A Lake Charles Home Goes Modern Boho

The living room includes many items of interest, including a vintage painting that Brennan sourced from Corner Gallery Antiques; Jamie painted over the eyes to add personal expression to the piece.

Jamie Augustine, who hails from DeRidder, and his wife Kattie, who grew up in DeQuincy, met unexpectedly through a mutual friend in Lake Charles. In 2020, the Augustines — who have four children (three of whom are still living at home) — found their perfect sanctuary in an existing home built in 2010 in Graywood Plantation. Boasting 3,900 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and three-and-one-half baths, the home offers ample room for their family to thrive and create lasting memories. “This home, with its timeless charm and generous layout, has become the heart of our family’s story,” Kattie says.

Immediately after purchasing the home, the Augustines turned to Chelsea Brennan, owner and designer at Brennan Interiors, to completely redesign each space. “We worked for almost two years from renovation down to the very last detail of furniture and decor,” Brennan says. The renovations included wallpaper coverings, custom drapery, seating elements, faux finishes, commissioned artwork, lighting and a bathroom renovation with hand-cut tile.

Brennan, who has been friends with the couple for more than a decade and designed their previous home, had a good idea of the Augustines’ interests and style, and the aspects of their home that needed to function well with their large family. “This time, they allowed me to challenge them and take risks with mixing colors, prints and various textures,” Brennan says.

The master bedroom exudes luxury thanks to custom black paint by Benjamin Moore and light fabrics.

Overall, the Augustines wanted to incorporate as much culture as possible, mixed with modern touches and feminine aspects. To that end, Brennan drew inspiration from the couple’s interest in the outdoors, culture, music, cooking and entertaining as well as modern elements they have gained through travel.

“One of my favorite pieces is the custom table we had made for their formal dining room,” Brennan says. “It has a sunken cypress top inlay with gold and silver metals by local artist Sandra Walkin, and the modern brass base was created by Custom Iron by Josh.”

In terms of the color palette, Brennan added jewel tones and dark hues to contrast with the ivory walls in the main areas. She also created a dark dining room and master bedroom with black walls — contrasted with lighter drapery and accessories — to introduce an intimate vibe. “The goal was that every room had some kind of element of surprise you wouldn’t expect,” Brennan says.

During the renovation, a leak caused by Hurricane Laura created an obstacle. However, Brennan used the opportunity to lay wide-plank, tongue-and-groove oak flooring in a dark stain so the flow of the house would be rich and sultry.

Meanwhile, the kitchen required some added warmth. Brennan chose brass plumbing, hardware and lighting; a tile backsplash for an organic touch; and wallpaper on the ceiling to provide a fun pop of color. “In our home, the kitchen is the heart of our activities where we bond over cooking and sharing meals,” Kattie says. “Chelsea meticulously curated and executed our vision, transforming our house into a personalized haven that reflects our family’s unique style and personality. With Chelsea’s guidance, our home has evolved into a place of beauty, comfort and inspiration, where every detail tells a story, and every room feels like an extension of who we are.”