The Louie
The Louie is a lovingly restored, spacious two-bedroom vacation rental apartment situated on the top two floors of an 1890 shotgun home in the heart of the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans.
We design our spaces with things that tell stories. Our goal is to create spaces that have soul and inspire!
How would you describe Fahnestock House in a nutshell?
It’s more than just a place to stay. It’s an experience and you can see the work we are doing on the property. We wanted to create something authentic and for people to feel that when they stay here.
How did it all start? What was the inspiration for the property?
My husband has lived in this area his whole life (I am from Ohio) and after we got married, we moved to Lancaster. It’s a small city — small enough that you have a sense of community but big enough that there’s lots of cool stuff to do. My husband is in construction and does fine carpentry — he really likes historic properties — so we had the idea of purchasing something for a while.
In 2008, this house came up for sale and we naively thought that we could renovate it in a few years. It was barely habitable at the time and we didn’t live in the property until 2010. Since that time, we have been restoring the inside and are still working on the exterior. The interior has been completely redone and refurbished to create four spaces, plus our living area on the first and second floors.
We have tried to create spaces similar to what we look for when we travel. Spaces that have character and authenticity. When we travel, we also prefer to stay in neighborhoods where people are ‘doing life’.
How would you describe the atmosphere and interior design?
I would describe my style as rustic meets Scandinavian with modern touches. There’s lots of wood throughout the property and most of the decor is antique or thrifted, with a few new pieces added in. I like things to have patina and am okay with wear and scratches. I want it to feel real, lived in.
The house itself was built in a Second Empire architectural style and we have tried to keep as many of the old fixtures and features as possible.
Is Fahnestock House best suited for couples, families, groups? What’s your policy on kids?
Children are welcome but only one of our spaces sleeps four people. The other three are really designed for couples.
We only have street parking and the house is on a little hill, so you walk up a few stairs to the property. The doors are the original iron doors and open into a small foyer that’s dominated by an old wall painting.
We provide self-check-in with a key box (I supply guests with the code), then a glass door leads to the main hallway and a staircase that connects to the second and third floors. All of the spaces have doors off the main hallway, much like in an apartment block. In addition to the Suite, we have the second-floor Matilda Flat and two flats — Elizabeth and George — on the third floor.
Travel up the mahogany staircase and step into the bright and airy kitchen of our second floor flat named after Fahnestock’s daughter, Matilda. The bedroom greets you with high ceilings and massive windows. Spend a lazy morning in bed or start your day of exploring with coffee on the private side balcony.
Amenities:
- Comfy pillow top queen bed
- Hardwood oak floors
- Full of light from original windows
- Tall ceilings
- Furnished with collected vintage items
- Unique wall featuring vintage windows
- Newly remodeled bathroom with marble shower
- Kitchenette with full-size stove
- Mini fridge with complimentary brews
- Complimentary bathrobes
- Frame TV
- Private balcony
Enjoy a leisurely cup of Nespresso in bed while the morning sun streams through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Step into the spacious bathroom and enjoy the feel of marble tile under your feet. Take your time in the luxurious shower. There’s no rush - and there’s even room for two!
Amenities:
- Comfy memory foam King bed
- Hardwood floors, marble tile and vintage rugs
- Floor-to-ceiling windows
- Limewashed walls and 12 ft ceilings
- Large custom brass and glass shower
- Heated bathroom floor
- Complimentary bathrobes
- Coffee cart with Nespresso machine
- Mini fridge with complimentary local brews
- Large screen smart TV
This third floor space named after Fahnestock’s granddaughter, Elizabeth. A cozy bedroom with nooks and crannies make it special. The antique headboard and original bathroom corner sink will make you think of times past. A sunny living room, and old floors creaking beneath your feet.
Amenities:
- Comfy memory foam queen bed with antique brass headboard
- Lime-washed walls and furnishings collected over time
- Old wood floors and marble tiles
- Kitchenette with full-size stove
- Mini fridge stocked with local brews
- High ceilings and original windows
- Luxurious towels and linen duvet
- Window bar with stools
- Original bathroom corner sink
- Large TV with blu ray player.
Wake up to sunlight streaming through the windows and enjoy a cup of coffee and the views from the 3rd floor! This flat is named after Fahnestock’s son George. This flat is filled with nooks and crannies, rounded walls and ceilings, original bathroom fixtures and all kinds of charm!
Amenities:
- Comfy pillow top queen bed
- Vintage rugs and furnishings
- Tall rounded ceilings
- Unique nooks and crannies throughout
- Many original windows
- Many original windows
- Original bathroom sink and tub
- Kitchenette with full-size stove
- Mini fridge with complimentary brews
- Large screen smart TV
We have everything you would expect of a higher-end hotel, such as shampoo and conditioner, towels and linen. Except for the Suite, all of the spaces have a mini kitchenette, fridge and stove, and one of the second-floor apartments has a little balcony. There are also Nespresso coffee machines and we supply a few complimentary beers from local breweries for guests to try.
I would highly recommend dining at Lucca, which is an amazing Italian restaurant in town. I’d also suggest going to the Lancaster Central Market, which is one of the oldest indoor markets in the United States. It occupies an old brick building and is open on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year. You can find veggies, produce, meats and there are restaurants with different stands. It’s also located on a square that is just a great place to hang out.
If you can, coincide your visit with the first Friday of the month when the galleries and museums in the Lancaster Arts District stay open late. It’s a really cool vibe.
Fahnestock House is located on a one-way street near the downtown area of Lancaster, which is like a mini Brooklyn with similar architecture. We have lots of tourists from New York who say it has the same vibe. Within 15 minutes walk of the house, there are restaurants, art galleries, shopping — it’s all really close. Our property is on one of the main streets of Lancaster and is surrounded by a lot of older houses. But there are also lots of narrow streets and little alleyways to explore nearby.
Lancaster is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Philadelphia and three hours from New York City. The surrounding area is rural and home to many Amish, so lots of visitors come to do farm tours and explore the Amish-run stores. These are around 15/20 minutes away and can easily be visited as a day trip.
I would say spring through fall, although you could visit at any time. Fall is particularly beautiful because the leaves are turning everywhere. Winter is fine too but it’s just not as nice to be outside. That being said, there are plenty of things to do inside and Lancaster has a New Year’s celebration in the downtown area.
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