Terrell House
1441 Magazine St.
New Orleans, LA
866-261-9687

What makes Terrell House a classic bed and breakfast is the owner’s sense of style including many antiques, oriental rugs, and a variety of collections. Those who stay at the Terrell House can look forward to a large collection of first edition books, antique bamboo fishing rods, antique lures, and local New Orleans art. Linda and Ed O’Brien have been collectors for more than 30 years. They bought the bed and breakfast in October 2003. They have spent much time and care fixing up the residence, which includes a carriage house for additional guests. Much of what decorates the house is from their personal collection before buying the house. What is most impressive is the massive book collection Ed O’Brien has accumulated. He only collects first edition copies and prefers signed books. Most of his collection includes modern authors such as Joseph Heller, Umberto Eco, James Jones, Kurt Vonnegut, and Walker Percy. He even has a signed Faulkner first edition. Even more surprising, this massive collection was only started 6-8 years ago!

Upstairs, among more books, Linda O’Brien shared her favorite collection with me. Linda has been collecting modern Russian boxes for the past few years. She admires the tedious work often painted by a little more than a few strands on a brush. The heavy lacquer adds to the look of these artistic boxes. Though she has never been to Russia herself, she has fallen in love with Russian box art. I have always recommended a stay at the Terrell House. Not only were they great neighbors of mine for 2 years, their accommodations are stunning. Being a very friendly couple, they are more than happy to show you their collections and are quite proud of their bed and breakfast. Not only does one get to stay in a historic New Orleans home, but also one is surrounded by great collectibles and antiques, which only add to the flavor of the stay.

Bush Antiques
2109 Magazine
New Orleans, LA

I was reminded of the axiom, “don’t judge a book by its cover,” when I walked into what I thought was a small antique shop on Magazine Street. In fact, Bush Antiques includes over 12 rooms of antiques, specializing in antique and reproduction beds. They even have beautiful courtyard with garden and architectural antiques. The second floor includes nine separate rooms! The owner, Allain Bush, showed me a fountain from the 1800s made of wonderfully colored tile in an adjacent room. Named after her mother, Margie Bush, Allain’s store dates back to 1969. Allain joined her mother in 1979 and the business moved to its present location. Allain described her mother as a person with a quirky sense of style, which, due to some of the interesting items found there today, is shared with her daughter. Most of the pieces in the store come from France, Buenos Aires, or New Orleans. Even with the decrease in tourism since Katrina, the Bush Antiques’ online business is booming, helping get the word out about all the new shipments of antiques. The Bush Antiques specializes in beds, French furniture and accessories, religious art, garden and architectural art, and some unusual pieces, too.

Some of the great items you can find include a room filled with religious items, everything from priest chasubles to genuflectors to tabernacles. Allain also showed me grand chateau doors tall as any high ceiling in New Orleans. Next she revealed a French console of gilded wood behind a folding chair. As you walk upstairs, one enters a whole other world of the past. Each room tells its own story with details from cards and cigars on a table to shoes by the bed. According to www.bushantiques.com the Bushes wanted to organize their store by “highlight[ing] items in vignettes.” By accomplishing this goal, Bush Antiques is a comfortable place to explore and shop. There is such care taken to make every room feel as a home. There is no doubt you will want to stop for some great New Orleans finds at Bush Antiques.

Antique shops line the streets of New Orleans, so, as a break from the Mardi Gras celebration, I took a walk to gander at the local shops. Scattered throughout the streets, antique shops have kept Magazine Street alive and continue to help the commercial area grow. One cannot walk a block without running into an antique shop. So I walked around my neighborhood and found a great antique mall filled with an eclectic style of items called Bon Marche’. Keeping alive the local flavor, a lot of Bon Marche’s stock is based around Louisiana. I spoke with partner Dianne Butler about the organization of her shop. Having worked as the manager of another antique mall before the storm, she saw an opportunity afterwards to open her own place. Due to the vandalism that occurred she was able to find a shop right on Magazine, which is very lucky considering rent for the area. While people were leaving, Dianne started a new business that has flourished since. I have watched her shop fill with items over the last two years and am happy to see over 10 dealers presently in her shop and her shelves filled with collectibles.

As Dianne nurtured her business it grew to include collections of seashells, architectural and outside furniture, antique jewelry, Louisiana photographs, Louisiana paintings, local, handcrafted art, books, and Mardi Gras related memorabilia. She keeps her shop filled with middle to high-end collectibles as well as cypress furniture made locally. By creating a local theme for her shop Dianne gives visitors and residents a different experience than other, often cluttered antique malls. Instead, Bon Marche’ is clean and professional looking. Do not worry, Dianne will still negotiate prices and greets everyone as if entering her own home. Besides being in a comfortable environment, the shop is filled with a mix of antiques and consignment items, so you never know what you will find. Having a good mix of items helps Dianne to pursue her own interests in collecting, such as art deco, oriental pieces, orange glass, and mannequins. Apparently, while setting up the Bon Marche’, Dianne found many old mannequins to help display her vintage clothes. However, she liked the mannequins so much that she brought them home and has begun collecting them ever since. Dianne’s dedication to her customers and her business is apparent from my comfortable shopping experience. Bon Marche’ opens up Louisiana to its visitors, carrying many local items found no other place. Next time you are in town looking for that one thing to remind you of New Orleans, stay out of the T-Shirt shops and walk on into Bon Marche’.

Neophobia
2855 Magazine St
New Orleans, LA
www.neophobia-nola.com
504.899.2444
The name Neophobia, the fear of new things, perfectly reflects owners Amanda Frank and Vic Loisel and their retro collectibles. Creating a unique niche, the shop specializes in 50’s, 60’s, 70’s furnishings, clothing, and collectibles. From vintage clothes to Vistosi hand blown glass lighting to an Art Deco flip bar, Neophobia contains a whole range of affordability. In fact, I find many records for my collection as well as affordable furniture. The high-end collector will also be satisfied at the surprises that await them at Neophobia. Recent sales include rare Gioponti pieces, such as a silver tea service; items unheard of in New Orleans.
This smorgisboard of modern collectibles is not easy to acquire. Neophobia’s stock comes from a range of sources including out of state wholesalers, the internet, and the occasional walk-in seller. Only truly passionate collectors could find and create a place for the plethora of collectibles at Neophobia. Both owners entered the antique business via their personal collections. Vic started his collecting career trying to create his 50’s kitchen. Soon he had no space and started selling the fun and eclectic items he found. After catching the collecting “disease,” Vic partnered with Amanda, moving Neophobia into a new location on Magazine Street over a year ago. Open everyday, Neophobia has benefited from its move with more walk-in traffic; keeping business open is a struggle, but the future looks bright, especially with the tourist season peaking in the next couple months. Next time you are in New Orleans and want a truly special experience, find Neophobia and be transported back in time.