Featured in Architectural Digest, April 2022!
Welcome to Maison Rampart- the most authentic New Orleans property on the rental market and a house reflective of the way folks have stayed in the French Quarter for hundreds of years! Maison Rampart is a Creole Cottage that was originally built in the 1830s and changed very little over the last 200 years- we still retain much of the authentic character that has developed along with the city through the centuries. You will find nothing from Ikea or Home Depot here; the house is filled with authentic antiques, luxurious upholstery, premium mattresses & bedding, historic oil-paintings and lithographs, and period correct details throughout. The owners are luxury designers & historic preservationists and no expense was spared when creating this true New Orleans masterpiece.
Step inside the front doors to the double parlor which retains is original fireplace and beadboard paneling from the 1860s. There is comfortable seating for 10, a large smart TV with local channels and onDemand favorites. The sofa has a pull-out queen size sleeper and there are plenty of cozy places to curl up with an antebellum novel or other spots to sit and write a postcard to your loved ones. There is also a Sonos music system throughout the house, controlled by a free downloadable app on your smart phone or tablet over super-fast cable internet & wifi.
The sumptuous dining room is one of the most eye-catching spaces in the house with its beaded walls, circa 1830s fireplace, New Orleans Spanish period iron chandelier, fabulous French trimmed draperies, and durable leather seating for a quick bite or a long-lasting dinner party. The charming luster lamps are as old as the house, and for more refined events we offer a complete set of French Limoges china. The last space on the left side of the cottage is perhaps the most charming room in the house, the Creole kitchen. You will find no built-in cabinetry, granite countertops, or tacky tile in this space- it is filled with antique furnishings the way an authentic Creole kitchen should be set up. We do however have a few modern conveniences, like a dishwasher, a reproduction refrigerator (with automatic ice maker), and a hood vent for cooking up a storm on the chic Italian gas range in colorful pastel blue and stainless steel. The kitchen is also equipped with all the copper pots and pans you need plus a microwave, electric tea kettle, standard coffee machine, toaster, dishes & cutlery for 20, plenty of wine glasses, and all the cooking gadgets and utensils you could ever want. Of course we provide the basics as well like oil, butter, salt & pepper, and Louisiana hot sauce!
The right side of the house consists of the three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The first bedroom was originally the parlor for this side of the house and retains the most refined elements that the cottage had; plaster walls, tongue & groove ceilings, and deep moldings, in addition to a fabulous French crystal chandelier. This space also has the most light with double pairs of french doors and a side window, fitted again with luxurious trimmed drapery atop some fabulous historic reproduction wall-covering. This bedroom sleeps 4 with two queen beds and also has a large wardrobe, a dresser/vanity, and a spot to sit all atop a heavy wool Persian rug. Right outside this space is the first of the two bathrooms which features a claw-foot tub with a shower, a pedestal sink, an antique medicine cabinet, and new historic reproduction toilet. The bathrooms include body wash and shampoo/conditioner as well as plenty of towels, washcloths, and other essential like a first aid-kit.
The middle bedroom contains the most period-correct American antiques in the house- these are pieces made for the New Orleans market shortly after the house was built in the 1830s. This suite also sleeps four in the two amazing mahogany four-poster tester beds, which are both expanded full size and include a variety of luxury bedding and both down & cotton pillows. This room also has a large wardrobe to unpack your things, a dresser, and a place to sit and tie your shoelaces. All of the bedrooms have a fan if you need a little white noise to sleep and extra blankets, Kleenex, and coat hangers. Right outside this suite is the second bathroom which has an inventive claw-foot shower and plenty of hooks & storage for all of your travel essentials. Both bathrooms also have a hair dryer in the medicine cabinet as well as plenty of extra toilet paper. Look inside the medicine cabinet of this bath to see the original barge-board construction of the house as well as some layers of the historic wall-covering from about 1830-1870, which has been sampled and documented by the Louisiana State Museum.
The back bedroom is exquisitely decorated in Ralph Lauren wall-coverings, a thick wool rug, linen drapery with black-out lining, a large German wardrobe, and a large King size four-poster tester bed with custom bed drapery. This suite also has an adjoining laundry room for guests use who might have booked a longer stay with us. It has a ceiling fan, plenty of storage, a smart TV with a large variety of channels and on Demand TV/movies, and is of course cooled by our brand new 3 ton air conditioning system.
Take a walk outside the rear kitchen door and find yourself on our large screen porch, which seats 8+ and is a heavenly respite away from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter and nearby Frenchman Street. Right off this porch you will enjoy the comfortable chaise lounges for sunning and once your overheated, take a cool dip in our brand new salt-water pool! The left is a 4.5' deep lounge pool and the right is a relaxing spa that will easily fit your whole group! There is also a built-in underwater bench all around the back side of the pool if you just want to relax and take in the view of the cottage & palm trees while you sit with your cocktail.
There is a hot tub (spa) that is always heated. The pool temp is perfect in the summer & fall, but we do offer pool heat during the winter/spring if requested. The cost is $50 per day and can be added to your reservation prior to check in. It is not possible to heat the pool for only part of your stay.
As you can see from the location map, we are situated right off of busy Frenchman Street which offers some of the best live music in New Orleans as well as a great weekend flea market and some charming coffee shops. We are also literally steps from the famous French Quarter and we are one of very few legal short term rentals in the area and the only option to stay in a truly luxury single family room this close to the Quarter. You can walk directly down Bourbon to extensive all night activity or take a stroll down one of our favorite streets during the day for great shopping, Royal Street. Jackson Square is about 10 minutes walking, and we send our personal restaurant and activity recommendations to every guest about a week prior to arrival so you will be able to enjoy some of the hidden gems around the Quarter, the Marigny, and the Bywater just like the locals!
