French Country

THE EGRET LANDING HOME OF KILA AND CESAR GONZALES

article by MARÉ BRENNAN | photography by STEVEN MYERS

The newly-established subdivision of Egret Landing is nestled between the gently sloping banks of our bayou waterway and the protected wild areas of Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge, where life is about as natural as it can get. The meandering road leads behind CenturyLink’s headquarters, over a bayou bridge and past bronze sculptures of egrets and other wildlife.

Family medicine practitioner, Dr. Cesar Gonzales, and his wife, Kila, established early on in their search for a home in Monroe about 3 years ago that this quiet “neck of the woods” would be the perfect location for building the home of their dreams. Says Kila, “It feels secluded, yet it’s so close to town. The location gives us the feel of the country with the convenience of the city. We fell in love with the development the minute we drove out here.”

A brick-lined parking court leads to the painted brick, French Acadian home sited near the bayou on a large lot landscaped with native oaks, native grasses, an allee of Chinese Parasol trees, and a small parterre of boxwoods near the three car garage.

Large copper gas lantern sconces and a hanging glass lantern in a modern shape provide illumination for the entrance to the Gonzales’ home. The front loggia is accented with substantial, square reclaimed cypress columns, a stained wood ceiling and brick porch floors. Mossy, grey-green shutters the color of fresh lichen and clay roof tiles add a distinctly French provincial feel to the exterior.

Heavy metal French doors custom made with a graphic “X” detailing welcomes guests in the large open foyer. Says Kila, “I saw a picture of doors similar to this and James Reneau found an artisan to make them for me. To the right, a petite gathering area is nestled in a niche created beneath the stairs leading to the children’s bedrooms. Chris Hart of Ruston, custom crafted the iron stair railings and fitted them with a convenient, built-in child-proof gate. The shape of a shiny brass finial is echoed in the gilded sconces that light the way up the stairs.

Designer Emily Byrd, who started from the “get-go” working with her friend Kila from plans to completion, explains that helping this young couple on the move was a pleasure that was meant to be. Kila and Emily met at church and have children the same age, sharing a bond of friendship and trust that makes designing a house together all the more fun and rewarding. “Emily and I were friends and I worked with her dad at St. Francis,” says Kila. “When I walked into Emily’s home, I loved it immediately. It was styled perfectly and I hired her right then to help us. I feel comfortable with Emily and she knows my style. And I trust that what she does will reflect my own personal style.” Adds Emily of their home designing journey, “Kila has a really strong aesthetic, and it was infinitely easy to work with her.”

Kila found a home plan she liked designed by Chris Hollingsworth Design out of Metairie, LA and had them customize it especially for their family. The home’s design is filled with special detailing like petite alcoves that transition public spaces downstairs into private bedrooms. Each alcove is outfitted with adorable sconces. Emily marked out sizes for furniture based on the plan and set to work finding the right pieces to fit. White oak, wide plank flooring used throughout the home create a unifying element.

With muted tones of blue and neutrals, the master bedroom is a soothing retreat from the couple’s busy lives caring for others. The linen upholstered bed with nailhead trim is from Restoration Hardware. Emily had custom velvet drapery, along with custom pillows and shower curtains throughout the home crafted in her workroom. The couple have a master closet that is decked out with custom cabinetry and drawers, as well as cubbies custom made for shoes.

A pair of sliding barn doors with gilded hardware lead into the master bath that is overflowing with luxury. “The master bath’s shower is my husband’s favorite feature of our home,” says Kila with a smile. “It’s ridiculously huge!” And that could be an understatement. Marble tile is laid out in an intricate herringbone pattern along the shower walls. Under the direction of Holton Flooring, the tile in the oversized walk-in wet room of a shower took six weeks to complete. The shower features dual shower heads along with an overhead rain shower in bronze. Built in seating, Hexagon tile of Calcutta Gold marble continues the neutral palette on the floor. A freestanding soaking tub is a luxury that Kila could not live without. “I love my bath at nighttime. It’s perfect for unwinding from a stressful day,” she adds. The ceiling in the central portion of the master bath is barrel vaulted and features a glamorous beaded chandelier, adding to the drama of the space. Custom built-in mirrors from ACME Glass with bronze metal frames above subtle grey painted cabinetry designed to look like furniture create a classic elegance and modern feel. Throughout the home, Emily chose rugs in muted tones and timeless colors for coziness and warmth underfoot. Tubs and toilets were sourced through Coburn’s.

From the foyer, an eyebrow arch leads to an open floor plan Great Room. The large, airy space includes a living area which is delineated by a wall of built-in cabinets, which surround a focal fireplace and a coffered ceiling. The cabinets are pained a cozy grey and are illuminated by sconces above its open shelves. The mantle wood was sourced from Kyle Snellenberger of Ouachita Antique Woods, as were the reclaimed beams that run the length of the kitchen and dining room ceilings. A bank of metal framed French doors with transoms looks out onto the bayou scene beyond. “I love the contrast of the black metal with the white walls,” says Emily who explains that the living room was the starting point for all of the home’s interiors. “Because of the space, I knew I wanted to find a square cocktail table and this one is just right.” Upholstered modern wingback chairs and a neutral velvet sectional sofa mix with a leather club chair for a great conversational area in front of the painted brick fireplace. The designer had custom pillows created to soften seating areas, and all custom furniture was sourced from Dallas design showrooms. As one of the first things she did for the Gonzales family upon move-in, Emily styled the family’s open bookshelves with treasured objects, portraits and accessories sourced from local shops like Haven, Louisiana Purchases, Walsworth, Material Things and Woodstock. A Caroline Youngblood original oyster painting hangs above a console table adjacent to the kitchen. According to Emily, the painting was the inspiration for the color palette chosen for the home. Colors found in “mother of pearl” add to the bayou ambience. Adds Kila, “I wanted the art to be about Louisiana and the bayou.”

“This kitchen makes me want to cook,” explains Kila of her home’s incredible chef’s kitchen. State-of-the-art appliances like a Wolf four burner gas range with a pot filler and Sub-Zero refrigeration along with double islands make cooking a dream. Kila drew photos of the “X” detailing she wanted on the kitchen cabinets. “Our cabinet guy, Mark Rocket of Rocket’s Custom Cabinets, was amazing. He saw space and customized cabinetry to fit it perfectly. He drew up our closets, the mudroom, kitchen and bathrooms,” says Kila, who would give him a rough sketch of what she wanted and he would take it from there, delivering gorgeous built-ins that maximize storage and efficiency. White subway tile with grey grout and a quartzite counter with dramatic veins of gold and charcoal were chosen for their timeless appeal. Bronze handles and hexagon pulls act as jewelry on the grey painted cabinetry. The prep island features a plethora of storage as well as undercounter microwave, ice maker and dishwasher. Another large island is perfect for gathering under large globe pendants. Leather and iron counterstools are sought after perches during get-togethers.

In the adjacent dining room area an open iron lantern with eight lights shines on the rugged farmhouse table with large turned legs. Emily pairs the table with nailhead trimmed linen dining chairs for a chic look. A set of four dried botanicals sets a country French mood for the space.

In the back hall which leads to the garage, neutral toned tile is laid in a classic herringbone pattern. A Kyle Snellenberger custom bench with a shelf underneath, provides mud room seating against a white-washed shiplap wall with bronze hook hardware for hanging jackets and storing backpacks.

A half bath with a pretty patterned cement tile floor, diminutive vanity and shiplap walls oozes with charm. A landscape painting was sourced from Material Things.

Just beyond the kitchen through a transitioning alcove lies the home’s nursery. “I love this room,” says Kila. “I wanted the artwork for Maxwell’s room to reflect the nature we see at the Refuge across our street.” A set of four watercolors of a bear, deer, raccoon and rabbit hang above the modern Shaker-style crib. Hushed hues create a tranquil room with a chandelier made of natural wood beads and a neutral grey velvet rocker for quiet mornings. An en suite bathroom features Calcutta gold marble in a mosaic herringbone pattern. Emily had an adorable grey and white checked shower curtain made for the bathroom. The mirror above the modern square sink is embellished with sconces.

Upstairs, the guest bedrooms are light and airy respites. One bedroom features twin iron beds with swing-arm sconces overhead to provide light for bedtime stories. Another upstairs bedroom features a custom bed with custom bedding and a rug in muted tones.
To make life more enjoyable on the water, the couple had a pier for fishing built and have installed a mosquito free system that covers the entire property, protecting humans from itchy and potentially dangerous bites while outdoors. An outdoor fireplace and grill area entices the family to take advantage of their natural surroundings.

Egret Landing is proving to be the perfect perch for this busy family of three. The experienced team assembled to create the Gonzales’ home culminated with the ultimate in modern luxury paired with a wilderness bayou setting.