Lakevista Midcentury Modern Revival

On Rail St,

our client came to us with a clear vision: to honor the home’s midcentury heritage while introducing a more modern, globally influenced sensibility. Originally designed in 1956 by George Saunders—an International Style architect and former Tulane professor—the home had great bones, but it needed a thoughtful transformation.

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We focused on the kitchen, living room, entryway, and backyard, blending clean lines with rich material detail. To help realize their vision, we partnered with Bali-based Azula Designs to assure that international hands touched this space.

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In the kitchen, Euro-style slab cabinetry conceals the appliances for a seamless, minimalist look. A custom island and dramatic 14-foot bookmatched stone wall create a sculptural centerpiece, with floating stone shelves lit from beneath for soft ambient glow. We embedded Prado flush outlets directly into the stone to preserve its uninterrupted surface.

To maintain open sightlines, we installed a downdraft range, eliminating the need for an overhead hood. A new floor-to-ceiling window floods the space with light and deepens the connection to the outdoors. Underfoot, hand-troweled concrete overlay floors in a warm bone tone bring texture and cohesion to the kitchen and living spaces.

The original stone chimney and walls were refinished in charcoal limewash, adding depth and a lived-in patina. And in a bold move, we replaced a rear hallway with a 27-foot glass curtain wall—transforming it into a light-filled art gallery corridor that opens to courtyard.

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Just three doors down sits 15 Tern Street, a sister home also designed by Saunders for the Shalett family. That lineage is deeply personal—multiple generations of the Shaletts lived in both homes— with 1 Rail previously featured in the Preservation Resource Center’s Mid Mod NOLA tour.

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Led by Sorrell Brown of Rellestate Renovations, alongside architect Michael Bosio and assistant architect Kevin Michniok—all Tulane alumni—this project brings a Tulane family legacy into its next chapter, staying true to our client’s vision every step of the way.

– Rellestate Team