Part Four—And A Saint She Is
Apologies for the radio silence…
After Hurricane Ida made landfall in late August, Saint Italianate suffered much more damage than we originally thought. As you may recall, we named her Saint Italianate for not only her location and architectural style, but also because she has been a saint for proving her resilience. And that she is. With water intrusion from the windows, balconies, and roof, the drywall—which we had just installed and primed the day before the storm—started to show signs of mold. Needless to say, the project suffered an extended delay with crews tied up serving residents who had immediate needs, as well as the prolonged insurance process. And now, four months later, the project is moving again. Last week, we got back to pre-storm status, with new drywall primed and ready for next steps.
Such a long process has allowed me too much time to sit with the designs, contemplating revision. I’ve moved through what’s likely the one hundredth iteration of spatial and furniture planning. Should I have pushed myself more on color? Should I have tried to save the fireplace in the den? Should the front doors be a black accent or the same color as the walls? But my design process has always been heavily iterative!
It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year now since we sold our home—January 28th, 2021—and took the leap with Saint Italianate on February 17, 2021. And at the same time that we’re expecting to complete our first whole home renovation project, we’re also expecting our second child. Our original completion date was set for July. Padding that in our minds based on the realities of the industry, we knew it would be longer but little did we know we'd have a prime story for an HGTV-meets-Bravo reality show: “Which is Due First—Baby or House? Stay tuned to find out!”
So as the process picks up, I invite you to follow on Instagram
and discover whether those front doors go black after all, and which will come first, baby or house! We’ll recount the journey, share the latest progress, and reveal the interior concepts for finishes and furnishings. As always, Saint Italianate will simultaneously serve as a playground for the MARSE aesthetic and a space for inspiration and creation.
— Courtney
