When a friend approached Ware Porter about decorating his 1855 New Orleans Garden District cottage, the designer was a bit surprised—and perplexed. The would-be client and his partner’s previous homes had all fallen into the neutral and quiet camp, so enlisting Porter’s signature exuberance seemed like an unlikely choice. Clearly, though, this client was ready for a change. “When I was hired, he said ‘Ware, do your thing,’” says Porter. “He gave us carte blanche to do whatever we thought best; he never said no to anything we proposed.” And what he proposed was filled with drama—bold colors, exuberant patterns, and show-stopping details to meld with his client’s outstanding collection of art and antiques.

Porter approaches each project through a cinematic lens, believing that every room should stand alone and have its own “wow” moment while still making sense within the whole. As a result, each space is a destination with its own point of view; nothing is one-note or too expected. Take the library: Drenched in a rich leaf green, it’s an ode to the power of using a single color on walls, bookcases, and woodwork. On the ceiling, a patterned wallpaper draws the eye up to appreciate its soaring height. Brushstrokes of pale blue, pulled from the wallpaper, adorn the window-seat cushion, sconce shades, and tasseled window treatment. Porter also outfitted the room with a floral cream-and-green linen table skirt and a quirky chandelier made of milk glass with antique brass accents that, while new, has a timeless quality that befits the historic home. “We walk a fine line when we approach design, making sure that every room strikes a balance between evoking a unique personality and speaking to adjoining spaces in subtle ways,” says Porter.

The dining room, with its floral wallpaper and matching window treatments, feels old-school in the best way, but in true Porter fashion, the tension is ramped up with jolts of vermilion (in the form of the red wool-and-cashmere solid carpet with matching custom chandelier shades) and mustard leather (covering the traditional John Fowler–inspired dining room chairs). “These are young guys, so it was important to keep any fussiness at bay. A patterned carpet that matched the colors in the chintz would feel like an old swan of a grandmother’s house; the room needed some modern aspects,” says Porter.

Youth aside, the clients still wanted a formal living room in keeping with the style and age of the house. Porter chose soft yellow as the backdrop for a mix of antiques, including a trumeau mirror, a Federal- style clock, and stone bust, while introducing new plush upholstery. The very tall ceilings allowed for a stacking of the client’s art to create engaging arrangements of contemporary pieces with landscapes and formal antique portraits. To keep the room from feeling too staid, Porter introduced a zoo’s worth of animal motifs—leopard on an antique chair, a zebra pillow on the sofa, a club chair covered in peacocks—and trimmed the crown molding with blue grosgrain ribbon.

That same balance of tradition with winsome joie de vivre is on full display in the den, which Porter describes as the “flop room”—albeit a decidedly luxurious and slightly decadent one. “After a dinner party, when the guests are feeling a little louche and naughty, this is where they end up,” says Porter. “The wool-felt covered walls are so indulgent, as is the very long L-shaped mohair sofa with classic bouillon fringe, and there’s the plushest carpet underfoot.” While there are some modern aspects to the room, such as the clean-lined cocktail table and paintings by contemporary artists like Hunt Slonem and Lindsay Porter (who also happens to be the designer’s sister), it truly is rooted in classical design and historic New Orleans allure, with dramatic silk pelmets on the windows, 19th-century Louis XVI French armchairs, and an antique chandelier from Paris. The palette similarly balances quiet refinement with exuberance: A delectably chic backdrop of café au lait and cream is enlivened with jolts of apricot, used sparingly—but to maximum effect—on two armchairs, sofa pillows, sconce shades, and the original crown molding.

Perhaps the most transporting spot of all, the first-floor guest bedroom exemplifies Porter’s devotion to giving each room its own distinct story to tell. A hand-painted panoramic mural by Paul Montgomery shows scenes of India, with caravans, palaces, and animals, whisking visitors away to another time and place. Abundant yards of blue silk make up a classic balloon shade dripping with a long fringe trim reminiscent of a glamorous ball gown. While new, the cornice could easily be a French antique with its rich finish and gilded accents. The vintage Mario Villa iron bed frame and chair serve as a foil to billowing window treatments, fanciful carved mirror, and glamorous crystal chandelier. Best of all, because the room is located just off the library, every visitor to the home can enjoy its beguiling draw.

One quality of successful decorating speaks to how well a home functions when entertaining, especially for a large number of guests. By this measure, the cottage is a hands-down winner. “The crowd at a party or dinner here is very migratory, and there’s a different feeling in each room: You start with cocktails in the library, or in good weather perhaps on the screened-in porch—or both—then mingling in the living room, then dinner, and finally, some possible hijinks in the den,” explains Porter, who has had the occasion to attend numerous events at the home after it was completed. “It’s satisfying to see how clients use the home after you’ve been so in the weeds during the project,” he adds. “It’s like watching a film that you directed and realizing the end result was just what you were endeavoring to achieve.”

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VOLUME 12 OF FREDERIC MAGAZINE. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!