My first exposure to designing spaces was in high school working part-time for a local architecture firm. Through college, I was very aware of my environment and generally very cognizant of work and living spaces. I moved to New Orleans in the mid 70's and was thrilled with its rich architecture and diversity of style. My first renovation was an 1870's slave quarter in the Irish Channel. After renovating several additional houses in New Orleans, I purchased a 1960's home in Covington, across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. The glass cabana style house was designed by John Lawrence, Dean of Tulane University School of Architecture.

The house has classic 50's and 60's elements. Taking a lead from these two periods of architecture, I designed and built a two-story studio on the property in 1984. In 1989, I designed and built an 11,000 sq. ft. addition onto the house, in keeping with Lawrence's design. In 2003, I purchased an abandoned doctors' office in New Orleans and transformed it into 3 apartments. My ambition was to generate an opposite environment to the one in Covington. Covington is all about seeing the garden outside with green vistas from the house and studio. Covington draws from the natural environment with warm, natural materials. Magnolia takes its lead from urban industrial materials such as stainless steel, steel, and concrete, all with different shades of gray. Architecture will always be part of my creative practice and avocation.