Master Suite

The master suite was in dire need of a face lift and was completely refurbished. Beginning with the flooring, the Foundation design team had White Floor Covering of Jefferson, Louisiana install Award, pre-finished, French Walnut, hard wood floors. Upon completion of their work, White Floor Covering & The Troendel Company of New Orleans donated the flooring as well as their labor and time. A Chin needlepoint rug, purchased from Feizy import and Export of Dallas was laid atop the floor. The beautiful new window treatments accent the coordinating bedspread, bed skirt and re-upholstered furniture.

The Foundation commissioned Mr. Glen Armand to design and construct the master suite bed. It is reminiscent of the Louisiana style furnishings built back in the 1840’s. Combining design elements from three periods (Federal Style-1790 throughl8l5, Empire Style-l815 through 1840, and the Restauration or “Pillar and Scroll” Style-1830 through 1840), Armand constructed the bed in South American mahogany wood. The serpentine or scrolled headboard is clad in Crotch mahogany veneer. Supporting this piece are four tuned posts. The two headboard posts display vases and the two footboard posts contain carved spirals, common to that period. The bed took six weeks to complete.

The pair of mahogany chests on each side of the master suite bed have slides of solid oak dovetailed drawer pulls. These chests were commissioned by the Foundation to be built by Sainsbury of Bournemouth, Ltd.

Mr. F. Paul Naquin, a Louisiana craftsman from Baton Rouge, built and donated the armoire that sits against the back wall of the Master Suite. It is a true reproduction of an early, colonial, Louisiana armoire made in Louisiana during 1750 and 1830. The piece is made of native cypress and was constructed using the old world mortise and “tenon and peg” joinery.

The First Lady’s adjoining bathroom has undergone extensive renovations as well. New window treatments and a matching shower curtain have been hung. A beautiful vanity and chair finished in antiqued white was purchased by the Foundation from Horchow.