Bayou Home | More Than a Space

article by VANELIS RIVERA
photography by KELLY MOORE CLARK

Around 2018, Kristi Globke and her family were adding the finishing touches to their new home perched minutes away from Bayou Desiard. “We were remodeling, so we weren’t living in it. Luckily,” says Globke of the event that shifted her idea about what makes a space a home. The luck came from a friend’s intuition. At the time, the family was staying in a friend’s guest bedroom. Afraid she had outstayed her welcome, Globke began making plans to leave, but her friend convinced her otherwise: “She was like, ‘I’ve been praying and you need to stay here.’” Trusting her friend, Globke and her family stayed. Within three days, the home she had waited so long to paint with memories burned down. Though relieved that her family didn’t get hurt, she and her husband Eliah were faced with the daunting task of rebuilding a home. The end result—a true labor of love that would eventually serve as a reminder of what makes life worthwhile. 

“So, there are many things that we kept,” says Globke listing the two living rooms, and kitchen area. When considering the interior design, Globke wanted to keep the space simple and casual. “I didn’t want it to be anything that couldn’t be used,” she says, adding, “We had kids, my husband’s a big kid, it just needs to hold up.” Her initial stages of planning began alongside friend and interior decorator Holly Gray, and home designer Larry James. “We sat down with him for hours just talking about what we wanted and then he came with the plans,” she says, recounting times when she felt disconnected from a design and would rely on the assistance of Gray, who, able to speak James’ language, aided in expressing Globke’s vision more efficiently. “She knows exactly what I love and so she was able to do that and she also knew my family, so she was really an integral part of making sure that what I wanted landed on the paper,” expresses Globke. Another useful tool in conceptualizing the new house was a crowded Pinterest board full of pictures of interior and exterior home design. A short scroll quickly reveals a particular aesthetic—flashes of rustic hues, textured furniture, and patterned surfaces. “I’m not fancy. I don’t really like ornate stuff. And I want things to have a purpose,” she asserts. 

“This house looks nothing like the first house,” says Globke. Currently, her family lives in a minimalist Acadian-style home with a washed-out brick exterior. If you stand far enough, you can spy a the shape of a cross made by lined dark-hued bricks. Another resounding feature of the exterior is the chunky wood beams lining the decorated porch. “I love beams. I love natural wood,” she exclaims. The moment you walk into the home, you are met by a series of exposed wood beams patterned over the ceiling and a few entryways. Natural patterns and colors pop from woven rugs, throw pillows, and wall decor in the main entryway and living room. The open living room demands attention by way of a dark grey metal fireplace surround, which features a linear gas fireplace encircled by cream-colored, upholstered armchairs, a grey sofa sectional, and a geometric chandelier. “A fireplace like this is just one of my favorite things,” she says.

The space easily leads to the distinctly-styled kitchen. “I am Mexican. And so, I have a lot of those accents in the house,” says Globke, particularly of one of the house’s boldest accents which features an adorned wood that brings the space old-world charm—antique European paneled doors from The Corbel in St. Francisville. “We bought those and I loved them. And I didn’t know where they would go,” she says, admitting that her style is intuitive and haphazard. Gray stepped in right when Globke was considering buying more, and instead suggested the doors be used as an accent. The result is an eye-catching piece that easily draws you toward the kitchen. Another charming stand-out of the stylish area is the cross-patterned, terra cotta backsplash framing a Bertazonni professional-grade oven. Above, a vintage Mexican pottery collection completes the mashup of Mediterranean and Mesoamerican details. Lightly lit by a mesh pendant fixture, the space is complete with a large, concrete top island lined with wood-topped barstools. “And then, this is Kyle’s table,” beams Globke walking toward the dining area and pointing to a statement table crafted by Kyle Snellenberger, owner of Ouachita Antique Woods. Around the table, blue velvet, slope dining chairs contrast nicely with the egg-white walls and impressive black metal, geometric lantern hovering over the table. Globke also recruited Snellenberger’s artistic skills for the doors of the house and exposed beams. 

From there, Globke eases her way passed an arched entryway toward the primary bedroom. An upholstered bedroom set unifies the magnificent accents of the room which include a large geometrically patterned rug with hues of teal and light orange, a cream sofa with indigo and burnt orange throw pillows, and large, white louvered shutters. Another exposed wood beam roosts over the shutters, one with great significance to Globke. When the fire happened, she had many people offering a variety of gifts and discounted items, one Bible study friend offered several wood beams at a reasonable price. The primary bathroom is a proper sanctuary, complete with a rectangular bathtub set under a tray wood ceiling made from leftover wood. Look closely and you can spot a few numbers written in chalk. Close by, a built-in shelf displays minimalist decorations, beautifully lit by a gold, metal pendant fixture. A few steps away, the walk-in shower is tucked next to a resplendent double vanity with wood shelves and gold and black accents. 

Of all the spaces that bring the family together, the outdoor patio tends to do the trick more frequently. “We love just being able to sit out here and watch TV,” says Globke who tends to use the outdoor space to do work or take some leisure time with a book. “And we didn’t really use our patio before. I don’t know why. We had a lot of space in it,” she says, attributing her family’s newfound appreciation for the space to the many accents that make it cozy and warm. The inviting area owes its appeal to the hexagonal terra cotta tiles, reclaimed wood accents, outdoor grilling area, firewood area, black sofa sectional, and a banqueting table with bench and wicker seating. Though more than enough seating space is provided for family and friends, one piece of furniture is the most coveted. “This is one of my favorite buys. We fight over the little daybed,” she says, walking toward a rattan frame with honey finish holding a plump twin-sized mattress—seating fit for a princess.

The eclectic details of the home coalesce naturally, evoking a bohemian chic aesthetic. It’s surprising then, impressive even, that many of the interior features were put together capriciously, with very little rhyme or reason. “I’m drawn to certain things,” says Globke, who refuses to define her style in any particular way. “I found that anytime you’re looking for a certain thing, you can’t find it,” she continues, having learned her lesson when furniture shopping for the former house. “My husband, he’s not necessarily a fan,” she laughs, mentioning that she knows a piece is meant to be hers when she can’t imagine leaving the store without it. From local boutiques to TJ Maxx, there isn’t a store she won’t scour as long as it contains unique and stylish pieces. 

There was a time that Globke thought she had found her dream house, but now she knows a path was being paved for her and her family to dig deep into the true meaning of a home. “When the fire happened, I was like ‘Lord, I know that you moved us here. So, I know that you’ve saved us. There’s gotta be something in this for us,’” she recalls. For her, what used to be just a space has transformed into her sanctuary, a space you cherish spending time in, where you can unwind, and leave the world outside. “A place of peace,” she says. “Somewhere you could come in, just let go, and not worry about everything else.”