new construction project. They contact us immediately. We discuss their style, passions, what brings them joy, how they want their home to function…all the little details. Through the process we build a relationship with the client, which is important because some projects take years to complete!
When construction begins, we’ll make frequent site visits and participate in the construction process. The initial construction phases are technical and require a trained eye. An interior designer’s formal education and training ensures the space plan, structural details, and design elements are executed properly. Being there in the beginning stages and understanding the materials used is essential. We get a feel for the build team, who are our partners for several months.
Once the build out is complete, we begin with the decorating portion: painting, furnishings, and final touches. We design and build many benchmade furnishings for our clients, and it takes weeks for these items to be completed. It’s a full-time job in itself to manage the logistics of getting all the elements together in time!
From the initial drawings to placing the last accessory, interior designers are involved in the entire process.
IS AN INTERIOR DESIGNER RIGHT FOR ME?
If you’re doing construction or remodeling in addition to updating the aesthetics, working with an interior designer might be the best choice. An interior designer can help you with space planning, managing the construction process, finalizing finishes, and selecting furnishings and accessories.
WE ARE AN INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM IN METAIRIE, BUT YOU CAN CALL US DECORATORS TOO!
We’re lucky to serve as both interior designers and interior decorators for our clients. The design team is educated in the art and science of design and approach every project holistically. We explore creative environments that integrate beauty and function, inspired by our client’s passions and joy. Everything we do, we do for the love of home.
ASHLEY D. AS AN INTERIOR DESIGNER
The architecture, flow, and function of a home is equally as important as the way it looks. The home’s physical space, natural lighting, and structure play an important role in our interiors. We take a “wholistic” approach to every project. Our process is highly collaborative and deeply personal.
Because each client’s project is singular, there’s not one specific time we start working with clients. If they’re doing construction, we’ll work with their architect and builder to create a design that’s perfect for them. We help develop floor plans, electrical, and plumbing plans. We work with our clients to select the architectural materials, like tile, plumbing fixtures, and lighting. Each element of the design is thoughtful and serves a purpose.
We work to make sure our client’s design intentions are clearly communicated to the construction team through plans, elevations, presentations, and finish schedules. This is crucial for new construction or large-scale renovation projects. Once the construction or renovation is complete, we begin working on the interiors.
But we also take on projects that focus on the furnishings only. In these collaborative projects, we conceptualize a curated interior that restores and welcomes you home. We love these projects because they push the boundaries of color and pattern.
ASHLEY D. AS AN INTERIOR DECORATOR
My approach to interior design is about finding what’s beautiful and beloved, and surrounding our clients with those things every day. Each interior design project is client-centric and site-specific. We thoughtfully mix furnishing and accessories in a way that’s bold, contrasting, and timeless.
This is where our role as interior designers and interior decorators collide. Our goal for any project is to curate spaces that are a beautiful reflection of what’s most important to you. Each project is designed to last and be enjoyed for generations to come.
GETTING STARTED…
To be fair to our clients, we don’t like to take on more than 2-4 jobs at a time (depending on job size & scope of work). This allows us to truly focus on dedicating our time to getting everything done within the timeline of the project, including the inevitable “hiccups” along the way.
Check availability by reaching out to us today!
It’s as simple as shooting us a text or e-mail including the following information:
Your name & e-mail address
Address of space or location (City/State, Neighborhood, Part of Town)
A few photos of your space & any inspiration photos you may have
(Links, screenshots, photos of all kinds are helpful)
A brief description of the scope of work and your desired timeline
Any other pertinent info you deem relevant to the project
From there we will set up a 20-minute Discovery Call to discuss details and get acquainted, and schedule a consultation/walk-through). After the consultation is booked and paid for, you will be sent a New Client Questionnaire to fill out and send back at some point before our consultation date. Consultation Fee is $200 and the dates may be altered as needed (up to 3 times) without any penalty. Consultations are typically anywhere from 45-minutes to 90-minutes (depending on size of space and desired scope of work).
At the consult, we will walk-through the space together and get a feel for the entire job as well as you (the client) and your family, wants & needs. This gives us insight and allows us to provide a realistic estimate for the project which will be relayed to the client within 48 hours.Client can decided whether or not to move forwards at this time.
Call/Text: 504-275-6528
E-mail: info@noveldesignnola.com