To live in one of the storybook homes that populates New Orleans’s Garden District—with their extravagant ironwork and gingerbread detailing—is, in many ways, to reside within a piece of history. The majority of the properties date back to the 19th century, when the area was developed as a fashionable enclave for wealthy Americans seeking refuge from the bustling French Quarter. Now, it remains one of the best preserved historic neighborhoods in the country, with tree-lined streets, manicured gardens, and a community-wide reverence for architectural heritage. So for a Louisiana native like the #ADPRODirectory interior designer Olivia Erwin (oliviaerwin), being charged with the restoration of one of these grand dames was a homecoming honor. Tour the Italianate-style New Orleans mansion at the link in our bio. Photography by christianharder; design by oliviaerwin; architecture by leeledbetter ; styled by katjagreeff; words by lauramaytodd