Spring INto Style By Lauren Loeb Ungar
Springtime in New Orleans is a rich tapestry, motivating homeowners to refresh every corner of their homes. From bold interiors to inviting backyard retreats, today’s homeowners are prioritizing comfort, clean design, and everyday functionality. Whether it’s adding a built-in outdoor grill for gatherings or reimagining a kitchen with wider countertops and improved flow, thoughtful updates are taking center stage. To help bring these ideas to life, we’ve selected trusted professionals from Inside New Orleans Home & Garden Readers’ Favorite—experts who share with us the latest trends in their industries and are ready to turn your vision into reality.
Indoor Living Spaces
Majestic Interior Specialties
According to Majestic Interior Specialties, this season is all about embracing bold color, layered textures, and dynamic patterns that bring energy and personality into the home. Natural wood tones and warm, inviting palettes are go-to spring elements, while wallpaper is making a comeback as a statement feature. At the same time, there’s a noticeable shift toward modern and contemporary design, with clean lines, minimalism, and simplicity balancing out the more traditional styles long associated with the New Orleans—creating spaces that feel timeless and refreshingly current.
Choosing Majestic Interior is hiring a true partner; you’ll work directly with the owner, who personally visits you, takes detailed measurements, and helps you navigate through every design decision. Whether you’re selecting flooring, cabinetry, countertops, or window treatments, Majestic helps you coordinate every element so your space feels thoughtfully designed and functionally built to last.
Graci Interiors, Majestic Interior Specialties
Chad Graci of Graci Interiors is seeing a graceful return to the symmetry of classicism in New Orleans homes—only lighter and more relaxed for the season ahead. Known for creating richly appointed interiors that honor a home’s architecture while layering in custom furnishings and refined decorative elements, Graci approaches each project with a deeply collaborative process. They work alongside architects and builders from the earliest planning stages.
Over the past 15 years, the firm has designed a wide range of residences across the city, from high-rise penthouses at One River Place and the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans to new builds and extensive renovations. That breadth of work continues to inform the firm’s approach.
For Spring 2026, Graci embraces pared-down neoclassical detailings, complemented by soft plaster-white palettes that brighten interiors and highlight architectural form. Furnishings inspired by antiquity are reimagined with updated finishes, while distinctive stone accents introduce texture and depth. The result is a refined yet airy approach to spring interiors.
Ruffino Luxury Closets
Spring cleaning means your closet, too, and Ruffino Luxury Closets in New Orleans will make upgrading your closet into a functional, beautiful space a painless process. “In a world of cut corners and fast-talking builders, I’ve always believed in a different way of doing business,” says Christian Russell, co-owner. Ruffino is a full-service company, offering custom-designed closets with world-class materials and craftsmanship. Clients can tour their local facility to preview designs and options, ensuring every detail reflects their personal style. From award-winning materials to expert designers and craftsmen, Ruffino Luxury Closets guarantees a space that’s both luxurious and practical.
Closets By Design
Closets by Design of Southeast Louisiana is another exceptional choice for upgrading your closets, effortlessly transforming any space into a functional and beautiful haven. For clients Leslie and Steven Loeb, the inspiration centered on both function and space—reimagining their office/bedroom into a fully integrated closet with a pull-down Murphy bed. The design balances everyday practicality with thoughtful hospitality, creating a space for their grandson to sleep while also providing ample room for clothing and more.
“One of Closets’ representatives sat down with me for hours, making sure my vision came to life,” says Leslie, whose deep emerald green walls evoke a sophisticated “green room” aesthetic. From initial concept to precise manufacturing and expert installation, Closets by Design brought the Loebs’ vision to life with meticulous attention to detail, resulting in a space that is as refined as it is functional.
Home Improvement
Gulf South Home Improvement (GSHI)
Homeowners looking to sell or upgrade their homes face an important challenge: making the old feel new. According to Paul Baker, owner of Gulf South Home Improvement (GSHI), remodeling isn’t just an option; it’s essential for stepping into modern living.
Since 1973, GSHI has worked closely with every client to create customized designs that blend modern style with everyday functionality. Lately, many homeowners are focusing on upgrading their bathrooms and kitchens—two spaces that can dramatically transform comfort and value.
What sets Paul apart is his hands-on approach. By completing most of the work himself, he ensures every project meets his high standards for quality and craftsmanship. “I have a background in multiple areas of construction, including pools, roofs, restaurants, and home remodeling,” he says. That experience allows him to oversee every detail with confidence.
From fences, decks, and pergolas to flooring, tiling, painting, and full-scale renovations, GSHI offers a wide range of services. Whether it’s room additions, wall removals, home repairs, or complete kitchen and bath remodels, Paul brings versatility and precision to every job.
If you’re searching for a contractor who delivers personalized service and dependable results, look no further this spring.
Your bathroom is waiting.
Outdoor Living Spaces
Exterior Designs
For more than four decades, Beverly Katz, founder of Exterior Designs, Inc., has helped homeowners across New Orleans reimagine their outdoor spaces as natural extensions of the home. Today, the firm’s focus is increasingly centered on lawn maintenance services, courtyard living, and thoughtfully designed backyards.
As a full-service landscape design, build, and lawn maintenance contractor serving the Greater New Orleans area, Exterior Designs approaches each project with both creativity and technical expertise. Beverly, who brings an interior designer’s eye to landscape architecture, believes outdoor spaces should feel cohesive with the home’s style while also solving common regional challenges like drainage and grading issues.
For spring—and moving into summer, Katz encourages homeowners to prioritize structure and usability over quick seasonal fixes. Layered plantings anchored by evergreen foundations create year-round interest, while defined garden rooms, permeable surfaces, and natural stone patios help establish functional gathering spaces. Comfortable seating areas and outdoor kitchens are also becoming essential features for homeowners eager to host family and friends.
With New Orleans’ warm climate and festive spirit, Katz believes the most successful landscapes are those that balance beauty with performance—spaces designed not only to look beautiful, but to be lived in every day.
Oasis Pools & Spas
Every backyard is treated as a personal retreat with Oasis Pools and Spas. For owner Mike Stanton, that philosophy is deeply personal—he recently returned to his childhood home to build a pool in the very yard where he first learned the craft alongside his grandfather and uncles.
With over 25 years of experience, Mike and his sons, Michael and Nick, combine family values with modern innovation to create pools that are both beautiful and functional. From custom water features and hot tubs to golf putting greens and basketball courts, each project is tailored to the family lifestyle it will serve.
“Pools aren’t just water and stone—they’re where families gather, play, and make memories,” says Mike. His family-run approach ensures every detail meets the highest standards, blending craftsmanship, care, and a personal touch that only comes from hands-on experience passed through generations.
Paradise Pools & Spas
Having a pool ready at the start of spring means fun can stretch well into October! Pools remain the centerpiece of seasonal design and one of the most sought-after upgrades for homeowners—and that’s where Paradise Pools & Spas shines.
This year, Paradise Pools & Spas is designing backyards that feel like private resorts, blending comfort, style, and functionality. Custom pools with tanning ledges, integrated spas, and spillover features enhance both relaxation and visual appeal, while fire bowls paired with waterfalls or sheer descents add dramatic flair. Combined with LED lighting, smart automation, artificial turf, and travertine, these spaces become cohesive, low-maintenance outdoor retreats perfect for entertaining or unwinding.
The city’s top designers, builders, and craftsmen—from Majestic Interior Specialties and Ruffino Luxury Closets to Oasis Pools & Spas and Paradise Pools & Spas—are making it easier than ever to create spaces that are beautiful, practical, and uniquely yours. This spring, embrace some of these fresh ideas, elevate your home, and enjoy every inch of the season.