17 SOUTHERN HOME | MAY/JUNE 2019
STY I RARY
A
s a young boy, Lee Ledbetter would peer out the window
of his mother’s station wagon and absorb the many diverse
architectural forms—from the classic Georgian-style
houses to the mid-century structures—that abounded
in his hometown of Monroe, Louisiana. What began as a childhood
fascination evolved into a tireless passion and a successful professional
career that has spanned more than three decades and has made
him one of the most prominent architects and interior designers
in New Orleans and the South.
In his first book, The Art of Place: Lee Ledbetter—Architecture and
Interiors (Rizzoli, 2019), Ledbetter showcases 16 distinct projects, such
as a neo-Gothic church on St. Charles Avenue, an artist’s bayou
cottage, and a sculpture garden on the grounds of the New Orleans
ARCHITECT AND
DESIGNER LEE LEDBETTER
BLENDS HISTORIC
DETAILS WITH MODERN
APPOINTMENTS IN
SPACES THAT CELEBRATE
THE ART OF PLACE.Beautiful Balance
Museum of Art. He also shares imagery of his own homes, including
a historic Greek Revival townhouse in the French Quarter and a
1960s glass-and-brick structure Uptown that is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places as New Orleans’ first modern residence.
Each home boasts a one-of-a-kind combination of traditional details
and chic Modernism.
“Lee is a rare example of a modern architect who is seriously
competent in ‘total design,’ ” says John Stubbs, a fellow Monroe native
and New Orleans architect. “He is an artist and collector in his own
right and has a fine eye for designing and assembling décor. Ultimately,
his buildings and interiors reflect his understanding and respect
for the best of Western architectural history and the richness of the
American South. At all scales, his work both reassures and inspires.”TEXT MARGARET ZAINEY ROUXPHOTOGRAPHY BY PIETER ESTERSOHN