At Maison Metier in New Orleans, the good times roll beneath soaring ceilings and sumptuous finishes that gracefully update a historic Crescent City landmark.
Story by Cara Clark
There are places in New Orleans that feel less like hotels and more like poems — places where the light moves differently, where time seems to lean back and exhale. Maison Métier is one of those rare sanctuaries. The hotel glows with a sense of living artistry — its walls, staircases, and sunlight-laced corridors telling a story of rebirth and reverence.
“Under the original name, it was called Maison de la Luz — the House of Light. And if you’re in the property, you’ll see just that — beautiful natural sunlight from the rooms, from the staircase,” says Bryce Eastwood, director of marketing. “The actual light fixtures are custom-made and beautiful. Though the name has changed, that concept of House of Light is something you can feel in the entire property.”
Where Light Meets Legacy
Maison Métier lives inside history and was transformed by Domain Companies, a New Orleans-based development company headed by Matt Schwartz, who hired Pat Sam Shamshiri of Studio Shamshiri to reimagine the interior design. The building, once part of City Hall’s Law Library, still carries the marble and grandeur of centuries past.
“It’s been around for a few hundred years,” Bryce explains. “The check-in concierge desk, the marble floor, and the staircase are all original design elements.”
When the owners envisioned the renovation, they looked beyond the city — and back again, traveling throughout Europe and choosing elements of some of the most iconic, historic places in the world.
“They wanted to build a hotel like that in New Orleans,” Bryce says. “It’s almost styled after a Parisian guest house, but it has lots of symbolism that relates very specifically to the city of New Orleans.”
Emblems hide in plain sight — in a doorknob shaped like an apple-eating snake, a voodoo box tucked into a shelf, a custom rug that hums with secret meaning.
“You see a lot of that symbolism,” Bryce continues. “It relates to New Orleans, but you also feel like you’re in something that you won’t see in most places in the country. It has that European or Parisian guest house luxury feel to it.”
The Duality of Design
Inside Maison Métier, contrasts dance together — sunlight and shadow, elegance and ease. “One of the themes in the design is the duality of being in the city — kind of light versus dark,” Bryce explains. “You’ll notice some of the floors are like a black-and-white checkerboard, or there’s deep blue mixed with brighter yellow in different parts of the lobby. It’s a little bit more stark on the first floor, but more subtle in the guest rooms.”
Those rooms soften the city’s rhythm into a quieter hum — soft whites, pale blues, a whisper of orange on the carpet. “You still have the shades of dark and light,” Bryce says. “It’s not as stark as in the lobby. It’s more subtle — a kind of quiet conversation between colors.”
That same sensibility extends into Salon Salon, the hotel’s adjacent bar and gathering space — a place that feels half dream, half design exhibit. “Salon Salon was inspired by Iris Apfel,” Bryce says with a smile. “She’s a flamboyant, kind of eccentric but highly influential designer. We asked, What if she had a Parisian salon? What would that look like?”
The answer: a wash of deep red, light fixtures that shimmer like chandeliers in a dream, and books lining the walls of what was once City Hall’s bar library. “When you come in, you’ll see the far wall covered in books, and on the other side, windows that lead out to St. Charles,” Bryce explains. “If you’re sitting inside, you can see the streetcar go by. It’s quiet, it’s lush, it’s eccentric — just like New Orleans itself.”
A Symphony of Subtlety
For all its beauty, Maison Métier is defined not by extravagance, but by restraint.
“It’s a true kind of quiet luxury,” Bryce says. “Every little detail has been thought of, every chandelier has been custom-made. You feel like this is your house for a while. If you need anything, we’re here — but we’re not going to bother you.”
That balance between warmth and respect gives the hotel its soul. “We have some of the highest hospitality scores in the world,” Bryce notes, “but we’re not going to overwhelm you with people coming to your door. It’s peaceful.”
That sense of peace extends even to its smallest spaces — like the hidden speakeasy tucked behind a bookcase, accessible only to guests.
“It’s a little secret on the property,” Bryce says. “Guests can sit in this beautiful, tiny room, and then press a button — someone will come and serve them anything they’d like. On the other side of the wall, one of the bookcases actually turns into a door.”
Maison Métiers allure has not gone unnoticed.
“The hotel just made Fodor’s Finest list — only a few hotels in North America did,” Bryce says. “It’s also on Michelin’s one-key property list, and it’s been featured in Vogue for having one of the world’s tiniest and best speakeasies. It’s also been listed among the most romantic hotels and top places to be in New Orleans.”
For Bryce, the magic of Maison Métier is inseparable from the magic of New Orleans itself. “You know, the people, the history, the culture — that’s what makes New Orleans special,” he says. “It’s a unique place in the world, like Venice or certain spots in Switzerland. The art, the music, the food, the community, the celebration — it all comes from that history and those people.”
And somehow, Maison Métier holds all that within its walls — the city’s wild rhythm wrapped in quiet refinement.
“Even to this day, when you walk in, you feel a sense of release,” Bryce says. “A sense of peace, of being at home — even though it’s nicer than any home I’ll ever have. A beautiful smell comes in. There’s always a friendly face quietly greeting you. It’s timeless elegance. It doesn’t get old.”
