Property of Mr. and Mrs. Jason M. Elas, New Orleans | Architects: Goldstein, Parham & Labouisse

The largest of these houses is comparatively small when related to the fact that there are six children in the owners' family. It shows the wisdom of one-floor living for parents plus upstairs quarters for the younger generation. It also shows that such a plan can fit into the restrictions of traditionally styled French architecture. Mr. and Mrs. Jason M. Elsas' house belongs to its New Orleans country setting as well as to a big, enthusiastic modern family.

Since Mr. and Mrs. Elsas are very hospitable, they made their plans with entertaining in mind. The living room and dining room (its size was determined by the length of the dining table with all leaves in for a party) can be thrown together by opening the wide louvered doors between them. Both rooms open to the terrace, which is used for luncheons, cocktail parties, and barbecues and dances for the teen-age children. Overnight guests are accommodated in a one-room-and-bath wing, and the master bedroom is a quiet retreat off by itself. For family living the house works equally well. The study is the television and family gather- ing room; it is also used by children and their friends if the living room holds a grown-up group. The upper floor (air conditioned year round, like the whole house) includes a boys' dormitory and two smaller rooms; it is reached through a stair next to kitchen and breakfast room, with- out tracking through main rooms or front hall. Later, when all the children have grown and gone to live in homes of their own, the upstairs will be closed off and Mr. and Mrs. Elsas will have a one-floor house just for themselves.

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source: House and Garden Magazine | January 1954