Turning Simple Materials and Recycled Finds Into a New-Old New Orleans Home

The Weltys separated the kitchen/dining area from the living room with a stair framed by maple slats. The treads, made from repurposed counter-tops, are set into a steel framework whose material cost roughly $300. The kitchen and living room open to terraces through floor-to-ceiling glass sliders. Emilie attributes the home’s ample natural ventilation to those as well as to its tall, thin profile, a choice made to keep the overall building footprint small.