Our French Acadian project continues to be one of the most popular houses we’ve been fortunate to work on, and we thought you might enjoy a Q & A with the owner. Meet Suzanne… one of our precious clients and owner of the French Acadian house. Suzanne won us over quickly with her bright smile and charming Southern accent. She and her husband had a clear picture of what they wanted for their custom home, which made our job really easy. What does the style “French Acadian” even mean? I’m so glad you asked!
Towards the end of the 17th century the French settled in the lower Mississippi Valley. Acadian and Cajun are used as broad terms today in Louisiana and don’t necessarily refer to descendants of deported Acadians. Louisianians of Acadian descent are also considered Louisiana Creoles. Creole and Cajun are often considered separate identities today. However, most Cajuns are of French descent and make up a large portion of Louisiana’s population. It’s impossible to ignore the huge impact Cajun’s have had on Louisiana’s culture, including the prominent architecture style.
The French found their new environment more hot, humid, and prone to flooding than their European country. Louisiana architect A. Hays Town is credited with reinterpreting the French Acadian architecture style, taking into account the environmental differences. He used large roof overhangs, breezeways, and cross ventilation.
For more on A. Hays Town, we recommend this book. You can purchase a copy here.
DI: Why did you want to build a French Acadian home?
Suzanne: My husband and I have family in south Louisiana, and we have spent a lot of time there. We were inspired to build a French Acadian style home after seeing the work of architect A. Hayes Town. We loved the exposed brick and natural woods that he used in his homes, as well as the capability to combine that with modern features. It's a look that stands the test of time in our opinion and is very inviting for our family and friends.
DI: What was the most challenging aspect of building a custom home?
Suzanne: For us, the most challenging thing about building a custom home was making sure our ideas were completely represented in the final outcome. We knew exactly what we wanted but felt overwhelmed at times with the selection process. Kate was there to guide us through most of it, and that helped tremendously!
DI: What was the most helpful aspect of working with Duckworth Interiors?
Suzanne: Kate kept things organized throughout the building process. My ideas were all over the place, and she did a great job of putting it all together! She would set up the meetings and appointments for selections and was invested in making sure things got done in a timely manner. She was able to bring my ideas to reality.
DI: Which room in your home do you enjoy the most and why?
Suzanne: I really love my kitchen and the time we spend there as a family. The large island and open breakfast areas are great for entertaining family and friends. The reclaimed wooden beams, Shaws sink, marble countertops and brass pendants are my favorite features. We love to cook and entertain, so we spend a lot of time in this space!
DI: What’s your favorite wine?
Suzanne: My favorite wine is DuMol Vineyards Pinot Noir. It pairs really well with pasta- my favorite!
We hope you enjoyed our Client Spotlight with Suzanne! Now, it’s your turn…what’s YOUR favorite wine? Let us know in the comments below.
To read more about the French Acadian project, you can check out our other blog posts about this house here and here.