Designing a Blank Slate – Chateau Chic July 2023

To an interior designer, nothing is more tempting than a home with clean lines and a blank slate. This was the dream come true for homeowners Rene and Nicole Himel. As an interior designer, Nicole was thrilled to purchase the patio-style home which appealed to her love of clean lines, simplicity, and contemporary design.

“The majority of the homes I decorate in the area are of a traditional or transitional style,” shared Nicole. “So, when designing my own space, I took full advantage of letting myself make bolder and edgy style decisions.”

The home was built by Terre South of Houma in 2014. It features three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. The home is just under 2,000 square feet.

“As our youngest daughter was starting college, we knew we didn’t need a lot of space, but we were looking for something large enough to entertain our family with little to no upkeep,” explained Nicole. “As a family we have celebrated many milestones on the screened-in patio which we added after purchasing the home. It has become our gathering place for birthdays, weddings, graduations, and family crawfish boils.”

The spacious kitchen and dining area serves as the perfect space to host holiday dinners, which the family does every year. The patio area is just off the dining area, allowing guests to gather outside as well, enjoying ample seating and a fire pit.