Saint-Germain
Bywater, New Orleans
Client: Chef Blake Aguillard, Chef Trey Smith, and Manager Drew Delaughter
Role: Interior Design, Furniture Specification, Procurement, Purchasing, Installation
Scope: Renovation of 1900s New Orleans double to intimate dining experience.
Status: Complete 2024
Size: 1,700 sq. ft.
Budget: $117,000
Collaborators: Arch Builders, Hull Design, Sylvia T. Designs
Careful Design Restraint Highlights Chef Driven Seasonal Cuisine
Located in the Bywater neighborhood, this early 1900s shotgun double has been reimagined as Saint-Germain, a French-inspired bistro and wine bar offering an intimate ten-table dining experience. Once a residence and later a neighborhood pizza shop, the building has been transformed into a warm, contemporary retreat that feels like being welcomed into the chef’s own home.
Studio West approached the renovation with restraint, preserving the expressive qualities of the original structure while weaving in artisan details and sustainable materials.
Hand-painted limewash plaster, custom millwork, and locally crafted furnishings define the three primary rooms—the wine lounge, dining room, and garden patio—each balancing historic character with modern refinement.
Created in close collaboration with Saint-Germain’s chef-duo Blake Aguillard and Trey Smith and general manager Drew Delaughter, the design embraces the home’s quirks while introducing moments of craft and lightness.
Original wood floors and plaster fireplaces were restored, while new elements—warm wood joinery, sculptural lighting, and softly hued limewash walls—layer the space with texture and warmth.
At the rear, a lush garden patio extends the dining experience outdoors, where herbs, citrus, and culinary tools are part of the setting. Traces of the building’s past, including the neon sign from its former life, remain as authentic reminders of place.
Through its subtle craftsmanship and layered material palette, Saint-Germain celebrates the intimacy of dining at home while honoring the distinctive spirit of New Orleans hospitality—where history, culture, and community come together around the table.
