Pottery Barn in partnership with Lincoln Reach Higher House Beautiful
New Orleans 2008: Making a house a home
We're in New Orleans in musician's village, representing the entire Pottery barn family and brands. Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn teen, and Pottery Barn Bed and bath
In partnership with our associates from our Metarie store we have been able to make over every room
in this house for an incredible musician named Shamarr Allen and his family.
In the span of four days. When we arrived on the site,
on Monday morning it was a shock, the roads hadn't been paved yet, there is no plumbing, I think
before we got here we didn't realize
really what to expect.
We knew we had a long day of work ahead of us and the store team
just tackled it right away. Everything was unpacked and brought into the house within
I would say four hours, which if it was just a couple of us here it would have taken us three days.
Everyone in this area including all of my employees at the store were affected by the storm in some way. It was amazing the outpouring
of support that we got from the Pottery Barn family. Pottery Barn took such good care of us
when we needed help that it's been so rewarding to come and help here and give back even just a little bit, one house at a
He's such a talented musician, we couldn't be more thrilled to be giving him a brand new home,
that's decked out head-to-toe in Pottery barn.
When I got the phone call, it was like, thank you, thank you.
It was a blessing and the only thing I really cared about was my son,
that was it. I'm not a hard person to please,
as long as I have somewhere to lay my head, that's comfortable, I'm fine,
but this is far more than what I expected. Our house was directly in front of the levee breach.
The thing that really got to me was every time you clicked on the TV, we saw our house,
it's just kept getting to me and getting to me. When I came back home
it was just an empty lot, no house no nothing,
It didn't get torn down it just wasn't there.
I don't think people realize how widespread the damage was, you know,
you go to some of the outlying blocks and residences and in the area and you see that it's
got a lot, a lot of work needs to be done.
The musician's village looks like this jewel,
it's just a great thing to be in this house,
when, two years ago it was an idea
and now, it's a home now, so
it's really exciting.
This needs to be a comfortable space where this family can live,
play their music, have dinner, and so we chose these things that were
really inviting to a family with young children.
We spoke to Shamarr about what was important to him in his home,
and he really had very simple needs,
He just wanted a little space for his music, a little studio, so we built in a combination home office studio,
but we really took it over the top in the master bedroom. When you walk in that room,
it really is stunning.
As soon as you walk in that front door you really feel the warmth
you feel cozy, you feel easy,
but yet you know this is very much of a family feel and its all because Pottery barn has brought it together in a great design.
Any way that I can publicize our efforts down here and publicize the need
for people to come and volunteer,
or donate or both, I'll take advantage of it.
You can't have New Orleans without guys like this,
this is what New Orleans is all about.
There's something about this place,
that puts something inside of you through the music.
Everybody that put any kind of effort into helping me,
thank you,
thank Lincoln, Pottery Barn,
especially the girls with Pottery barn,
they were cool, they were so cool,
and house beautiful magazine
Thank you so much for everything,
Shamarr Allen loves you.
Pottery barn