‘Pristine’ $2.25 Million Midcentury Modern New Orleans Compound Hits the Market for the First Time in Its 70-Year History

by Tiffani Sherman

skyline-of-jacksonville

MLS/Realtor.com

A rare midcentury modern “compound” in New Orleans is on the market for the first time since it was built nearly 70 years ago. The asking price for the six-bedroom abode is $2.25 million.

The home has served as a dwelling for three generations of the Shalett family, who have carefully maintained the unique architecture and design elements.

Today, the property is “probably the best representation” of midcentury modern architecture in NOLA, according to listing agent Ryan Wentworth, with Rêve Realtors.

The compound was built in 1956 by New Orleans-based architect George Saunders as a family home for H.T. Shalett, who regularly used the property to host some of the city’s most prominent musicians and entertainers.

Family members “have told me stories of when the original owners were friends with Pete Fountain, who is a famous musician who had club down in the Quarter,” Wentworth explains.

“They would go down and have fun in the music club, and then the party would continue at their house out at the lakefront. I think there has been a lot of fun had in that house.”

That colorful tradition continued when his son, Monte Shalett, took over the home.

The exterior is unassuming.

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The interior is well-preserved.

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Many of the six bathrooms have original details.

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The home is near Lake Pontchartrain.

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“It was kind of handed down to the son who grew up in the house, and then he raised his family in the house,” Wentworth continues.

“They’ve been very, very good stewards. They really only changed the kitchen, which was renovated in 1986. Other than that, it has been maintained and extremely well-kept and preserved in its time.

“[Monte] was very involved in the New Orleans art and music scenes. He owned and raced cars like antique Ferraris and cool stuff like that.”

The home’s modest exterior belies the staggering compound found behind its walls, Wentworth reveals.

“It’s very sort of understated from the front. It’s not flashy or anything from the street,” he says. “You walk in through these really cool gates, and you’re just in this [house with] amazing clean lines and awesome views.

“It kind of feels like you’re in Palm Springs or a hotel or something like that with a huge pool and private ground.

The home sits on a double lot.

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Most rooms have views of the outside.

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Three generations have grown up in the house.

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The kitchen was updated in 1986.

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“It’s the best midcentury I’ve ever seen in our market. It is certainly the most intact and probably the best representation of [the period] in this market, for sure,” he says.

The home needs no major renovations, according to Wentworth.

“It’s in pristine shape, so it does not need to be rehabbed,” he notes. “You’ve got these original bathrooms, and all the tile work is all super unique. Somebody could absolutely move right into it and not have to do anything.”

The property’s 0.72-acre plot is by far the largest in the neighborhood, Wentworth adds. There has been a lot of interest in the house, which would be perfect for someone who likes to entertain and loves midcentury homes.

“It’s so original, I wouldn’t want to change much about it, and I hope nobody does change too much about it,” he says.

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