A stay at Maison de la Luz invokes the feeling of having snuck into the residence of an outlandish explorer who has yet to return from their travels. That, combined with some noticeable supernatural influences and the incorporation of minimalist elements as a stark contrast, makes for an inimitable New Orleans hotel. The mystical, layered energy of the city has seeped into Maison de la Luz, taking shape in the form of antique collectables and other eclectic pieces. But even with its ornate design, the hotel is a quiet oasis amidst the buzz of the Big Easy.

Maison de la Luz is a boutique six-story guesthouse situated near Lafayette Square in the heart of New Orleans’s Warehouse District. Maison de la Luz delivers luxury accommodation in a central location, with the added bonus of chic interiors, secret passageways and delectable food and drink in the Breakfast Room and Marilou Bar. With just 67 suites, the guesthouse is private and intimate; a perfect escape where an attentive team of staff embody Southern hospitality, welcoming each and every guest that passes through the building’s doors in much the same way that they would welcome a guest in their own homes.

Launched in the spring of 2019, the Ace Hotel Group’s Maison de la Luz has since become a popular choice of stay, especially among A-listers who appreciate the hotel’s somewhat secluded, residential feel. The achievement of such an atmosphere is all thanks to the collaboration between Atelier Ace’s Kelly Sawdon and LA-based Studio Shamshiri’s Pamela Shamshiri. Having been entrusted with the interior design of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars’ homes, Shamshiri had the expertise to take this former office building and transform it into a space oozing in elegance and uniquity. The design plan was to ditch traditional luxury and opt rather for the unconventional, providing visitors of New Orleans with a space that reflects the diverse and electric nature of the city. In doing so, the New Orleans culture is not one merely to be encountered when walking the streets, but even within the walls of the hotel itself.

With such a thoughtful approach to design, Maison de la Luz’s allure is all in the details. The Art Deco influence is evident from the get-go. In the grand foyer, restored black-and-white marble floors and wrought-iron twin stairs act as remnants of the building’s rich history, with gold embellishments added to the staircase in keeping with the sophisticated French theme. At the foot of each set of stairs sits a pair of velvet maroon sofa chairs, also trimmed in gold and with gold fringes dangling beneath them. The low-hanging light fixture positioned at the centre of the foyer is a mystical piece, its murky white orbs floating at different elevations and appearing as if they could be miniature crystal balls.

Every room at Maison de la Luz is brimming with character, adorned with ornaments and artifacts from different cultures around the globe. In the common areas you will find reupholstered furnishings following a subtle primary colour scheme, custom-made Christopher Farr x Shamshiri tiger rugs and appealing artworks by some of Louisiana’s most talented local artists. Bold pieces symbolizing rebirth have also been carefully curated and placed throughout the hotel space, some of which include botanicals, eggs, circles, serpents, apples and eyes.