The House of Broel is an under recognized New Orleans gem. Bonnie Broel, an iconic New Orleans fashion designer, owns the house. She lived here until she decided to open it up to the public as a museum and a venue for parties and weddings. The House of Broel is far from just a house – it is Bonnie Broel’s life story. Pictures, plaques, antiques, collectables, awards, and clothing are proudly arranged on tables and hanging on walls. Each item represents a precious memory from her life. It was so interesting to have a tour of her life from Bonnie Broel herself. It really allows you to see her light up as she speaks the true story of her own memories.

The house was built in 1850. In 1884, the house was elevated to form a first floor that was engineered for marvelous parties. As you walk through the front door, a magnificent entrance hall greets you. The entrance hall has large open doorways on both sides that allow the guests to freely flow anywhere from the gorgeous ballroom to the entrance hall to the beautiful parlor. There wasn’t a room in the house that didn’t have an elegant chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The first floor was open and inviting. As I was standing in that ballroom, I tried to imagine all of the fun, happiness, and bonding that occurred at parties from 1884 to 2016. It made me contemplate how the parties must have changed so drastically in certain ways, yet remain exactly the same in others. The fashion, the food, and the music trends come and go, but the relationships, the fun, the smiles, and the creation of lasting memories is the same. Even though times have changed, I guarantee that the hundreds of thousands of guests (or more) that have attended a party at the House of Broel from 1884 to 2016 were left with happiness and positive memories.

The first floor is the party floor while the second and third floor house the dollhouse museum and the fashion museum among other things. I was particularly intrigued by Bonnie Broel’s dollhouse collection because my Pawpaw built me a very special dollhouse for my sixth birthday that I will cherish forever. Broel proudly presented her 15-year dollhouse-decorating hobby. The most incredible dollhouse is a Russian Palace that stands ten feet tall and twelve feet wide! I told Bonnie that I have a hand-made dollhouse that I hope to decorate one day, but I don’t know what theme I want to do yet. To that she responded, “Just start collecting things that inspire you, and the house will start to tell you a story.”

The third floor – the fashion museum – takes you through a fashion timeline. It was on the third floor that I realized just how incredible and successful Broel has been so far. Here, she has some of her most famous or favorite garments that she designed in her career. It is a beautiful sight. I was in awe of her fashion awards and achievements. The third floor had originally been a wedding dress store. If fact, my own mother bought her wedding dress from that store back in 1979.

I am very grateful to have met Bonnie Broel. Her rich, interesting, inspiring life story thus far was a treat to hear. I was so impressed by the first floor that I hope to host some type of party there one day. The house is located on 2220 St. Charles Ave. I hope you take a few hours one day to visit this beautiful, historic house.