A. Hays Town elegance in Jefferson Place
The classic work of A. Hays Town shows up all over the place at 7022 Richards Drive in Jefferson Place.
Lots of antique wood, windows with transoms, and interior brick on the floors and walls are complemented by three courtyards and three masonry fireplaces in this beautiful New Orleans style home.
The home’s front elevation is a picture of tranquility, complete with a big live oak, blooming crape myrtles and immaculate landscaping. An old wood picket fence keeps the front courtyard hidden until you walk up the sidewalk to the home’s entrance. A symmetrical X-patterned hedge that looks like it was trimmed by a razor is the focal point of the front garden.
Once inside, visitors immediately notice the antique pine flooring originally installed by Town’s workers. The living room to the right is a roomy, light and airy retreat, highlighted by a marble fireplace and an exit to a side fountain courtyard. Serene, quiet and private, this green oasis features a round brick pool with a fountain, beautiful blooming flora and a 9-foot brick privacy fence with a tall front gate. The fence, in fact, surrounds the property, adding to its secure and private nature.
Past the living room is the formal dining room, which is illuminated by a 12-light antique chandelier and by the French door access to the side courtyard. Opposite the dining room is the stairway to the second floor.
Next is the kitchen and breakfast area, which allows yet another access to the tranquil green space to the side. The kitchen’s large center island is topped with “Uba Tuba” granite, and has an electric cook top with a grill/griddle and a copper hood. There’s also a corner stainless sink, travertine backsplashes, a warming drawer and a big SubZero that has panels to match the cypress cabinetry.
There’s an arched passageway from the kitchen to the home’s keeping room, which is vintage Town. The brick floors are New Orleans Hard Tan, and the ceiling is antique cypress planks crossed by massive cypress beams. A masonry fireplace is flanked by cypress built-ins. The antique bricks are finished in a special stained beeswax process that preserves the brick’s patina and adds to its beauty.
Meanwhile, a long loggia leads past the guest quarters back to the home’s great room, which has cypress plank walls and a ceiling that vaults up to 22 feet. At one end, the great room has its own kitchen/bar with Mexican tile counters and antique cabinetry.
The exterior wall of the loggia might as well be called a window, because there’s lots of glass to expose the irregular-shaped gunite pool and brick courtyard outside. An arbor and sitting area is at one end of the pool and copper gutters and drainage keep rainwater in check. Brick walls in the pool area contain planters and water features. The area is large and private, perfect for entertaining.
The renovated master suite is off the front foyer and has access to its own private courtyard. Two more bedrooms are located in a separate upstairs area. This home is vastly larger than its cottage appearance from the street. All in all, there are seven bedrooms, five full baths, two partial baths, and 7,148 square feet of living area.
It’s a classic A. Hays Town home tucked away in a quiet corner of Jefferson.
Statistics
Address: 7022 Richards Drive
Lot size: 125 x 200 feet
Living area: 7,148 square feet
Bedrooms: Seven
Baths: Five full, two partial
Price: $1,250,000
Marketing agent: Ann Mullins, C.J. Brown Realtors
Contact phone: 225-763-3314